Games absolutely cannot start counting at 3 minutes. I believe the game should start counting once we get 30 seconds in. If you consider some of the smallest, legal, tournament maps- you can scout them with a rifle infantry within about 40 seconds into the game, potentially... Or scout them with a jump jet 1 minute 15 seconds into the game... Or take over one of their BUILDINGS! 58 seconds into the game.. (if it's multi engineer).
So as you can see, if you scout someone 40 seconds into the game with a rifle infantry, they shouldn't have 2 minutes and 20 seconds to decide if they still want to play in this game or just surrender and start over at no expense. Or people could get scouted by a jump jet 1 minute 15 seconds into the game, then get harassed and slowed for 1 minute and 45 seconds, then decide, I'll just surrender and start over and no expense. Or... someone takes over my MCV 58 seconds into the game and I can just surrender within the next 2 minutes and get no LOSS.
I hope everyone can see the point I'm trying to get across.
Clearly 3 minutes is not the correct answer. I strongly recommend 30 seconds in, GAME COUNTS.