Can someone explain what "competitive" play is exactly?

MrChokeMrChoke Join Date: 2012-12-13 Member: 174990Members, Reinforced - Gold, Reinforced - Shadow
in NS2 General Discussion
I hear this all the time and even see separate tracking of it in NSStats.org. There is "public" play and "competitive" play. The game has one server browser and nothing about types of servers for this. So what makes a game "competitive"?
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  • RoobubbaRoobubba Who you gonna call? Join Date: 2003-01-06 Member: 11930Members, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=2064232:date=Jan 21 2013, 10:28 AM:name=MrChoke)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MrChoke @ Jan 21 2013, 10:28 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2064232"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I hear this all the time and even see separate tracking of it in NSStats.org. There is "public" play and "competitive" play. The game has one server browser and nothing about types of servers for this. So what makes a game "competitive"?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    Clans playing against each other in organised matches.

    See (eg) ENSL.org

    There are also public gathers on there (which play on passworded servers, 6v6, many of these players are in clans, too)
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  • sotanahtsotanaht Join Date: 2013-01-12 Member: 179215Members
    You ask me all games are competitive unless people aren't taking them seriously, but in this context think not about what makes the games "competitive", but about what makes them NOT public.
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  • puzlpuzl The Old Firm Join Date: 2003-02-26 Member: 14029Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    edited January 2013
    Well, everyone playing snooker is also competing, but the idiom for talking about organised tournament play is usually 'competitive'.

    e.g. <a href="http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/snooker/5744-o-sullivan-pulls-out-of-competitive-snooker.php#.UP1kFCc2knU" target="_blank">http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/snooker/57...hp#.UP1kFCc2knU</a>

    So when people say 'competitive play' they really are talking about a broad set of characteristics that describe a difference approach to gameplay that usually involve:
    1) Organised teams of players that practice together ( clans )
    2) Organise tournaments with ranking and progression ( e.g. divisions and seasons )
    3) Practice games outside tournaments between teams to help develop their games ( called 'friendlies' or 'challenge matches' in sports )
    4) A clear commitment to victory for its very own sake. ( The antithesis of competitive play is the expression "it's not the winning but the taking part that counts". )
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  • MrChokeMrChoke Join Date: 2012-12-13 Member: 174990Members, Reinforced - Gold, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=2064238:date=Jan 21 2013, 10:43 AM:name=puzl)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (puzl @ Jan 21 2013, 10:43 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2064238"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Well, everyone playing snooker is also competing, but the idiom for talking about organised tournament play is usually 'competitive'.

    e.g. <a href="http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/snooker/5744-o-sullivan-pulls-out-of-competitive-snooker.php#.UP1kFCc2knU" target="_blank">http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/snooker/57...hp#.UP1kFCc2knU</a>

    So when people say 'competitive play' they really are talking about a broad set of characteristics that describe a difference approach to gameplay that usually involve:
    1) Organised teams of players that practice together ( clans )
    2) Organise tournaments with ranking and progression ( e.g. divisions and seasons )
    3) Practice games outside tournaments between teams to help develop their games ( called 'friendlies' or 'challenge matches' in sports )
    4) A clear commitment to victory for its very own sake. ( The antithesis of competitive play is the expression "it's not the winning but the taking part that counts". )<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    NSStats.org has a separate gathering of statistics for public versus competitive. I guess it must imply server owners say "I am competitive" and tell NSStats.org and whoever else that. Maybe they also are the home server or one or more clans.
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  • WildChickenWildChicken Join Date: 2004-08-25 Member: 30891Members, Constellation
    The current standard for competitive play is 6v6, each team plays marine and alien on the same map (2 rounds).

    If you're interested, check out the gathers at ensl.org . Gathers are matches following the competitive standards, but with "random" people on both teams.

    As far as NS2Stats is concerned, there's a "tournament" mode which means the game doesn't properly start until both teams type "ready".
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  • IeptBarakatIeptBarakat The most difficult name to speak ingame. Join Date: 2009-07-10 Member: 68107Members, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, NS2 Map Tester, Reinforced - Diamond, Reinforced - Shadow
    Two teams of 6 thinning the line between fair play and exploitative behavior.

    Aka. Skillful teams in private matches.
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  • GorgenapperGorgenapper Join Date: 2012-09-05 Member: 157916Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Two teams of 6 on a mission to fix all that is really wrong/broken in NS2.
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  • ScardyBobScardyBob ScardyBob Join Date: 2009-11-25 Member: 69528Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    "Competitive" when used on the forums typically refers to the 6v6 format most common in NS2 leagues, clan scrims, or gathers.

    "Competitive" in ns2stats refers to any match in which the built-in tournament mode is enabled.
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