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University of Southern California

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The University of Southern California is a research university. It publishes academic papers and reports, including research on game-related topics.

Documents

Cover of Heterogeneous Effects of Software Patches in a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Game
Whitepaper9 pages

Heterogeneous Effects of Software Patches in a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena Game

Software patches in the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena genre exert complex, heterogeneous influences on competitive outcomes that frequently diverge from developer intentions.

  • Software patches in League of Legends frequently fail to achieve intended equilibrium, often inadvertently widening the performance gap between high-skill and low-skill players.
  • Modifications to a single champion create systemic ripple effects that alter the viability of untouched characters, making balance outcomes highly dependent on team composition.
  • Player adaptation to new meta-conditions is significantly improved by taking longer breaks between matches, as continuous play hinders the cognitive recalibration required for systemic changes.
University of Southern CaliforniaAug 2021

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