[2021] New Custom Game Browser Tabs

Thank you for taking part in the 1.64 PTR!

We need folks to get in there and play various custom game modes so we can test out the new tabs (see below), particularly the Popular tab, so please use the browser to join an existing game, or you can create a game and import your favorite code!

Copied from the patch notes:

Previously, it was difficult for players to keep track of the ever-growing collection of player-created game modes. The Custom Game Browser’s new tabs give these modes a chance to shine. The Popular tab shows off some of the most-played modes as well as modes that have started to trend. The Favorites tab lets you build a personal collection of modes – just select the star icon next to any mode you’d like to see in this list. The Recent tab shows modes that you have recently played. Finally, the All Games tab gives you the standard, familiar list of lobbies. We’ve also added the ability to search for lobbies by share code.

In order to help identify modes, we’ve added a new Mode Name setting right above the Description in Custom Game Settings. This Mode Name will be used to represent modes in the Custom Game Browser tabs. Creators are encouraged to reupload their modes with Mode Name filled out. (If it isn’t filled out, the share code itself is displayed instead.)

Since these new features are being used by the public for the first time, we may need to make adjustments to how the Popular tab chooses its modes. If you notice that the Popular tab isn’t showing the modes that you might expect, please be patient with us as we tune the feature to present the best collection of modes that we can.

We’re excited about the possibilities these new features will bring to Custom Games, and we’ll be watching and listening to your feedback to improve the Custom Game Browser experience.

One quick note about your Custom Game’s identity:

After importing a code in the Settings screen, you should see the Game Code displayed beneath the mode’s Description text box. This tells you that you are “officially” playing that particular game mode. This means that 1) players searching by code or Mode Name in the browser will see your game, 2) the mode will show up in your Recents tab, and 3) your game will contribute to the overall popularity of the mode, which may help the mode show up in the Popular tab eventually (if enough people play it).

If you change the Maps, the Workshop Settings (but not the Workshop script itself), or most of the Lobby settings (except for Match Voice Chat), then the Game Code should remain associated with your settings. However, if you change any other setting – including the Mode Name, Description, Heroes, Modes, or the Workshop script – then the Game Code will be removed from your settings, meaning you are no longer playing an official version of the game mode.

When in doubt, you can check the Settings or Info screen in your custom game to see if your game is still associated with the official game mode – if you see the Game Code displayed, then it is!

Not sure about the hero customization issue. Hopefully, that’s limited to PTR.

We currently save up to 32 favorites and 32 recents, though we may adjust that number as needed.

Though the popularity algorithm is always subject to change – we’ll be paying attention and tweaking it as necessary – popularity is currently based on the amount of time players spend playing your game mode. This means that if 12 people spend an hour playing your game – whether in a single 12 player instance or in 3 different 4 player instances – it counts 12 hours towards your mode’s popularity.

While we don’t currently have functionality in place to detect or prohibit a player from copying a mode, removing references to the original creator, and reuploading the mode to a new code (possibly with minor changes), we definitely share your concerns. We’ll be watching to see how the new tabs affect such behavior.

These are cool ideas! Thanks for the suggestions.

Regarding keeping things fresh, we will also be showing up-and-coming modes that have a recent increase in popularity, even if they aren’t yet as popular as the top modes. These will be given the “Trending” tag (representing a very rapid increase in popularity) or the “Hot” tag (possibly more popular than Trending modes, though not as rapid an ascent).

Currently, we’ll show 0 or 1 “Trending” modes and 0 to 2 “Hot” modes. There’s a minimum threshold of popularity and ascension speed required for either label, at which point we first choose the “Trending” card followed by “Hot” cards if any remain.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, this is all subject to change.