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{{ArticleIcons|competitive=y}} | {{ArticleIcons|competitive=y}} | ||
The '''Nintendo Community Tournament Guidelines''' are a series of regulations raised by [[Nintendo]], placing restrictions on the operation of unlicensed, not-for-profit, small-scale [[tournament]]s, run by individuals, involving Nintendo games and media, including competitive ''Super Smash Bros.'' tournaments. The guidelines were first published on the Nintendo of Japan website in Japanese on October 24, 2023, and were released on the company's European and American websites the same day, as well as the Australian one on October 25, 2023; they went into effect on November 15, 2023. The announcements were quickly spread on social media shortly following their publications and | The '''Nintendo Community Tournament Guidelines''' are a series of regulations raised by [[Nintendo]], placing restrictions on the operation of unlicensed, not-for-profit, small-scale [[tournament]]s, run by individuals, involving Nintendo games and media, including competitive ''Super Smash Bros.'' tournaments. The guidelines were first published on the Nintendo of Japan website in Japanese on October 24, 2023, and were released on the company's European and American websites the same day, as well as the Australian one on October 25, 2023; they went into effect on November 15, 2023. The announcements were quickly spread on social media shortly following their publications and recieved mixed reception, with many in the competitive ''Smash'' community being critical of the guidelines due to the controversies surrounding Nintendo's past involvement in the competitive scene,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-shocks-competitive-fans-with-strict-new-community-tournament-guidelines|title="Nintendo Shocks Competitive Fans With Strict New Community Tournament Guidelines"|publisher=IGN|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025054555/https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-shocks-competitive-fans-with-strict-new-community-tournament-guidelines|archivedate=October 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/smash-bros-ultimate-switch-nintendo-tournaments-1850955614|title=New Nintendo Rules Cause Massive Smash Bros. Fan Freakout|publisher=Kotaku|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025054905/https://kotaku.com/smash-bros-ultimate-switch-nintendo-tournaments-1850955614|archivedate=October 25, 2023}}</ref> while others believe them to be a positive step forward in regulation. | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
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The grassroots nature of the scene has led to skepticism about Nintendo's potential involvement with it. This relationship grew confrontational when Nintendo issued a shutdown of {{Trn|EVO 2013}}'s ''Melee'' tournament livestream, which was itself a compromise made with EVO's organizers when Nintendo attempted to cancel the tournament entirely. Other incidents include the numerous legal issues that led to the shutdown of ''[[Project M]]'' in 2015, cease and desist notifications that resulted in the [[cancellation of The Big House Online]] in 2020, and their direct involvement in the [[cancellation of Smash World Tour 2022]]. In November 2020, an anonymous "informed ''Smash'' insider" published a [https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1srfu4r Twitlonger] explaining Nintendo's history of inhibiting the ''Smash'' community, further galvanizing those that did not desire Nintendo's involvement. | The grassroots nature of the scene has led to skepticism about Nintendo's potential involvement with it. This relationship grew confrontational when Nintendo issued a shutdown of {{Trn|EVO 2013}}'s ''Melee'' tournament livestream, which was itself a compromise made with EVO's organizers when Nintendo attempted to cancel the tournament entirely. Other incidents include the numerous legal issues that led to the shutdown of ''[[Project M]]'' in 2015, cease and desist notifications that resulted in the [[cancellation of The Big House Online]] in 2020, and their direct involvement in the [[cancellation of Smash World Tour 2022]]. In November 2020, an anonymous "informed ''Smash'' insider" published a [https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1srfu4r Twitlonger] explaining Nintendo's history of inhibiting the ''Smash'' community, further galvanizing those that did not desire Nintendo's involvement. | ||
Despite these issues, some welcomed Nintendo's involvement due to the belief that the community cannot regulate themselves without direct oversight. The decentralized nature of administration has allowed bad actors into the scene undetected, which has led to behavior and actions like substance abuse | Despite these issues, some welcomed Nintendo's involvement due to the belief that the community cannot regulate themselves without direct oversight. The decentralized nature of administration has allowed to bad actors into the scene undetected, which has led to behavior and actions like substance abuse<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Smashbro_Z/status/1062501637724418048|title=Z on X|date=November 14, 2018|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626185648/https://twitter.com/Smashbro_Z/status/1062501637724418048|archivedate=June 26, 2021}}</ref>, and murder