Red Queen Mechanic

About this model

This diagram represents a player-versus-player (PvP) matchmaking system, focusing on the dynamic adjustment of player skill levels (MMR) and tracking player performance in terms of wins and losses. In this setup, sources generate resources that simulate player activities and matches, adjusting the individual player skill level and the average skill level of opponents they face. These adjustments ensure that as players improve, the system progressively matches them with opponents of similar or slightly higher skill levels, maintaining a balanced and competitive environment.

The mechanics of the diagram include pools to store and reflect changes in player skill (MMR), wins, and losses, which are essential for matchmaking algorithms. Gates and state connections likely manage the logic behind match outcomes and the subsequent effect on player stats. The system aims to create an equilibrium where players face challenges appropriate to their skill levels, illustrating a fundamental concept in game design: ensuring ongoing engagement and fair competition. This approach underlines the importance of skill-based matchmaking in creating enjoyable PvP experiences by adapting to the player's progression and maintaining balanced matches.

“Red Queen Mechanic” is a public Machinations diagram by Harry Ashton, shared in the Machinations Community.

You can open the original diagram in the Machinations app, press Play to watch how resources move through it, and change its values to see how the system responds. Machinations is a visual tool for designing, simulating and balancing game economies and other systems, where resources flow through sources, pools, drains, converters and gates. In a diagram, a source creates resources, a pool stores them, a drain removes them, a converter changes one resource into another and a gate decides where they go next.