Ranking Algorithm - ignacioch/GameSetMatch.firebase GitHub Wiki

Overview

Our objective is to create an engaging, fair, and competitive points-based ranking system for a sports app focusing on single-player sports, such as tennis. This system aims to cater to players of varying skill levels, encouraging them to challenge themselves and others, while ensuring the integrity and enjoyment of the game.

Player Levels and Initial Points

Players are categorized into four levels based on their skill: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert. Initial points are allocated as follows to reflect their starting level, determined by an initial skill assessment or self-selection with verification mechanisms:

  • Beginner: 1000 points
  • Intermediate: 2000 points
  • Advanced: 3000 points
  • Expert: 4000 points

Point Adjustments for Match Outcomes

Winning Against Higher-Level Players: Players earn points for winning matches, with the amount based on the level difference between the player and their opponent:

  • Lower levels: +50 points
  • One level higher: +100 points
  • Two levels higher: +150 points
  • Three levels higher: +225 points
  • Losing to Lower-Level Players: Losing to someone ranked lower results in a loss of 50 points.
  • Winning Against Similar or Lower Level: Winning against players of the same or lower level grants a bonus of 10% of the points difference, ensuring rewards for all wins but incentivizing challenging higher-ranked players.

Special Considerations for Top Players

To keep the competition lively at the top:

Special Challenges: Implement challenges for top-level players, rewarding points for achievements that require consistent play and engagement. Activity-Based Points Decay: Introduce a decay mechanism where points decrease for inactivity over a defined period, encouraging continuous engagement.

Tournaments and Competitive Play

  • Enhanced Tournament Points: Wins in tournaments grant an additional 20% points, acknowledging the competitive environment.
  • Diverse Tournament Formats: Include round-robin and knockout formats, with points awarded for participation and match victories, incentivizing engagement.

### Fair Play and Integrity

Verification Mechanism: Require match outcome verification to prevent fake reporting, with both players confirming the match result. Algorithmic Monitoring: Use algorithms to detect patterns indicative of fake reporting, with a system in place for investigating suspicious activity. Community Reporting: Allow players to report suspicious matches, with clear penalties outlined for those found cheating, ranging from point deductions to bans.

Correlation with World Tennis Number (WTN)

Align the app's ranking system with the WTN by:

  • Establishing a conversion scale that maps the app's points to WTN ratings, offering players insight into their global standing.
  • Adjusting this scale periodically based on player performance data and changes in the WTN system. Implementation and Engagement Strategies
  • Dynamic Feedback Loop: Regularly collect player feedback to refine the ranking system, ensuring it remains engaging and fair.
  • Social Features: Enable players to share achievements and match outcomes, fostering a sense of community.
  • Rewards for Milestones: Offer in-app rewards or external incentives for reaching new levels or achieving specific challenges.

Conclusion

This proposal outlines a comprehensive, dynamic ranking system designed to foster a competitive yet fair environment for players of single-player sports apps. By balancing the need for a challenging progression system with mechanisms to ensure fair play and integrity, we aim to create an engaging platform that encourages continuous improvement and enjoyment for players at all levels.