Ranked: Time indicator

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The estimated time to a game is shown very rarely. Does anyone know why? I would assume this must be shown always, but in reality it is really rare (i would say you only see this in less then 10% of all queueing).

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Another game, no estimate at all.

This someone solve this mystery to me?

Maybe it’s based on the time of the day or how many other players are in the queue.

I think it may be a thing that is only displayed when the system already knows who you’ll eventually end up matched to.

What I mean by that is this: it’s relatively common for these matchmaking systems to search in ever widening circles. The first 30 seconds you can only be matched to someone within 15 elo points from you, the next 15 seconds you can be matched another 10 points out, something like that. The estimate may be another player waiting, and it counts down until both of you have waited long enough to be matched together. If other, closer people come online in the meantime you will be matched to those instead, but the estimate is being realistic.

This is my guess because the estimate is often spot on. You can’t guess that a match is going to be available a few minutes from now and be right about it that often unless you have some sort of extra information.

That would mean it’s not a general estimate, based on your elo, the current traffic on the servers etc. And that means it can’t be displayed when the system has not already pre-matched you.

I had a look at this and it turned out to be completely false.
Time shows 2:30 (no idea why, i almost never have to wait 2:30), but i ended up in a new game within the first minute. The expected queueing time (if visible) is mostly way off. It is never really close.

If that is true, why isnt is always visible? That is my main issue with the counter. Sometimes you can see the estimate, sometimes you dont.

for me the estimate feels as accurate as any MS timer… it is just some random number with no bearing whatsoever, so whether it is or isnt there i just reset the search whn it starts approaching 3min. and i dont think the estimate has ever been accurate…

Okay, maybe my sample size was too small then (or yours, or both), maybe the times at which you play, your elo or your preferences cause a change from my experience, resulting in a higher rate of people popping up who were a better match then the one the timer was based on. Or maybe my data is too old, and the system has been changed. But that was my experience.

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These estimates are not shown or very inaccurate. This makes no sense…

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I notice one think about this time: It is never really accurate. It is most likely far off…

So for the devs, pick one of the following options:

  1. fix the estimate so it makes sense.
  2. delete theh estimate.