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Tier list: Difference between revisions
→Controversy over the existence of tiers
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Controversy periodically arises over the existence of tiers, most notably during the "tier wars" on [[GameFAQs]] and [[Smashboards]]. Some smashers, called "anti-tiers," argue that every character can be played equally well and that therefore, tier lists do not exist. In support of this argument, they claim that the presentation of a tier list creates a cycle in which players see the list, and choose only higher-tiered characters to compete with, which causes only those characters develop an advanced [[metagame]], thereby reinforcing the high tiered characters' positions on the tier list. They also argue that the tier list cannot be true because it continuously changes. | Controversy periodically arises over the existence of tiers, most notably during the "tier wars" on [[GameFAQs]] and [[Smashboards]]. Some smashers, called "anti-tiers," argue that every character can be played equally well and that therefore, tier lists do not exist. In support of this argument, they claim that the presentation of a tier list creates a cycle in which players see the list, and choose only higher-tiered characters to compete with, which causes only those characters develop an advanced [[metagame]], thereby reinforcing the high tiered characters' positions on the tier list. They also argue that the tier list cannot be true because it continuously changes. | ||
The consensus of competitive players is that tiers do exist. They believe that it would be almost impossible for developers to balance a game of unlike characters, because the differing properties of each character produce a huge number of variables that cannot successfully be monitored and modified for the purpose of balance. Thus, developers cannot foresee top-level strategies, and even deliberate efforts will not balance a game at a professional level. Furthermore, the developers did not intend for games in the ''Smash'' series to be played competitively, and the conditions under which they are played in tournaments are different to those under which they expect the game to be played. Years of empirical results also support the existence of tiers; national tournament winners of ''Melee'' most commonly use [[ | The consensus of competitive players is that tiers do exist. They believe that it would be almost impossible for developers to balance a game of unlike characters, because the differing properties of each character produce a huge number of variables that cannot successfully be monitored and modified for the purpose of balance. Thus, developers cannot foresee top-level strategies, and even deliberate efforts will not balance a game at a professional level. Furthermore, the developers did not intend for games in the ''Smash'' series to be played competitively, and the conditions under which they are played in tournaments are different to those under which they expect the game to be played. Years of empirical results also support the existence of tiers; national tournament winners of ''Melee'' most commonly use [[Jigglypuff (SSBM)|Jigglypuff]], [[Fox (SSBM)|Fox]], [[Falco (SSBM)|Falco]], or [[Sheik (SSBM)|Sheik]]. In response to the fact that the tier list changes, pro-tiers state that the anti-tiers' argument does not weigh against the existence of tiers, because the tier list must change as the metagame changes. | ||
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