See I don't get what their performance in FFA mode has to do with what seems to be a fixed match in team modes with no known direct evidence but plenty of circumstantial evidence

I think what you're overlooking is this "beginning" is coming after three years of this over complex system killing player interest. If the endless messages in this very forum, as well as, the discord and in-game of players voicing their discontent with this system should tell you anything, it's that your team isn't nailing it. Haha.

I'm not trying to be rude, CD, but it seems if Plarium actually cared about their players, this MAJOR game issue would have been addressed with more urgency. Couple this with diminishing rewards from events (some are downright pitiful, if I'm being honest - slaps to the faces of all players), we don't see the behavior of a game trying to keep players, like at all.

I mean, unless they're willing to spend, and a lot, you know. Haha. Perhaps p2w doesn't care if they're beating players or bots, as long as they're winning. 90% ai matches despite over 70m accounts made doesn't strike them as odd.

Don't worry! I don't think that you are rude and remember that all the feedback, including criticism, is extremely crucial and passed on to the devs (of course, if it doesn't violate the rules of the forum containing offensive language and stuff).

I fully understand your point of view. Moreover, I'm mostly f2p, so I'm acquainted with all the issues of Matchmaking and the AI that common players encounter.

Still, when I'm saying, "It's only the beginning," "Work is in progress," or "Your ideas/suggestions will be considered," I literally mean it. Unfortunately, I can't disclose many details of what I know, but what I can confirm is that Mech Arena is changing. And even if it seems like it's changing not for the best, eventually, it will be much cooler than it's right now. Ngl it takes a lot of time, but it is worth it! I do hope that you will meet these changes as well. 😉

With all due respect, I think you're missing the point. Let me see if I can better explain using an example.

War Robots (almost a duplicate style game) was able to run an extremely effective matching system before they hit 10m players AND without AI (except in the intro stage). Matching for games was an average of 30-45 seconds, with maybe a minute wait on slow night.

Mech Arena shows us you have over 70m accounts in game, yet you keep telling us there aren't enough players for the matching to work without the AI. This seems to indicate you have kept substantially less than 10m of those players. That's a staggering less than 15% player retention, which to me, seems like a huge issue! And it definitely shows in the game, as people grow tired of fake PvP against AI that is predetermined to win or lose.

The AI you are forcing us to use because there aren't enough players IS A HUGE REASON you can't keep players; you have a "catch 22" in effect.

So, maybe the better question is, how does your team hope to regain the attention of the 60m+ players that are just done with the game after three years of mismanagement of this issue? 

@CrystalDrew Just a side question while on the topic; I run a three light scout hangar, and without trying, I've managed to get into the top 500. It makes me wonder, is it because there's not actually 500 people really playing the game? Haha

Guys, guys, guys....coversation with community manager is pointless...coz it is AI driven.

Only what you can get is an pointless answers.

I definitely agree with Ai issue and if you want to minimize your loss, get five real teammates in CPC/5v5 or two in 2v2.

Or don't play it at all. 

That's an interesting observation, and it definitely should be considered. However, several points need to be debunked:

1. The number of players doesn't guarantee strong online. For example, if we have many players in the US who play during their daytime and a few players from Japan who play during their daytime accordingly, it's highly possible that the players from Japan would be paired with bots due to the lack of online players. Besides, the SP is considered as well, which decreases the coverage.
2. "The AI you are forcing us to use because there aren't enough players IS A HUGE REASON you can't keep players" - makes sense, but otherwise, there would be either no opportunity to play at all when there is a lack of appropriate online players or Matchmaking would be forced to pair users with a highly enormous difference of SP and stuff.
3. It's not our will to widely use bots in the game. But we have no choice. I can assume that if we have a balanced number of players and their SP, we wouldn't use bots, but currently, it's impossible.

It's because of your wonderful skills! 💪

🤔🤔

As if! Haha. But thanks for the vote of confidence.

Humanity test, no offense 😁

1. We already addressed, really. Something is seriously wrong if after 70m accounts made there is still never enough active accounts online for matching to work without AI. No matter what time I am on, there never seems to be enough players to match me with more than one opponent, two if I am lucky. This game is subject to the same conditions as every other games in terms of regions and timezones, but really, people game just about anytime anywhere. Those games have thrived without AI. Sure, there will be some slow times, but not to the extent we experience in Mech Arena - and that's a crying shame. 

2. "Makes sense, but..." But your team doesn't care, in short. After a long enough winstreak, my 2.8k hangar has been placed against 9k hangars...that seem enormous and happening in the current system. The logic here is simple: if you have to keep AI in the game because there isn't enough players, but you can't keep players because of the AI, it seems like the solution is easy. Yes, it'll be bumpy at first as there will be the few players that seem to play now only, but word will get out that AI was removed, gamers will return to see this, population booms. 

3. I am unsure how you can even remotely say it is "impossible" when it hasn't even been tried. Not once in my time here has this theory been tested in the actual game, the AI has always been here. What is your teams magical number of players to get at least minimal bot use, like one per a team on average?

I see that you've already come to your own conclusions, so I have nothing more to add. All the points are complicated, they can't be easily resolved, but we are working on it.

These conclusions are based on the information you and your company has given (and lack of information) and what we observe in game (and certainly not mine alone, if you actually read any of the posts in the forum). You want to blow that off, I get it. Who would want to admit they work for an unethical company focused on taking advantage of children and people with poor spending habits and self esteem issues? Thanks for the discussion, CD.

Food for thought in closing: Action aways speaks louder than words. Thank you and Plarium for representing yourself so accurately.

the long time you mention does not agree with our time. L

There are thousands of games out there, why should I stay here waiting for your experiments and waste my time and money on an AI-controlled game? bot... and experiments on our skin. do you know what you're saying??

Hello! There could be repairment jobs on the forum that led this section to disappear 

Hello! The game is under development and being evolved. Its current state is only a step of a long road, so it's up to you whether to follow this way or move away. Of course, we are always waiting for you here as rad novelties and improvements are on the way! 😎

we should all know by now 70 million accounts mean nothing if they have poor player retention because they favor paying players

I tend to agree.  Bots seem to know your location regardless of you being stealthed and undetected.  I recently paid for vortex who is largely useless due to how quickly a bot will trigger a stun or turn around in under a second as soon as you warp behind them.  Just a few examples.

Don't forget that the bots don't have advanced strategy skills and tactics unlike real players have! Just find a way to trick them and you'll find out how big your benefit is 😎