The Southern-Fried Gameroom Expo hosts a variety of competitive console game tournament throughout the weekend. The games are played on a variety of systems, but feature standard rules which are stated below. Please read all rules before participating.
Match Play
These rules will be in effect while a single Match in the tournament is played. If you are playing in the tournament, be sure to study this section carefully, especially if you have no prior tournament experience.
- Choosing Sides
- When both players are at the game console, they must come to an agreement which side of they machine they will play on (who will sit on 1p and who will sit on 2p)
- If an agreement cannot be reached, a game of paper-scissors-rock will determine who gets to pick their side.
- Choosing Characters
- There are 3 methods for choosing characters. Standard Selection, Double Blind Selection, and Side and Character Courtesy.
- If the players do not discuss the method of character selection, it should be understood that the Standard method is being used. If the players cannot come to an agreement on the method of character selection, the judge will apply the double blind method.
- Standard Selection
- Both players choose their characters whenever they want. This is a free for all. Players pick who they want and go.
- Once either player chooses a character, neither is allowed to request that the Double Blind Selection method be used.
- Double Blind Selection
- Either player must explicitly ask for the Double Blind Selection method before either player chooses a character.
- When a player request Double Blind, the player on the left side (1p) decides which characters and modes (e.g. ISM, Assist mode, or Ultras) they will choose and whispers his selection to the Judge.
- The Judge then signals the player on the right (2p) to pick his characters and play modes.
- Once the player on the right (2p) has finished, the Judge makes sure the player on the left (1p) sticks to his original choices.
- Side and Character Courtesy
- As a courtesy, the player who received his choice of which side to play on (1p vs 2p) can elect to choose his character first.
- This is strictly a courtesy. A player is in no way required to do so.
- Playing the Match
- Once sides and characters have been chosen, the players should begin the first Game in the Match.
- The following rules go into effect once a Game ends
- The Match is over when either player wins the required number of games.
- Once a player has won the required number of games, the winner of the Match should report the result to the Judge.
- Reporting Rule Violations: At some point during the tournament, a player may violate either the tournament rules or the rules for a particular game in a tournament. The following rules apply toward rectifying rule violations.
- It is the responsibly of the players in the Match to detect all Match Rule violations and report them to a Judge immediately.
- ALL non-gameplay rule violations must be reported to a Judge before the Game starts. Players are not allowed to stop a Game in progress to address a non-gameplay related rule violation. Stopping a Game in progress to report a non-gameplay rule violation will result in the forfeiture the round on the part of the person stopping the game.
- The only time a player is allowed to stop a Game to report a rule violation is when that violation occurs during the middle of the match (e.g. A game freezing glitch in Street Fighter).
- Stopping a Game in progress to erroneously report a rule violation (e.g. your opponent has changed ultras after you have changed characters, which is allowed) automatically results in the forfeiture of the round by the player who stopped the game.
- Rule violations must be reported at the time they occur. Otherwise, they will be ignored.
- A Judge is allowed to report any rule violations on behalf of a player.
- If a Judge stops a game to mis-report a rule violation, the Game is replayed with both players picking the same characters, order, and side. No one is disqualified.
- The only people allowed to stop a Game to report a violation are the Judge and the players. Anyone else (e.g. a spectator) stopping a Game (for any reason) will receive a mandatory Red Card (see Rule Enforcement and Disqualification).
- If a player accidentally or intentionally stops his game for any other reason, he will be forced to forfeit the round. Example include accidentally pressing the start button on his controller to pause the match, unplugging his or his opponents joystick, etc. If the game cannot be restarted from the exact point of interruption, the player is forced to forfeit the Game.
- Match interruptions beyond the players control (e.g. the game crashes or freezes) will be dealt with directly by the Judge. All best attempts will be made to resume the round from where it left off. If that cannot be accomplished, the Game will be replayed with both players picking the same characters and modes.
- Reporting Equipment Failure: Video game hardware has a tendency to break down during tournaments. Buttons or joysticks will occasionally break down in the middle of a match, leaving the player on the broken side at a significant disadvantage. The following rules will be used in the event of a breakdown.
- In the event of an equipment failure, they player has the option to stop the Game in progress to obtain an replacement.
- New equipment must be immediately available. If replacement equipment cannot be obtained in a timely manner, the player must continue to play on their current equipment or forfeit the Match.
- Once replacement equipment is obtained, the player is given the rest of the round to configure their buttons and test the new equipment. If the player gains an undue advantage by doing so (e.g. charging an abundance of super meter), they must forfeit the Game.
- A player may opt to switch out equipment between Games at no penalty. When this occurs, the player will be given ample time to configure his buttons before the next Game begins.