I don't play in UGC other than backing up and I am banned on their forums but I have a fundamental problem with UGC and their pre-season week isn't the map they pick, it's the fact they insist on having a pre-season. It is meaningless and it's existence is down only to "test" maps out, although much shittier and underdeveloped maps are thrown in the regular season anyway.
2 Problems I have found in UGC that are constantly repeating themselves every season.
1) Pre-season and playing in it, last Spring my team played Ginyu force, we elected to scrim Lakeside than play a terrible custom map that won't be used in the games that matter. Essentially a pre-season game is just a scrim, with no incentive to play, in fact you have more incentive to lose the match as it affects who you face early in the season, now you would rather play as many of the weaker teams than face a top side early on, that is my experience of it.
2) Divisional placements are a hot topic of dispute, it seems my experience of how you are determined your placement, especially as a new team is through judging your individual players previous experiences, which is of course no indication of how they will perform as in the past players who played "invite" or "Platinum" could have been playing this level at a time when skill level was less developed or they could have been in a particular role for their team although not a contributing factor to the reason their team was so good (A polite way of saying they were carried). The other way teams seem to be decided on their skill level is through whims of admins, often from their OWN scrimming experiences rather than the individual team.
Alternative
Instead of a pre-season match, why not do either a one-off playoff week for teams who want to play in either Platinum, Gold, Silver, Steel, Iron, Cotton, Helium, Californium league...etc. Give teams an opportunity to play for their place, if you're a long time team who are "High Gold", let them playoff vs a Low Platinum team. The only issue I can see with this is a lot of teams form with the intent to not play the highest level, some generally do want to sandbag lower opposition, but if you put them in a playoff and they don't play (or they play and they don't try) then you're well in your right to now allow them to participate where they ask to go.
When it comes to judging a teams' skill, you need to look at how they perform as a team and their is no better way of judging skill than teams playing high pressure playoff matches. Get rid of Pre-season, get some playoffs and get some meaningful games beforehand. It makes for good viewing, early season excitement and rewards teams who are serious.
I don't play in UGC other than backing up and I am banned on their forums but I have a fundamental problem with UGC and their pre-season week isn't the map they pick, it's the fact they insist on having a pre-season. It is meaningless and it's existence is down only to "test" maps out, although much shittier and underdeveloped maps are thrown in the regular season anyway.
2 Problems I have found in UGC that are constantly repeating themselves every season.
1) Pre-season and playing in it, last Spring my team played Ginyu force, we elected to scrim Lakeside than play a terrible custom map that won't be used in the games that matter. Essentially a pre-season game is just a scrim, with no incentive to play, in fact you have more incentive to lose the match as it affects who you face early in the season, now you would rather play as many of the weaker teams than face a top side early on, that is my experience of it.
2) Divisional placements are a hot topic of dispute, it seems my experience of how you are determined your placement, especially as a new team is through judging your individual players previous experiences, which is of course no indication of how they will perform as in the past players who played "invite" or "Platinum" could have been playing this level at a time when skill level was less developed or they could have been in a particular role for their team although not a contributing factor to the reason their team was so good (A polite way of saying they were carried). The other way teams seem to be decided on their skill level is through whims of admins, often from their OWN scrimming experiences rather than the individual team.
[b]Alternative[/b]
Instead of a pre-season match, why not do either a one-off playoff week for teams who want to play in either Platinum, Gold, Silver, Steel, Iron, Cotton, Helium, Californium league...etc. Give teams an opportunity to play for their place, if you're a long time team who are "High Gold", let them playoff vs a Low Platinum team. The only issue I can see with this is a lot of teams form with the intent to not play the highest level, some generally do want to sandbag lower opposition, but if you put them in a playoff and they don't play (or they play and they don't try) then you're well in your right to now allow them to participate where they ask to go.
When it comes to judging a teams' skill, you need to look at how they perform as a team and their is no better way of judging skill than teams playing high pressure playoff matches. Get rid of Pre-season, get some playoffs and get some meaningful games beforehand. It makes for good viewing, early season excitement and rewards teams who are serious.
