Competitive Play

So I haven't seen any topics actually concerning this.
When the game finally comes out is UBER doing anything to encourage competitive play?
To me with this type of game since it is just multiplayer pretty much with no campaign and what not, the best way for it to survive is get a competitive system in. Tournaments held within games, a ladder system, clans/gaming communities? All of them are possible. As someone who has played Starcraft 2 at a competitive level (top masters in sc2, equivalent to top ~2% in the world in the entire game.) I really enjoy kicking someones ***. Now I understand not everyone is like that but theirs always the softcore people with real life, the hardcores, and the inbetweens. A competitive system that is integrated into the game will drastically increase the replay value. It's in human nature to be better than the next person. Yeh it would probably require some heavy modding/changing to some modes to make an effective 1v1 competitive match or maybe you could do something different and do a team based competitive scene, 2v2 seems like it would be best. Of course you would need smaller maps so the game doesn't drag out to long. It would be cool to see PA in MLG in a couple years. I'm really excited about this game. I've played Supcom 1 + 2, never played TA (too young) but ive played a ton of other rts games. Too long to list them all but yeah.
So i guess my question is to everyone, does anyone actually know how this game could be competitive? Any ideas to encourage it?
I wanna hear ideas and discussion!

I think there should be a ranked matches ladder, that would be awesome.

I believe this is something that they intend to do.

Agreed. And a league system to separate skill levels? Oh that would be beautiful.

Begins rocking back and forth in terror.

Can you give me an example? Like what features or how are they going to encourage it?

I specifically recall clans and clan war support being mentioned.

By making a great game and supporting it primarily, competitive play doesn't require all that much, but it only works out long term if the game is any good.

Now if you're thinking about PA as an E-Sport akin to Starcraft, that's a much more complicated question but is still dependent on Uber making a great game.

Mike

The game has potential to be an E-Sport, they just have to do it right. I hope they can. I bought the game through steam (just cuz its easier for me) and all i see on the forums their is hate. Mainly towards the price. But I've seen a few threads actually about uber and how they are as a company isn't that great. I didnt really take it into consideration BUT if it is true (big if) I hope they dont screw this up .

I would love a competitive ranking system but anything like leagues similar to StarCraft in my opinion is a no no, there can be a system made that is supportive and hugely competitive but I really see no reason to copy a system in place else where, to a game that seeks to stand out from all the rest.

Look at LoL and SC2 both have "leagues" or "mmr" they need to use that kind of thing to differentiate the skill levels. Otherwise their really is no other way.

Oh I have no problem with hidden ratings. In the end that is always a go. But that's not what I commented on. You missed that. I stated that copying what's being overdone as is isn't very innovative for a game trying to stand out from all the others.

There is nothing wrong with copying what works as long as its legal to do so. I don't see Tesla trying to pioneer passenger cars with 6 wheels.

this i true. i guess its more of ...whats effective. If you know what i mean? Leagues/mmr is an effective system. If their is something better to do than i would be all for it.

I mean find something that applies to the universe of the game and is different for that very reason not just BRONZE, GOLD, ALPHA ZULU COMMANDER LEAGUE IV. Know what I mean?

I didn't say Reinvent the wheel. Just dont copy paste.

If you looked at what i said about leagues i never said anything about specifically doing bronze silver gold masters blah blaah blah i just said a "league system" xD lol

Games designed around competitive play are just asking to suck. The four things required for a competitive scene are..

1: Spectator friendly action packed easily digestible chunks of gameplay. E.G 20 min micro intensive starcraft games.

2: A vibrant and large community of players.

3: A learning curve that steepens as the player gets better and with no skill ceiling.

4: A well balanced game.

PA may indeed fill 2 , 3 and 4 in time but it will never achieve 1 by virtue of its sub-genre. Spectators do drive competition and TAesque games are the opposite of spectator friendly. Designing a game to be competitive in the form of starclick II from the outset is just asking too much from such a niche title. Make a good game and then see if the community can support competitive play. If you build it they will come.

On an unrelated note do we even want this to be an e-sport? Every game that is classed as an e-sport has a reprehensible and putrid excuse for a fanbase. I think one of the best aspects of supcom and TA is the community and I guarantee it would be ruined by an influx of a-holes drawn by attempts to pander to their tastes.

I've never heard the term "starclick 2" before. If anything, games like PA are click intensive and slow paced. Like..hell lol. I don't think you have enough knowledge of E-Sports in general to do that. And so far from the response I've gotten on the forums and through peoples stream/stream chats a lot of people are interested in a competitive scene. You are the first person to actually show a negative outlook on that. I don't expect everyone to want it, but i said in the original post that their are different types of gamers. Some people just like sitting back and relaxing using one hand to play and click around and be slow about it and have a good time while not caring whether they win or lose. Me? I'm more fast paced, i like to win, use everything effectively and efficiently. But that's just how i am. And saying the "community of Sc2" is comprised of *** holes is just wrong. Yeah you have the few bad eggs but thats with ANY community that has a large amount of people. I dont know about TA but i know for a fact that Supcom didn't have such a cult following as say Brood war, sc2, dota, LoL, or dota 2 do. And its not "pandering to their tastes" its pandering to human nature. People like being better than other people. Its just how most people roll. Now some people aren't like that. But i got into sc2 because it was highly competitive. Please before making assumptions at least try to know what you're talking about.

P.S. Spectator friendly? Who the **** would not want to see a planet being blown up. I'm sure their are mods who are going to create some things that make competitive spectator play possible. Smaller maps, starting out with pre-created resources/units. Limiting the tech. Their are ways to do things.

Oh, Starclick 2 is a perfectly apt term; the game comes down to who can click the fastest, which is the polar opposite of Planetary Annihilation.

And he is right, indeed, that Planetary Annihilation - much like Supreme Commander - won't be very enjoyable to see (for most people). Here, on this forum, there have been a few threads about 'I don't want to look at strategic icons' and such.

Then again, I loathe the term 'E-Sports' with a passion, and I also dislike ladders and all that. This is a game. You play it to enjoy yourself. That's it. I'm sure many disagree, and so long as I am not inconceived by it, fine, go ahead, add ladders and such to the game.

I have a feeling competitive play will work well, especially clan-based warfare. I agree with dacite however, that it probably won't ever become spectator friendly (although we'll see how the pacing is in the final game).

Competitive doesn't necessarily mean spectators, however. Just look at high level WoW play. Or competitive sailing.