Multiplayer matchmaking

Not all RTS games with a multiplayer ladder use dedicated servers - it can still be done P2P. But I've also been wondering the same - if the full release will at least have matchmaking and a ladder - otherwise I don't understand the point in switching to steamworks, it would just be the same as ICO in Trinity. Having said that, it will also depend on whether there is enough of a MP playerbase to make a ladder and matchmaking viable.

This is a feature that was promised, and i will be very very angry if they dont eventually make it in.

that said... the devs are prolly getting all the game bits in now, and will get this stuff in later.

hopefully.

Rebellion was supposed to use Reactor, which  AFAIK is Impulse functionality. Since game uses Steam now (probably because Stardock sold Impulse), I suppose many of those promises may be broken.

Ladders were one of functions I was waiting for and paid to get, and I would be very disappointed if they won't make it in. Angry even

Thats exactly my point. Many people explicitly pre-ordered the game because of the promised multiplayer options. I dont really care if Impulse is sold or not, but if a company promises a matchmaking system, for me its a core feature of the game.

For me its clear, if no matchmaking system is implemented in the final version, I will write an official claim and demand my money back. Fortunately this is very easy at paypal, they have a very good customer care policy, if you buy something via paypal and you dont get what you payed for, paypal will return your money immediately and then they ask for a refund from the company. On the other hand this can cause major trouble to stardock, because steam is a respectable brand, so stardock wouldnt risk to upset steam with displeased customers. So I hope everything will be solved in the final version and a matchmaking system with a ladder will be implemented.

Guys, calm down... it is only the first beta... steam achievment is not yet fully implemented... Stardock don't know yet if they will use the Steam mod system... as for the Steam matchmaking, it was one of the reason why they have move to Steam...

Don't you think that it will be crazy to implement new steam feature when the game have some nasty bugs/problems... first try to have a good stable release and begin implement steam features one by one... when you build a house, you need first a good strong foundation... it is the same with game

Yes of course it takes time to develope a functional system. But it was promised as a feature of the game, so its normal that I have been disapointed to see the old multiplayer lobby when I started the beta.

I think in the last two years, some games have set a high standard on a multiplayer interface, for example League of legends, Modern warfare series, EA sports games or Starcraft 2 via battlenet. Therefore i think a matchmaking system in pvp and coop multiplayer is a "must have" in every modern game that wants to be sucesfull.

From my point of view, I will wait for the final release of this game and if no functional matchmaking system and ladder will be provided there, I will reclaim my money because i didnt get what i payed for / what was promised. And I think many people will do the same.

I really hope stardock will manage everything until the release because i love Sins and I want to play it against other people. But i dont have the nerves to search for players in lobbys or in forums, that would feel like a huge step backwards.

I guess I would ask what you guys expect?  There will not be anything akin to Starcraft 2 and that was never promised or planned. 

I guess the basics of what people interested in MP expect or had the impresion would be coming with Steamworks would be at least a basic matchmaking feature - a way to get games besides searching for pre-set up custom games. Most RTS with MP have this as a basic feature along with a points (elo) based ladder and matching against equally skilled opponents. Was basic matchmaking never actually planned or thought about in the move to Steamworks? If not, how come? Steamworks offers this and most RTS use it. I know there are some things about Sins that would make a matchmaking ladder harder to implement (all the game setting variables would have to be narrowed down/defined as "the matchmaking standard" to use) but many of us would like to know if some way to get games beyond joining public games will be included in MP.

You can invite Friends to play and you'll be able to join the official Steam Community and find games that way, in addition to the ICO lobby's pick-up games.  I'm not sure what utility there would be in more advanced matchmaking than that since if you're online to play, you're in the lobby. If folks just want to hit a button and get randomly put together with other players, that may be possible. An ELO system is not in the cards at this point.

These would be my request

1. ELO system, or another simple ranking system

2. Able to auto download mods and maps when joining a game

3. Clan system

4. Quick play (automated process to find a match and play 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, 5v5 with friends/clan)

Of those, I think #2 is highest on my list...

Along with 2 which at least made it to your list?

