"Share" update reveals a ranking mode may still exist

[-sonny-]

Here is my theory. You can choose to agree or disagree with it, but I think that it's a pretty strong argument.

I still believe that a ranking mode (with anyone) will be implemented into Brawl. Now, I know that the Wi-Fi screen has already been shown, with no ranking mode visible.

Let's take a look at an older screenshot of the Wi-Fi menu, when it was first announced:

Notice how there is NO "Options" button. Only the "With Anyone" and "With Friends" buttons.

Looking at the "Share" update picture ...

As you can see, it has been changed to add the "Options" button.

If Sakurai has now changed the Wi-Fi menu once, I think that it's very likely a ranking mode can still exist - when it is announced the Wi-Fi menu will once again be changed to implement it. Besides, Sakurai most likely understands how competitive of a series Smash is, so not having a ranking mode would be a bit silly

 

[SurooshX]

hmm...interesting, but I'm still not sure. here's hoping.

 

[Johnknight1]

I don't care honestly about a ranking system. What I want is "Advanced Options", like to seek a game WITHOUT PLAYING WITH ITEMS! If I have to use bomb-ombs and super spicy curry online, I'll be pissed. I want a item option switch for online, as well as a pre-set stage thing. I don't want to play that abomination Hyrule Temple EVER AGAIN! But, I want to play AWSOME STAGES, like Delfino Plaza!

I have a theory that Sakurai will add more stuff with pictures, like advanced online search options. He's done stuff like this onece, he can do it again. Intresting find, and I wish you a happy new year!

 

[Spellman]

Because he specifically mentioned how simple he planned on making the online functionality, I don't think he'd go back on that. I'm sure that while parts of the game are subject to change or added on to, the ranking boards is one thing that I cannot subscribe to believing.

 

[Chaosblade77]

That Options button clearly leads to

I don't care honestly about a ranking system. What I want is "Advanced Options", like to seek a game WITHOUT PLAYING WITH ITEMS! If I have to use bomb-ombs and super spicy curry online, I'll be pissed. I want a item option switch for online, as well as a pre-set stage thing. I don't want to play that abomination Hyrule Temple EVER AGAIN! But, I want to play AWSOME STAGES, like Delfino Plaza!

I have a theory that Sakurai will add more stuff with pictures, like advanced online search options. He's done stuff like this onece, he can do it again. Intresting find, and I wish you a happy new year!

Online does have some sort of "advanced options" if I remember correctly. If I recall, the game bases the item switch off of what items all of the players have turned on/off. Assuming all of the matches are FFA, if 3/4 people have the curry off, there is only a 25% chance it will be on in the match.

Having such a simple online mode would be so... empty compared to the rest of the game. I figure there will be a place to set your online preferences, for things like "Preferred players per match" and such. I'd be surprised if that was not on there. I figure for friend matches, there will definitely be an option for only two players... what if only one friend is on?

 

[Ryuujiin]

I see two reasons why there won't be ranking in Brawl:

1) Brawl is already believed to have gone gold, meaning it's finished and they've started manufacturing. This means that there wouldn't be anymore changes and what pictures we see post-gold announcement is what you'll see when it's in your hands.

2) It's a little hard to believe that there would be some sort of ranking when they don't even show your name unless you're playing with friends.

 

[Tobi-]

That Options button clearly leads to

Sakurai updated with Wi-Fi Online screen to include an options button. I'm sure the same could be done with this Options screen.

 

[Chaosblade77]

Sakurai updated with Wi-Fi Online screen to include an options button. I'm sure the same could be done with this Options screen.

Unless this screenshot is rather old, there is probably not enough time to do that, especially after what the post above yours said. At this point they are probably finishing up the manual, finalizing the cover, and preparing for manufacturing, while working on last minute QA/bug testing (hopefully, since a lot of games seem to do poorly on that stage... e.g. FE:RD, GH3)

I guess there are things that might make it seem false, but I don't see what this has to do with a ranking system anyway. There is a chance that it will keep records for each Wii number, so that people are matched accordingly, but I don't think it will be public. If it is, it will probably only be accessible online via a computer.

