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'Big' events/dates for 2015?
- Thread starter Nickbs
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Ok, thanks. Its a charity event for the British Heart Foundation. I will contact Peter.
I've got the excel file we used for UKCS finals and Hangover if you want either of those.
I'm probably out of sync with others on this but for me UK Cup has been going for 8 years and has seemed popular and successful so why change what's worked and is an established format. Yes agree it's crap to go out in the first round or two but we've all done it and it's all part of competing as much as it sucks.
I know one of the motivations to change the format is due to the change in WPPR but it's not just about the points and if it's worked for 8 years fine, I don't think it should change now but I'm probably in the minority. It's nice to have a different format and it opens up the chance for other players to do well when a longer style format will tend to favour the top players eg High Score shoot out where top 3 were the top 3 in the country. It's like the FA Cup which I believe the UK Cup was always based on where you can get shock exits and where even though prior winners include some of the established players it's nice to see others having won in the past like Will and the Dude Wade.
The Swavesey/ Pins Anon UK Cup weekend was as much if not more about the socialising rather then comp and think we should remember and focus more on this.
Cheers
Greg
I'm probably out of sync with others on this but for me UK Cup has been going for 8 years and has seemed popular and successful so why change what's worked and is an established format. Yes agree it's crap to go out in the first round or two but we've all done it and it's all part of competing as much as it sucks.
I know one of the motivations to change the format is due to the change in WPPR but it's not just about the points and if it's worked for 8 years fine, I don't think it should change now but I'm probably in the minority. It's nice to have a different format and it opens up the chance for other players to do well when a longer style format will tend to favour the top players eg High Score shoot out where top 3 were the top 3 in the country. It's like the FA Cup which I believe the UK Cup was always based on where you can get shock exits and where even though prior winners include some of the established players it's nice to see others having won in the past like Will and the Dude Wade.
The Swavesey/ Pins Anon UK Cup weekend was as much if not more about the socialising rather then comp and think we should remember and focus more on this.
Cheers
Greg
Cheers for the input Greg. In the past I mostly went to Swavesey to play for fun and to meet some local pinheads as it was a very social event. I can say that a few of the people I spoke to at Hangover expressed similar views about maintaining the knockout format so you are certainly not alone. In 2014 I arranged the venue, tables, raffle, BBQ and dealt with the charitable side of the event but left the tournament to Martin. I think that he will be the decision maker based on feedback and it looks like it will be a tough decision. I support the qualifying then knockout format as it keeps people involved for longer than pure knockout but am a little wary about changing a traditional format. My only aim is to make the event as successful as it can be. Its still very early days so I will be discussing this with as many people as possible before any decision is made.
BTW, we are going to hold a "for fun" tournament on the Saturday afternoon to give some of the locals a chance to get involved before the more skilled players come on Sunday and also some kind of side tournament.
BTW, we are going to hold a "for fun" tournament on the Saturday afternoon to give some of the locals a chance to get involved before the more skilled players come on Sunday and also some kind of side tournament.
There are now only 3 weeks to go until the East Anglian Pinball Show in Ely. There will be tournaments on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday there is the Bar62 pinball shootout. Qualification round of 8 games with top 16 proceeding to the next stage, which will be quarter, semi and final rounds. Sunday is the UK pinball cup. Still a knockout format but based on best of 3 games. No longer one game and you're out. WPPR points for both tournaments and trophies for top 3 places. £10 entry for each with all proceeds going to the British Heart Foundation. Take a look at the website for more details.
www.eapse.simplesite.com
Pre-registration not necessary but it does help us to plan. Email eapseatbar62@hotmail.com or let me know via this thread.
Cheers!
www.eapse.simplesite.com
Pre-registration not necessary but it does help us to plan. Email eapseatbar62@hotmail.com or let me know via this thread.
Cheers!
Not sure why the format has been changed for the UK cup the randomness of one game is much better suited to all player abilities as it's more likely that "better" players will advance if more games are played. I'll still be there on the Sunday but I would have much preferred the tournament to remain unchanged
I can understand how you feel as I wanted to keep the tradition of sudden death knockout. I've lost first round a few times myself but for me it was always about playing a few games and meeting some fellow enthusiasts. In the end it wasn't my decision but I am sure it'll be great fun whatever happens. I think a few of the really top players aren't coming so that should help us plebs do a little better! 
