While it’s definitely cliche to blame all your losses in Overwatch on your teammates or a stacked enemy team, sometimes it’s legitimately true. Whether if it’s from high rating players “smurfing” (an annoying practice we’ll discuss below) or a seemingly brain-dead stream of teams, there will always be occasions where you just can’t get a win despite playing at the top of your game. The Overwatch design team seems to realize this phenomenon and has made some interesting changes to the way the game handles “Loss Streaks” to make it a little easier to recover from a string of crappy games.
The changes are largely to the idea of a “streak multiplier” that accelerates the rate at which your skill rating is changed based on either a collection of consecutive wins or losses. The change is largely intended to deal with boosting or smurfing, according to head designer Jeff Kaplan.
Boosting is the idea of paying for someone to level an account to a higher skill rating. The reasoning behind this is baffling to me, as in the vast majority of cases you’ll end up in a skill bracket where you can’t hold your own and you’ll tank your rating pretty damn quickly. I suppose some people generally think they’re much better than their skill rating and that they’re “stuck” due to everyone else’s play. This is a really distorted way of thinking, but it must be common enough as there are entire companies built around boosting players’ Overwatch accounts to a predetermined skill level. This process is especially harmful to other players, as the gamers who actually deserve to be in that skill bracket will be stuck with players who don’t actually play at the skill level their account reflects.
“Smurfing” is when high-rating players create a new account to play in a much lower skill bracket and stomp all over less skilled players. I don’t understand the appeal behind this easier. Sure, it’s easy and it feels good to win over and over again, but is that good feeling really justified if you’re not playing with people that are anywhere near your level of skill? Destroying new players with a new account just makes people feel bad and can lead to a string of losses when just one excellent player can turn the tide of low elo games.
As we mentioned above, the main changes to address these issues are a tuning adjustment to the streak multiplier mechanic. Simply put, you’ll need to win or lose more games in a row to see that huge skill rating adjustment. Kaplan and the Overwatch team are confident this will help resolve a lot of issues that the player base has brought up with the game’s competitive mode (though boosting and smurfing are not unique to Overwatch in any sense).
What do you guys think? Is this the fix that was needed to bring Overwatch competitive mode’s balance a little more in line with how it should work? Is this a bandaid on a much bigger problem? Let us know in the comments below.
Gaming
Gran Turismo 7 Update 1.46 introduces an exciting addition to the roster of exclusive cars available in the PS5 and PS4 racing game
Gran Turismo 7 has just received an exciting update to version 1.46 on both PS5 and PS4. This latest update introduces a unique addition to the game: the Škoda Vision Gran Turismo, a car that you won’t come across in any other game. Škoda makes its debut in the franchise with a visionary study of a single-seater, all-electric racing concept car, designed exclusively for the Polyphony Digital racer.
Once you’ve downloaded update 1.46, you’ll have the opportunity to test drive not one but two additional cars: the AFEELA Prototype 2024 and the iconic Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 Sport Coupe ’70. Get ready for an exhilarating ride! Watch as they take to the track in the video above.
Additionally, the update introduces a new menu for players to tackle in the GT Café. At Collector Level 38, players have the opportunity to delve into the fascinating world of Ferrari 12-cylinder engines, gaining knowledge and expanding their collection. In World Circuits, players can look forward to exciting new events such as the Japanese Clubman Cup 550, the American FR Challenge 550, and the Vision Gran Turismo Trophy. For all the avid fans of Photo Mode, there’s an exciting opportunity to explore the captivating city of San Diego in a brand new Scape.
What are your thoughts on the latest update for Gran Turismo 7? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.
Gaming
ReFantazio Takes a Different Approach to Romance, Setting Itself Apart from the Persona Games
Atlus’ highly anticipated RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio, appears to incorporate familiar systems reminiscent of the developer’s acclaimed Persona series. The game features turn-based battles that heavily rely on exploiting enemy weaknesses. Additionally, players have the ability to summon warrior spirits during combat. However, the most significant aspect of this game, which will be discussed in this article, is the bonding system. Through this system, players can spend time with important characters and gain deeper insights into their personalities and stories.
In contrast to the Persona games, the bonding system ends at that point. Unfortunately, players will be unable to pursue romantic relationships with their beloved waifus, which may come as a disappointment to those who have developed strong feelings for Hulkenberg, the party’s charismatic red-haired elven knight.
According to Siliconera, the absence of romance came up during a recent question and answer session. Atlus emphasized the continued opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with your allies while also introducing additional narratives through substories. In addition, familiarizing yourself with the supporting characters will grant you access to new archetypes, which serve as the game’s character classes.
In the Persona games, romance is not obligatory; rather, it serves as a means to customize your playthrough. However, it is quite unexpected that Metaphor has chosen not to pursue such a venture, considering the significant amount of discussion it typically generates!
Were you anticipating any romantic elements in Metaphor? If you’re not satisfied with your pre-order, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Gaming
Shift Up unveils the intriguing details behind the physical packaging of Stellar Blade for the PS5
It appears that many
are eagerly anticipating the launch of the highly anticipated PS5 exclusive, Stellar Blade. Shift Up, the developer, has shared a lengthy video showcasing the “secrets” found in the physical box of the game for PS5. From what we can gather, these secrets include a reversible cover/dust jacket and a download code for cosmetic items.
We must clarify that while we do appreciate the variant cover, it may be more appealing than the game’s standard art. However, it is not something we would typically classify as a “secret.”. However, what’s interesting is that Shift Up has confirmed through the comments section that this will be the case in all regions. Additionally, the visually striking action RPG will remain uncensored worldwide.
「Stellar Blade」 Physical Package Secrets⚠️#StellarBlade #PS5 #Disc pic.twitter.com/WQSzKUSDQ4
— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) April 22, 2024
It’s refreshing to witness a developer going the extra mile for physical collectors, and it’s evident that the developer is determined to leave a favorable mark in the console realm. Stellar Blade is set to make its highly anticipated debut this Friday, April 26th, exclusively on the PS5.
- Gadgets9 years ago
Why the Nexus 7 is still a good tablet in 2015
- Mobile Devices9 years ago
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs Galaxy Note 5: is there room for improvement?
- Editorials9 years ago
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 – How bad updates prevent people from enjoying their phones
- Mobile Devices9 years ago
Nexus 5 2015 and Android M born to be together
- Gaming9 years ago
New Teaser For Five Nights At Freddy’s 4
- Mobile Devices9 years ago
Google not releasing Android M to Nexus 7
- Gadgets9 years ago
Moto G Android 5.0.2 Lollipop still has a memory leak bug
- Mobile Devices9 years ago
Nexus 7 2015: Huawei and Google changing the game