GameUnderground
Smash Journeyman
Ok here's the deal...
1. Thank you everyone for coming! The Tournament this past weekend was the biggest tournament we have ever had for anything. Honestly we are in a terrible financial situation because of the economy fallout and Smash may have seriously kept Game Universe open... for real.(it's embarrassing to say that but I felt it should be said) The Convention should help us a lot too in the summer. (on that note Game Universe Convention will have a much much much more organized setup for all of our tournaments we have a great plan in place)
2. Thank you to everyone that brought set-ups. You guys are all awesome and make these Tournaments possible.
3. I let people in the community run all of the different tournaments we do. I think Matt and everyone that helps did a great job. I could run all of the Tournaments at GU myself but I want people that play the games and know all the rules running them perfect. I'm sorry they aren't always smooth or organized but Matt, Roman and other guys that help out are
VOLUNTEERING AND RUNNING EVERYTHING FOR FREE SO THERE CAN BE SMASH TOURNAMENTS AT ALL.
4. There should have been NO BIRTHDAY PARTY THAT DAY. Someone new accidentally scheduled it during MM. That should never have happened and it took up too much of my employee's time when we should have been helping set up and taking care of the Smash Players. I appreciate everyone being cool to make sure those kids had a great time. Their parents were very happy and it could have been one more thing that made the day harder if they weren't. Also Blinky had an emergency and couldn't work that day so that hurt too.
5. Sorry there isn't much room here... there's really nothing we can do about it... I will try to get it more organized next time... Like I said I had someone call out.
6. We will stay open til 11pm on Sunday for the next MM. Melee guys aren't gonna get screwed by having less time to play.
7. Please bring Brawl setups on Sat. I don't want to end up with two... however if everyone that hates brawl just comes Sunday then there will be less people so we will need less setups... I wish everyone would just be happy and play both... one seriously and one for fun. The Turnout for Brawl was twice as much as Melee so that's why it gets to be on Saturday... I originally said we should have Melee Saturday but I agree I think there are just more vocal Melee players. HEY IT'S A TWO DAY SMASH EVENT YAY!
To answer some of the questions people are asking....
1. Make sure there is enough space around the tables, especially with chairs around. that slowed things down the most, especially by the entrance.
A: What can we do really... we only have so much room. I think we will move the front table around differently next time.
2. In the back section, having more tables, and placing them against the walls rather than in the center would actually let you fit more TVs. That might not be possible though, because of centralized outlets (?)
A: I actually thought this worked ok but if you have a better idea when you get there help us out with the placement next time.
3. Spend less time telling people that you're gonna DQ them, and more time actually carrying out your threat--warning someone like 5+ times makes the TOs look bad, and as if they are playing favorites. Even if it's an "important" person, that means they should know how this works, and shouldn't be goofing off/breaking the rules.
A: I agree pay attention for your matches... however the mic stopped working halfway through and the other one broke... Also I would prefer to not have anyone DQ'd but if you are being threatened pay attention and fn do what you are supposed to!
4. Get volunteers ahead of time to help set up, make sure people aren't playing friendlies, and making sure match results are reported. Having other people doing this means it isn't just the people behind the computer trying to make it all happen themselves.
A: Pretty much those are the volunteers... This is a very community driven Tournament and therefore there is kind of an unofficial "Team" that I trust to help out. I don't always know every single person's name but... those regular guys that do help thank you so very much. MM is extremely popular and I couldn't handle it without you.
5. Overall, I thought this went much better than the last one I attended, especially given the number of people attending. Props to the organizers, even if it could have been better.
A: I actually agree this one was run much better.
Quote of the month "remember guys, even if they aren't doing a perfect (or even good) job, at least they have the balls to go and do it. Until you step it up and either start helping/running your own tourneys, your complaints are kinda pointless, even if based off of experiences from other tourneys."
For real... I appreciate everyone that helps out. I've learned from running all these different tournaments for different games, everyone is always gonna have something to complain about. Also keep in mind a few things...
In my opinion the whole situation for running a tournament is completely broken and impossible to handle correctly. Here's how it works... If I paid someone to be in charge of it and run everything perfect, we would have to take more out of the pot and that sucks. The convention will be able to run everything better because of a venue fee and stuff but at GU we just do the best we can. We take a small cut from the entrance fees and don't charge anything to get in... most places do both.
I hate seeding. It sucks. People in the community want it so I let it happen. I understand why it happens but it sucks to have to place people anywhere. However, if you are putting a match in there "just because you want to see it happen" don't do it. I'm not in charge of seeding but whatever the TO decides is what happens and is final. I trust their judgment.
Finally... for those who don't see it....
WE HAVE AN AMAZING SMASH BROS COMMUNITY.
Everyone that comes to MM are amazing and helpful and surprisingly polite. We are lucky to have such a great group of people to play games with!
Thank you to everyone for coming.
Thank you to Matt and EVERYONE that helps organize and run MM.
Thank you to the people that bring setups.
Thank you to the Pro Level players that come!
Thank you for helping the dream of having a awesome place for people to play and have fun at Game Universe.
Thank you for allowing us to grow to the point we can barely handle MM and have to put on a Huge Convention.
