How to build an offline scene when...

[TRI Mike]

...your fucking tournament and event requests get denied because "The game is M-rated"¿ I live in this shithole of a country named Venezuela where gaming is pretty much non-existent and people seriously think Fifa and Call of Duty are good games. In early August I made an official request to organize the first DOA5 tournament in a local "gaming" event that will be held in late November in my city. The tourney, while very small, could be a great starting ground to build a potentially nice offline scene with the Tekken, SF and SC people that sometimes play here but after waiting for several weeks for a response, I got a message today saying the game couldn't be there because it's M rated. You can not imagine how pissed off I am at this moment.

The thing is that the entire event is being run by a group of idiots who are fanboys of other series and they let the otaku world invade the little gaming things that happen here. I'm 100% sure I'll see several Call of Duty and MK9 booths in the event but my request was denied because my game has busty girls on it. In fact, I'm 100% sure the entire event will be overrun with half-naked girls cosplaying as anime characters that don't look at all like them.

So, what the hell must I do¿ I already have 8+ people seriously interested in participating and holding the tournament in an actual "gaming" event could have been a great starting ground by my country's standards but I got stabbed in the back and now I hate my geographical location even more. I'll probably just hold the tourney at my backyard because I have enough room for it and easy access to the HDTVs, consoles and all that, but in a tournament at my place I'll be doubtful about letting strangers in.

What should I do¿

 

[Forlorn Penguin]

I got a message today saying the game couldn't be there because it's M rated.

I'm 100% sure I'll see several Call of Duty and MK9 booths in the event but my request was denied because my game has busty girls on it.

Hmm...



I understand their logic.

 

[CrimsonCJ]

I'm 100% sure I'll see several Call of Duty and MK9 booths in the event but my request was denied because my game has busty girls on it.

Hmm..

View attachment 614 View attachment 615 View attachment 616 View attachment 617 View attachment 618

I understand their logic.

Yeah. Clearly, you need to put black tape over the cover art. Character selection screen and actual game play is totally chill.

In all seriousness, what an annoyance. I can see why you would not want to host it at your house. Alas, I don't have really good advice.

 

[CyberEvil]

Keep on them. Send them video of high level play, send them video of other games you know will be there with more "offensive" content, and generally just be persistent. Every other country with major fighting game scenes already has tournaments being held for this game and the last few, and the last one was mature rated as well. There is a precedent for public exhibitions of the game and nothing short of "We simply don't want the game at our event," should deter you.

 

[NukNuks]

Fifa is a good game FYI

 

[Gruff757]

one still must ask himself.....how is it that DOA has an M rating while SoulCalibur is still T rated :/

 

[NukNuks]

one still must ask himself.....how is it that DOA has an M rating while SoulCalibur is still T rated :/

Simple, it's DOA's overall presentation of itself.

 

[TRI Mike]

Keep on them. Send them video of high level play, send them video of other games you know will be there with more "offensive" content, and generally just be persistent. Every other country with major fighting game scenes already has tournaments being held for this game and the last few, and the last one was mature rated as well. There is a precedent for public exhibitions of the game and nothing short of "We simply don't want the game at our event," should deter you.

I already tried, the organizer just said no. I just talked to a friend who told me MK9 and every shooter are being pulled out of the tourney as well so it's just gonna be Fifa, Pokemon, Smash Bros, Tekken, SC and Capcom's fighters. It's very sad. I'm personally not even going to the event. I don't have a reason for going there.

 

[CrimsonCJ]

Simple, it's DOA's overall presentation of itself.

While I agree, I'm not sure that makes it right. Last time I played Soul Calibur, your most potent ability with your weapon was to disrobe your opponent. DOA does have the feeling of aggressively going for fan service and I really wish it wouldn't, but let's not pretend this is a title specific issue.

I already tried, the organizer just said no. I just talked to a friend who told me MK9 and every shooter are being pulled out of the tourney as well so it's just gonna be Fifa, Pokemon, Smash Bros, Tekken, SC and Capcom's fighters. It's very sad. I'm personally not even going to the event. I don't have a reason for going there.