investigations<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dexerto.com/smash/smash-player-banned-from-tournaments-for-allegedly-murdering-his-mother-1861165/|title=Smash Bros player banned from tournaments after being arrested over mother’s murder|date=July 1, 2022|publisher=Dexerto|author=Dylan Horetski}}</ref>, as well as a wave of [[sexual misconduct allegations]] during 2020, and the aforementioned attempts and regulatory bodies have never worked out. Furthermore, some in the community felt that Nintendo's involvement would become an inevitability if the tournament scene continued to grow bigger, as companies for other competitive video games have published guidelines for their tournament scenes since 2019 in response to their significant growth,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.capcomprotour.com/community-license/|title=Capcom Pro Tour Community Licence Guidelines|publisher=Capcom}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ea.com/games/fifa/compete/fgs-21/community-tournament-guidelines|title=FIFA 2021 Tournament Guidelines|publisher=Electronic Arts}}</ref> especially with Nintendo releasing the competitively oriented {{Uv|Splatoon}} games. | ||
All of these incidents have resulted in Nintendo's potential involvement with competitive ''Smash'' becoming a divisive issue in the community. While many believe direct involvement would help in making tournaments sustainable and is to some extent required to avoid being associated with controversy and bad actors, especially when players have proven unable to self-regulate, others believe it will only create more problems than it would solve, and prefer the decentralized scene that the lack of Nintendo support has facilitated. | All of these incidents have resulted in Nintendo's potential involvement with competitive ''Smash'' becoming a divisive issue in the community. While many believe direct involvement would help in making tournaments sustainable and is to some extent required to avoid being associated with controversy and bad actors, especially when players have proven unable to self-regulate, others believe it will only create more problems than it would solve, and prefer the decentralized scene that the lack of Nintendo support has facilitated. | ||
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New regulations applying to unlicensed tournaments include the following: | New regulations applying to unlicensed tournaments include the following: | ||
*Tournaments must be capped at 200 entrants for in-person events, and 300 entrants for online events. | *Tournaments must be capped at 200 entrants for in-person events, and 300 entrants for online events. | ||
*Entry fees must be capped at US$20/£18/€20 | *Entry fees must be capped at US$20/£18/€20/AU$30/NZ$33/¥2,000 per person. | ||
*Prize pools are capped at US$5,000/£4,500/€5 | *Prize pools are capped at US$5,000/£4,500/€5,000/AU$7,500/NZ$8,250/¥500,000 for a single event, or US$10,000/£9,000/€10,000/AU$15,000/NZ$16,500/¥1,000,000 for a single [[tournament organizer]] across an entire year. | ||
*Spectator fees must be capped at US$15/£14/€15 | *Spectator fees must be capped at US$15/£14/€15/AU$22.50/NZ$24.75/¥1,500 per person. | ||
*Tournament organizers may not receive goods, services, money, etc., from third parties as sponsors. | *Tournament organizers may not receive goods, services, money, etc., from third parties as sponsors. | ||
*The names of Community Tournaments may not contain Nintendo trademarks or IP. | *The names of Community Tournaments may not contain Nintendo trademarks or IP. | ||
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*Tournament organizers must obtain separate rights for the usage of any intellectual property rights from third parties. | *Tournament organizers must obtain separate rights for the usage of any intellectual property rights from third parties. | ||
*Tournaments may not involve the sale of food, beverages, and other merchandise. | *Tournaments may not involve the sale of food, beverages, and other merchandise. | ||
*The usage of game consoles and accessories not produced | *The usage of game consoles and accessories not produced by Nintendo is prohibited. | ||
*Any content or practice deemed "inappropriate" by Nintendo not already mentioned is punishable in type and severity at their discretion. | *Any content or practice deemed "inappropriate" by Nintendo not already mentioned is punishable in type and severity at their discretion. | ||
===License application form=== | ===License application form=== | ||
An update on the guideline was released soon after its appliance, showing a form for hosting tournaments meant for corporate entities or individuals hosting tournaments that exceed 200 in-person entrants or 300 online entrants. All tournaments announced after October 23, 2023 | An update on the guideline was released soon after its appliance, showing a form for hosting tournaments meant for corporate entities or individuals hosting tournaments that exceed 200 in-person entrants or 300 online entrants. All tournaments announced after October 23, 2023 and meet the aforementioned requirements must apply for a license. | ||
The available games to receive a tournament license for include the following: | The available games to receive a tournament license for include the following: | ||
*''{{iw|armsinstitute|ARMS}}'' | *''{{iw|armsinstitute|ARMS}}'' | ||
