Theory why PSN plyrs in Ranked Mode Right Now

This theory comes from about 10 or 12 PSN messages I received from players I met while playing in ranked mode. Obviously the sample size is a joke, but
it at least counts for anecdotal evidence.

There are several factors.

First, for the majority of playstation players this is the first time they've had the opportunity to play VF online. Contrary to popular opinion only the most hard-core VF players switched consoles to play VF when VF5 XBox had online. Playstation players that were just casual about, or flirting with VF4 and VF4evo were not about to switch consoles because VF5 XBL had online. Add to this group hardcore players (like myself) who for various reasons are loyal to the playstation and have for various reasons for never, ever,never, ever, hell no, ever never owning an XBOX. These plays purchased VF5 for the Playstation and just got over the fact that it didn't have online.

Second, Virtua Fighter , is a legend among fighting games in the Playstation world, I assume that's the case for other consoles, but I know its the case for the PS3. I ran into a lot of players in ranked that have gone as far as they can in Tekken and SC, and are finally ready to take the VF plunge. For these ppl, being able to be ranked on a VF leader board is a big deal. Because VF is a big deal. Its one thing to Rank on SF, KOF, MK, or SC, its a whole nuther ball game to rank on a VF leader board. And this is the first opportunity for any playstation player to do so. So a lot of players are right now as I post grinding
through the ranks of KYU, some are even making it to the ranks of Dan. And some are happy to just get on the boards for bragging rights. I friended a lot of ppl the first few days VF5FS was out, I go back look at their ranks now, and they've stopped at 3rd KYU, 4th Dan, some made it to Hunter. Some just wanted to rank now they'll go back to COD, or whatever

Third, some players are experienced leader board hoppers. These players know, that the time to get rank is within the first 30 days of a game's release. That's the time when the most ppl will be online. If you need other 5th Dans to rank up against, well you find the most within the first 30 days. If your ever gonna make it out of the Hunter ranks, the first 30 days will be the easiest time to do so. After the first 30 days (possibly sooner) Online traffic dies down, its harder to find ppl who even want to play ranked matches not to mention ppl in the rank that you need them to be in. The room matches become much more popular, because most of the regular players have already got their rank (if they wanted one), and are now all about enjoying the game.

If this theory holds up, we should expect to see more rooms, and non ranked player matches somewhere around July 15th. I suspect there will still be activity in ranked mode, but nothing like we're seeing right now. I've noticed no matter what time of day, I log on, there's always some hungry little ... you know what ready to rank up.

So in short the playstation community has always had a larger number of casual VF players than Xbox. And now is the first opportunity for the casual players to get online, and even more to the point, now is the first opportunity for them to get a rank in one of the worlds legendary fighting games.

 

Here's my theory:

People want to play ranked because there are more players there, this creates a cycle where more people will play ranked as there are more people there.

This is not the case on the PS3 alone, it's the same deal with the Xbox.

 

I got another theory, although I am not to proud about it.

The fact that the actual ranking only shows the number of fights and not a win and loss count and ratio, relieves a lot of pressure of going into ranked mode.

Nobody wants to be in the internet with a bad record, so the wait of becoming better until the "Net-Debut" is not a priority. Being that said, this could affect the amount of people that are playing in Ranked mode right now.

 

Ranked mode has more players than Unranked?
That goes against my common knowledge. I'd better play Ranked from now on. It's almost impossible to find online games where I am, for whatever reason.

 

I play in ranked because no one else bothers to play in player/room match >.<.

 

I think it's a combo of that and the way room/player matches are set up poorly with only being able to enter matches if they're not playing, and the long wait in room matches.

This game does need a patch of its online mode.

 

If we don't have numbers to tell us how good we are, then how would we ever know?!

 

People like ranked ranked for obvious reasons and there is no timer slowing down matches. I've spent 90% of my time in room matches and just hit up ranked again today to see if the play improved (some certainly has). I actually turned down several invites to sit in ranked today and see whats up with it. Got more hate mail

 

The same reason why xbox players are in ranked: there are much more people!

 

This and this alone is why there are more people in ranked on both PSN and XBL.

You could also argue that other reasons are because the current invite system for player match sucks and the timer is room match is a HUGE turn off.

 

I've got a theory, that it's a demon. A dancing demon.
...
No, something isn't right there.