It's preseason, technically you don't have to play it. I don't get why you're complaining about preseason matches, as it's preseason. It's meant so people can relax and have fun before tryharding in the season. The idea of throwing the preseason match to face a weaker team is pretty silly imo, but teams should be able to do whatever they want.
It's preseason, technically you don't have to play it. I don't get why you're complaining about preseason matches, as it's preseason. It's meant so people can relax and have fun before tryharding in the season. The idea of throwing the preseason match to face a weaker team is pretty silly imo, but teams should be able to do whatever they want.
Why don't you post this on the ugc forums instead of here
Why don't you post this on the ugc forums instead of here
MidnitesiteWhy don't you post this on the ugc forums instead of here
Because's there's a highlander discussion section meant for highlander discussion?
[quote=Midnitesite]Why don't you post this on the ugc forums instead of here[/quote]
Because's there's a highlander discussion section meant for highlander discussion?
MidnitesiteWhy don't you post this on the ugc forums instead of here
Banned but also here you will get more intelligent debate and you don't have much debate here as it is.
[quote=Midnitesite]Why don't you post this on the ugc forums instead of here[/quote]
Banned but also here you will get more intelligent debate and you don't have much debate here as it is.
MidnitesiteWhy don't you post this on the ugc forums instead of here
HildrethI am banned on their forums
[quote=Midnitesite]Why don't you post this on the ugc forums instead of here[/quote]
[quote=Hildreth]I am banned on their forums[/quote]
MidnitesiteWhy don't you post this on the ugc forums instead of here
Hildrethand I am banned on their forums
hooky pls. by 3 seconds.
[s][quote=Midnitesite]Why don't you post this on the ugc forums instead of here[/quote]
[quote=Hildreth]and I am banned on their forums[/quote][/s]
hooky pls. by 3 seconds.
Yeah, what i don't get about pre-season week is most teams don't scrim the preseason maps because they know if they win or lose, it won't affect their ranking. It makes it pretty much pointless having it there for "testing" when virtually nobody scrims or practices on the map.
Yeah, what i don't get about pre-season week is most teams don't scrim the preseason maps because they know if they win or lose, it won't affect their ranking. It makes it pretty much pointless having it there for "testing" when virtually nobody scrims or practices on the map.
Hildreth in fact you have more incentive to lose the match as it affects who you face early in the season, now you would rather play as many of the weaker teams than face a top side early on, that is my experience of it.
Nope, when I asked an admin I was told clearly that if you win or lose it, it has no effect on who you play. ( unless you forfeit it , then it might have bearing.)
LanterNit won't affect their ranking. It makes it pretty much pointless having it there for "testing" when virtually nobody scrims or practices on the map.
Yes, but admins have and will decide where you place division wise because of this matchup...It dosn`t make sense, but it was told to me by a few admins coming into season 9 that this match could change a lot. ( I could have thrown it too if I wanted to ??)
[quote=Hildreth] in fact you have more incentive to lose the match as it affects who you face early in the season, now you would rather play as many of the weaker teams than face a top side early on, that is my experience of it.[/quote]
Nope, when I asked an admin I was told clearly that if you win or lose it, it has no effect on who you play. ( unless you forfeit it , then it might have bearing.)
[quote=LanterN]it won't affect their ranking. It makes it pretty much pointless having it there for "testing" when virtually nobody scrims or practices on the map.[/quote]
Yes, but admins have and will decide where you place division wise because of this matchup...It dosn`t make sense, but it was told to me by a few admins coming into season 9 that this match could change a lot. ( I could have thrown it too if I wanted to ??)
Throwing a match just to possibly avoid playing a good team the next week? Some real fuck boi shit right there. If you're good enough to contend with the good teams in a division then you're going to play them sooner or later.
