The lights are on
Microsoft is set to streamline its feedback and reputation system when the Xbox One launches in November. The company has revealed more details about how the new moderation system will be woven into the matchmaking process.
Microsoft has taken two key steps in improving the reputation system. First, it makes the rating system more accessible, while also taking into account user actions like blocking and muting. Second, reputation will be color-coded and easy to see when looking at a profile.
Green means "Good Player," yellow denotes "Needs Improvement," and red indicates someone who should be avoided. Reputation is a factor of time and action, with behavior factored against the hours someone interacts on the platform.
Microsoft is instituting a mechanism to help reform poor actors, with a notification system that alerts "Needs Improvement" players before they land themselves a red player card. One of the concerns our readers had after we published our first report about the new reputation system was opportunity for abuse.
Microsoft has stated that a few bad reports won't negatively impact an otherwise stand-up player. It factors in the reputation of the person reporting and whether or not those filing the report actually played with the subject (with significant weight on those that have shared a game).
Xbox Live program manager Micheal Dunn has assured that the reputation system is living, and it will improve as more titles and players come on board. New consequences for offenders could also be added, though we expect that the banhammer will be polished and ready at launch.
[Source: Xbox Wire]
Our TakeThis new detail about the reputation system evidences a great deal of forethought, creating an easier way to report poor sportsmen while providing new transparency. The effort to redeem and reform those trending toward the "jerk" category is admirable, too.
Microsoft is smart to state up front that the new reputation system will be a living one. There is much to learn from player interaction, especially as new titles take advantage of the increased power of next-generation consoles.
What I've heard so far between yesterday's matchmaking news and the clarity around player ratings has me quite hopeful.
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Meh it'll not be used in about 2 months after launch.
I hope Sony has something equivalent in the works as I'm avoiding the Xbox One out of principle. Microsoft has some great things going on and I hope they do well.
i feel like this will be a bit misleading for people who play multiplayer....i often come across players who give bad player reviews just because another player is better than them and that is by no means a legitimate reason to give a bad player review
I don't play online, I just love the word "banhammer".
Nice. Didn't really use any of those features on the 360 but still cool. IT's the little things.
I like the idea of Microsoft refining their rep system into something a little more detailed than do you like/dislike this person.
I think it's a solid step forward. But I have become so disenchanted with Microsoft (failure of Xbox One reveal, Windows 8 crashing my PC, horrible Windows 7.5 phone) that I honestly and truly couldn't care less.
This is a good thing for the Xbox One.