Valve’s attempt to address smurfing and poor behavior in Dota 2 has had unintended consequences. While the removal of certain features for players with low behavior scores was meant to deter misconduct, it has instead led to the abuse of Dota’s pause system.
Previously, players with a behavior score below 5,000 were unable to pause or unpause matches. However, those with higher scores have now found a way to exploit this restriction, holding lobbies hostage and causing frustration for their teammates.
In one instance, a player reported that their teammate paused the match just as their ancient was being destroyed. As everyone’s behavior score was below 5,000, only the teammate had the power to unpause. They chose not to, prolonging the match for over 20 minutes. This issue needs to be addressed by Valve, as it undermines the positive changes they have made.
Another incident saw a match held up for over three hours. The culprit simply paused the game and went to eat, leaving the other players waiting. This kind of behavior is unacceptable and ruins the experience for everyone involved.
Valve implemented these changes as part of their August 30 client update, which included a revamp of the behavior score system and the addition of a separate communication score. While these changes were intended to improve the overall player experience, they have inadvertently created new problems.
It is important for Valve to reevaluate the pause restriction and find a solution that effectively addresses griefing without causing further issues. Punishing misbehaving players is necessary, but subjecting others to hours of paused gameplay is excessive.
Overall, while Valve’s crackdown on poor behavior in Dota 2 is commendable, it is crucial for them to consider the unintended consequences of their actions and make adjustments accordingly.
Source: DOTESPORTS