The pre-season week serves a couple functions. One is to give teams an extra week to iron out their rosters without any consequence. Putting together a solid HL team isn't easy and a lot of teams like having the extra room to make sure they're ready for the regular season. The other reason is to give the admins a decent idea of how to match teams up the first week. It might not seem important for a small division like platinum, but with the crazy amount of new teams in iron and steel how are the admins supposed to know how to match those teams up. A preseason week makes scheduling for the real first week significantly smoother and more manageable for most teams.
Throwing a match just to possibly avoid playing a good team the next week? Some real fuck boi shit right there. If you're good enough to contend with the good teams in a division then you're going to play them sooner or later.
The pre-season week serves a couple functions. One is to give teams an extra week to iron out their rosters without any consequence. Putting together a solid HL team isn't easy and a lot of teams like having the extra room to make sure they're ready for the regular season. The other reason is to give the admins a decent idea of how to match teams up the first week. It might not seem important for a small division like platinum, but with the crazy amount of new teams in iron and steel how are the admins supposed to know how to match those teams up. A preseason week makes scheduling for the real first week significantly smoother and more manageable for most teams.
If its true that it actually affects who you play week one then 9 times out of 10 it's most strategic to get rolled. Not to be pessimistic but there's only eight weeks in the season and 15(?) teams in plat or w/e. more likely you'll hit weaker teams.
If its true that it actually affects who you play week one then 9 times out of 10 it's most strategic to get rolled. Not to be pessimistic but there's only eight weeks in the season and 15(?) teams in plat or w/e. more likely you'll hit weaker teams.
athermalMidnitesiteWhy don't you post this on the ugc forums instead of here
Hildrethand I am banned on their forums
hooky pls. by 3 seconds.
rip
[quote=athermal][s][quote=Midnitesite]Why don't you post this on the ugc forums instead of here[/quote]
[quote=Hildreth]and I am banned on their forums[/quote][/s]
hooky pls. by 3 seconds.[/quote]
rip
DavyCIf its true that it actually affects who you play week one then 9 times out of 10 it's most strategic to get rolled. Not to be pessimistic but there's only eight weeks in the season and 15(?) teams in plat or w/e. more likely you'll hit weaker teams.
what if
both teams are trying to throw
it'll be like 2 EGs playing against each other
[quote=DavyC]If its true that it actually affects who you play week one then 9 times out of 10 it's most strategic to get rolled. Not to be pessimistic but there's only eight weeks in the season and 15(?) teams in plat or w/e. more likely you'll hit weaker teams.[/quote]
what if
both teams are trying to throw
it'll be like 2 EGs playing against each other
pudding_cupThrowing a match just to possibly avoid playing a good team the next week? Some real fuck boi shit right there. If you're good enough to contend with the good teams in a division then you're going to play them sooner or later.
I wasn't meaning to say I wanted to or was going to ( If I did) I meant to say someone could do it, which is a problem around the system if that match matters in that way. And unless the admin I asked was wrong, again it effects their division not who they play in week 1.
DavyCIf its true that it actually affects who you play week one then 9 times out of 10 it's most strategic to get rolled. Not to be pessimistic but there's only eight weeks in the season and 15(?) teams in plat or w/e. more likely you'll hit weaker teams.
From what I heard it has no effect on who you play if you win or lose , according to an admin. It can effect what division you place though ( say if you're borderline high steel and they want you to move silver)
[quote=pudding_cup]Throwing a match just to possibly avoid playing a good team the next week? Some real fuck boi shit right there. If you're good enough to contend with the good teams in a division then you're going to play them sooner or later.
[/quote]
I wasn't meaning to say I wanted to or was going to ( If I did) I meant to say someone [u]could[/u] do it, which is a problem around the system if that match matters in that way. And unless the admin I asked was wrong, again it effects their division not who they play in week 1.
[quote=DavyC]If its true that it actually affects who you play week one then 9 times out of 10 it's most strategic to get rolled. Not to be pessimistic but there's only eight weeks in the season and 15(?) teams in plat or w/e. more likely you'll hit weaker teams.[/quote]
From what I heard it has no effect on who you play if you [u]win or lose[/u] , according to an admin. It can effect what division you place though ( say if you're borderline high steel and they want you to move silver)
morningfoxIt's preseason, technically you don't have to play it. I don't get why you're complaining about preseason matches, as it's preseason.