I would love to see an elo ladder with matchmaking but at the same time, it will all depend how many people are playing online. If the numbers stay the same as Trinity, it would be pointless. Automatching and a ladder really only work once you get at least 500+ people playing it in MP. That number is a guess of course but you get the idea. And this would be with all variables the same. If you have 5v5 and 4v4 options, boom, that 500 is split up. Pirates on or pirates off - again, the pool is whittled down. I'm not sure what pre-sales are like or what estimations are for MP in Rebellion at this point. Having an elo ladder and matchmaking is a feature that will attract more competitive minded players but I don't know if the numbers are there currently to warrant it or if that money/time would better be spent elsewhere at the moment. I hope if enough do get interested in MP that they will consider adding in a matchmaking ladder at some point.

Yarlen are you kidding me? Are you seriously offering me a multiplayer lobby and asking me what else do i want? Of course i want a button to get me together with other players, but not randomly ffs, matchmaking is not about random opponents, matchmaking is about playing against equal opponents. The easiest way is an ELO point system, but if this simply wont work in sins - there are various other ways to do it. Its your job to find one.

You promised us matchmaking and now after we all spent 40 dolars, you are telling us there will be a lobby and steam forums? Would you people call it a fraud? I probably would.

My simple request would be:

1. Quick play (automated process to find a match and play 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, 5v5 with friends/clan) - thats essencial

2. Simple ranking system, must not be ELO, a simple ladder based on win/loose ratio would do it.

3. Clan system

4. Possibility to reconnect to a multiplayer game, when I get a minidump or disconnect.

This are the basics of a modern rts game, i dont see a point of releasing a game without it.

Which RTS allows you to reconnect a multiplayer game after MD or disconnect?

Yall are forgetting the basic requirement of even having a competitive game.

Even. maps.

(militia counts, rock counts, neutral counts, planetary bonuses, artifacts)

Though, if and AND mod sharing is introduced the players can get around to doing that, but... usually for an ELO system, 'custom games' are usually left out for ranking...

@JJ: That's a good question, I know that most modern MOBAs do, but pure RTS? Eh... I can't think of any off of the top of my head.

I know about the MOBAs, and i think SC2 supports it, I am pretty sure there are more.

I play SC2 and if you disconnect you automatically lose. There is no reconnect option on ladder games.

While sins is a long game, with up to ten players, so disconnects are frequent, and the ability to rejoin a game in progress would be a fantastic feature, it is not a requirement for competitive play. 

and.

we do have autosaves for non-competitive games... and people who are friends can rejoin in that reguard...

but... 

This would also prolly be a very very hard feature to impliment i would imagine, and MUCH EASIER features, like... balanced/fair maps... I feel are MUCH more important at the moment.

(now, ANY ranking system, no matter how shitty, should take into account a drop somehow... your ranking updated as a percentage of the game you were in... if you dropped 1/2 way though, you earn 1/2 a win or 1/2 a loss, depending on who won, if you dropped right before your team was going to gg or the enemy team was about to gg, you earn 99.5% of a loss or win, so that you cant cheat the system.)

JJ: Yes, thats why its only number 4 on my list. There are way more important first 3 requests.

Okay I thought I was missing something. Just making sure.

I dont understand why a ranking system would be so hard.

Microsoft. here. has a link. to the ENTIRE CODE.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/apg/archive/2008/06/16/trueskill-in-f.aspx

^^^ RIGHT THERE.

course, you gotta translate it into whatever code sins is written in... but.

its DONE. esey. !!!  No thinking involved for the coders. no effort. just grindslog.

hell. just google 'elo ranking system code'

there is code! it is out there! it is EASYES.

I dont think stardock needs help by programing a simple ranking system, i am affraid they dont want to do it and thats the problem.

But to get to the topic again: there has been a clear promise for matchmaking in Sins Rebellion, everybody can google the statement, so if Yarlen is saying there will be the old lobby and some steam comunity forums - thats ridiculous.

We all payed for the game in advance, so stardock now has the budget to add this promised features to the final game. I cannot stress it more - i am a competitive player, i play pure pvp so i pre-ordered the game only because of the matchmaking feature. There is no point playing the game for me if there will be no proper multiplayer interface.