New Patch Feedback (Devs please read) [bhop heal, accuracy on slide, etc.]
As I'm sure you've read/heard, a number of streamers and competitive minded players are upset with the patch and leaving the game. The big changes that led to this? (the top 4 look to be the main ones, but it's a cumulative sum of these issues)
- Bhop Healing Removed___ (skill based mechanic)
- Accuracy nerf on sliding___ (skill based mechanic)
- Elite Queues Implementation
- Removed launch options/config file options, with no replacement for them (i.e. didn't give a way for people to reduce settings to hit consistent 240+ fps, didn't reduce muzzle flash for a few certain weapons even though many think it's incredibly excessive, etc.)
- BUGS. Many of them, which add up to "why play until this is fixed?" (Loot in death boxes is random now, Heal keybinds don't work, spamming heal button after having used it bugs it out, havoc/devotion ammo reduction, etc. just to name a few)
- Long awaited fixes and QoL changes still haven't happened. Pathfinder hitbox still not fixed? One keybind still controls all the following looting_opening doors_reviving_finishers? Still no option so that the looting screen doesn't close when being shot? Just to name a few.
The top 3. The problem with bhop healing is that not everyone knew about it AND that matchmaking isn't skill-based, so casuals are punished even more so for not knowing about it and using it. The same goes for shooting while sliding. These mechanics could have been embraced with an advanced training tutorial on them, and bhop healing could have also been made even easier to do. We know that you didn't intend for it to be in the game, but many game mechanics aren't intended and end up ADDING to the game. Comboing in Street Fighter 2, many mechanics in Super Smash Bros Melee, bhop strafing in Quake, etc.. For SF2 and Quake, Developers embraced those unintended game mechanics because they added to the game. Nintendo didn't embrace SSBM's unintended mechanics, and their games following SSBM haven't ever had the following that SSBM garnered, with SSBM still having huge tourneys even so many years later.while their games following SSBM don't. Same could be said for these skill based mechanics in Apex. With an advanced training tutorial and skill-based matchmaking, these mechanics give players something to work towards while also not having to worry about getting destroyed by those who have already mastered these mechanics. It gives a huge feeling of satisfaction when you start to master these mechanics, and most of all, they're just damn fun to do. Isn't that what a game is about? We get it isn't fun when people get destroyed by their use, but hence why skill-based matchmaking would be helpful.
Elite Queue Implementation__The Slowing Down of Apex Legends: The above changes in combination with the way Elite Queue was introduced overall contribute to slowing down the game and making it campier. This moves the game away from the fast paced movement based BR game so many of us love, and more towards a slower paced campier game like PUBG. This should not be your aim! Fast paced action is what makes Apex stand out in the crowd of BR games! The idea of doing an Elite Queue to add competitiveness is good, and can also be used as a pseudo method for skill-based matchmaking (also good), but it needs to be done in a way that doesn't compromise the integrity of the core fast paced action we love about the game... doesn't move the game towards PUBG. There's been an emphasis on prestige with high dmg/kills since launch with the badges you have (4k dmg badge, 20 kill badge, etc.), so perhaps incentivizing Elite Queues with both placement & squad kills/dmg? Something akin to that maybe?
Overall, it's a combination of these changes that have streamers/competitive players upset, but mostly the move away from competitive skill and fast paced action. And you should want competitiveness in your games, because it helps create a large following and player base.
- Skill ceiling with skill based mechanics should be embraced so that competitiveness is encouraged, with those mechanics made known to all players so that it doesn't seem unfair.
- The game should be kept fast paced. Implement the next Elite Queue differently based around this concept.
- Players should be able to mod settings to get 240+ FPS, as long as the setting mod doesn't give unfair advantage, BUT, devs should listen to the community on why these players do some of the unfair changes, such as excessive muzzle flash for certain weapons
Thank you for reading.