This right here is reason enough to complain about pre-season, because it doesn't matter.
morningfoxIt's meant so people can relax and have fun before tryharding in the season. The idea of throwing the preseason match to face a weaker team is pretty silly imo, but teams should be able to do whatever they want.
Pre-Season exists for various reasons
1. To test maps
2. To help teams decide if they really want to play together
3. To help teams know if they're in the right division
Problem is all of those points are moot when you consider summer season, how UGC decides map pools, the fact that pre-season is borderline worthless so team have no incentive to practice the map to play seriously or even show up, finally most teams would have already scrimmed teams in the same division and if they haven't odds are they're playing Steel/Iron and have no experience at all.
Though their is 1 other point I was just reminded of.
4. To help new team leaders understand how UGC works.
Honestly with the sheer number of teams I wouldn't be surprised if their are some really stupid people leading teams that can't figure out the site.
Steel/Iron pre-season honestly makes sense, but why should Platinum/Gold reflect that?
[quote=morningfox]It's preseason, technically you don't have to play it. I don't get why you're complaining about preseason matches, as it's preseason.[/quote]
This right here is reason enough to complain about pre-season, because it doesn't matter.
[quote=morningfox]It's meant so people can relax and have fun before tryharding in the season. The idea of throwing the preseason match to face a weaker team is pretty silly imo, but teams should be able to do whatever they want.[/quote]
Pre-Season exists for various reasons
1. To test maps
2. To help teams decide if they really want to play together
3. To help teams know if they're in the right division
Problem is all of those points are moot when you consider summer season, how UGC decides map pools, the fact that pre-season is borderline worthless so team have no incentive to practice the map to play seriously or even show up, finally most teams would have already scrimmed teams in the same division and if they haven't odds are they're playing Steel/Iron and have no experience at all.
Though their is 1 other point I was just reminded of.
4. To help new team leaders understand how UGC works.
Honestly with the sheer number of teams I wouldn't be surprised if their are some really stupid people leading teams that can't figure out the site.
Steel/Iron pre-season honestly makes sense, but why should Platinum/Gold reflect that?
Interested to see whether Borneo receives a good response, surely can't be worse than Waste.
Interested to see whether Borneo receives a good response, surely can't be worse than Waste.
as someone who played borneo in a match last (summer) season, i think it's a solid map (for payload), but still needs work or at least more serious testing by players
as someone who played borneo in a match last (summer) season, i think it's a solid map (for payload), but still needs work or at least more serious testing by players
pudding_cupThrowing a match just to possibly avoid playing a good team the next week? Some real fuck boi shit right there. If you're good enough to contend with the good teams in a division then you're going to play them sooner or later.
The Syndicate - Season 9, Pre-season
Ginyu Force - Season 9, Pre-season
Ginyu Force forfeited that and they didn't face any of the other higher seeds until week 5, we faced mTs in week 3 then BPM in week 4. All the teams that won their pre-season games faced better teams, it had a bearing. I am not saying Ginyu purposely set out to do this, just the way the admins set it up was incorrect.
Ironing out rosters - Fair enough comment, but if it's a playoff week you still have the same amount of time to do it in the form of practising, if you're in a playoff then you may be less prepared but if you apply to be in a playoff then you should be ready to play it and have been practising for a while anyway.
Giving Admins a clear picture how good these teams are - Isn't that the point of the Regular season? The point of the entire season?
[quote=pudding_cup]Throwing a match just to possibly avoid playing a good team the next week? Some real fuck boi shit right there. If you're good enough to contend with the good teams in a division then you're going to play them sooner or later.
