Tournaments are about more than just winning. They are an opportunity to meet people from different locations and different walks of life who share the passion for the game. They also server as a meeting grounds where you can finally hang out with friends from miles away who you might have only talked to online. Nevertheless, a major part of tournaments is about determining an eventual champion. We all have a competitive spirit within us, otherwise we wouldn't be attending tournaments in the first place. As the stakes are raised, so is the pressure to perform.
This document is an attempt to strictly codify every rule that will be in effect at the tournament. The goal is not to make things overly complicated, but rather to make sure everyone is treated fairly. In the event of a conflict, strict adherence to these rules will ensure that things don't become personal and everyone can have a good time. All tournament competitors are responsible for knowing these rules in advance.
The following terms will be used in this document, around the website, and at the tournament itself.
Bracket | A flow chart indicating who should play whom at any point in the tournament. The completely deterministic nature of a bracket ensures fair play. Most NZism tournaments use double elimination brackets. | |
Match | A pairing between two people in the bracket. The two people play each other until a winner is determined. For example, the final Match in in the tournament determines who gets 1st and who gets 2nd. For example, a Match may be 2 out of 3 games. | |
Game | A Game is just what you think it is: a single game between 2 players. For example, a game in Super Turbo is over when either competitor wins 2 out of 3 rounds. A game of Capcom vs SNK 2 or Marvel vs Capcom 2 is over when one player loses his last character. Make sure you understand the difference between a Match and a Game! | |
The Director | The person ultimately responsible for running the whole tournament. | |
Judge | The Director has a lot of people helping him. These people usually watch over Matches and help to resolve conflicts. Thus, those people are called Judges. They are tournament officials. While they can help to resolve conflicts, the Director is the ultimate authority in making sure the rules are enforced. |
Some players in the tournament will be seeded. To the best of our ability, we will place players in the bracket in a manner that minimizes the chances of the best players facing each other early in the bracket. All remaining non-seeded entrants will be randomly placed.
These rules will be in effect while a single Match in the tournament is played. If you are playing in the tournament, be sure to study this section carefully, especially if you have no prior tournament experience.
Unfortunately, sometimes things get out of hand. Rules occasionally get violated for a variety of reasons; accidentally, maliciously, or even out of ignorance. The following rules are designed to deal with rule violators in a way that ensures everyone is treated fairly. These rules WILL be enforced! Know the consequences for your actions ahead of time.
These rules are an attempt to ensure that the tournament runs fairly and as smoothly as possible. However, unforeseen circumstances may require a special response, and for that reason the Tournament Director reserves the right to change any of the tournament rules or remove any player at any time, for any reason, at their sole discretion.
All tournament participants shall protect, defend, indemnify and hold harmless NZism, its affiliated corporations, and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, agents, representatives and employees from and against any and all costs and expenses, damages, claims, suits, actions, liabilities, losses and judgments including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and legal expenses, based on, arising out of or in any way related or connected with the Event or any other matter or activity directly or indirectly related to the Event, including but not limited to libel, slander, disparagement, defamation, copyright infringement, invasion of privacy, piracy, plagiarism, or infringement of any patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret or other intellectual property right of any third party. This obligation shall continue beyond the term of the Event.