I just watched urnotjustin’s video called “The Actual State Of Overwatch” and i thought I’d put my experience and opinion out here. I bought this game 2 and a half years ago, way later than most people have mainly because my old pc couldn’t run this game. I had loads of fun when I first played I won’t deny that. But after Bridgette I started questioning if I like this game as much. As this went on, competitve players started becoming more and more brain dead and I find myself not only struggling to climb but also play stupid games where it’s alway one sided. Either we’re wiping the enemy or my team is getting wiped. There were game I lost where I shouldn’t but because there was a lack of communication, cohesion and teamwork I just kept going on a downward spiral dropping from plat to silver and hovering between those ranks(Yes I can still hit plat but then I’ll drop again before the season ends. Only time I stayed in plat was season 13). Now the players are so bad i just stop playing completely. I start to find myself playing other games or, you won’t believe this, WANT TO STUDY. I’m waiting for my enrollment letter for my school to arrive and I’ve never felt more excited because playing this game feels like a chore. I hate this game. Never once would I imagine that a game I spent nearly $100SGD on and loved so much to no end would make me hate it. I feel like the devs don’t care anymore and it sucks. All they want is to appeal to the pros and esports scene but they just ignore the rest of us and our request. No depth, lack of communication between consumer and supplier can just result in a terrible time for us casual players and it hurts. I remember enjoying this game so much but I can’t find that joy anymore. So many things happened that even though I open Overwatch immediately out of habit, I find myself playing lesser or wanting to play lesser. I would’ve completely quit the game if it wasn’t for the fact I have friends excited to play with me and the fact that I, again, spent nearly $100SGD on this game.
I can relate a lot. But it is more because I dont play much anymore, so I feel like that just 1 of 5 games is actually fun. The others are full of flamers in the own team, flamers in the enemy team, leaver, trolls, smurfs, etc.
If you want to play with a functioning comp you need to play ranked. QP is no fun just because everyone use it to just learn new heros. And ranked is ful of disrespectful people or tilted player right at the beginning.
I am glad I didnt spend that much money for the game but sometimes it is sad because I really liked this game. And turning off the all chat, team chat and voice chat is like I could play another game. Even league of legends is more fun at the moment.
Here’s my opinion on that;
I agree mostly with what you’ve said but I feel that some of your points are slightly off.
I don’t actually think the balancing has ruined the game, it’s simply forcing a lot of people that lack understanding of the game to drop. This means that players that flew up in ranks for understanding a particular “meta” was the best way to win are now dropping like flies because there isn’t a solid meta. The game is in a really balanced state.
This has caused some undesired consequences of making the game balanced. There are several players dropping like flies and the game has become a complete coin-toss of whether or not you’re going to be given those players as teammates. You can’t build a group to play at this stage anymore because the game punishes group players, so you’re left to chance… So, that’s why you feel like you’re “Wiping the floor” with people one game, and then being wiped yourself the very next game. The ranking system is in a shambles because players that can’t abuse “Meta” heroes are dropping like flies since their hero strength isn’t enough to compensate for their poor decision making (which is ultimately what drives the game).
I’m a pretty bad player in terms of technical skill. I am always lower than average when it comes to accuracy, which is a main driver of an FPS title. However, my decision making has always meant I can climb far higher than people that are more technically apt at the game which is why I reside in the 3700~ range. To be deemed as a “Master” of the game, yet severely lacking in the ability to aim seems rather fitting… If I had the technical ability of some players, I could no doubt expect to have been able to play in the “pro” circuit… alas, I can hold my hand up and say… I’m not good enough.
Furthermore to the original point; those players that are dropping like flies are the ones that create and cause toxicity in games. They’re in a bad mindset because they’re losing games, and they don’t understand why they’re losing. Their decision-making is ultimately what’s causing them losses, but they aren’t seeing the problems. If you inform them what they’re doing is wrong, they instantly lash out and start being abusive. If you tell them to stop being abusive, you get more abuse and a “report” anyway.
Which leads onto the main reason why this game is no fun anymore; The entire game is a mental drain right now because no one in this community (and actually, no one in gaming in general these days) can take any kind of criticisms anymore. Everyone has been called out for having a bad game before, and been called a synonym of “Terrible” that begins with the letter “S”… yet somehow now with the Automated Reporting System that Blizzard implemented, this means you can take offence to literally everything and report people because they hurt your feelings for calling you a bad player.
I’m not racist, I’m not abusive, I’m not homophobic… (unlike a hell of a lot of Overwatch players that somehow still seem to be able to keep playing) but I will call someone out for a bad decision so they understand why that certain situation has unfolded the way it did. This gets me reported 9/10 games, and thus my account gets suspended/banned rather regularly.
I appeal the ban, so Blizzard then combs through the archive of chat logs for my matches, and finds the one or two instances where I’ve called someone an “idiot” or “mongloid” because their repeated demonstrations of how they simply do not understand the game is baffling, and that becomes justification for a suspension.
As this continues, more and more accounts are actually on borrowed time because they’re just pending account deletion as opposed to actually being considered a player. The reporting system should have been reserved for Racist, Homophobic, Sexist, etc… remarks and not just an outlet for “He hurt my feelings”… and any disagreements that resulted in just argumentative remarks made at each other should have the same punishment made both ways, and not just a “Oh well this guy has 100 reports over 500 games, lets ban him” despite someone being openly and consistently racist being allowed to continue playing.
I agree with the original post, the game just no longer seems fun to play.
The only real enjoyment you hear from in relation to having fun in Overwatch is when you play with friends (this of course can make a difference in any game)
It doesn’t help with the constant character balancing issues which will never go away, I mean at some stage surely Blizzard must ask the question to the developers as to why they are fixing the same game for over 3 years. (imagine going to work everyday repairing the same thing, seems like nonsense). There are games out there which have flaws yet Blizzard are in a class of their own when it comes to fixing one problem by creating another.
The lack of content is also a problem the quality of what has been produced I personally think is to a high level however the low volume of extra maps game modes and heroes is very poor from a top FPS title. (I know the COD team who work with Activision charge $$$ for their expansions and new content but its clearly a level above what the OW team are capable of, which is shame)
Its like there was a decision made 18 months ago to either focus on the Esports or the player base, and its obvious what the outcome was. It feels like Blizzard doesn’t really care about the player base as once you have bought the game there is very little money to be made from most players, so whether you play for 2 years or 2 minutes they have what they wanted.
I think overwatch (the game) is better than ever but the players ruin it!
The game is still fun but only when played with people who are at your skill level.
How do you think the game can sustain itself without esports? With lootboxes? With discount sales for smurfs? How?
Take a look at Destiny 2 - an expensive DLC every 3 months or so. Would this be better than the free game we have now?
I have no issues with lack of content but the fact that the player base is so toxic and take offense to everything makes it mentally draining. I don’t mind broken heroes. Good team communication and teamwork can win a broken hero. But again communicating with the current player base is just tiring.
Symmetra is the belief for me to stay overwatch,as long as the game dies,I will keep playing symm in overwatch 