Halo 2 has a unique matchmaking system when it comes to FPSs. Instead of having normal servers where people can join and leave at will, you have a "level" which represents how skilled you are and can go up and down, and the matchmaker arranges a game with equal teams based on rank. You can also stick with your friends across multiple games using the party system.
There is NO way that you can force yourself to play ranked matches against lower level players. I don't exactly know how the party system matches you against other players, let's say if you have a lvl 20 and lvl 1 in the same party.
Since the game hasn't been out long, I believe people haven't reached their "natural" level yet. Once that happens, I believe we will have a very even battleground. I would like to see how the level distribution would be.
Also you have no control over game modes and maps, which ensures all game modes and maps get even usage (cough cs_dust cough) . This can also be a disadvantage of course if you just don't find some maps/modes to be fun.
I can understand why somebody would be unhappy bungie's system, because you can't keep playing with the same people over and over and you can't choose the exact type of game or map you will play.
I think this is a truly revolutionary system, in addition with clans, logos etc that seems to be what MS envisioned Live to be all about, and this kind of matchmaking service would be impossible to pull off in the open nature of online PC fps games. It is the ultimate equal playground, everybody has the same hardware, same controller(if you don't count the tiny minority that will be using the mouse adapter, shame that it was released) and voice chat and roughly the same skill level. It is also essentialy hack-free.
It will be interesting to see if any other FPS or any other kind of games will try to follow Bungie. The only problem I see is that for this system to work you need a large number of players. A racing game where you get matched against people who have similar times in a given track with a given car/car class? bring it on!
There is NO way that you can force yourself to play ranked matches against lower level players. I don't exactly know how the party system matches you against other players, let's say if you have a lvl 20 and lvl 1 in the same party.
Since the game hasn't been out long, I believe people haven't reached their "natural" level yet. Once that happens, I believe we will have a very even battleground. I would like to see how the level distribution would be.
Also you have no control over game modes and maps, which ensures all game modes and maps get even usage (cough cs_dust cough) . This can also be a disadvantage of course if you just don't find some maps/modes to be fun.
I can understand why somebody would be unhappy bungie's system, because you can't keep playing with the same people over and over and you can't choose the exact type of game or map you will play.
I think this is a truly revolutionary system, in addition with clans, logos etc that seems to be what MS envisioned Live to be all about, and this kind of matchmaking service would be impossible to pull off in the open nature of online PC fps games. It is the ultimate equal playground, everybody has the same hardware, same controller(if you don't count the tiny minority that will be using the mouse adapter, shame that it was released) and voice chat and roughly the same skill level. It is also essentialy hack-free.
It will be interesting to see if any other FPS or any other kind of games will try to follow Bungie. The only problem I see is that for this system to work you need a large number of players. A racing game where you get matched against people who have similar times in a given track with a given car/car class? bring it on!
