Editing Nintendo Community Tournament Guidelines

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 received 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.

 

 

Nintendo has historically rocky relationships with those that play their games competitively, but this dynamic is considered especially cumbersome with the competitive ''Smash'' [[community]], due in part to series creator [[Masahiro Sakurai]] disliking the high skill floors that many fighting games are known for. Nintendo has offered scant support for competitive ''Smash'' players, only sponsoring and licensing a select few events throughout the years. As such, the community has developed a decentralized, grassroots approach to running tournaments, allowing them to run high profile events on their own. However, this decentralized approach has also meant that regulating the community and setting standards is extremely difficult, with attempts to do so, such as with the [[Unity Ruleset Committee]], the [[SSB Code of Conduct Panel]], and the Global Ban Database, causing significant controversy and ultimately failing at their intended goals.

 

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,<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.

 

*Entry fees must be capped at US$20/£18/€20/ZAR360/CHF28/AU$30/NZ$33/¥2,000 per person.

*Prize pools are capped at US$5,000/£4,500/€5,000/ZAR90,000/CHF7,000/AU$7,500/NZ$8,250/¥500,000 for a single event, or US$10,000/£9,000/€10,000/ZAR180,000/CHF14,000/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/ZAR270/CHF21/AU$22.50/NZ$24.75/¥1,500 per person.

*The usage of game consoles and accessories not produced by or officially licensed by Nintendo is prohibited.

The guidelines were immediately met with division upon their release. Detractors viewed them as another reflection of Nintendo's anti-competitive stance, in a similar manner to its attempted cancellation of Smash World Tour 2022 a year prior, and would lead to the curtailing of local and regional tournament scenes. The ''Melee'' scene in particular feared that the guidelines would have a significant blowback on running events, as the Japanese website only allowed organizers to apply for licenses to host [[Nintendo Switch]] games<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/DarkGenex/status/1716834246336389485|title=DarkGenex on X|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026171716/https://twitter.com/DarkGenex/status/1716834246336389485|archivedate=October 26, 2023}}</ref>. Furthermore, the ban on hardware and software mods led to fears that online tournaments using [[Project Slippi]] (such as [[Coinbox]]), as well as the usage of [[box controller]]s and [[Universal Controller Fix]], would be banned.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/SSBM/comments/17flrb6/nintendo_of_america_has_also_posted_tournament/?rdt=41334|title=Nintendo of America has also posted tournament guidelines in line with other regions|publisher=Reddit|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025173934/https://www.reddit.com/r/SSBM/comments/17flrb6/nintendo_of_america_has_also_posted_tournament/?rdt=41334|archivedate=October 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/17flsmd/nintendo_of_america_has_also_released_tournament/?rdt=39871|title=Nintendo of America has also released "Tournament Guidelines" in line with other regions|publisher=Reddit|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025174708/https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/17flsmd/nintendo_of_america_has_also_released_tournament/?rdt=39871|archivedate=October 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/17f7juj/nintendo_of_japan_releases_general_competitive/?rdt=52400|title=Nintendo of Japan Releases General Competitive Guidelines|publisher=Reddit|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025174825/https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/17f7juj/nintendo_of_japan_releases_general_competitive/?rdt=52400|archivedate=October 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/17fejbi/nintendo_of_europe_releases_community_tournament/?rdt=40582|title=Nintendo of Europe Releases Community Tournament Guidelines|publisher=Reddit|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025175003/https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/17fejbi/nintendo_of_europe_releases_community_tournament/?rdt=40582|archivedate=October 25, 2023}}</ref>

Other concerns include tournaments having a hard limit on the amount of revenue they can earn and sponsors effectively being forbidden will lead to some no longer being able to financially break even, a prohibition on food and drink vendors potentially being illegal under certain circumstances, and the ban on inappropriate content being a catch-all that means Nintendo can go after anyone for any reason regardless of how well the other rules are being followed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/LegalizeWuhu/status/1716859957235089567|title=wuhu on X|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026172100/https://twitter.com/LegalizeWuhu/status/1716859957235089567|archivedate=October 26, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/TheWadsm/status/1716891910105948623|title=wadsm on X|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026172553/https://twitter.com/TheWadsm/status/1716891910105948623|archivedate=October 26, 2023}}</ref>

Many community members (including {{sm|Hungrybox}}) did a live read-through of the guidelines on stream.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vei4rEn6P_4|title=Nintendo's new guidelines WILL destroy tournaments|author=Hungrybox|publisher=YouTube|date=October 25, 2023}}</ref> Montana State Representative {{iw|wikipedia|Zooey Zephyr}} (and competitive ''Smash'' player under the tag {{sm|Cazcom}}) posted a tweet criticizing the new regulations, saying, "Imagine Bicycle Playing Cards insisting your home poker games be played a certain way or they'll sue you."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/zoandbehold/status/1716970531843444853|title=Rep. Zooey Zephyr on X|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025005515/https://twitter.com/zoandbehold/status/1716970531843444853|archivedate=October 25, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/17fsb9r/representative_zooey_zephyr_is_on_our_side/?rdt=38517|title=Representative Zooey Zephyr is on our side|publisher=Reddit|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025175650/https://www.reddit.com/r/smashbros/comments/17fsb9r/representative_zooey_zephyr_is_on_our_side/?rdt=38517|archivedate=October 25, 2023}}</ref>

