(taken from https://www.facebook.com/Googlemyname/posts/10104972077334012 )
But we definitely can't address these issues if we pretend they don't exist, and it shouldn't be up to the individual game volunteers (people like Kitana Prime, for example) to have to fix the results of poor planning at the last possible minute.
The FGC is growing, and the more honest we are, the faster we can adjust to fit the future.
Anyway, congrats to everyone who competed, and all the people who showed up to make this the biggest Final Round yet. 200 for MK signals a strong, healthy scene, and 1024 for SF5 is bananas. Looking forward to watching us continue to grow as time goes on
It's interesting to read his thoughts -- for those who were around, these were many of the same concerns that were raised in 2014. I'm all for the community coming together and leveling up, and I think it's important as we grow -- so I'm posting this here to inspire positive change for the future.Alex Jebailey said:My #FR19 experience. Disclaimer: I don't care if this burns any bridges amongst myself and other organizers in the #FGC. Poor event management has to stop, it's turning off new players to the scene and stopping them from ever coming back. Finals being hype and surviving the weekend is no longer an excuse for accountability.
I came out to FR19 this year for a few reasons. One it would be one of my few chances to compete in #SFV among the best in the world outside of EVO. 2 cause it's been a while since I've been to FR and some of my favorite early SFIV memories are from FR before CEO existed. Wanted to see friends from all over to eat and drink in the evenings which is the only redeeming quality at poorly run events these days. This was one of my only few chances this year to have fun with the FGC.
I spent what time I could enjoying casual matches with players. Playing inside of my pool matches is what really upset me. Getting bumped during games, once your match was done you were stuck waiting on the people next to you to be done. As a player it's just horrible to be treated like sardines and not having a comfortable environment to play in. I was sweating and just irritated that it affected my loser's final match but I'm happy for Eco who got a chance to compete in top 128 today after beating me.
I had to hear so many complaints of people being DQ'd because they didn't know heir pool assignments until 4 am the day of. Heck I got 2 byes in my Killer Instinct pool on Friday cause they didn't know their pools had been combined and moved earlier cause no official word ever went out as it should. Solution: if you take on site reg. Pre-write names into numbers which represents their pool they'll be thrown into so they know as soon as they pay for their badge where they will be so they don't have to find out when a friend texts them HEY you're gonna get DQ'd.
It wasn't easy to find where your game was hosted. Solution: posting an easy to read map of where each game is before the event will prevent 1,000 people scrambling and asking/pestering your staff until they find it.
Even the staff runners were lost sometimes but to their credit they all really did their best running stuff where they could even if they had to lose their voices.
Of course what will happen is an apology that they weren't prepared for 1,000 plus in SFV and that it'll get better next year, but I hate to say this, if you can't get the basics right after 19 years, nothing will ever change unless you bring in proper help and not overwhelm the small amount of main staff you have. You can't grow if you can't progress.
I'd hate to see an event get shut down by a fire Marshall when it gets overcrowded and everything can be ruined. I nearly experienced that with APEX 2015.
Events should be full of fun memories, not bad experiences that'll sour your mouth.
I could say so much more but the community has said enough already, too bad it'll fall on deaf ears. I hope I'm wrong and that things only go up from here.
Skipping my MegaBus ride back to Orlando tomorrow and paid 200 bucks for a flight out today just to get back to work and take a day off to relax tomorrow cause I just couldn't get over my bad experience on Friday/Saturday outside of the awesome foyer area full of arcade cabs.
My time is really limited now and I came out on my own dime to have fun with everyone, but I just couldn't and I can't "take the high road" anymore. If someone in my position doesn't say something and take the heat, nothing will ever change.
I just want every event to be awesome so everyone gets interested in attending even more. Safe travels back home everyone. If anyone thinks less of me for this, I'm sorry but the people have to be heard.
But we definitely can't address these issues if we pretend they don't exist, and it shouldn't be up to the individual game volunteers (people like Kitana Prime, for example) to have to fix the results of poor planning at the last possible minute.
The FGC is growing, and the more honest we are, the faster we can adjust to fit the future.
Anyway, congrats to everyone who competed, and all the people who showed up to make this the biggest Final Round yet. 200 for MK signals a strong, healthy scene, and 1024 for SF5 is bananas. Looking forward to watching us continue to grow as time goes on
