The following is full of assumptions and made-up but easy-to-understand numbers. The goal is to illustrate the math driving the SMBB argument as there’s no accurate game data publicly available for these calculati

Respawn has done an excellent job of listening to player feedback, and while I don’t know that the changes to SBMM will be instant, I have no doubt that the team there is listening to feedback. Algorithms are extremely tough to master, especially when it comes to a software product that’s still relatively new, like Apex Legends . If I’ve had Instagram for seven years and still can’t get it to stop showing me pictures of my friends’ babies, then suffice it to say players may have to be patient while Respawn masters its SBMM mathemat

Some have suggested that instead of matchmaking based on skill, lower-skilled players should grind harder and play better in order to compete with top players. First of all, not everyone has 3,000 hours a year to put into a video game. But more importantly, I'm not really sure how a person can improve when they're getting clobbered every game. After a certain point, it probably wouldn't matter anyway because the player would eventually find a different game that's more fun for t

But The Walking Dead proved the world loves a good zombie show. A game series like CoD: Zombies provides a ton of material, which someone like J.J. Abrams could helm with a mix of suspense and terror that people have come to love. And, while not always extremely coherent, the intersecting timelines and high-stakes decisions that comprised the Aether timeline are worthy of a spot on Netflix’s programming sl

This section is dedicated to in-game tactics to improve gameplay. He covers aim optimization and movement strategies, as well as more basic concepts like high-ground advantages and peeking tactics. Clearly, every one of my random squad mates read this chapter, as they love to drop in the elevated platforms at Train Yard and do nothing but peek until someone one-shot knocks them with a Longbow from across the

This chapter is primarily about the role of deliberate practice in improvement. A major takeaway is to set goals while playing to improve specific skills. For instance, in order to become better with sniper rifles, a person should plan to spend an entire gaming session practicing only sniper rifle kills. (Note to self: "Stop being a potato" is NOT a good go

An evolution of the characters and scenarios set up in the Titanfall series, this lore-rich battle royale features a diverse cast of characters with unique motivations and backstories. The Apex Games bring them together as they form teams of three to fight to become the Apex Champions. Their fight for glory is full of sci-fi action, spy operations, mystery and mystique. While there’s plenty to explore in Bloodhound’s dark past or the life-altering experiences that led Bangalore to join the Apex Games, we’d also be happy with a sitcom exploring Mirage’s search for love... and the perfect pork chop rec

The majority of people complaining about SBMM seem to be in the top echelon of players. Their complaints are valid. But it’s important to look at this as a mathematical challenge. The reality is that without SBMM, even middle-of-the-road casual players have an extremely high chance of being consistently matched with top players against whom they don't stand a cha

It's reasonable to imagine those 10 players spend much more time playing Apex Legends than others. To give you an idea of how this might shape out, it's worth noting that out of my 100 Xbox friends who play Apex Legends the most, one has played more than 3,050 hours. He's the game's overall 20th ranked player based on player level ( as calculated prior to the changes made in the game's most recent update ), according to TRN's Apex Legends Tracker . The friend with the second-most time in the game is also a strong player but has logged only 1700 ho

He impresses the importance of strategy and Loba Abilities Guide communication, including how to deal with teammates in high-pressure, heated moments. In those cases, Ninja suggests listening carefully to your teammates and learning from their perspectives as well. He does NOT suggest raging at them for blocking the door while you were trying to escape an enemy — not that I know anything about t

Top Apex Legends players are making impassioned pleas for game developer Respawn to do away will skill-based matchmaking (SBMM). From their perspectives, it’s not fair that public matches feel as competitive — if not more competitive — than ranked games . This is indeed problematic, as ranked exists specifically so top players can compete at a top-tier level. Players who play public matches shouldn’t be subject to the same level of competitive p

In this chapter, Ninja offers tips on pimping a stream to make it seem more professional. Recently, TheGamer invited me to do some product reviews. With a green screen backdrop, a nice LED light and more desktop space due to a wireless mouse option, I felt so good about my setup that I'm now convinced I'm the next Ninja (have you seen the header image on this stor