Melee game type has a confusing name

[bludshot]

So, apparently "Melee" game type is actually Free-For-All.

I think "Melee" is a lousy name for this gametype, because in video games, "melee" always means non-ranged weapons (like knives, punching, gauntlet, etc).

So users (like I did) will see this in the list and think it is a knives-only/gauntlet-only game type.

[SuCCeSSoR-040]

I also think it's a strange name but once you know it's ok to me.

[Hylis]

Free for all is a more general definition of everybody is playing for himself. Royal is FFA and Melee as well.

And above all, Melee is five letters, like Nadeo, Track, Shoot, Quest, Joust, Elite and Siege. So it has a +1

[Omnixor]

and royal xD battle is out tho ):

[bludshot]

I mean it's no problem, it's your game you can call it how you want

But I think 'melee' makes sense to french people more than anyone else. Even though technically the word can describe the idea of a every-man-for-himself fight, in video game circles it is much more associated with melee weapons.

Melee is any form of combat that involves individual fighters making direct physical contact with each other using hand-held weapons, punches, kicks, holds, or other martial arts techniques. Often, melee is characterized by close, disorganized combat, sometimes among large groups of fighters who are not fighting as a group or formation. Melee excludes the use of ranged weapons or area-effect weapons such as explosives or chemical and biological weapons. Examples of melee combat include sword fighting, boxing, wrestling or martial arts.

source: http://www.giantbomb.com/melee/92-444/

So I'm just letting you know that basically every single north american player will see Melee in the list and know that it is a gametype with no ranged weapons, just as I did.

And I looked and looked and couldn't find a Free-For-All mode (without a offzone shrinking thing), all I could find was Royal.

But like I said, call it Melee if you want, I'm just saying

[Hylis]

look at Gus ^^
http://sea.battle.net/sc2/en/forum/topic/48665918

[Shade0fGrayl]

I agree with the op completely. That name should be altered, seeing as Shootmania is intended and has been presented for use outside of its native territory. That ought to be localised, (I think that menus do benefit from being clear and concise, but also being free from regional dialect) so that there's no confusion.

My experience of it was that I loaded up SM, and it was amongst the first concerns I noted, my gut-reaction on seeing the option was "why...would I want to play this game without the shooting" - I was completely puzzled, and so I went on to see what else there was going on in the servers. I did make a report about it though, shortly after.

[Kitsunin]

When I first saw the name I assumed it was a gimmick 'melee only' mode. I didn't really realize it wasn't until seeing the game mode descriptions.

That said, melee does make sense, and describes what said mode is very concisely, it's just too bad it has a confusing homonym.

[Shade0fGrayl]

What are your reasons for suggesting retaining this feature?

I think it's important to consider that there's no guarantee that after the kind of reported reaction of this sample, that players once the game's live would follow your lead, and head to the website to look into what it actually was. They might not bother, might not (feel they) have time, might set out to do so later and forget. In aiming for features that are going to see wide use, in the labeling (UI), the use of terms with the kind of regional dialect we've identified is obstructive. It stands in the way of acceptance. It's simply odd.

What benefit is there to leaving the name, versus altering it. Unless there's a further criteria?

[krone6]

Agree with op. Why on earth would Nadeo make such a "noob" mistake? If it's free for all then call it free for all. Don't over complicate a simple thing. Do I call a car a "motorized vehicle with a human interaction?" No, i call it a car...