User:LimitTesting/Smite (video game)

Reception
"Smite" has been well-received since its launch, holding an aggregate score of 83/100 on Metacritic, reflecting positive reviews from various critics. Leah B. Jackson of IGN rated the game 8/10, highlighting the diverse range of gods and detailed character models. Wes Fenlon from PC Gamer gave it an 86/100, noting its accessibility to MOBA newcomers, albeit with critiques regarding the low entry barriers for ranked games. Paulmichael Contreras of PlayStation LifeStyle praised the game's fair free-to-play model, and GamesRadar+ listed "Smite" as a top free PS4 game for its extensive hero lineup and engaging tactical team play. Digital Trends also recognized "Smite" in their list of best free-to-play games for 2020, commending its unique third-person perspective in the MOBA genre.

Esports
In mid-2014, Hi-Rez Studios implemented a system by which players could join professional leagues in teams of 5. Players first played in online competitions, then progressed to offline competitions. Teams were ranked according to how well they did within these competitions, and the top teams were invited to compete in the Smite World Championship. Hi-Rez Studios hosted the first Smite World Championship on January 9, 2015. Teams from North America, South America, Europe and China travelled to Atlanta for the tournament. The $2.6 million prize pool for the tournament was at the time the third-highest in esports, behind the third and fourth iterations of Dota 2 's The International and just slightly ahead of the League of Legends World Championships.[citation needed] One of the North American teams, COGnitive Prime, took home the first place prize of over $1.3 million.

In July 2015, Stew Chisam, president of Hi-Rez Studios, announced that after discussing the prizing structure of Smite esports with team owners, players and members of other esports communities, Hi-Rez would be placing a cap on the prize pool for the Smite World Championships at $1 million. This decision was based to pay out more money to more players throughout the year instead of paying the bulk of earned prize money at a single event.

In January 2016, the Smite World Championship was held, returning to Atlanta, with the total prize of $1 million awarded.

The Smite Pro League (SPL) transitioned to a franchise model, managed by Hi-Rez Studios, beginning with Season 8. This marked a departure from the league's prior format of third-party organization-represented teams. The new model involved direct ownership and operation of teams by Hi-Rez, leading to an increase in social media engagement and streamlined operations in areas like visa processing. This change allowed for closer player engagement and more effective long-term strategic planning, enhancing the stability and future prospects of the SPL.

Matchmaking
The matchmaking system uses a modified version of the TrueSkill ranking system. Originally, most modes operated on queues with three-minute matchmaking timers; every three minutes, matches would be made from the group of people in queue at that time. In late 2014, this system was replaced with a more common strategy that looks for an optimal match instead of just the best match-ups at the present time. In this system, if it takes five minutes or more to match a player, the game will gradually lower its requirements until a match is found. In 2018, the system was modified to have different time requirements for different modes. The system will prioritize the player's general performance over their account level.

In Ranked Leagues, players are matched by a variation of Elo, a system that rates individual skill of each player based on wins and losses. While the Elo ranking is per-individual, the matchmaking system's goal is to create matches with each team having a similar total Elo ranking, potentially leading to individual disparity within or between teams. Ranked mode is available for Conquest and Joust.

In addition to the matchmaking mechanics, Smite features a structured ranking system in its Ranked Leagues, with specific entry requirements and rules. Players must be Level 30, own a minimum of 20 gods at Mastery Level 2 or higher, and have played at least 30 Normal (PvP) Conquest matches. The ranks progress from Bronze to Grandmaster, each divided into five sub-tiers (I-V), denoted by Roman numerals. Ranked matches use a 10 ban draft pick system. Players earn Tribute Points (TP) from ranked wins, needing over 100 TP to advance through each sub-tier. Players new to Ranked start in Bronze 3 with 1500 MMR. Losing games at 0 TP may result in demotion. Parties of two must be within one tier of each other to queue together.