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The ranking system is broken

A topic by Marc "Hoshi" Jacob created Sep 14, 2019 Views: 433 Replies: 3
Viewing posts 1 to 4
Submitted

So, are we going to talk about the fact some games got ranked off of < 10 ratings ? When will GJ hosts understand that this is the best way to completely screw up games with devs who actually communicate about it and reward lucky devs who don't at all and only end up with a few very generous votes ?

I spent the entire week grinding away like crazy at my game and I get ranked 200 places below one-screen games ? Hell, even if not for my own game, then for all the others who are also in my position. 

My game got ranked 210 - ish in Overall, and my score is a bit above 3 in nearly all category, which would normally mean a bit above average in every category, which is understandable, and which is a lot more objective coming from 30 ratings.

I'm just pissed, and I'm sorry if I'm being too competitve or "Type A" but I can't fathom "joke games" being closer to winning actual game-making prices than mine or others which took a lot of work.

Submitted

Tried to explain it here. The 20 ratings is a rule added by the organizers and not a default rule applied by itch when generating the results.

Submitted

I understand your frustration fully.  

However, I've learned these jams are not the place for deep, involved analysis of rank outcome.  The vote system is deliberately simple.  You can deem it inherently flawed or accept that its goal is not to guard against self-evident pitfalls but rather to count, albeit faulty, stars.

This system is not concerned with unassailable congruity as it clearly allows for several less than honest approaches to rig advantage.

I know it's spirit-breaking to work hard on something only to be beaten by demonstrably weaker entries.  Please don't let this be your last jam!  Instead enter the next one expecting everything from yourself and nothing from anyone else.

Submitted

It's about learning and not winning!

My goal in jams is to get as many people to play and give feedback, not winning the rank system~

I think it's hard to create a 100% fair online vote system, but itch does seem to do a good job updating voting features.  (I like how we can see the link to the commentator's game in their comment now.)