Do automatic players join games only at the moment it starts?

[Shivaware]

When people use the automated matchmaking, either with the old Play Now lobby, or with the new game page lobby, how exactly does it work? Do these players visibly "join" games and wait until there are enough players for the game to start? Or are the automatic players gathered up behind the scenes and added to a game as soon as there are enough that have compatible options?

In particular, I'm wondering about games in the manual Play Now lobby that are waiting for more players. Are any of the players in these games automatic players? My feeling is that they are not, but I don't know for sure.

[Jellby]

I guess they are. I see players joining multiple tables at once, and I guess those are players using the automatic option. Arena and casual are separate queues, but I believe manual and auto are using the same.

[Shivaware]

I guess they are. I see players joining multiple tables at once, and I guess those are players using the automatic option. Arena and casual are separate queues, but I believe manual and auto are using the same.

It is possible to manually join multiple games at the same time. If a real-time game starts, my understanding is that you are automatically removed from any other real-time game still waiting for opponents. I rarely play real-time games, so this is just based on what I've read.

[Jellby]

I don't mean that they are waiting in different tables, that's a given. I mean that they actually join multiple tables within a second. That's possible too, but you have to be quick with your clicking. It also doesn't make much sense to join and fill the last spot in a table and at the same time join a few other tables (just to be removed, as you say, as soon as the first table starts). You could do it if you see that the table doesn't start after a while, but not immediately. That kind of behavior makes me think they're auto-joiners.

Anyway, you can make a test. Open two tabs in the old lobby. Set one to manual and the other to automatic. In the automatic tab, choose a game and start searching. Switch the other tab, after a few seconds you should see a table created by you in that game.

[Shivaware]

Thanks for your observations, Jellby. They are very helpful, and sound convincing. I will try doing some tests like you suggested as well.

Edit: I did a test by watching a waiting table in one tab and starting an automatic search in another. Sure enough, my name did show up in the waiting game. I appreciate your help in clearing things up for me!

[DoctorFianchetto]

I've wondered this myself. I always play on manual lobbies. When I'm inspecting tables and see bizarre behaviour like users joining and leaving immediately, the same user simultaneously creating multiple tables of the same game, me joining a table causing the host to leave immediately - I attribute this to the jankiness of the automated system.

I feel like a lot of matchmaking issues would go away if there weren't an automated system, but I understand the convenience it offers and it works a lot more than it doesn't.