[/quote]
The Syndicate - [url=www.ugcleague.com/team_page_matches.cfm?clan_id=3362]Season 9, Pre-season [/url]
Ginyu Force - [url=www.ugcleague.com/team_page_matches.cfm?clan_id=5559]Season 9, Pre-season[/url]
Ginyu Force forfeited that and they didn't face any of the other higher seeds until week 5, we faced mTs in week 3 then BPM in week 4. All the teams that won their pre-season games faced better teams, it had a bearing. I am not saying Ginyu purposely set out to do this, just the way the admins set it up was incorrect.
Ironing out rosters - Fair enough comment, but if it's a playoff week you still have the same amount of time to do it in the form of practising, if you're in a playoff then you may be less prepared but if you apply to be in a playoff then you should be ready to play it and have been practising for a while anyway.
Giving Admins a clear picture how good these teams are - Isn't that the point of the Regular season? The point of the entire season?
So, you don't like it because:
1. new maps
2. Fun, casual play
3. People can just not play it and get a better seeding.
4. Something completely unrelated (div placement)
so.
1. New Maps. All of 15 people in the community were testing new maps last night. So maybe it's a good thing that they force that.
2. Fun, casual play. I'm sure everybody is more than a little stressed at the beginning of the season and wouldn't mind just taking it easy on a weird map.
3. While FFW are fine, if you KNOW a team is throwing, why not talk to an admin.
4. Div placement. Yeah, and it might take a season for them to realize that their low-silver dm and low iron gamesense should put them in steel. But they'll never learn without trying to play gold.
So, you don't like it because:
1. new maps
2. Fun, casual play
3. People can just not play it and get a better seeding.
4. Something completely unrelated (div placement)
so.
1. New Maps. All of 15 people in the community were testing new maps last night. So maybe it's a good thing that they force that.
2. Fun, casual play. I'm sure everybody is more than a little stressed at the beginning of the season and wouldn't mind just taking it easy on a weird map.
3. While FFW are fine, if you KNOW a team is throwing, why not talk to an admin.
4. Div placement. Yeah, and it might take a season for them to realize that their low-silver dm and low iron gamesense should put them in steel. But they'll never learn without trying to play gold.
HildrethGinyu Force forfeited that and they didn't face any of the other higher seeds until week 5, we faced mTs in week 3 then BPM in week 4. All the teams that won their pre-season games faced better teams, it had a bearing. I am not saying Ginyu purposely set out to do this, just the way the admins set it up was incorrect.
But my point still stands. TS played mTs week 3 and BPM week 4.. and Ginyu played mTs week 4 and BPM week 5. It's not like Ginyu got to circumvent playing those teams or even delay playing them for long. In fact it even bit them in the ass playing BPM on barnblitz. In the end there's no way to avoid playing teams at or above your level unless you want to start throwing regular season matches too. And then there's always playoffs anyways.
ReasonerI wasn't meaning to say I wanted to or was going to ( If I did) I meant to say someone could do it, which is a problem around the system if that match matters in that way. And unless the admin I asked was wrong, again it effects their division not who they play in week 1.
What does "affects their division" mean exactly?
[quote=Hildreth]Ginyu Force forfeited that and they didn't face any of the other higher seeds until week 5, we faced mTs in week 3 then BPM in week 4. All the teams that won their pre-season games faced better teams, it had a bearing. I am not saying Ginyu purposely set out to do this, just the way the admins set it up was incorrect.[/quote]
But my point still stands. TS played mTs week 3 and BPM week 4.. and Ginyu played mTs week 4 and BPM week 5. It's not like Ginyu got to circumvent playing those teams or even delay playing them for long. In fact it even bit them in the ass playing BPM on barnblitz. In the end there's no way to avoid playing teams at or above your level unless you want to start throwing regular season matches too. And then there's always playoffs anyways.
[quote=Reasoner]I wasn't meaning to say I wanted to or was going to ( If I did) I meant to say someone [u]could[/u] do it, which is a problem around the system if that match matters in that way. And unless the admin I asked was wrong, again it effects their division not who they play in week 1.[/quote]
What does "affects their division" mean exactly?
pudding_cup
What does "affects their division" mean exactly?
