Ever played a game online and you decide to take on a random opponent only to get some n00b fed to you? Sure, it’s fun completely decimating a new player the first few times, but it doesn’t really give one that sense of accomplishment that accompanies victory against an experienced opponent. Oh, and have you ever played against a random opponent only to find yourself getting manhandled and tossed around like dirty laundry? That’s certainly frustrating, and it makes you wish the other player had some mercy. But then, did you have mercy on the newbie you demolished before? Absolutely not!
Blizzard has addressed these issues—which have now become common in online gaming no matter the platform—and has decided to alter the competitive multiplayer aspect of Battle.net and StarCraft II. By making some much-appreciated tweaks to the system, Blizzard has confirmed that more accurate match-making will now be available via Battle.net, so long gone are the days when newcomers are but mere sitting ducks and experienced veterans must mercilessly crush novice players in less-than-exciting bouts.
Battle.net project director, Greg Canessa, stated in an interview that Blizzard’s goal was to have the new Battle.net not only cater to longtime fans, but also newcomers. “That’s the design principle that shows our desire to create a great, structured competitive play experience for everyone on the new Battle.net, while at the same time making it accessible to a whole new audience.” This is certainly a great thing for older fans of Blizzard’s games, and it’s nothing but good news for newer fans who are interested in joining the StarCraft elite but fear ownage at the hands of the more experienced gamer.
We’ve all seen auto match-making systems at work before on countless games with online support, and a huge mismatch still tends to slip through the cracks more often than we’d like. Canessa stated, “This system is the most sophisticated one we’ve ever created, and one of the most sophisticated in the industry.” That’s a pretty bold claim to make, but given the manpower behind Battle.net and all the time and effort it’s taken to get this far, you’d be hard-pressed not to believe Canessa’s words.
To add to all of this sophistication is the all-new Leagues and Ladders System. This new concept is basically a ranking system that will put players into different leagues depending on their skill level. According to StarCraft II’s official website, “Our goal here is to encourage local competition by finding you a neighborhood of 100 players of equal skill against whom you will be ranked.” Blizzard’s desire is simple: to create an online gaming experience that is fun, exciting, and skill-oriented. StarCraft II players will certainly enjoy this new feature, and it will give newcomers an opportunity to improve their skills and climb up the ladder as they become more experienced with time.
In addition to the Leagues and Ladders System, the revamped Battle.net will also offer customizable match-making for veterans and casual game modes for new players and gamers who just enjoy the occasional game here and there. Among these casual gaming modes are the Practice League, Co-op Versus AI (where players can team up to take on the computer), and various challenges that will be fun and help players hone their skills.
As a gamer who has had to deal with playing the ever-defenseless newcomer and as a gamer who has had his rear end handed to him by the cruel veteran player more times than I care to remember, I can honestly say that the new competitive match-making system on Battle.net will be praised by all StarCraft gamers. Whether you’re trying to make a name for yourself or you are as established as they come, the Leagues and Ladders System will cater to you based on your skill, so you’ll never have to worry about facing someone that’s “too good” or “not good enough.” Blizzard has stressed that they want to create a realistic and balanced online gaming experience, and it looks like they’re going to deliver with the progressive Battle.net system.
