So this is something I posted as a comment to another thread, but thought I’d create it’s own topic for.
Here are some rough suggestions on how to reduce queue times as well as reduce the impact that early game leavers (either disconnect, crash or quit) have on the game.
Reduce downtime between games
What I mean by this is things like
- Reduce loading times \ cinematics
- Some may be dependant on player hardware.
- Others are just for ‘fluff’. Like the chopper scene, the arm wrestle bit etc. It was cool the first 4-5 times, but after the 100th time, it’s just annoying.
- Allow Fireteam players to leave without penalty
- As long as they cannot be reinforced/respawned (< This means no detriment to other players)
- A dead player who has left, has the potential to requeue for another game, reducing wait times for a Predator waiting for that last Fireteam member.
- I’m NOT suggesting everyone should just be able to rage-quit whenever they want. Use your brain.
- Allow Predator players to leave without penalty once killed.
- Once the bomb has been defused, there’s no reason to force the Predator to stick around for the waves of AI enemies that follow. The Predator already needs to wait long enough, just let them go and queue up for a new game.
AI Fireteam support
This game desperately needs AI Fireteam support.
Look at games like Evolve as reference. They had AI team members. Sure they weren’t ‘great’, but it was SOMETHING.
Many players (especially new ones, or very casual ones), just want to play as a Pred, sometimes just to practice. They have no option. They jump into a game (after waiting ages), get destroyed by a Fireteam in half the time, and probably don’t play the game again for a week or ever.
When a Fireteam member quits/disconnects in lobby after countdown. BAM, game ruined. You’re instantly 3v1. Sometimes the game will continue, but often it just results in a chain reaction, and the game is over. Predator didn’t even get to play after waiting all that time.
Have AI replace disconnected/quit Fireteam members. 3+AI is better than 3+0.
Allow Players to hot-join games where a Fireteam member has recently disconnected/quit.
- You can add criteria to this to avoid players joining ‘dead’ games. (I can elaborate if needed)
- This can be an option the player can toggle (like Crossplay).
- Provide some XP/Currency incentive for players that are willing to hot-join “Games in Need”
- You could also add support for Hot-joining as a Predator in specific cases, but the likelihood would be much less. (But it does happen).
- I’ve had quite a few games that have been absent a Predator due to a disconnect or quit early in the game. These games would benefit from a Predator joining in the early-stages of the match.
============================================
Now some of the above might sound like they improve wait times for Fireteam more than the Predator, and that’s probably true. But who are the Predators waiting for? > Fireteam players. It’s a mutual beneficial relationship.
I also understand implementing suitable AI for FireTeam is a large job, but I hope it is at least being worked on?
The hot-join feature I would think would be easier to implement, and something you could even open up to having people being able to invite their friends to. (at the start of a game)