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An "Other" category is selectable for any Nintendo-owned game not previously listed. A notice explains that Nintendo is not at liberty to issue licenses to any {{uv|Pokémon}}-related content, and instructs anyone wanting such a license to contact {{iw|bulbapedia|The Pokémon Company}} instead. | An "Other" category is selectable for any Nintendo-owned game not previously listed. A notice explains that Nintendo is not at liberty to issue licenses to any {{uv|Pokémon}}-related content, and instructs anyone wanting such a license to contact {{iw|bulbapedia|The Pokémon Company}} instead. | ||
Other specifications include the purpose of the tournament, such as who is hosting and if it is for-profit or not, as well as | Other specifications include the purpose of the tournament, such as who is hosting and if it is for-profit or not, as well as if the tournament is online or in-person. The individual filling out the application must also provide information about the tournament, its format, official rules, if commercial vendors are being hosted, and if the event will be livestreamed, as well as the information of the tournament organizer or equivalent party. The organizer can also specifically apply for exceptions to any of the regulations previously mentioned. The organizer must agree to all terms and conditions for applying. Filing an application does not guarantee a license will be received, as that is up to the sole discretion of Nintendo. | ||
==Reactions== | ==Reactions== | ||
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==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
Shortly after the announcement, organizers behind {{ | Shortly after the announcement, organizers behind {{Sm|GENESIS X}} and {{Sm|Battle of BC 6}} announced they would continue as scheduled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/genesis_smash/status/1716875076262592532|title=GENESIS on X|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025192123/https://twitter.com/genesis_smash/status/1716875076262592532|archivedate=October 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/battleofbc/status/1717662395512873367|title=Battle of BC 6's announcement|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104190211/https://twitter.com/battleofbc/status/1717662395512873367|archivedate=November 4, 2023}}</ref> In additional, organizers behind the {{Trn|Umebura|series}} and {{Trn|Sumabato|series}} series announced that they had secured licenses for their events, with Sumabato head {{Sm|Nojinko}} notably announcing that he had secured licenses for the next ten Sumabato events within a day of the guidelines releasing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/UMBRHP/status/1717778634327699961|title=Umebura announces their license|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027084046/https://twitter.com/UMBRHP/status/1717778634327699961|archivedate=October 27, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/nojinko_ike/status/1717198138266763528|title=Nojinko's announcement|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028010713/https://twitter.com/nojinko_ike/status/1717198138266763528|archivedate=October 28, 2023}}</ref> These announcements led many to have cautious optimism towards the new guidelines. | ||
The release of the licensing form accompanying the guidelines assuaged fears from the ''Melee'' community that Nintendo was disallowing them from playing the game. Despite neither version of ''Super Smash Bros. 4'' being eligible for a license per the guidelines, there has been little to no response from the community in regards to it, continuing the post-''Ultimate'' disinterest in the game from players and spectators alike. | |||
Currently, it is unknown if these guidelines will be applied to Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, mainland China or other Asian countries outside of Japan. It is also unknown whether these guidelines apply to countries in the Americas other than the United States, Canada and Mexico, to African countries besides South Africa, or to countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. | Currently, it is unknown if these guidelines will be applied to Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, mainland China or other Asian countries outside of Japan. It is also unknown whether these guidelines apply to countries in the Americas other than the United States, Canada and Mexico, to African countries besides South Africa, or to countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. | ||
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On November 16, 2023, the Norwegian Consumer Council filed a formal complaint against Nintendo over these guidelines. This council, who previously won two legal battles against Nintendo that respectively forced Nintendo to let customers cancel pre-orders and send in [[Joy-Con]] drift repairs for free, claims that changing the terms of service in this manner for products customers purchased years prior violates consumer protection laws around the world. This legal battle is still ongoing.