 

I've got a theory, it could be bunnies!?

 

Bunnies aren't just cute like everybody supposes! They've got them hoppy legs and twitchy little noses. And what's with all the carrots? What do they need such good eyesight for anyway?

Bunnies, bunnies it must be bunnies!
...
Or maybe midgets.

 

Its pretty discouraging as a beginner player. No one was playing Player or Room matches so I was forced to learn by playing ranked. I think I am better off because of it, though. I eventually learned how to counter spammers and learned some fundamentals, but my win/loss record is terrible.

 

Yea its pretty bad IMO. I managed to get to the relatively high raks with just basics and some setups I made up myself, but not that competition is really getting tough and not missing a chance to counte Ive opted for some really dirty tactics, that im not proud of at all...
But i found some nice people from europe now, so Ill hopefully get better soon.

 

There's no such thing as "dirty tactics" in the ring. What are you talking about?

Y'know why I originally started playing Zangief in classic SF2? Cuz the ppl at my local arcade at that time had an unofficial "no throwing" rule, that playing Zangief was my silent F U to them. I threw them from 1 side of the screen to the other, using every single throw 'gief had (the good old glory days when he had a throw for almost every single button, and also different ones for ducking, jumping, and long/short distance).

 

Seriously, why even ponder why people are in ranked? Maybe people are playing in ranked because there is no damn Quest mode in this game ,and Ranked is the only way to add a status symbol rating to their toon. Honestly,I don't give a fuck about ranked, because first of all it's online and we know how questionable some peoples connections are. Secondly , their are no demotions. What kind of bullshit is that? How mamby pamby and Mickey Mouse is each VF iteration going to get? After EVO, Vf5 had weak BS AI in quest mode,Now Ranked mode online has no demotions. SO really who even cares about ranked? its worthless. You could theoretically lose every match,and still make Hunter Rank as long as you play 3,000 plus matches. Hell,you could just set up your stick with auto fire, and it would keep joining ranked matches for you while you sleep.You would wake up with Guardian rank.

Making the game ridiculously easy and making ranked mode a joke isn't going to boost sales to a 20 year old franchise. Languish in obscurity with dignity, Sega.

 

Re: Theory why PSN plyrs in Ranked Mode Right N

The reason to ponder why so many ppl are in ranked, is because you hear there are approx 50,000 PSN players. You go to room matches or player matches and nobody is there!!

You go to ranked mode, and low and behold that's where everybody is at. So the question is why is everybody in ranked mode? Its a fair question at this point...

There are demotions in VF5FS, Although once you get past Hunter
the lowest you can be demoted to is Hunter (I think) I saw a Destroyer last night get demoted back to a Shatterer. So demotion does happen at the higher ranks.

C'mon man auto-fire upto Guardian rank you know better than that....

 

Re: Theory why PSN plyrs in Ranked Mode Right N

Dude, don't you have a group of followers in your freaking cult? Lol, go play with them. I've heard you rant and rave about your cadre of elite VF players too many times over the years. All of a sudden you have no friends? There's nobody on your PS3 friends list you can invite to a room? Now you finally got the game online and you're all alone? Obviously offline is vastly superior to online, so why don't you and your cadre get together and play some offline matches? That would be hella better than waiting 35 seconds between each match.

I remember you had a website for setting up VF tournaments. Does that still exist? with VF in an upswing right now, you could really get some momentum.

Make your own room. It sounds like you are looking for instant gratification. Making a room takes patience. Make a room, be patient, watch some TV on your other TV while you wait. It will fill up eventually and the good times will roll. I have seen many rooms online and I have gotten off my keyster and made my own, Dural on, of course.

 

Re: Theory why PSN plyrs in Ranked Mode Right N

That pretty much sums it up, first day I played online I could find no player matches or rooms. Looking at the rankings I see a figure in excess of 40,000...and not a single payer match??

As a result I just sit in the custom ranked lobby and wait for challengers. 9 times out of 10 if you challenge someone at hunter of above the 'Session is already full' or what ever the other message is. Already had 900 ranked fights and i've not gone above 'Defender' rank yet, mainly because the challengers I get above 'Hunter' go for me knowing they've beaten me before.

Slightly depressing but the table shall be turned once I master Akira, then i'll be bumming 'em real hard oooooh yeah.