If we could somehow measure the “true” fighter skill of all players and compare that to the AH fighter ranking system, I think that we would find that it is both flawed and yet generally accurate. Suppose that we could compare the “true” skill of the top 50 ranked players to those ranked 251 through 300, and then compare those groups to a group ranked 1001 through 1050, and then again to a group ranked 5001 through 5050. Imagine putting these 200 players into a dueling ladder. I’d bet that 17 of the top 20 in this ladder are going to come from the top 50 group. At the same time, I’d also bet that a more than a few from the 251 – 300 group would pummel some in the top 50. It wouldn’t be surprising to see 1 or 2 from the 1001 – 1050 group do well. I think that it would be surprising however, to see anyone from the 5001 – 5050 group beat anyone from the higher groups.
While certainly not a rule, better players gravitate toward higher ranks. This doesn’t mean that some very skilled players may hold only average rankings.
It’s a mistake to place a lot of value on the AH ranking system, but it is also a mistake to write it off as being meaningless. For a flight sim ranking system, it’s pretty good.
One thing that a lot of folks don’t seem to get, is that AH is many games in one. It is a furball game, a strat game, a team game, a solo game, a buff game, a GV game, a survival game, a killing game, a suicide game, an ego game, a silly game, a social game, and even a rank game (and many, many more types of games). We each can choose to play or ignore any of these games.
One thing is for sure, lots of folks are pretty darn sure that their way of playing the game is the only pure way, and the only way to have fun.
eskimo
