Brighter Shores has recently introduced leaderboards, a feature requested by many in the community. While the idea of tracking progress and ranking against other players excites some, the implementation has sparked quite some debate.
The leaderboards are opt-in, meaning players must actively choose to participate. For those who enjoy competitive gameplay, this feature is a great way to show their achievements. However, others feel that this approach takes the spirit of an MMO away, where shared experiences and rankings are often the main part of the game.
Community Concerns
Discussions on places such as Reddit have brought up positive as well as negative feedback for this system.
Here are some of the key points players are discussing:
Criticism of Opt-In Leaderboards
- Incomplete Rankings: Many players argue that opt-in leaderboards do not reflect the full player base, making the rankings feel less meaningful.
- Bot Evasion: By opting out, bots and cheaters could potentially avoid detection.
- Competitive Spirit: Some believe rankings in an MMO should be automatic, reflecting everyone’s progress.
- Transparency in an MMO: Since MMOs thrive on interaction, having all players listed could improve the social and competitive elements.
Support for Opt-In Leaderboards
- Privacy First: Opt-in respects people’s privacy, allowing players to keep their progress private if they wish.
- Mobile-Friendly Approach: Some speculate that the decision aligns with a potential mobile release, where privacy and safety are especially important for younger players.
- Harassment Protection: Opt-in shields players from being targeted or harassed based on their leaderboard status.
- Focused Competition: Only those genuinely interested in competing are included; this ensures a purer competitive environment.
- Reduced Toxicity: The opt-in system helps prevent leaderboard drama and toxicity among players.
Insights from Andrew Gower
To address concerns, Andrew Gower clarified how the leaderboards function for players over Level 500:
- The game tracks when each player reaches Level 500, regardless of whether they have opted in.
- If you re-enable the leaderboards after opting out, your rank will be sorted based on when you reached Level 500, to make sure there is no loss of progress.
- The opt-in approach aligns with privacy laws, prioritizing player data protection.
Mixed Opinions, But What’s the Consensus?
While some are definitely in favor of an opt-out system that automatically includes everyone unless they choose otherwise, others support the current setup. In short, it seems the balance between competitive play and player privacy remains a hot topic within the Brighter Shores community.
What do you think? Should leaderboards be automatic, or does the opt-in system provide the right balance?