Feedback Wanted
At a Glance
It's easy to be cynical when presented with the opportunity to leave comments. Ever wonder what happens after you fill out a feedback form at a restaurant? Does anyone even look at your responses? Will your service really be any different the next time you dine? At long last, here's a feedback tool that actually does something for you. The designers and engineers for Xbox LIVE® have listened to your pleas and have labored long and hard to bring you the Xbox LIVE feedback system on Xbox 360™. The feedback system was created to empower gamers. How does it work? What does it do? How does it improve your online experience? Whenever you play someone on Xbox LIVE with Xbox 360, you have the option to leave two main types of feedback: Player Reviews Players like these are great to play with, so after the game you look through the player list in the post-game lobby, highlight each player you liked, and make it known that you "prefer" to be matched with those competitors. The entire process takes two button presses per player to complete. What happens now? The Player Match system assigns a higher priority to those people that you prefer (based on your feedback submission), thus increasing the likelihood that you'll play them again online. You don't have to add these folks to your Friends List to reap the benefits, either. The system simply notes that you had a positive gameplay session with these players, and tries to group you together next time the conditions exist. This increases the chances that you'll game with them again so you can "feel them out" over time, like bumping into a familiar face at a friend's party. In other words, you've just taken control of your matchmaking by giving some folks positive feedback. In the end, your gaming experience is vastly improved. Get some satisfaction knowing that you're Negative player reviews work the same way, but with the opposite effect. Let's say a few guys on the other team were caught spawn camping, team killing, and engaging in other dastardly acts. Your anonymous negative feedback simply reduces the chance that you'll play against those people in the future. Criticism can fall under numerous categories such as communication, behavior, and skill, so you have a degree of control when doling out a negative player review. Recipients of poor feedback will take a hit on their rep, and will be matched up with other players of similar ilk. So the jerks get matched up with other jerks, while the rest of us play with good sports. Remember that rambunctious behavior is appropriate in certain situations and the social rules will vary for each Gamer Zone. So when you're raging in the Underground zone, don't waste time giving negative feedback to that guy who called you a "hamfisted smacktard"—he might be entitled. For more details on conduct in each Gamer Zone, head on over to our Gamer Zone article. When you first sign on to Xbox LIVE, your rep—like everyone else's—is rated 3 out of 5 stars. As you clock time gaming online, your rep increases or decreases based on feedback you receive, as well as feedback that you don't. In other words, a lack of negative feedback will, over time, boost your rep. Simply play nice on Xbox LIVE without ticking people off and your rep will improve. Complaints Every registered complaint is important to Xbox LIVE. As a result, hundreds of irresponsible gamers are banned every week. This is not only a good tool for players looking to create a fun and healthy online experience, but also gives parents some power when reporting abusers. Use It or Lose It Leave feedback and increase the odds that you'll be paired up with someone of similar skill—and character—next time you play. While you won't get a free mint with each feedback form, you will get some satisfaction knowing that you're in control of your online world. Related Links |