 

[Johnknight1]

That Options button clearly leads to

Online does have some sort of "advanced options" if I remember correctly. If I recall, the game bases the item switch off of what items all of the players have turned on/off. Assuming all of the matches are FFA, if 3/4 people have the curry off, there is only a 25% chance it will be on in the match.

Having such a simple online mode would be so... empty compared to the rest of the game. I figure there will be a place to set your online preferences, for things like "Preferred players per match" and such. I'd be surprised if that was not on there. I figure for friend matches, there will definitely be an option for only two players... what if only one friend is on?

There will be another option probably. If Nintendo doesn't have advanced online options, Brawl's online service will fail next to Halo 3's. Brawl's online is the only thing Nintendo has to rival Halo 3 with. Brawl's online will probably never be as big as Halo 3's, but still-it's Nintendo's online at stake. If Brawl's online is simple yet advanced, goes quickly-yet has little lag, and is fun-yet addicting, consider the Playstation 3 Network SCREWED!

And there is basically confirmed options for items and stuff with friend's battles. And hopefully there is a STOCK MATCH option, since NO ONE LIKES TIME! STOCK IS THE S***! Plus Bonus, Coin, King of The Hill, Territories, Stamina (with or without lives), Juggernaut, and other potential modes. BECAUSE NO ONE LIKES TIMES! STOCK IS EVERYONE'S FAVORITE!

And items better be a option-otherwise I'm not touching this s***. And you know what, items will be a option. Sakurai is going to sneak a advanced options thing there, or preference, and we all know it. And if he doesn't, we'll all complain in the final game, and demand downloadable content to change this. I don't want to even TOUCH most items. Maybe a few (close range balanced weapons [home-run bat, beam sword, fan, laser sword], balanced projectiles [proxy mines, gooey bomb, teh bumper {best item ever!},], and a few others [smash ball, maybe assist trophies and Pokéballs]. But otherwise-items can get off my T.V. screen! Seriously though, I'm just going to do bumpers only. Because the bumper is the s***, and it's all skill. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar, and a failure at exploiting it's AWSOMENESS! Exploits=win.

Sakurai updated with Wi-Fi Online screen to include an options button. I'm sure the same could be done with this Options screen.

WE HAVE A WINNER! Give us more indepth online, OR GIVE ME DEATH! IF Sakurai isn't willing to make online more indepth, he should expect it to fail. But he's only failed a few times (his Melee character choices; Japan-only playable characters, Samurai Goroh as a assist trophy, cutting Ness, expecting us to PLAY TIME, and only one alternate costume [which is completely lame=give me Sigurd, Eliwood, Wolf, Dixie Louis, and Ness+all cut clones or GIVE ME DEATH!]).

So Sakurai will do what is best-or I'm going to assemble the smashboards, and we're going to demand the hell out of Nintendo's e-mail system until they give us what we want- a good upgrade Brawl's onliine services, with more options. Yes, I'm willing to make a new online petition if Sakurai fails-which I won't need to do, since Sakurai isn't that dumb.

 

[Chaosblade77]

There will be another option probably. If Nintendo doesn't have advanced online options, Brawl's online service will fail next to Halo 3's. Brawl's online is the only thing Nintendo has to rival Halo 3 with. Brawl's online will probably never be as big as Halo 3's, but still-it's Nintendo's online at stake. If Brawl's online is simple yet advanced, goes quickly-yet has little lag, and is fun-yet addicting, consider the Playstation 3 Network SCREWED!

And there is basically confirmed options for items and stuff with friend's battles. And hopefully there is a STOCK MATCH option, since NO ONE LIKES TIME! STOCK IS THE S***! Plus Bonus, Coin, King of The Hill, Territories, Stamina (with or without lives), Juggernaut, and other potential modes. BECAUSE NO ONE LIKES TIMES! STOCK IS EVERYONE'S FAVORITE!

