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The '''Nintendo Community Tournament Guidelines''' are a series of regulations raised by [[Nintendo|Nintendo Co., Ltd.]], 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 24th, 2023,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025052902/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/tournament_guideline/index.html|title=Nintendo Community Tournament Guidelines (Japan)|publisher=Nintendo|date=October 24, 2023}}</ref> and were released on the company's European and American websites the same day;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.ph/MHlMU|title=Nintendo Community Tournament Guidelines (Europe)|publisher=Nintendo|date=October 24, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025052550/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/63433/~/community-tournament-guidelines|title=Nintendo Community Tournament Guidelines (Americas)|publisher=Nintendo|date=October 24, 2023}}</ref> they will go into effect on November 15th, 2023. The announcements were quickly spread on social media shortly following their publications, and received widespread backlash throughout the competitive ''Smash'' community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025054555/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"}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025054905/https://kotaku.com/smash-bros-ultimate-switch-nintendo-tournaments-1850955614|title=New Nintendo Rules Cause Massive Smash Bros. Fan Freakout}}</ref> | The '''Nintendo Community Tournament Guidelines''' are a series of regulations raised by [[Nintendo|Nintendo Co., Ltd.]], 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 24th, 2023,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025052902/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/tournament_guideline/index.html|title=Nintendo Community Tournament Guidelines (Japan)|publisher=Nintendo|date=October 24, 2023}}</ref> and were released on the company's European and American websites the same day;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.ph/MHlMU|title=Nintendo Community Tournament Guidelines (Europe)|publisher=Nintendo|date=October 24, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025052550/https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/63433/~/community-tournament-guidelines|title=Nintendo Community Tournament Guidelines (Americas)|publisher=Nintendo|date=October 24, 2023}}</ref> they will go into effect on November 15th, 2023. The announcements were quickly spread on social media shortly following their publications, and received widespread backlash throughout the competitive ''Smash'' community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025054555/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}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025054905/https://kotaku.com/smash-bros-ultimate-switch-nintendo-tournaments-1850955614|title=New Nintendo Rules Cause Massive Smash Bros. Fan Freakout|publisher=Kotaku}}</ref> | ||
==Summary== | ==Summary== | ||
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*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. | ||
It is possible to apply for a license either for a nonprofit community tournament or for a for-profit tournament. Licenses for nonprofit tournaments allow for | It is possible to apply for a license either for a nonprofit community tournament or for a for-profit tournament. Licenses for nonprofit tournaments allow for easing up some restrictions, namely on the number of participants and on entrance fees. The specifics for for-profit licenses are currently still unknown. | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
{{incomplete|More details on Smash's competitive history with Nintendo; history of Nintendo-sponsored events, etc. Lots to go over here that could help | {{incomplete|More details on Smash's competitive history with Nintendo; history of Nintendo-sponsored events, etc. Lots to go over here that could help contextualize how we got here at all.}} | ||
Since 2019<ref> | Since 2019,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dexerto.com/apex-legends/ea-extremely-strict-rules-apex-legends-events-revealed-577623/|title=Apex Legends Tournament Guidelines Article|publisher=Dexerto|date=April 26, 2019|author=Connor Bennett}}</ref> various eSports titles, such as those made by [[Capcom]] and Electronic Arts, have been receiving community guidelines for their tournament scenes.<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> This is in response to a rise in eSports industry trends, with [[China]] notably seeing eSports grow beyond traditional sports in popularity and seeing government support.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/10/04/1080767/esports-china-asian-games-tencent/|title=MIT Technology Review on East Asian eSports|publisher=Technology Review}}</ref> | ||
For the past 20 years, the community had not had any restrictions on its tournaments, resulting in issues like the [[2020 Super Smash Bros. sexual misconduct allegations]], issues with alcohol and drugs, and more. The competitive ''Smash'' community has, in part due to these issues, had frosty relations with Nintendo since its inception, with some recent examples of conflict prior to the guidelines's inception being the [[cancellation of Smash World Tour 2022]] and [[cancellation of The Big House Online]]. | For the past 20 years, the community had not had any restrictions on its tournaments, resulting in issues like the [[2020 Super Smash Bros. sexual misconduct allegations]], issues with alcohol and drugs, issues with police interventions and murder cases,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Smashbro_Z/status/1062501637724418048|title=Z on X|date=November 14, 2018|publisher=Twitter}}</ref><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> and more. The competitive ''Smash'' community has, in part due to these issues, had frosty relations with Nintendo since its inception, with some recent examples of conflict prior to the guidelines's inception being the [[cancellation of Smash World Tour 2022]] and [[cancellation of The Big House Online]]. | ||
==Reactions== | ==Reactions== | ||
