What do you guys suggest to get people to play BBCP when it comes out?

[crimsonstardust]

Hey guys, with BBCP coming around next month and me personally getting excited for the game, I was wondering just kind of steps you guys suggest to get more people to get hyped and interested in BB. My local scene mostly plays SF, so I don't know how I could encourage playing a game that has a different dynamic then they are used to, I feel like with BBCP being a new game and such I have a chance at getting some people in my scene interested. I do help run some of the weekly tournaments that aren't the main games that are played at my scene so any way to use a tournament to encourage people to play would help also.

[DerQ]

Since we're talking about an imported game, I think it's hard to be excited for a new game since it's more than a commitment to get the game for yourself. You can hardly get hype for something you'll get 3-4 months later.

That being said, lowering the commitment for them as much as possible is what I think would work best. Buying a game for the venue, being present locally to support/explain or just play and be seen by others is a big step already. Maybe organize a free ranbat or tournament with small pot for the winners, etc. etc.

Realizing they can't get the game for 3-4 months at home really changes how I would approach this to get people excited.

[Rhiya]

Penny entry round robin.

WORKS EVERY TIME.

I'm actually dead serious. This way, people get introduced to the game by playing other new players and get the time to feel out the game for themselves rather than feel it out while under the pressure of playing some guy who bodies them. Penny entry makes it relaxed, but you still have the organization and commitment of a tournament setting.

[DerQ]

But... they removed pennies up here in Canada! Is 5 cents entry too much?

:GetEm:

[crimsonstardust]

Though wouldn't making a tournament free have a similar effect oppose to using pennies? I could see people kinda groaning to get pennies but hey I haven't tried it so that's why I'm asking.

[Rhiya]

I brought pennies when I did it, and let people use them.

Free means there's nothing on the line. Even if the payout for winning is only seven cents, that's seven cents you can fight for.

Lastly.

NICKELS AREN'T POVERTY ENOUGH. MAKE THE ENTRY BOTTLECAPS AND KETCHUP PACKETS INSTEAD

[crimsonstardust]

Alright I'll give it a spin and see how it works out, better gather up all those pennies I have. d:

[DerQ]

The round robin is cool, but I can hardly see it work in my scene unless we make it best of one simply due to time issues. When we'll have the game, we'll easily be 16 established blazbluers players and above. That's not counting new comers or street fighter guys. Maybe try and make a bracket with good players on one side and new players on the other one would seem like a better idea in this case? Same concept of "you don't get demolished and go home". At the same time, /hype/ matches on the other side of the bracket

Edited September 13, 2013 by DerQ

[RichyGaming]

People are going to import the game.. Sheesh, and I was planning to work on rankings Day 1 on NA release ._.

[skd]

i agree with low cost entry. its really good.

a little offtopic but @richygaming please dont care about online rankings, i mean you can if you want to but dont because they really mean nothing in terms of actual ability. you can if you want to. but dont. please.

[RichyGaming]

i agree with low cost entry. its really good.

a little offtopic but @richygaming please dont care about online rankings, i mean you can if you want to but dont because they really mean nothing in terms of actual ability. you can if you want to. but dont. please.

Huh? Why would I ignore online rankings? I mean, I guess they don't mean anything.. but I like a little competition. Couldn't do it in BBCSE unfortunately.

[Rhiya]

The round robin is cool, but I can hardly see it work in my scene unless we make it best of one simply due to time issues. When we'll have the game, we'll easily be 16 established blazbluers players and above. That's not counting new comers or street fighter guys. Maybe try and make a bracket with good players on one side and new players on the other one would seem like a better idea in this case? Same concept of "you don't get demolished and go home". At the same time, /hype/ matches on the other side of the bracket

The main thing that makes a round robin better (and this is absolutely crucial) is that people don't get one and done'd. Two lost competitive matches and nothing else is going to sour anyone off a game if they're hesitant to play it to begin with, and that's going to happen to a quarter of your players in a double elim. With the round robin, people commit to a couple of matches, and if everyone is new, players will probably random out other players a lot and get wins, which makes them feel good and helps promote a positive attitude towards the game.

You could also just break it up into groups, and do group round robins (3-5 people in each group), then take the top player from each group and do semifinals and stuff. Bit like pools in a larger tournament. That should reduce the amount of matches substantially.

Huh? Why would I ignore online rankings? I mean, I guess they don't mean anything.. but I like a little competition. Couldn't do it in BBCSE unfortunately.

Because netplay is a supplement to playing people locally, not a replacement for it. No matter what, the game is always a little different in netplay, even if it's only by a bit. Offline is what counts most.

Edited September 17, 2013 by Dusk Thanatos

[Daedron]

To be honest, the Dan Rankings...might(?) mean a bit more than PSR, as it can't be truly farmed like you could PSR, not to mention you have to play people near your Dan ranking for a ranked match to even count as one + having to win 3 matches in a row to rank up.

I can probably see the first 10 or so dan rankings not meaning anything though, but the high end might still matter. Only time will tell.

[Dreiko]

Having high ranking and having skill are related like money is related to being smart. You can say someone became rich cause they're smart but you'd be a fool to consider every rich person a genius. Also, some smart people may be unconventionally smart or not into money but into other things, just cause they're poor doesn't mean they're not smart.

Ranking is like an indicator. Chances are someone with 10.000 games and 90% wins will almost always be better than someone with 20.000 games and 5% wins. That's pretty much all you can use it for though. To substitute ranking for actual skill is at best short-sighted.

