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It finally seems like it might be time for me to put another 500 hours into Dota 2, as Valve has given the game quite an interesting upgrade for The Summer Client Update.

Firstly, they've completely changed the way you view and buy cosmetics. Before, it was quite a mess. Now there's the Armory where you can go and view all characters and shop around for all the cosmetics available. Allowing you to see what you're missing, and what you currently have. It's much better. It also allows you to quickly demo a hero while previewing a cosmetic set.

That's not the best bit though. The new matchmaking and reporting system is finally sounding like it might actually make Dota 2 a better place to spend your free time.

Now the commendation system will affect matchmaking. A player you commend is more likely to show up in future games, while a new "Dislike" button will make them less likely to show up. There's also the new reporting system allowing you to report Toxic Chat, Toxic Voice, Smurfing, Griefing, Cheating and Role Abuse. You can report any time during or after a match, allowing you to make a report for either your team or the enemy and removes the cap on the number of reports you can submit.

There's also now real-time processing of toxic chat. So when you report someone during a game, Valve say it will be analysed in real-time. If they detect it's toxic, Valve will mute that player's voice and text chat for the game and put a timer on pings, alt-clicks and pre-set chat wheels.

Valve will also notify you when action is taken thanks to a report.

Each player also has a behaviour and communication score between 0 and 12,000. While it previously only affected who you got matched with, it will now also disable access to certain features like post-game item drops, game pausing, and ranked play if you're particularly naughty.

This update sound fantastic. Valve has clearly put real proper effort into making Dota 2 better going forward. I can't wait to spend some time with it again.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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15 comments
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Rhythagoras Sep 3, 2023
Quoting: 14
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: 14These changes sound really good, really promising. I have to assume the real-time reaction to reporting must be AI empowered. I just can't imagine an employee staring at a screen, sweat running down their face, trying to cast judgment on as many reports as possible per minute.

There's a lot between AI and humans, though. Like, algorithms.
Sure. What's your point though?

Much of the judgment for griefing/cheating has been outsourced to the players themselves (the ones with good behavior scores anyway). The "overwatch" system takes cut replays of the reported players, containing markers in the timeline where they have been reported, and sends it to multiple players for review. The replays for the guilty cheaters often contain dozens of markers placed by algorithms (normally players are limited to no more than 3 reports in a game). The system isn't perfect, but it does work pretty well and does lessen the burden on the developers. I've noticed a lot less griefing/scripting in my games since they've implemented it a couple years ago.
Eike Sep 3, 2023
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Quoting: 14
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: 14These changes sound really good, really promising. I have to assume the real-time reaction to reporting must be AI empowered. I just can't imagine an employee staring at a screen, sweat running down their face, trying to cast judgment on as many reports as possible per minute.

There's a lot between AI and humans, though. Like, algorithms.
Sure. What's your point though?

The point is we don't have to assume the real-time reaction to reporting must be AI empowered.
Sonar Sep 3, 2023
Does the game now offer the option to surrender? When I started with DOTA 2, it was really annoying playing against clearly superior teams who just did not finish the game because killing newbies again and again seems to be so much fun.
14 Sep 4, 2023
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Quoting: SonarDoes the game now offer the option to surrender? When I started with DOTA 2, it was really annoying playing against clearly superior teams who just did not finish the game because killing newbies again and again seems to be so much fun.
I can only guess that you can surrender the Ancient. I see it done in tournaments anyway.
14 Sep 4, 2023
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Quoting: Eike
Quoting: 14
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: 14These changes sound really good, really promising. I have to assume the real-time reaction to reporting must be AI empowered. I just can't imagine an employee staring at a screen, sweat running down their face, trying to cast judgment on as many reports as possible per minute.

There's a lot between AI and humans, though. Like, algorithms.
Sure. What's your point though?

The point is we don't have to assume the real-time reaction to reporting must be AI empowered.
We've always called computer controlled characters AI, but are they really according to your definition? So, a series of algorithms likely working with a large language model (user's problem description) and analyzing game event logs (match recordings) is close enough. I don't think it's any fun to have a terminology argument. "AI" is going to be overused, and that's nothing new. I've read an old Toyota vehicle manual say that cruise control was AI.
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