From what I was told , is that the preseason match had a lot of bearing on what division you can be placed in if you're borderline too good or "bad" for said division. They make it factor, I am not sure how much of one but it is a factor to what division you can be moved too.
[quote=pudding_cup]
What does "affects their division" mean exactly?[/quote]
From what I was told , is that the preseason match had a lot of bearing on what division you can be placed in if you're borderline too good or "bad" for said division. They make it factor, I am not sure how much of one but it is a factor to what division you can be moved too.
Seems a little silly. A sample size of one preseason game shouldn't be enough to move a team up. Especially when it seems like most teams what to be moved down! haha
Seems a little silly. A sample size of one preseason game shouldn't be enough to move a team up. Especially when it seems like most teams what to be moved down! haha
EdgeInterested to see whether Borneo receives a good response, surely can't be worse than Waste.
Honestly I didn't think Waste was that bad. In fact, I think the preseason gives a good opportunity to play optional, league sponsored scrims on maps that would otherwise remain unplayed. I thought waste was a pretty fun cp map with an unnecessary payload cart. It also allowed me to weed out some of my roster by seeing who would actually show up when they were told to.
As for seeding, in the end, all the good teams will float to the top and make playoffs. If a team is any good, they'll have to face the good teams eventually by the very nature of how UGC schedules, so why should it matter to good teams whether they face other good teams week 1 or week 7? They're only going to play each other once during the regular season anyway.
[quote=Edge]Interested to see whether Borneo receives a good response, surely can't be worse than Waste.[/quote]
Honestly I didn't think Waste was that bad. In fact, I think the preseason gives a good opportunity to play optional, league sponsored scrims on maps that would otherwise remain unplayed. I thought waste was a pretty fun cp map with an unnecessary payload cart. It also allowed me to weed out some of my roster by seeing who would actually show up when they were told to.
As for seeding, in the end, all the good teams will float to the top and make playoffs. If a team is any good, they'll have to face the good teams eventually by the very nature of how UGC schedules, so why should it matter to good teams whether they face other good teams week 1 or week 7? They're only going to play each other once during the regular season anyway.
SoapSeems a little silly. A sample size of one preseason game shouldn't be enough to move a team up. Especially when it seems like most teams what to be moved down! haha
That is why it isn't called a "pre-season" game but a "Playoff" game. The difference between the terms is that one is meaningless and one means something. For a man who wrote such a good article I am surprised you can't cypher the difference between two obvious words.
It has been done, successfully for 3 seasons now in Europe, but yeah the manner of thinking in UGC is really backward in terms of teams preferring to compete versus worse players opposed to the best.
[quote=Soap]Seems a little silly. A sample size of one preseason game shouldn't be enough to move a team up. Especially when it seems like most teams what to be moved down! haha[/quote]
That is why it isn't called a "pre-season" game but a "Playoff" game. The difference between the terms is that one is meaningless and one means something. For a man who wrote such a good article I am surprised you can't cypher the difference between two obvious words.
It has been done, successfully for 3 seasons now in Europe, but yeah the manner of thinking in UGC is really backward in terms of teams preferring to compete versus worse players opposed to the best.
I understand your meaning, but for teams who want to stay in their division, they will intentionally throw the match. Nothing is stopping them from doing what they want. Even if it is mandated, their medic might "accidentally" drop uber 4 times each round.
What UGC needs is...some sort of ideal shift. Too many people are content with winning gold or silver, rather compete in a higher division.
I understand your meaning, but for teams who want to stay in their division, they will intentionally throw the match. Nothing is stopping them from doing what they want. Even if it is mandated, their medic might "accidentally" drop uber 4 times each round.
What UGC needs is...some sort of ideal shift. Too many people are content with winning gold or silver, rather compete in a higher division.
SoapI understand your meaning, but for teams who want to stay in their division, they will intentionally throw the match. Nothing is stopping them from doing what they want. Even if it is mandated, their medic might "accidentally" drop uber 4 times each round.
What UGC needs is...some sort of ideal shift. Too many people are content with winning gold or silver, rather compete in a higher division.