And items better be a option-otherwise I'm not touching this s***. And you know what, items will be a option. Sakurai is going to sneak a advanced options thing there, or preference, and we all know it. And if he doesn't, we'll all complain in the final game, and demand downloadable content to change this. I don't want to even TOUCH most items. Maybe a few (close range balanced weapons [home-run bat, beam sword, fan, laser sword], balanced projectiles [proxy mines, gooey bomb, teh bumper {best item ever!},], and a few others [smash ball, maybe assist trophies and Pokéballs]. But otherwise-items can get off my T.V. screen! Seriously though, I'm just going to do bumpers only. Because the bumper is the s***, and it's all skill. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar, and a failure at exploiting it's AWSOMENESS! Exploits=win.



WE HAVE A WINNER! Give us more indepth online, OR GIVE ME DEATH! IF Sakurai isn't willing to make online more indepth, he should expect it to fail. But he's only failed a few times (his Melee character choices; Japan-only playable characters, Samurai Goroh as a assist trophy, cutting Ness, expecting us to PLAY TIME, and only one alternate costume [which is completely lame=give me Sigurd, Eliwood, Wolf, Dixie Louis, and Ness+all cut clones or GIVE ME DEATH!]).

So Sakurai will do what is best-or I'm going to assemble the smashboards, and we're going to demand the hell out of Nintendo's e-mail system until they give us what we want- a good upgrade Brawl's onliine services, with more options. Yes, I'm willing to make a new online petition if Sakurai fails-which I won't need to do, since Sakurai isn't that dumb.

I agreed with you in the end, and hope that there are at least some preferences, and would be surprised if they are not. However, in "With Anyone/Basic Brawl" he said the following:

You can cast one vote for the stage you want to play. A stage is chosen by lottery from among those voted on by the players.

Also, the items that are turned off in the item switch are also determined by lottery.

Isn’t that simple? You don’t have to trouble with any settings. You just choose characters and stages.

The real question is there a mode: "With Anyone/Advanced Brawl" or are Basic and Team Battle the only options?

 

[Johnknight1]

^ Watch us get Advanced Options/Advanced Brawl. We're going to get it. And if we don't as I said, I'll start a riot. But there would be no need for it, as we're getting it. With Anyone/Advanced Brawl sounds like a PERFECT CONECPT IMO, because anyone would be pleased to have it! With the following options:

-Game mode (time, stamina, stock, bonus, coin, etc.).
-Time/Lives.
-Items (which ones on, which ones off, or if they're on or off completely).
-Stage (not needed; which pre-set stage)

I'm sure everyone would be happy with that as advanced options.

 

[RyokoYaksa]

Wait, wait... wait.

Are you telling me that with nearly every other feature of "With Anyone" Brawls being counterproductive to the existence of a ranking system (big one being, no identities), that a screenshot with an Options menu in the Wi-Fi connection menu is somehow strong evidence that a ranking system appear?

 

[ksadkiller]

ranking system will only bring hackers who will hack and people who will leave an unfinished game to preserve that rank. what's the ****ing point?

 

[Sp1yd3r]

im confused

 

[Chaosblade77]

Wait, wait... wait.

Are you telling me that with nearly every other feature of "With Anyone" Brawls being counterproductive to the existence of a ranking system (big one being, no identities), that a screenshot with an Options menu in the Wi-Fi connection menu is somehow strong evidence that a ranking system appear?

That is sort of what I was thinking... they have practically nothing to do with each other in the slightest.

There is also the fact that we saw this exact same screen on the Basic Brawl update, on Dec. 7th, so this is nothing new at all. The only three times that screen has been shown was twice this month, and the first time all the way back in September when online was officially announced, sans the options button.

 

[Gill]

ranking system will only bring hackers who will hack and people who will leave an unfinished game to preserve that rank. what's the ****ing point?

We don't need a PUBLIC ranking system, we need a hidden one. So people don't quit to reverse their rank, but we still get fair matchups according to win/loss records.

 

[InvincibleAgent]

Lack of evidence is not conclusive.

 

[RyokoYaksa]

Honestly, the lack of a ranking system as we know it has been discussed to death, also (with neither side really going anywhere). You can find those threads if you really want to discuss it further.