Much Love to everyone!
Jamie
1. Thank you everyone for coming! The Tournament this past weekend was the biggest tournament we have ever had for anything. Honestly we are in a terrible financial situation because of the economy fallout and Smash may have seriously kept Game Universe open... for real.(it's embarrassing to say that but I felt it should be said) The Convention should help us a lot too in the summer. (on that note Game Universe Convention will have a much much much more organized setup for all of our tournaments we have a great plan in place)
2. Thank you to everyone that brought set-ups. You guys are all awesome and make these Tournaments possible.
3. I let people in the community run all of the different tournaments we do. I think Matt and everyone that helps did a great job. I could run all of the Tournaments at GU myself but I want people that play the games and know all the rules running them perfect. I'm sorry they aren't always smooth or organized but Matt, Roman and other guys that help out are
VOLUNTEERING AND RUNNING EVERYTHING FOR FREE SO THERE CAN BE SMASH TOURNAMENTS AT ALL.
4. There should have been NO BIRTHDAY PARTY THAT DAY. Someone new accidentally scheduled it during MM. That should never have happened and it took up too much of my employee's time when we should have been helping set up and taking care of the Smash Players. I appreciate everyone being cool to make sure those kids had a great time. Their parents were very happy and it could have been one more thing that made the day harder if they weren't. Also Blinky had an emergency and couldn't work that day so that hurt too.
5. Sorry there isn't much room here... there's really nothing we can do about it... I will try to get it more organized next time... Like I said I had someone call out.
6. We will stay open til 11pm on Sunday for the next MM. Melee guys aren't gonna get screwed by having less time to play.
7. Please bring Brawl setups on Sat. I don't want to end up with two... however if everyone that hates brawl just comes Sunday then there will be less people so we will need less setups... I wish everyone would just be happy and play both... one seriously and one for fun. The Turnout for Brawl was twice as much as Melee so that's why it gets to be on Saturday... I originally said we should have Melee Saturday but I agree I think there are just more vocal Melee players. HEY IT'S A TWO DAY SMASH EVENT YAY!
To answer some of the questions people are asking....
1. Make sure there is enough space around the tables, especially with chairs around. that slowed things down the most, especially by the entrance.
A: What can we do really... we only have so much room. I think we will move the front table around differently next time.
2. In the back section, having more tables, and placing them against the walls rather than in the center would actually let you fit more TVs. That might not be possible though, because of centralized outlets (?)
A: I actually thought this worked ok but if you have a better idea when you get there help us out with the placement next time.
3. Spend less time telling people that you're gonna DQ them, and more time actually carrying out your threat--warning someone like 5+ times makes the TOs look bad, and as if they are playing favorites. Even if it's an "important" person, that means they should know how this works, and shouldn't be goofing off/breaking the rules.
A: I agree pay attention for your matches... however the mic stopped working halfway through and the other one broke... Also I would prefer to not have anyone DQ'd but if you are being threatened pay attention and fn do what you are supposed to!
4. Get volunteers ahead of time to help set up, make sure people aren't playing friendlies, and making sure match results are reported. Having other people doing this means it isn't just the people behind the computer trying to make it all happen themselves.
A: Pretty much those are the volunteers... This is a very community driven Tournament and therefore there is kind of an unofficial "Team" that I trust to help out. I don't always know every single person's name but... those regular guys that do help thank you so very much. MM is extremely popular and I couldn't handle it without you.
5. Overall, I thought this went much better than the last one I attended, especially given the number of people attending. Props to the organizers, even if it could have been better.
A: I actually agree this one was run much better.
Quote of the month "remember guys, even if they aren't doing a perfect (or even good) job, at least they have the balls to go and do it. Until you step it up and either start helping/running your own tourneys, your complaints are kinda pointless, even if based off of experiences from other tourneys."
For real... I appreciate everyone that helps out. I've learned from running all these different tournaments for different games, everyone is always gonna have something to complain about. Also keep in mind a few things...
In my opinion the whole situation for running a tournament is completely broken and impossible to handle correctly. Here's how it works... If I paid someone to be in charge of it and run everything perfect, we would have to take more out of the pot and that sucks. The convention will be able to run everything better because of a venue fee and stuff but at GU we just do the best we can. We take a small cut from the entrance fees and don't charge anything to get in... most places do both.
I hate seeding. It sucks. People in the community want it so I let it happen. I understand why it happens but it sucks to have to place people anywhere. However, if you are putting a match in there "just because you want to see it happen" don't do it. I'm not in charge of seeding but whatever the TO decides is what happens and is final. I trust their judgment.
Finally... for those who don't see it....
WE HAVE AN AMAZING SMASH BROS COMMUNITY.
Everyone that comes to MM are amazing and helpful and surprisingly polite. We are lucky to have such a great group of people to play games with!
Thank you to everyone for coming.
Thank you to Matt and EVERYONE that helps organize and run MM.
Thank you to the people that bring setups.
Thank you to the Pro Level players that come!
Thank you for helping the dream of having a awesome place for people to play and have fun at Game Universe.
Thank you for allowing us to grow to the point we can barely handle MM and have to put on a Huge Convention.
Much Love to everyone!
Jamie
