OP changes

[BLiZzArD]

I have a unique view on this as I was a player in the 2004 and 2005 Grinder and a 15+ judge for the 2006 event. As a player the grinder I found it to be a hugely fun experience and even though I wasn't competitive in either event I had a great time playing with my fellow Pokemon players in an event of that size and the people I met during both events I still consider friends. Now as a Judge I also had a great time all be it much more tiring and was quite impressed by the huge number of players that showed up to compete for a chance at worlds. PUI has done a great job at these events and in my conversations with them I have noticed a true love of their players and this game. So I guess what I'm saying is PUI does care about you and may not always make the popular decision but the one that is in their view best for the game so I for one will continue to have faith in them for just like the people I meant during those matches in the grinder I consider them all friends and I can't wait to see what the future brings.

BLiZz

 

[Lugias_Realm]

Time To Speak Up!!!!

Normally I don't get involved in the he said she said or the here's what I think and this is the way it should be or else. But this is a topic that I take seriously and do not appreciate the unjust ranting and raving from people who don't know a thing about what it takes to pull this off. The PUI staff puts in
1000's of hours before hand just to get the event to the point we all see but then that's just the beginning.
I know 1st hand of PUI members who if they got 20 minutes of sleep before being woken up were lucky!!!
To endure a 15-20 hour day then have to listen to complaints or just field questions or concerns just prolonged the day, but did they brush those individuals off, HELL NO!!! They did whatever it took to try and make things right.
Without saying things they might not want known I even know of things they did that went above and beyond what had to be done but in their mind they felt it had to be done. This does not sound like a group of people looking for vacation time or ways to screw over the quote "COMMON PLAYER". Even when on what you would consider DOWN TIME, they were still answering questions or dealing with problems that may have risen earlier in the day. Changes being made to better the game should not be looked at as a way out for them. It still is going to take the same time and dedication to pull off this type of event.
Months of planning will still be needed and the hours will add up. For anyone to think that the changes being made are just an easy way out to lesson the work load for them is just lame. I feel and have always felt that since their take over, PUI have had nothing but whats best for the players in mind and to do whatever it takes to put on a top notch events, which in my mind they have done. Year by year changes have been made and year by year the changes have been excepted and strengthened the game. Why should this be any different.

 

[SteveP]

No one doubts how hard PUI works to pull off Worlds, just like no one doubts how hard Pres. Bush works to combat terrorism. There will always be those who disagree with the decisions and results.

Two years ago I complained about how sad it was for some gamers that Worlds was held on the same weekend as GenCon. I was part of a small minority, so few Pokemon players truly understood my point of view.

It's a mistake to "brush off" these complaints as meaningless. These changes to Worlds are affecting lots of players, much more so than my situation 2 years ago with the GenCon conflict.

I do agree that some of these complaints have gone a bit too far though. But then again, that just shows you how passionate some are in their opinion about how these changes to Worlds have affected them.

Personally, I prefer Worlds the old way. I like the idea of 1 or more LCQs just before Worlds, though I personally dread competing in them. Heck, the LCQ in 2004 produced a World Champion (Yamato), so the LCQ does have legitimacy.

Nevertheless, I think it's time to try a Worlds without an LCQ. I have faith PUI with compensate somehow. I'll wait and see.

 

[Scizor]

No one doubts how hard PUI works to pull off Worlds, just like no one doubts how hard Pres. Bush works to combat terrorism. There will always be those who disagree with the decisions and results.

Two years ago I complained about how sad it was for some gamers that Worlds was held on the same weekend as GenCon. I was part of a small minority, so few Pokemon players truly understood my point of view.

It's a mistake to "brush off" these complaints as meaningless. These changes to Worlds are affecting lots of players, much more so than my situation 2 years ago with the GenCon conflict.

I do agree that some of these complaints have gone a bit too far though. But then again, that just shows you how passionate some are in their opinion about how these changes to Worlds have affected them.