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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://web.archive.org/web/20231025175508/https://twitter.com/zoandbehold/status/1716970531843444853|title=Rep. Zooey Zephyr on X|publisher=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025175650/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}}</ref> The same reaction occurred to other people outside of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' competitive community, if not the entire community, as the guidelines applied to any Nintendo games with a competitive scene; 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 uploading a video, reading the guidelines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025175508/https://twitter.com/InfernoOmni/status/1717214585059488036|title=Omni on X|publisher=Twitter}}</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> | 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://web.archive.org/web/20231025175508/https://twitter.com/zoandbehold/status/1716970531843444853|title=Rep. Zooey Zephyr on X|publisher=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025175650/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}}</ref> The same reaction occurred to other people outside of the ''Super Smash Bros.'' competitive community, if not the entire community, as the guidelines applied to any Nintendo games with a competitive scene; 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 uploading a video, reading the guidelines.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025175508/https://twitter.com/InfernoOmni/status/1717214585059488036|title=Omni on X|publisher=Twitter}}</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> | ||
On the other hand, several players reacted more positively to the guidelines, with some mentioning security breach issues and major controversies that happened in some tournaments or within the community, such as the | On the other hand, several players reacted more positively to the guidelines, with some mentioning security breach issues and major controversies that happened in some tournaments or within the community, such as the cancellation of Smash World Tour 2022 or the 2020 Super Smash Bros. sexual misconduct allegations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025175508/https://twitter.com/Miss_JoyCon/status/1717166241230577751|title=NVR <nowiki>|</nowiki> Deathspade @ BLM on X|publisher=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025175508/https://twitter.com/JonComms/status/1716852740096241914|title=Jon Cartwrighton on X|publisher=Twitter}}</ref> YouTuber {{sm|Technicals}} notably reacted with pride, claiming it was "his perfect victory",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025175508/https://twitter.com/Technicals_/status/1716910625996308689|title=Technicals on X|publisher=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025175508/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}}</ref> | ||
Moon Channel, a lawyer YouTube channel, released a video<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exm8xCSQ9AY|title=A Lawyer Analyzes Nintendo’s Tournament Guidelines|author=VG Law Review|publisher=YouTube|date=October 27, 2023}}</ref> giving some legal analysis regarding the guidelines. He speculates that rather than necessarily "cracking down" on events, believing that they are more of an olive branch. With US copyright laws extending largely worldwide through trade agreements, its grey areas become problematic, resulting in less certainty and thus more regulation by the company is required; to illustrate this point, he cites Nintendo's hands-off approach with its fanbase in Japan. With Nintendo's uniformity in guidelines, it becomes reasonable to speculate that this isn't a crackdown a la fan games, but more of an IP protection measure. Moon Channel goes on to mention that while third party controllers are listed as banned in the guidelines, this is actually a commonality in most guidelines, and Nintendo's own End User Licence Agreements, and is not actually enforced, being used as, again, an IP protection measure; these aren't laws, but policy. Furthermore, he argues that these guidelines are for community tournaments rather than supermajor events, as stated in the guideline's introduction, and that by following these rules, it could aid in reconciliation between Nintendo and the ''Smash'' community at large. Thus, Moon Channel infers that they could result in a more stable community, criticizing big content creators for wanting to run unlicensed tournaments in protest, noting that while the full licence agreement hasn't been published, said licences being provided are discretionary. | Moon Channel, a lawyer YouTube channel, released a video<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exm8xCSQ9AY|title=A Lawyer Analyzes Nintendo’s Tournament Guidelines|author=VG Law Review|publisher=YouTube|date=October 27, 2023}}</ref> giving some legal analysis regarding the guidelines. He speculates that rather than necessarily "cracking down" on events, believing that they are more of an olive branch. With US copyright laws extending largely worldwide through trade agreements, its grey areas become problematic, resulting in less certainty and thus more regulation by the company is required; to illustrate this point, he cites Nintendo's hands-off approach with its fanbase in Japan. With Nintendo's uniformity in guidelines, it becomes reasonable to speculate that this isn't a crackdown a la fan games, but more of an IP protection measure. Moon Channel goes on to mention that while third party controllers are listed as banned in the guidelines, this is actually a commonality in most guidelines, and Nintendo's own End User Licence Agreements, and is not actually enforced, being used as, again, an IP protection measure; these aren't laws, but policy. Furthermore, he argues that these guidelines are for community tournaments rather than supermajor events, as stated in the guideline's introduction, and that by following these rules, it could aid in reconciliation between Nintendo and the ''Smash'' community at large. Thus, Moon Channel infers that they could result in a more stable community, criticizing big content creators for wanting to run unlicensed tournaments in protest, noting that while the full licence agreement hasn't been published, said licences being provided are discretionary. | ||