<ref>[https://www.pressfire.no/artikkel/forbrukerradet-vil-ta-opp-nintendos-regler-med-europeiske-forbrukerorganisasjoner Norwegian Consumer Council interview with PressFire]</ref><ref>[https://www.dexerto.com/smash/government-agency-calls-out-nintendos-restrictive-smash-bros-tournament-rules-2387913/ Dexerto article about Norwegian Consumer Council complaint]</ref><ref>[https://gbatemp.net/threads/norwegian-customer-council-to-bring-forth-nintendos-new-tournament-and-copyright-policies-to-european-consumer-organizations.643077/ Partially translated PressFire interview]</ref> | On November 16, 2023, the Norwegian Consumer Council filed a formal complaint against Nintendo over these guidelines. This council, who previously won two legal battles against Nintendo that respectively forced Nintendo to let customers cancel pre-orders and send in [[Joy-Con]] drift repairs for free, claims that changing the terms of service in this manner for products customers purchased years prior violates consumer protection laws around the world. This legal battle is still ongoing.<ref>[https://www.pressfire.no/artikkel/forbrukerradet-vil-ta-opp-nintendos-regler-med-europeiske-forbrukerorganisasjoner Norwegian Consumer Council interview with PressFire]</ref><ref>[https://www.dexerto.com/smash/government-agency-calls-out-nintendos-restrictive-smash-bros-tournament-rules-2387913/ Dexerto article about Norwegian Consumer Council complaint]</ref><ref>[https://gbatemp.net/threads/norwegian-customer-council-to-bring-forth-nintendos-new-tournament-and-copyright-policies-to-european-consumer-organizations.643077/ Partially translated PressFire interview]</ref> | ||
On November 22, 2023, Alan Bunney on the podcast ''Lights Out'' shared some insight on how these guidelines came to be, specifically with how the [[Panda Cup]] was involved.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2DpSz8mpuA&t Dr Alan Reveals EVERYTHING That Happened w/ Panda! | Lights Out Episode 36]</ref> Nintendo wanted to become more involved in the ''Smash'' community in 2019 when negotiations with Panda first started. The plan was for the Panda Cup to be a bubble where the community can exist unfiltered with little involvement from Nintendo, who would then have time to come up with their own plans outside this deal. After the Panda Cup fell apart and the | On November 22, 2023, Alan Bunney on the podcast ''Lights Out'' shared some insight on how these guidelines came to be, specifically with how the [[Panda Cup]] was involved.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2DpSz8mpuA&t Dr Alan Reveals EVERYTHING That Happened w/ Panda! | Lights Out Episode 36]</ref> Nintendo wanted to become more involved in the ''Smash'' community in 2019 when negotiations with Panda first started. The plan was for the Panda Cup to be a bubble where the community can exist unfiltered with little involvement from Nintendo, who would then have time to come up with their own plans outside this deal. After the Panda Cup fell apart and the uprecedented intense harassment from the community, the IP licensing department of Nintendo shut down in 2023, which is why they stopped issuing licenses for an extended period of time until the department was restructured and the guidelines were published. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/tournament_guideline/index.html ゲーム大会における 任天堂の著作物の利用に関するガイドライン] - Nintendo Co., Ltd. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20231025052902/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/tournament_guideline/index.html Archive]) | *[https://www.nintendo.co.jp/tournament_guideline/index.html ゲーム大会における 任天堂の著作物の利用に関するガイドライン] - Nintendo Co., Ltd. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20231025052902/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/tournament_guideline/index.html Archive]) | ||
*[https://www.nintendo.co.uk/Legal-information/Community-Tournament-Guidelines-2467744.html Community Tournament Guidelines (English)] - Nintendo of Europe GmbH ([https://archive.ph/MHlMU Archive]) | |||
*[https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/63433/~/community-tournament-guidelines Nintendo Support: Community Tournament Guidelines] - Nintendo of America, Inc. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20231025052550/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/63433/~/community-tournament-guidelines Archive]) | *[https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/63433/~/community-tournament-guidelines Nintendo Support: Community Tournament Guidelines] - Nintendo of America, Inc. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20231025052550/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/63433/~/community-tournament-guidelines Archive]) | ||
**[https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/63653/~/licensed-tournament-guidelines-and-tournament-license-terms-%26-conditions Nintendo Support: LICENSED TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES AND TOURNAMENT LICENSE TERMS & CONDITIONS] - Nintendo of America, Inc. | **[https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/63653/~/licensed-tournament-guidelines-and-tournament-license-terms-%26-conditions Nintendo Support: LICENSED TOURNAMENT GUIDELINES AND TOURNAMENT LICENSE TERMS & CONDITIONS] - Nintendo of America, Inc. | ||
**[https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/4338162fe6fb4004b8a4135deadb5981 Tournament application form (United States & Canada (excluding Quebec))] | **[https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/4338162fe6fb4004b8a4135deadb5981 Tournament application form (United States & Canada (excluding Quebec))] | ||
*[https://www.nintendo.com | *[https://www.nintendo.com.au/legal/community-tournament-guidelines Community Tournament Guidelines] - Nintendo Australia Pty. Ltd. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20231030221018/https://www.nintendo.com.au/legal/community-tournament-guidelines Archive]) | ||
{{Significant events}} | {{Significant events}} | ||