The same reaction occurred outside of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' competitive community,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNjxtvLu-EQ|title=Nintendo Hates Competitive Super Smash bros.|author=Mightykeef|date=October 25, 2023|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=October 29, 2023}}</ref> as the guidelines applied to any intellectual property owned by Nintendo; whether released on Nintendo Switch such as ''{{iw|inkipedia|Splatoon 2}}'' and ''{{iw|inkipedia|Splatoon 3}}'', ''{{iw|bulbapedia|Pokken Tournament DX}}'', and ''{{iw|mariowiki|Mario Kart 8 Deluxe}}'', or on unsupported Nintendo hardware.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UChZ6djX7tM|title=Nintendo Is Killing Tournaments|publisher=YouTube|author=Steve Bowling|date=October 24, 2023|accessdate=October 28, 2023}}</ref> [[YouTube]] commentator {{sm|Omni}} said this case "looks like the end" for any non-profit tournaments, soon after he uploaded a video reading the guidelines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/InfernoOmni/status/1717214585059488036|title=Omni on X|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026020714/https://twitter.com/InfernoOmni/status/1717214585059488036|archivedate=October 26, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVgx2A6tasc&t=994s|title=Cheesecake Factory Drama|author=Omni|publisher=Youtube|date=October 25, 2023|accessdate=October 28, 2023}}</ref>

 

Supporters of the guidelines, however, believe they were a necessary and inevitable measure given the community's issues with safety and security that led to events such as the aforementioned cancellation of Smash World Tour 2022 and the sexual misconduct allegations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Miss_JoyCon/status/1717166241230577751|title=NVR <nowiki>|</nowiki> Deathspade @ BLM on X|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027011206/https://twitter.com/Miss_JoyCon/status/1717166241230577751|archivedate=October 27, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/JonComms/status/1716852740096241914|title=Jon Cartwrighton on X|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024172858/https://twitter.com/JonComms/status/1716852740096241914|archivedate=October 24, 2023}}</ref> YouTuber {{sm|Technicals}} notably reacted with pride, claiming it was "his perfect victory",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Technicals_/status/1716910625996308689|title=Technicals on X|publisher=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Technicals_/status/1717269947154391041|title=Technicals on X|publisher=Twitter}}</ref> which caused strong reactions from the community. In addition, many tournament organizers within the Japanese ''Smash'' community reacted with less skepticism. Within hours of the announcement, many prominent Japanese TOs came up with several solutions on how to deal with the guidelines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SchoolFromSean/status/1716835523468410904|title=Sean from School's Tweet on Japanese TOs|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028010649/https://twitter.com/SchoolFromSean/status/1716835523468410904|archivedate=October 28, 2023}}</ref>

 

Alex Jebailey, the founder of [[CEO|CEO Gaming]], responded positively to the guidelines,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Jebailey/status/1716951653310427451|title=Alex Jebailey on X|publisher=Twitter|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025010020/https://twitter.com/Jebailey/status/1716951653310427451|archivedate=October 25, 2023}}</ref> noting that it finally gives [[tournament organiser]]s direct paths to obtaining licensing. That in mind, he inferred that large-scale established events should have no issues going forward. This reaction accompanied a video on the topic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtIJ5gc88kI|title=New Nintendo Community Guidelines and how they affect the Smash Scene. My thoughts!|author=Alex Jebailey|date=October 25, 2023|publisher=YouTube}}</ref>

 

Shortly after the announcement, organizers behind {{Trn|GENESIS X}} and {{Trn|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> while 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> In addition, 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.

 

With competitive play being largely unchanged since the guideline's release, fear and uncertainty on them have since dissipated. However, a few events were nonetheless affected. Due to the rule on using modified copies of Nintendo games, ''Melee''{{'}}s online competitive play, which used the modded client [[Project Slippi]], lost their largest online tournament series after {{Sm|Hungrybox}} discontinued {{Trn|The Coinbox}} series for ''Melee'', although the online ''Melee'' scene itself still remained active. In addition, a few tournaments, including {{Trn|NRW Cup - Rise of Germany}}, had to unban {{SSBU|Steve}} due to the license,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/NRWCup/status/1766500372099580174|title=NRW Cup unbans Steve due to Nintendo license}}</ref> although some events were able to circumvent the guidelines by not publicly announcing the ban, such as {{Trn|Patchwork 2024}}. Finally, the guidelines led to the name change of several tournament series that used some form of "Super Smash Bros." in its title, including Super Smash Con becoming {{Trn|Supernova}} and Smash Factor becoming {{Trn|S Factor}}.

 

 

 

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 unprecedented 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.