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- Phillip Eaton
UK Pinball cup should stay with original rules, IMHO. It's not all about the best player winning everything, there's plenty of other tournaments for that. The Pinball Cup should be special. (Not that I really have a say, a I sadly will not be attending )
I can understand how you feel as I wanted to keep the tradition of sudden death knockout. I've lost first round a few times myself but for me it was always about playing a few games and meeting some fellow enthusiasts. In the end it wasn't my decision but I am sure it'll be great fun whatever happens. I think a few of the really top players aren't coming so that should help us plebs do a little better!
Are you running it?If so,it should have been your decision
It shouldn't be one person's decision at all. You contributed to the purchase of the Cup, you should have a say too
Sadly it's not that straightforward. I'm hosting the event in that I've arranged the venue, organised the machines, set up the website and purchased the trophies but the tournament side of the event is being arranged and administered by someone else. I've been getting feedback on this topic at every event I've been to this year and also via this forum and opinion has been split. Some like tradition, others dislike sudden death elimination. I fed that back to the tournament organiser and this was the outcome. Knockout format based on best of 3 games. I think the changes at IFPA in regard to awarding WPPR points also had some bearing on the decision. If it's not popular then we'll reconsider it again next year. Ultimately the weekend is about getting together, playing some pinball and raising some money for charity. Please try and make it if you can.
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To clarify the position for the UKCS for those interested, the Bar 62 comp on Saturday will be a side comp of the UK Cup. Therefore points will be awarded at 50% of normal value for Bar 62, 100% for the UK Cup and the two results added together to form one result for UKCS.
This is to ensure consistency with previous events where if there is more than one comp over a weekend at an event held at the same venue, it counts as only one result for the UKCS. This means that if you can't make a weekend, you don't lose out by missing two events worth of points. However, it does mean that to give yourself the best chance of a high finish for the weekend in the UKCS, you need to do both comps.
This has no bearing on the WPPR points which I understand will be awarded to both comps which will count as separate events for WPPR.
Hope that's clear but feel free to contact me if you'd like more explanation.
Cheers
Greg
PS Personally think UK Cup format should have stayed as has been for the past 9 years or so. Bit like the FA Cup which I believe it was initially intended to emulate where there's more chance of giant killings over just one game and was always part of the appeal of the Cup allowing players like the Dude to win not that he didn't play a blinder and fully deserved the win when he did
Just think the tradition of one of the 3 original main comps - UK Open, Cup and league should stay as was. With an extended format, it's always going to favour the better players and with the change in comp formats to meet WPPR criteria for optimised points, there's enough comps already which give the less experienced players less opportunity of a high finish.
This is to ensure consistency with previous events where if there is more than one comp over a weekend at an event held at the same venue, it counts as only one result for the UKCS. This means that if you can't make a weekend, you don't lose out by missing two events worth of points. However, it does mean that to give yourself the best chance of a high finish for the weekend in the UKCS, you need to do both comps.
This has no bearing on the WPPR points which I understand will be awarded to both comps which will count as separate events for WPPR.
Hope that's clear but feel free to contact me if you'd like more explanation.
Cheers
Greg
PS Personally think UK Cup format should have stayed as has been for the past 9 years or so. Bit like the FA Cup which I believe it was initially intended to emulate where there's more chance of giant killings over just one game and was always part of the appeal of the Cup allowing players like the Dude to win not that he didn't play a blinder and fully deserved the win when he did
Just think the tradition of one of the 3 original main comps - UK Open, Cup and league should stay as was. With an extended format, it's always going to favour the better players and with the change in comp formats to meet WPPR criteria for optimised points, there's enough comps already which give the less experienced players less opportunity of a high finish.
Thanks Greg for clarifying the UKCS side of things. I'm sure the format for the cup on Sunday will be a hot topic at the event so please come along and let us know your thoughts as we are very much open to feedback.
