General
Nintendo’s New Tournament Guidelines Stir Controversy in the Smash Bros. Community
Nintendo, a name synonymous with gaming, has recently stirred the pot in the competitive Super Smash Bros. community. The company latest set of tournament guidelines, released on 24 October 2023, has been met with significant backlash from fans and players alike. These guidelines, which were posted on Nintendo UK and Japan websites, have been described by many as overly restrictive and potentially detrimental to the grassroots competitive scene of the Super Smash Bros. games.
Key Points of the New Guidelines
The new rules impose several limitations on community tournaments:
- A cap of 200 participants for Smash tournaments.
- A prize limit set at USD 5,295.
- A prohibition on sponsorships.
- A ban on modified versions of Nintendo games, notably the Project M hack of Super Smash Bros. Melee.
- Restrictions on selling food, beverages, or merchandise at the events.
Licensing and Commercial Tournaments
While commercial tournaments are not outright banned, they now require special licenses from Nintendo. The company has stated that the granting of these licenses will be at their sole discretion. This has raised concerns among fans, fearing that these restrictions might extend to larger esports events, making organizing a Smash Bros. tournament more challenging.
Community Backlash
Several prominent figures in the Smash community have voiced their frustrations. Samuel Dabuz Buzby, a top-ranked player, expressed his disappointment on Twitter. Adam Armada Lindgren, one of the renowned five gods of Smash Bros. Melee, also took to Twitter to criticize Nintendo approach to the competitive Smash scene.
Juan Hungrybox DeBiedma, another of the five gods, has openly challenged the new guidelines. He has vowed to continue hosting his tournaments until Nintendo legal team contacts him directly. DeBiedma longstanding criticism of Nintendo centers around their lack of support for the competitive community, especially when compared to companies like Capcom and their backing of Street Fighter.
Past Controversies
This is not the first time Nintendo has faced backlash from the competitive community. In 2013, they attempted to ban the Melee finals from being broadcast at Evo, only to retract their decision after facing significant opposition. More recently, after Sony acquisition of Evo in 2022, Nintendo withdrew Smash Bros. from the event.
Future Implications
The future of the competitive Smash scene remains uncertain. While the new guidelines currently apply only to Europe and Japan, there is speculation that North America might soon see similar rules. These guidelines are set to take effect from 15 November 2023, which coincidentally is right after the Port Priority 8 tournament in Seattle, Washington—a tournament that would be prohibited under the new rules.
As of now, Nintendo has not commented on the situation.
Image source: ChetRippo via DevianArt, CC-ND 3.0 License
