Makes sense tbh. RM is a lot more forgiving to noobs to learn due to a massive spread of players across the ELO, fast queues, slower buildup, loads of free content to learn off and it's usually more exciting to watch than DM as a spectator on streams.
DM declined rapidly before RM on AOK/AOC and you'd imagine would follow suit down the track in DE. CBA was more popular - because it was noob friendly yet had room for player skill and growth (**** that map but). Seems like a failure to change the DM game mode to something that resembles a DM feel whilst attracting and retaining new players than a decision to remove rated DM playmaking. And I wouldn't have an answer on how to achieve that. Post-imp EW format? Art of War based type scenarios (ie no eco all army on fixed or basic seeded maps)? Normal game speed?
If you can't build growth through new players, you'll die off. Have experienced it. It sucks. You put a lot of effort into avoiding it and ultimately fail.
Don't take it the wrong way. DM has had and still has excellent ambassadors that do wonders for their community. The decision is a massive kick in the teeth for them.
Now think, why would a dev team continue backing a formula that fails over time for it's intended purpose (attracting a growing playerbase) because of a small group of passionate and awesome people? Your average AOE player probably doesn't care about DM and sees it has a fun niche mode like a custom scenario.
I don't think EW will do any better than DM though, but they're crazy as devs not to try it out in a ranked system and to give it the best shot of success. RM has to stay because it's the staple of success. If they keep DM then it's fighting for the player base tired of RM and wanting different.
In a perfect world, RM, DM and EW can thrive with rated ladders. If you've been around long enough, you know that's not going to happen.
DM declined rapidly before RM on AOK/AOC and you'd imagine would follow suit down the track in DE. CBA was more popular - because it was noob friendly yet had room for player skill and growth (**** that map but). Seems like a failure to change the DM game mode to something that resembles a DM feel whilst attracting and retaining new players than a decision to remove rated DM playmaking. And I wouldn't have an answer on how to achieve that. Post-imp EW format? Art of War based type scenarios (ie no eco all army on fixed or basic seeded maps)? Normal game speed?
If you can't build growth through new players, you'll die off. Have experienced it. It sucks. You put a lot of effort into avoiding it and ultimately fail.
Don't take it the wrong way. DM has had and still has excellent ambassadors that do wonders for their community. The decision is a massive kick in the teeth for them.
Now think, why would a dev team continue backing a formula that fails over time for it's intended purpose (attracting a growing playerbase) because of a small group of passionate and awesome people? Your average AOE player probably doesn't care about DM and sees it has a fun niche mode like a custom scenario.
I don't think EW will do any better than DM though, but they're crazy as devs not to try it out in a ranked system and to give it the best shot of success. RM has to stay because it's the staple of success. If they keep DM then it's fighting for the player base tired of RM and wanting different.
In a perfect world, RM, DM and EW can thrive with rated ladders. If you've been around long enough, you know that's not going to happen.