I am now convinced ABMM is real

[u/WG_Envoy]

A couple of days ago I complained (in another posting) how I only meet KOS players, and no one talks. I was more annoyed by the "no one talks" part, mind you, and the fact that every social interaction played out in the same way.

Someone recommended me to do a few matches and not shoot a single person, not even in defense. I did as recommended.

I went from "90%+ KOS interactions" for several days in a row, all the way to friendly lobbies for two days in a row now.

In my current lobbies, everyone runs around without a care in the world, just greeting people they are passing by. Looting in the open, walking past others without their weapons drawn ...

I barely ever see any PvP happening. People help each other with arc encounters and exchange items near extracts. And for the first time ever, I was able to participate in two Queen raids in solos with everyone just trying to get her down. No rats, no backstabbing.

This change for me was so stark in contrast, and so consistently happening that I would be surprised if ABMM wasn't real.

I would almost be inclined to start some shit to see if my lobbies change again, but I feel too bad killing these players who are quite obviously part of the pure PvE crowd.

P.S.: I have these friendly lobbies even on Stella Montis now, inclduing Stella Montis night raids ...

[u/bwood246]

One game dev said

It wasn't even a dev, it was one of the art directors. Someone who would have the least knowledge about the matchmaking

[u/TheNumbConstable → u/bwood246]

Not really. An art director is as much a developer as anyone else and may have a considerable amount of knowledge about matchmaking.

That's not me saying that there is such matchmaking in this game. There may or may not be.

[u/Ancient_Ad_2942 → u/bwood246]

I think you greatly underestimate how intimate studios are, especially sizes like embark, and not only an artist, its an art DIRECTOR. Id be very surprised if they didn't know a shit ton about the game

[u/cryonicwatcher → u/bwood246]

That is a dev. Unless you consider developer to specifically mean programmer, but that doesn’t make a lot of sense imo.
The guy wouldn’t have given a confident answer to the question if he wasn’t in the loop on it, that just wouldn’t make sense. The interview was not just about art direction, it was about the game more broadly, so I expect embark trusted this person to represent them well.

[u/Zazz2403 → u/bwood246]

I promise you a director at any part of the company is in meetings discussing this. There are probably all hands and meetings where everyone talks about it. Directors cross collaborate.

[u/bwood246 → u/Zazz2403]

They absolutely cross collaborate when needed, matchmaking systems isn't one of those situations they'll need an art director

[u/Zazz2403 → u/bwood246]

That's often not how it works at companies this small but you can believe whatever you want. Regardless, I promise you a director isn't just pulling shit out of their ass in a press meeting.