Nintendo's New Tournament Guidelines Spark Controversy in the Smash Bros. Community
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Nintendo recently released a set of new tournament guidelines that have sent waves through the Super Smash Bros. community. These guidelines, posted on Nintendo's UK and Japan websites, introduce strict restrictions on "community" tournaments, sparking an uproar among fans and players alike. While Nintendo's relationship with competitive Super Smash Bros. has been contentious in the past, these new rules have taken things to a new level.
Tournament Guidelines: A Grim Outlook for Smash Bros. Competitions
The new guidelines impose strict limitations on all "community" tournaments, which have traditionally formed the backbone of competitive Smash events. Some of the most contentious rules include:
A maximum cap of 200 participants for in-person tournaments, and 300 for online events.
A financial restriction that prevents organizers from making a profit, limiting earnings to cover tournament expenses and prize pools.
A ban on sponsors and the sale of food, beverages, and merchandise.
Forbidding the use of pirated or modified software, effectively excluding fan-made mods like Project M and Project+.
Requiring any online components to be hosted on Nintendo's official servers.
These changes have rattled the Smash Bros. community and have raised questions about the future of local, grassroots competitions.
Unhappy Players and Organizers
In response to these guidelines, players and organizers have voiced their displeasure on social media platforms. The sentiment among many is one of frustration and concern, with some declaring that the competitive scene is in jeopardy. Prominent figures in the community, including top-ranked players Samuel "Dabuz" Buzby and Adam "Armada" Lindgren, expressed their strong disapproval of Nintendo's approach.
Juan "Hungrybox" DeBiedma, another prominent figure in the community, has taken a defiant stance, vowing to continue running his tournaments until receiving a direct response from Nintendo's lawyers. The community's dissatisfaction with Nintendo has been building for some time, with complaints about the company's lack of support for competitive events and its interference in past tournaments.
Impact on the Smash Bros. Melee Scene
The guidelines pose a particular threat to the Super Smash Bros. Melee scene, given its reliance on community tournaments and fan-made modifications. The ban on modified software, such as Project M, and the restriction on online play for Melee tournaments leave this beloved iteration of the game in a precarious position.
While the initial reaction to Nintendo's guidelines has been overwhelmingly negative, some within the community remain optimistic about the future. They believe that this controversy may be another obstacle to overcome and not necessarily the end of the road for competitive Smash. Several members of the community are hopeful that Nintendo may reconsider or ease these restrictions in response to the vocal outcry.
