chilly shoal
Nobody likes playing with bots, its disappointing to see "ai taking over" when starting a game. Surely SMG understand and relate to this. So why is their only solution if you want to play with a friend to play with up to 4 other bots.
Its not even that we co-operate to strategically win 1st and 2nd. Its a casual thing to enjoy the experience of the game with a friend, and others. Sure we're "nice" to each other in the beggining but so are most that want to maintain their position and win.
If the problem is co-operation, then alliances are also a problem, matches can last for over an hour, and at some point you end up being nice to try and outgrow until one person eventually ||suicides|| into someone else. Its part of the game whether you're a good neighbour or a bad neighbour.
If the problem is communication then expand the methods in which players can communicate. There are too many situations where you will end up frustrated that the other player doesnt understand your goal, etc. Expand the available communication.
Further, its casual play. casual. I would completely understand this kind of enforcement in ranked play, but casual players just want to have fun. Theres no fun in being forced to play by yourself in a 6 player game, or play with some friends and frustrating bots.
Surely you can seperate enforcement like this between casual and competitive?
solemn zinc