Cheers Rowan, see you in a few weeks
It seems to me that tournament formats are being twisted and manipulated to ensure that they get max WPPR points. Which inevitably means that you see the same dozen or so people in the latter stages of every tournament and the same people knocked out early doors. If this continues how long before those people who constantly get knocked out early due to elaborate qualification walk away from the comps leaving fewer and fewer people to play (thus reducing WPPR points anyway) thus jeopardising the comps altogether?
That is why the 2 comps to be held at Tilt Coffee House in Leicester will have the same format as they had last year. This may mean there'll be less WPPR points allocated, but so be it.
Sorry for hijacking the thread - rant over.
PS See you Saturday and Sunday.
That is why the 2 comps to be held at Tilt Coffee House in Leicester will have the same format as they had last year. This may mean there'll be less WPPR points allocated, but so be it.
Sorry for hijacking the thread - rant over.
PS See you Saturday and Sunday.
Thanks for the feedback Wayne. I'll be discussing this in detail with the tournament director on the weekend of the event so it may be that we revert to the traditional one game knockout in 2016.
Look forward to seeing you there! I'll add your name to the list!
Look forward to seeing you there! I'll add your name to the list!
I am a newbie to all this, but looking at this dispassionately....
For an event to be successful you surely need two necessary ingredients, machines and players. Get this right and the money will flow to make it happen
If weak players feel like they have no chance, they will not bother turning up in decent numbers. Schlepping out to Ely, shelling out cash to participate, then getting their **** kicked and ejected in short order might not be the most appealing prospect for weak players
So unless the strong players are the ones who provide all the machines, it is entirely logical to make the weak players feel welcome and engaged
For an event to be successful you surely need two necessary ingredients, machines and players. Get this right and the money will flow to make it happen
If weak players feel like they have no chance, they will not bother turning up in decent numbers. Schlepping out to Ely, shelling out cash to participate, then getting their **** kicked and ejected in short order might not be the most appealing prospect for weak players
So unless the strong players are the ones who provide all the machines, it is entirely logical to make the weak players feel welcome and engaged
I agree with most of what both Wayne and DRD have said here.
Why should anyone want to travel hundreds of miles to a competition the other side of the country, - just to be knocked out in their first game and spend the rest of the day twiddling their thumbs as all the machines are allocated to the tournament. I know it will mean the same good players getting through due to the lack of lucky knockouts if a league format is used instead.
I really enjoyed the London Pinball Championships at the Pipeline this year, because there were plenty of spare games available to play that were not tied up in the competitions. Nothing annoys me more than seeing rows and rows of competition games roped off unplayed!
Why should anyone want to travel hundreds of miles to a competition the other side of the country, - just to be knocked out in their first game and spend the rest of the day twiddling their thumbs as all the machines are allocated to the tournament. I know it will mean the same good players getting through due to the lack of lucky knockouts if a league format is used instead.
I really enjoyed the London Pinball Championships at the Pipeline this year, because there were plenty of spare games available to play that were not tied up in the competitions. Nothing annoys me more than seeing rows and rows of competition games roped off unplayed!
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- Ive
Guessing you guys never went to Swavesey?? It's all about the social and raising some cash for charity, hats off to Rowan who picked up the baton when Swavesey came to an end..,., I don't know why you guys are doing yr best to discourage people to attend. Poor form chaps
I'm off to Ely and I think it is great that folk go to the trouble to organise these things and take their precious machines in support.
I just think that if you want to get the best turnout at any event, make it attractive to the weaker players
I just think that if you want to get the best turnout at any event, make it attractive to the weaker players
Some very valid points, and remember, 'weaker' players can often tend to be newer players.
Put them off and in time, you wont have any players left!
Put them off and in time, you wont have any players left!
Guessing you guys never went to Swavesey?? It's all about the social and raising some cash for charity, hats off to Rowan who picked up the baton when Swavesey came to an end..,., I don't know why you guys are doing yr best to discourage people to attend. Poor form chaps
don;t think they are mate,jsut saying they don't agree with the format,think you are making aspersions there.
i agree re not liking the format,prefered the old way,THAT helped add oodles to the charm of Swavesey
Are the tables all used all the time for the competition then? I was going to come to Ely but as a complete newbie I'm not entering the competition and just thought it would be a chance to try out tables and meet pinheads . Will I be wasting my time does anyone know?