[DerQ]

The main thing that makes a round robin better (and this is absolutely crucial) is that people don't get one and done'd. Two lost competitive matches and nothing else is going to sour anyone off a game if they're hesitant to play it to begin with, and that's going to happen to a quarter of your players in a double elim. With the round robin, people commit to a couple of matches, and if everyone is new, players will probably random out other players a lot and get wins, which makes them feel good and helps promote a positive attitude towards the game.

You could also just break it up into groups, and do group round robins (3-5 people in each group), then take the top player from each group and do semifinals and stuff. Bit like pools in a larger tournament. That should reduce the amount of matches substantially.

Interesting, a pool of round robins would probably be perfect. Everything you brought up about the benefits of a round robin is there, yet it accommodates very nicely the potential amount of players, the number of setups realistically available and the time frame available of one evening/day. Thanks for the suggestions

Huh? Why would I ignore online rankings? I mean, I guess they don't mean anything.. but I like a little competition. Couldn't do it in BBCSE unfortunately.

Online rankings are a great way to distract yourself from the things that will actually help you improve. If you vow to gauge your skill level or worth through a number, it brings up the issue of missing context. A proper example of this is say I'm the best in the world but barely play online. My ranking would be lower than someone frequently active even though I could beat them any day. I end up facing that person, the thought process this person might have could be "This guy is ranked lower than me, easy peezy". Then a massacre occurs and the likely response would be "Why did I get beat by someone of a lower ranking than me? Am I even worth my current rank? I don't want to lower rank, that means I'm degrading instead of improving"

Been there done that when I used to netplay SF4, depending on the value you put in these numbers, it can affect you in a non desirable way and even make you lose motivation in playing because they can be seen as a direct way to measure your worth. But there's so much more to it than just a number to measure this. It kind of strips you from being self aware of your own performance by putting faith into a ranking system.

[swordsman09]

I suggest everybody to immediately go into the SCV lobby.

[crimsonstardust]

Well I brought up the round robin idea sometime back with my scene and I think some people like the idea. I haven't heard from some yet cause not everyone I know is back yet. I appreciate the input guys.

[Nemesis]

Because netplay is a supplement to playing people locally, not a replacement for it. No matter what, the game is always a little different in netplay, even if it's only by a bit. Offline is what counts most.

Hate to shoot you down but...

Guess how many ppl told me things like this and why I shouldnt bother coming to evo cause Im a netplay warrior and all the offliners there are leagues better than I am? The vast majority of players I fought were offliners only -- you cant quantify offline > online (except in the basest sense of lag screws with you) There is a vast amount of growth that can happen online and making the most of what you have access to and not to mention the literal thousands of different ppl/styles you are likely to encounter is a growth boosting effect - granted you use it correctly

Having high ranking and having skill are related like money is related to being smart. You can say someone became rich cause they're smart but you'd be a fool to consider every rich person a genius. Also, some smart people may be unconventionally smart or not into money but into other things, just cause they're poor doesn't mean they're not smart.

Ranking is like an indicator. Chances are someone with 10.000 games and 90% wins will almost always be better than someone with 20.000 games and 5% wins. That's pretty much all you can use it for though. To substitute ranking for actual skill is at best short-sighted.

I couldnt agree with this post more

[mAc Chaos]

I am with Nem on this, netplay is good. You just don't want to substitute rank for skill because it does not really match. MAYBE in the beginning it can be useful since people use it as motivation to get better at first, then let it go later. But nowadays pretty much everybody but the dedicated are not online so you will run into people leagues above you.

[BlackYakuzu94]

The times I've gotten my ass kicked by people with Level 1 PSR's.

Rankngs are not the primary indicative of skill at all.

[Airk]

The times I've gotten my ass kicked by people with Level 1 PSR's.

Rankngs are not the primary indicative of skill at all.

The funny thing is that "level 1 PSR" doesn't even mean "offline warrior" - just as often, it means "new account."

[Rhiya]

I didn't say netplay was useless, by any means. You can get lots of valuable EXP playing online, especially if the game has good netcode, or some way of masking the lag (advance input). It's not the same as offline, though, and you need to know that. If you play nothing but netplay with 3 delay frames and get meaties every time, when you switch to offline, your meaty will be 3f too early you'll get smacked in the face unless you compensate.

The game was made to be played with no delay frames past the limits of the hardware. That's a cold, hard fact. In netplay, you're playing something infinitely close to the same game, but it can and will diverge at critical points. Netplay is amazing, don't get me wrong -- but it's not a substitute for offline play.

Hate to shoot you down but...

Guess how many ppl told me things like this and why I shouldnt bother coming to evo cause Im a netplay warrior and all the offliners there are leagues better than I am? The vast majority of players I fought were offliners only -- you cant quantify offline > online (except in the basest sense of lag screws with you) There is a vast amount of growth that can happen online and making the most of what you have access to and not to mention the literal thousands of different ppl/styles you are likely to encounter is a growth boosting effect - granted you use it correctly

I'm not going to tell you those sorts of things at all. Netplay is amazingly useful, and you can get better on netplay, but you just need to know it's a slightly different game offline.

Props for hitting up EVO, btw.

[Nemesis]

Offline is what counts most.

This is the only point really of yours that i refute -- as evo was the first time I played offline and I did rather remarkably well all things considered -- granted I was handicapped severely as you pointed out by your frame etc etc -- which required extreme concentration to compensate for...

im sure many ppl expected me to do worse than I actually did having never played offline before