Re: [pbmserv-dev] multiplayer wish list

[Mark Ballinger <mballinger@ballinger.cx>]

On Fri, Sep 24, 2004 at 08:10:03PM +0100, Yves Rutschle wrote:
> On Fri, Sep 24, 2004 at 09:42:25AM -0700, Mark Ballinger
> wrote:
> > What the "perudo scoring" above does solve is the variable
> > number of players.  If karen beats camb at perudo 6 times,
> > and Eric beats 5 others 2 times, didn't Eric do better?
> 
> No, absolutely not.
> 
> You cannot in any circumstance compare 2 populations that
> are entirely independant. If karen and camb play together,
> and Eric plays with 5 *others*, you have no way of comparing
> karen and camb, *ever*. OTOH if karen plays Eric, you should
> be able to rate camb against the *others* as well, even
> though they've never played together.

I think you missed my point.  Sure, "you have no way of comparing karen and [eric]", but we do that all the time now, anyway.

Assuming Eric's five opponents and camb have all played perudo together many many times, and they are determined to be equally adept at the game and as it turns out have equal rating scores.  If Karen now joins in play, but only against camb, and scores 6 wins,
she'll rocket up the charts.  If Eric challenges two games against the 5 and wins both, he'll move up far less.