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Comment by CM30 | Hacker News Reader

Depends on the game.

In competitive multiplayer games, then sure, randomness is almost always disliked, and any form of luck mechanics are usually loathed by the fanbase. See for example how unpopular tripping was in Smash Bros Brawl, or how items tend not to be enabled in tournament play.

On the other hand, less competitive multiplayer games and single players can have randomness work well. Few complain about randomly generated levels in single player games (at least on a 'this is unpredictable' level, roguelikes are basically entirely random, many sandbox games have random systems of events that could happen at any time and party games tend to be heavily based on random mechanics overall.

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PUBG and Fortnite are the most popular competitive games ever? and randomness is paramount in both.

Let's be more specific. The concept in both games is securing equipment which can aid you. Randomness only applies to your drop line and loot dispersal.

After you get your gear, randomness is no longer in play other than the circles of death. A shot to a player's head should always connect. There's no element of randomness when engaging with another player.

If there was a noticeable random element of accuracy in your weapons, the community would drop PUBG in a hot second. Fortnite's scene isn't nearly as competitive so it's possible there is more leeway for random combat, but in PUBG dependable combat is a MUST.

Hip fire bullet spread isn't random?

Bullet spread is present in every modern FPS, with most weapons and not just in hip fire mode.

Bullet spread as a stratagem isn't random because the idea is that you can choose: Quick, reactionary hip fire or slow, focused aiming? One guarantees a hit at the expense of speed, the other guarantees speed at the expensive of maybe not hitting. But no one using hip fire will be angry that their gun might have missed, because the system is predictable, non-random and non-changing. However, if we were talking about a system where sometimes your aiming is precise and sometimes it isn't, with no clear rules, then your strategy begins to depend on randomness instead of interfacing with it.

That's why randomness isn't "paramount" to the combat of PUBG. This is why the game is successful. Bugs nonwithstanding, once a player secures loot they can form predictable, actionable strategies that do not depend on RNG. If this wasn't the case, and randomness bled into combat itself, nobody would play the game.

They aren’t competitive in the sense of being an e-sport with ranking/ELO, competitions, prizes, leagues, paid salaries, etc.

Yes, they have some prizes in some events with popular players, but they aren’t really competitive in the same sense as, say, MOBAs, strategy games or FPSs.

The fact that a game has PvP does not mean it is competitive in that sense.

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