Should I use three stars rating in my mobile game or create my own? [closed]

Question

In a simple platformer game I want to rate the player's performance in a level based on score. Very common in a lot of mobile games is "three star rating", probably the most notorious example being Angry Birds. My question is:

Should I use the same type of rating or use something else? Is it better to be original or use something the players are used to?

If three stars, should I avoid 0 star rating? (i.e. give player at least a star for finishing the level).

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From http://angrybirds.wikia.com/wiki/Star

Many other physics-based iOS games, such as Cut the Rope and Save Toshi use the same, or simliar 3-star system. However, the former allows the player to end the level with a zero-star ranking, and the latter allows players to get a three-star-plus ranking.

Reseachers found that before the release of the original Angry Birds, only 20% of all games were rated with the 3-star score system. After the release of it, nearly 80% of all games were rated with the same or similar scoring system. (Similars are the likes of Asphalt 6, which placing was rated with 3, and achivements were 2, meaning that this is a 5-star score system.)

Answer 1

The more levels of achievement, the more chance the player is to see a reward for playing again.

For example, in games where the feedback is expressed as a percentage, they might just improve from 90% to 91% where as they won't get that feedback from a star system where the improvement isn't enough to get an extra star. Worth noting that Angry Birds starwars uses percentages for the Millennium Falcon scores.

However, the fewer levels of achievement, the simpler the scoring system comes across. A younger audience can appreciate 3 stars than 100 percentage points, and they are nice and visual (even Angry Birds Star Wars represents percentages visually), while an older audience (in Angry Birds say) can still see the full score so no detail is lost through adopting a short system.

I would suggest working with percentages internally, then you can experiment with how they are represented externally, e.g.:

//3 star system, no 0 star
int stars = percentage / 50 + 1;

//3 star system, 0 star
int stars = percentage / (100/3f);

Answer 2

You could use five start system, it easily transfers to the percentage. With the "zero" score, causing no stars.

 0 Stars 0 points
 1 Star  1-19
 2 Stars 20-39
 3 Stars 40-69
 4 Stars 70-89
 5 Stars 90-100

You could go with any other point system. And say that the player passes the level once he gets 50% or any number of stars you choose. I'd use it as a tool for the player, so that he can have reference how good he actually is in the game.

 0 Stars 0 points
 1 Star  1-2 points
 2 Stars 3-5 points
 3 Stars 6-7 points
 4 Stars 8-9 points
 5 Stars 10 points