CQC CQC is unplayable

[FredTA]

I seem to be in the vast minority here, in that I actually really like CQC, I find the handling of the small ships and the way you can fly around cover really quite satisfying, and it's a great bit of variety when you're stuck in an Anaconda tens of thousands of light years from the bubble.

Thing is, it's impossible to play! There's no way at all to find a match, I got to play one game of Deathmatch, after which everyone left and nobody joined, even after 20 minutes, same goes for the other game modes, complete ghost town.

Now surely the problem isn't that there are literally only a dozen people playing at once, because that's an astronomically low number, so what's the problem? Is there just some problem with matchmaking that can be fixed? If so, definitely worth taking a look. Really sucks seen that CQC rank on the right panel and knowing you can never increase it :/

 

[eboy]

Now surely the problem isn't that there are literally only a dozen people playing at once, because that's an astronomically low number,

The problem isn't that there only a dozen people playing.

The problem is that there are only 14 people playing! http://steamcharts.com/app/443080

I seem to be in the vast minority here, in that I actually really like CQC

Tiny minority.

 

[Nerwan]

Yes, this is it's main problem, the matchmaking. I like CQC too, but you basically can't reliably play it at any old time.. It's best played Friday/Saturday evenings UK time since that's when the most players are online..

 

[FX2K]

I have tried unsuccessfully to join a game numerous times. Still haven't played a single game of CQC.

I wonder why they didn't implement it as an area (or similar) in the main game, or something you could at least join from station services and be put in a queue whilst still being able to play in open, mind you having never been able to play it, I don't know what its like, so maybe there is a valid reason... clearly as it is now though, its useless, for me at least. I gave up trying to connect... I would rather fly back and forth to Hutton Orbital in normal space than sit waiting for the matchmaking to do nothing.

 

[Thomas Jefferson Jones]

I have tried unsuccessfully to join a game numerous times. Still haven't played a single game of CQC.

I wonder why they didn't implement it as an area (or similar) in the main game, or something you could at least join from station services and be put in a queue whilst still being able to play in open, mind you having never been able to play it, I don't know what its like, so maybe there is a valid reason... clearly as it is now though, its useless, for me at least. I gave up trying to connect... I would rather fly back and forth to Hutton Orbital in normal space than sit waiting for the matchmaking to do nothing.

As nice as it would be to queue up while doing something in the main game, I don't see how FD could reconcile what happens to your ship when a match starts. You'd either 'CQC' log and disappear, or keep going straight and end up pretty salty when the match was over and you were greeted with a rebuy screen.

 

[tgarpestad]

As nice as it would be to queue up while doing something in the main game, I don't see how FD could reconcile what happens to your ship when a match starts. You'd either 'CQC' log and disappear, or keep going straight and end up pretty salty when the match was over and you were greeted with a rebuy screen.

You get a time limit. In this time limit you have to finish whatever you did and jump into supercruise. If you succeed in doing this, you get to join the game. If not, someone else take over your slot.

 

[Privata]

Its sad , because CQC is actualy great.

Its fast , skill based and good looking.

Bots is what we need

 

[Oogie Boogie]

You have to chose the Death Match. There you get quite fast a group. But some of the players there will be very strong...

 

[CMDR Davanix]

So still sitting waiting for a match after 35 minutes decided to go get some food which took about 20mins to make cam back and gues what still waiting for a match what the hell is wrong with it

 

[Scoopy Doopy]

I don't know if it really makes any difference but if I don't connect in about five minutes, I cancel and start again. I don't usually have to wait much longer than ten minutes. That's still way too long but I can deal with that.

 

[Ozram]

Same boat OP. I really like CQC but rarely find a match.

 

[Scoopy Doopy]

When do you guys play? I'll try and join up with you tomorrow if you are around.

 

[Bacalao]

As nice as it would be to queue up while doing something in the main game, I don't see how FD could reconcile what happens to your ship when a match starts. You'd either 'CQC' log and disappear, or keep going straight and end up pretty salty when the match was over and you were greeted with a rebuy screen.