While wildly uncool, it at least isn't inherently contradictory. Still... I have no idea how to organize one of these things. Though at least a small tournament has limited requirements, but I can see the space issues. Do you have any nearby arcades you can ask to host it at?

 

[Gill Hustle]

I don't have a quick answer, but during my otaku days I remember running into issues for screenings.

You said you had only a few people, are there any specialty businesses that would be interested in hosting your event?

Also before I started UGS, we had a bar that would let us use their television for games. The owners liked the extra business on off nights.

While it might feel awkward, sometimes opening your home to strangers is the way to go. This one guy I used to know had like 20 of us in his apartment one time and we only knew each other mutually from this arcade that closed down.

Gotta make connections my man.

 

[Gill Hustle]

I already tried, the organizer just said no. I just talked to a friend who told me MK9 and every shooter are being pulled out of the tourney as well so it's just gonna be Fifa, Pokemon, Smash Bros, Tekken, SC and Capcom's fighters. It's very sad. I'm personally not even going to the event. I don't have a reason for going there.

You should attend and start making those connections now . . .

 

[TRI Mike]

I dunno, I just don't want to support an event that does this bullshit. It's retarded to deny the presence of a game based on ESRB rating in VENEZUELA. I mean, this country literally doesn't exist to any gaming company in the industry. It's completely ridiculous. They're keeping games out of a GAME convention and will surely let half naked girls in because they're "kawaii".

There are no arcades near my place, most closed down and the few remaining are in the other side of the city. I don't know anyone in those and with the situation in my country I don't think they'll just let us borrow the place for a console tournament. Things here just don't work like in the US. I can't simply let a bunch of strangers into my house just because. This is truly a big disppointment.

Still, I'll try to ask around in a local gaming store where everyone is my friend to see if they can hold the tourney sometime in December before Christmas shopping starts. (First week of December would be nice). I truly don't think it's going to happen but who knows¿

 

[mpgeist]

Panties are scary, but ripping a dudes skull and spine from the rest of his body is completely normal, duh.

 

[TRI Mike]

The tournament is happening, just in my backyard. With around 12 people. You can imagine how this makes me feel when I see majors happening in the States. Now more than ever I'm committed to fly at least twice during 2013 to play this game. I'd love to be at EVO if the game makes it there and DID 2013. I won't be satisfied until I've shaken hands with the likes of Rikuto, Perfect Legend, Wah, etc.

I wish I was closer to America...

 

[Gill Hustle]

I dunno, I just don't want to support an event that does this bullshit.

Your missing the point.

I don't know active you are in your scene but if you bigger things to happen you need to know the right people. People who can get the word out, people that can supply equipment, people that might be interested in . . . DOA5.

 

[d3v]

Make your own event.

 

[Sett]

Can't beat Europe pegi ratings, the back of the DOA box has the sex icon with violence, there was no sex

Tekken, DOA and SC5 are 16 under this rating. Blows my mind that DOA would be considered an M.

T is for TITIES
M is for MANLY

 

[TRI Mike]

Your missing the point.

I don't know active you are in your scene but if you bigger things to happen you need to know the right people. People who can get the word out, people that can supply equipment, people that might be interested in . . . DOA5.

You're right... I might have to just show up to the event and simply try to befriend the players of other fighting games to see if they're interested. Then I'd hold my own tourney.

 

[J.D.E.]

Speaking of "how can you build a tournament", I'm planning on competing in events & working on building my scene as well. Only thing is it better to go to the nearest city & build or could I just start 1 in this small town. If can start it in the small town, then I have church members that'll let me use an American Legion Hall building to host tourneys. If I do a city, which is Chattanooga, then I need to find an area downtown or see if my college directors will let me use tourneys as an activity on campus.

 

[Matt Ponton]

Find other areas to grow. Try a local college's recreation room. You'd be surprised what you can do by just finding a local public meetup spot with a console and a monitor.