Subject: Questions & Answers

not necessarily. It's not that straightforward

IzzaX made good thought

What I meant was that if you increase number of options you also increase the range of possible results...so in one way the probability of one single result is lower, but there will be more possible results, so in the end, there could be more results that you didn't expect

so if you don't change those variables, more precisely, lower them, you can see even stranger results than you saw in previous calculation

While you guys continue your whining, I want to congratulate the DHC Corsairs in the USA National Tournament on their upset over me. I was hoping for the win, but their goalie played a lights out game.

Sportsmanship, some people have it...

Ok. I found a newsletter where you talked about next seasons' engine and get it now, what will be changed. I guess that will have a major influence, mostly on weird results that tends to occur more likely now that it should occur (when comparing to real life ice-hockey results). I'm looking forward to see that new engine, as I think that this will be maybe the major improvement since PPM start!

You are talking about something completely different than me. In fact, I am not even sure what you are talking about. What do you mean by number of options? What options? Tactical options? I can assure you that they don't cause anything unexpected. There are weeks of testing behind that.

I know the engine inside-out and I am positive that the chances of major upsets have not gone up compared to the previous engine. I know exactly which changes we have made and what kind of influence they have.

So, the reason you lost is because his goalie had a magnificent day ?
Why do you congratulate Mr. GrBrown if he had no influence in that win ? That's not a sportsmanship. That's sarcasm.

Where is the alternative? Should there be a threshold of advantage beyond which the winner is known in advance? I don't think so, one doesn't want to scare the new managers away. Should the chance of major upsets be decreased? Perhaps, but a GE is a delicate thing. Changing the way the scoring chances are computed might easy affect every single aspect of the game and destroy the balance. It's a good thing that the guys keep working on it and don't rush things!

New managers, managers which don't have strong teams because they don't care much, managers who log in every 3-4 days, shouldn't win their games against stronger teams and there is no dispute about that. They won't make fuss about it, because they know it's natural to loose from much stronger team.
However, managers who have weak teams but with their dedication and commitment, find a way to give their team a extra edge in one battle, should be rewarded with win against stronger team. I can't see what is wrong with that thought.In this way GE is rewarding anybody and it is frustrating.
Not so long ago I lost from a guy who doesn't care about hockey no more and has weaker club, and it is lousy feeling.
Also, if there was no "whining" here, what makes you think devs would try to make things better ?
Balance that you are pointing out as a fragile thing, is not so good balance as we have seen. It should be disturbed, and I think they have enough programmers and test software to make new balance better.

very (very) simplified example

You have vault with security code. You have 4 digits code, so you have 10 000 possibilities. When you add another digit, so you'll have 5 digits code, you will have 100 000 possibilities.

And try this logic with new engine. We had 3 options of tactic. Now we have 5 options, so now we can have bigger range of possible results because there are more possibilities that are in calculation.

again it's very simplified example and it's not only for tactic options. In same way, you can use it for every option we have (tactic, ice time, game importance, etc)

And I must add that there should be lucky upsets, but in far less amount than now.

if you look at it that way, then yes, there are more possibilities, but not unexpected.

I dont think Taloncarde's opponent fits this description. Also we don't reward inactive managers who don't care. In long term they will never be successful. I think that is clear to see. In 1 game, well, anything is possible.

yes, maybe I used wrong word, but what I meant was that if in old engine result can be from 0:10 to 10:0, in new engine it can be from 0:15 to 15:0, because with more options there are bigger range

In long term guys who do care are kicked out from important competitions like NC is. For an example, I had 6 bad results in NC in 7 seasons, only one deserved, and only one was determined by luck factor on my behalf (I had weaker opponents in seeding than others, so I got far in NC).
We all know how NC is important competition for those who are not in the first 3 teams by strength, what it brings/what do you loose.
So, your theory for a long term happenings is clearly only for regular league time. There you can try hard all season to stay up, but when you get to playoffs, you could get whipped by some underdog.

Taloncarde himself put his game in focus. I tried to explain him on his example whether he is right or not.

Excuse me, but are you really complaining about your NC results? You've been 2. and 3., reached the quarterfinal once and the round of last 16 twice. From how many teams in serbia? Eventually everyone loses, put the 6 strange losses against the overall wins in cup seasons and you've won far more often. Upsets happen, especially in cup games or PO, where much more is at stake. That is part of the fun and the game!

I have a weaker third league team and I personally like to have the possibility to win a nice upset. And so I hope that the chances of such matches are not diminished too much in the next season - just to play the devils advocate in a context where everyone around here seems to go crazy about the new engine.

And btw, I really don't like the permanent whining about upsets and the ME. Of course there are strange results, but not that many more than with the old engine. I guess it's something people are now looking more closely upon since the start of the season and it's probably also some sort of hype.
Nevertheless there is always something to improve in such a game engine and as long as ppm tries to do that I'm fine. The balance of things like that is delicate.