It would be no different than a normal exit to menu to play CQC, just that you could continue in the main game while waiting in queue. You enter the queue, when you're group is ready everyone gets 15 seconds to accept the invite. On accepting the invite you either go immediately (if in supercruise or a station or anywhere not in danger) otherwise you lose control of your ship for 15 seconds just as you would if logging out through the menu.
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The only real problem I could see is that enough people would begin to queue for CQC from the main game that queue times would be so short you wouldn't be able to do much in the main game while you waited, because there'd be no wait.

 

[FredTA]

I have tried unsuccessfully to join a game numerous times. Still haven't played a single game of CQC.

I wonder why they didn't implement it as an area (or similar) in the main game, or something you could at least join from station services and be put in a queue whilst still being able to play in open, mind you having never been able to play it, I don't know what its like, so maybe there is a valid reason... clearly as it is now though, its useless, for me at least. I gave up trying to connect... I would rather fly back and forth to Hutton Orbital in normal space than sit waiting for the matchmaking to do nothing.

Because that means you can only play in by accessing a system, which is impossible if, like me, you're 10,000s of LY away from the bubble...

 

[FX2K]

Because that means you can only play in by accessing a system, which is impossible if, like me, you're 10,000s of LY away from the bubble...

I guess that's one reason.. a good one too.

 

[Ankor Grammaten]

I quite like CQC too, though I suck at combat. No, because I suck at combat.

It gives me a good opportunity to engage in a lot of combat without having to rebuy my ship and sally forth again.

It doesn't cost anything to lose (in fact I always get a small amount of advancement and credits even by coming last).

It helps me to suck less by allowing me to practice without worrying about losing.

It's fun, even when losing.

I'm making slow progress and getting different ships and loadouts to use, even when losing all the time.

Unfortunately I also find the same problem as the OP (long wait times) and also usually get overwhelmed by a few high rated players that get thrown in with the beginners. I'm wondering if these two things may be related, as I assume the matching algorithm tries to match similar skills, but can't do this well with very low numbers waiting.

Another thought is that the "tiny minority" may be bigger than it appears. I won't wait for very long before losing patience and go off to do something else. That counts me as part of the minority even if you don't see me playing often. I would if I could. There's also all the players who've totally given up on it, though they would really like to play.

I don't have much in the way of suggestions. Maybe form smaller groups if there were not enough for whatever the minimum is after a short wait? I'd rather play against one opponent than not play at all. Team matches with two players each with a team of AIs? These are only addressing the low turnout problem, hopefully to attract more players.

Of course if people really don't want to play it, the devs should maybe shut it down and spend their time on other things (if that's not already the case).

And yes, the training missions are OK, but limited.

 

[Ian Doncaster]

Unfortunately I also find the same problem as the OP (long wait times) and also usually get overwhelmed by a few high rated players that get thrown in with the beginners. I'm wondering if these two things may be related, as I assume the matching algorithm tries to match similar skills, but can't do this well with very low numbers waiting.

Yes - on the free weekend, the matchmaking was much better in splitting high and low ratings apart, presumably because it could still put together matches at all if it did.

I'm not sure about the "tiny minority" either - there are perhaps a tiny minority who play regularly and get the high ranks, but I see quite a lot of different names around otherwise. Lots of people at least giving it a try.


(On the wait times: yes, they can be pretty tough, but I bet I can get a CQC match faster than anyone can throw together a reasonably fair 8-way free-for-all brawl in the main game.)

 

[Bacalao]

Yes - on the free weekend, the matchmaking was much better in splitting high and low ratings apart, presumably because it could still put together matches at all if it did.

I'm not sure about the "tiny minority" either - there are perhaps a tiny minority who play regularly and get the high ranks, but I see quite a lot of different names around otherwise. Lots of people at least giving it a try.


(On the wait times: yes, they can be pretty tough, but I bet I can get a CQC match faster than anyone can throw together a reasonably fair 8-way free-for-all brawl in the main game.)

Agree to the above, but you can also play ED in the main game while you organize the free for all brawl.