Hmm... Maybe a nice sponsor to put a little incentive into winning Platinum..?
[quote=Soap]I understand your meaning, but for teams who want to stay in their division, they will intentionally throw the match. Nothing is stopping them from doing what they want. Even if it is mandated, their medic might "accidentally" drop uber 4 times each round.
What UGC needs is...some sort of ideal shift. Too many people are content with winning gold or silver, rather compete in a higher division.[/quote]
Hmm... Maybe a nice sponsor to put a little incentive into winning Platinum..?
LKincheloeHmm... Maybe a nice sponsor to put a little incentive into winning Platinum..?
Considering you need to be really good friends with the IM/Main/Invite players that make up high platinum and are the teams that win plat or you need to have experience saying to these high tier plat teams that you can play in this level isn't easy at all to really get coming out of gold. You can't just move up from high gold and consider yourself already a good enough player to win platinum, just doesn't work like that.
[quote=LKincheloe]Hmm... Maybe a nice sponsor to put a little incentive into winning Platinum..?[/quote]
Considering you need to be really good friends with the IM/Main/Invite players that make up high platinum and are the teams that win plat or you need to have experience saying to these high tier plat teams that you can play in this level isn't easy at all to really get coming out of gold. You can't just move up from high gold and consider yourself already a good enough player to win platinum, just doesn't work like that.
I think that in general (and as usual) Hildreth is right.
If the "pre-season" game has weight, then why not just call it a regular season game?
If it doesn't have weight, then why have it?
If UGC wants to test maps, then have an optional "map testing day" with incentives to teams that participate.
If pre-season is really meant for placement reasons, then surely you'd need more than one single game to get an idea of what's going on? One match can't possibly give you that much information. Especially one that isn't taken 100% seriously.
I think that in general (and as usual) Hildreth is right.
If the "pre-season" game has weight, then why not just call it a regular season game?
If it doesn't have weight, then why have it?
If UGC wants to test maps, then have an optional "map testing day" with incentives to teams that participate.
If pre-season is [i]really[/i] meant for placement reasons, then surely you'd need more than one single game to get an idea of what's going on? One match can't possibly give you that much information. Especially one that isn't taken 100% seriously.
EdyLKincheloeHmm... Maybe a nice sponsor to put a little incentive into winning Platinum..?
Considering you need to be really good friends with the IM/Main/Invite players that make up high platinum and are the teams that win plat or you need to have experience saying to these high tier plat teams that you can play in this level isn't easy at all to really get coming out of gold. You can't just move up from high gold and consider yourself already a good enough player to win platinum, just doesn't work like that.
While what you're saying is true to a point, as a team leader on BPM I make a point to try and pick up backups with potential. For example, blam and Feint are 2 players I recruited onto our roster with little to no comp experience, and both do great in Plat scrims and matches. Feint is playing in Gold now apparently (that kid's gonna wreck) but the point still stands.
And, Edy -- you were one of the engis I would have considered asking to backup engi for us, but sodapopinskii is literally the most reliable team player I've ever seen, I think he's missed one scrim in 5 seasons.
[quote=Edy][quote=LKincheloe]Hmm... Maybe a nice sponsor to put a little incentive into winning Platinum..?[/quote]
Considering you need to be really good friends with the IM/Main/Invite players that make up high platinum and are the teams that win plat or you need to have experience saying to these high tier plat teams that you can play in this level isn't easy at all to really get coming out of gold. You can't just move up from high gold and consider yourself already a good enough player to win platinum, just doesn't work like that.[/quote]
While what you're saying is true to a point, as a team leader on BPM I make a point to try and pick up backups with potential. For example, blam and Feint are 2 players I recruited onto our roster with little to no comp experience, and both do great in Plat scrims and matches. Feint is playing in Gold now apparently (that kid's gonna wreck) but the point still stands.
And, Edy -- you were one of the engis I would have considered asking to backup engi for us, but sodapopinskii is literally the most reliable team player I've ever seen, I think he's missed one scrim in 5 seasons.