How does the online rank scoring work?

[El Ryan]

The way scores are calculated after I finish a game makes no sense to me. Has someone figured out how your score gets determined? Sometime I end in second place and get 3 points and other times I swear I lose points. What gives.

[cazaron]

The online ranking scores are based on the ELO system.

While it's really complicated, the basic idea works like this:

Low rank beats high rank, lots of points attained.
2 similar ranks play, not many points attained.
High rank loses to low rank, lots of points lost.
High rank beats low rank, points either gained or lost, depending on the relative strength of the loser.

Here's the wiki page for better explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elo_rating_system

[cazaron]

Hey, thanks, that link's actually really good. Loving the formulas

[CaptainJane]

So, I understand the basics of ELO (or maybe I don't), but I still don't understand a couple things: (1) Why does it say I've only played 2 games when I've played like 50? (2) What is the "karma" score all about? Thanks in advance for your help!

[CaptainJane]

Thanks, Leeroy! That helps. Regarding #1, it seems like there are two ways to get to online games, and I'm wondering if there's a difference I don't understand:

1 - If I go to "more" on the opening screen and then hit "online games" and randomly choose a game to join, then my game is counted.

2 - I first hit the "play" ticket-button, and then toggle to the "online" tab, and then hit "play," my game is NOT counted.

I think this is significant because, as I understand it, the system is supposed to pair me with fair competitors ... and obviously my choosing a game at random (via method #1) doesn't do that.

I'm not sure if I'm miss understanding something, or if this really is a bug. And, if it is a bug...how do I fix it?

Thanks again for your help.

[cazaron]

Going through the Play tab will serve to place you in a random game, the first one satisfying your search criteria, and most random games will tutn out not to be ranked. The alternative is that the game makes a match for you which is unranked. In order to get ranked games, go through the station and look out for the trophy icon.

[CaptainJane]

Belated thanks cazaron! You mentioned "seach criteria" ... can I specify those? And if so, how?

[cazaron]

So if you try join a game through the Play (same way you would make a single player game), section, you can select which map and how many players. That's what I intended when I said 'search criteria'.
As for specific criteria, I don't believe you can tweak those in the Play tab, but you can simply make open, unrated games in the station online lobby, if you'd prefer.

[thejourneybecomesme]

I'm mystified by the ranking system. I have played few ranked games, and my current ranking is 1332, so I have somehow lost 168 points. I know I have not played more than 5 games online, so how can my score have gone so low? I have read the posts explaining how the ranking works, so this seems wrong to me. Does it count as a loss when you join a game and you leave before the game starts?