Personally, I prefer Worlds the old way. I like the idea of 1 or more LCQs just before Worlds, though I personally dread competing in them. Heck, the LCQ in 2004 produced a World Champion (Yamato), so the LCQ does have legitimacy.

Nevertheless, I think it's time to try a Worlds without an LCQ. I have faith PUI with compensate somehow. I'll wait and see.

People are going a bit far, but some will tell you that's a terrible analogy with President Bush (me included!). Also, Yamato didn't qualify through the LCQ in 2004, he won a Spring road AND Japanese Nationals.

 

[Prime]

Went undefeated at his Nationals just to add.

 

[SteveP]

People are going a bit far, but some will tell you that's a terrible analogy with President Bush (me included!).

Why do some disagree with Pres. Bush regarding the war against terrorism? They think it should be done differently, or not at all.

Why do some disagree with PUI regarding the LCQ and World 2007? They think it should be done differently.

When someone disagrees with you on how you run things, they have a right to speak up. We can have a civil debate about LCQ and Worlds. I doubt PUI will take offense to constructive criticism regarding players' concerns.

Now, non-constructive criticism and baseless personal attacks can be denounced. Nevertheless, such attacks sometimes don't necessarily show that someone is "ignorant," rather that they are "passionate."

(PS. Sorry if I got the Yamato 2004 qualification wrong. I guess I heard wrong. I missed Worlds 2004 because I was at GenCon.)

 

[survivor]

To all of the people complaining about how hard it is to get Worlds: Name me one game that is easier to go to Worlds than Pokemon.

 

[Rainbowgym]

I know this is a minor point, but I have seen many similar statements by others and it bugs me. I am not calling JanPDS out in particular here. His statement is not impolite, just conveniently located.

No, we could not have started the grinder at 10:00. 3:00 is about as early as we could push it. We would have preferred a 5:00 start but changing to 8 or 9 rounds instead of 5 or 6 made that unworkable.

If the grinder started at 10:00 we would have lost an entire day of viable flight options. Nobody coming from the East coast or Europe who wanted to participate in the Grinder could have arrived on Friday.

The reason this sort of thing bugs me so much is that there is the part about it being easier on everyone. No, not true at all. It would be easier on people like the poster who live near him. It would have been far more difficult for people from other parts of the world.

Pete,

I am sorry but I have to disagree with you on this.
For most Europeans it would have been better if the grinder had started 10 of 11 am.
( I cannot speak for Eastern USA).

Almost everybody from Europe will at the latest try to arrive thursday, but the majority will try to be at the destination 2 or 3 days prior.
Arriving Friday is the worst option you can have and anybody would try to avoid that.
Mainly because a lot of flights arrive late in the afternoon/evening and because you have to get rid of the timedifference (a bit).

Playing at the same day you arrive is for children to much and for adults killing.
I think many international European players arrived wednesday,some before, but not many after.
People flying over to join a grinder are already spending a lot of money and 1 night hotel adding to that budget is paying itself back, you can have some rest before you have to play.
It's worth it.

Just a simply example, we left from home our local time tuesday 10 am, we arrived in Anaheim at the hotel around 10.30 pm.(local) At that moment we were on the move for 21 hours.
We went to bed immediate, but were awake again around 4-5 am. WHY, because of the timedifference.
For our body's it was 2 pm.
Now imagine that day my kids could have play the grinder, what would be a better time to start? 10 am or 3 pm?
I can tell you 10 am, because starting at 3 pm (Local) would feel as starting at Midnight.

So meaby for Eastcost USA players it's a viable day to fly, but for European people it would say not.

Li@

 

[Pete De Shaw]

I don't think we realy disagree, Lia. It may be more of a language issue and the shortness of my explanation.

I said viable, not ideal. Nobody wants to come in on Friday and play the same day. However it is a last chance option that is often needed. It is also a less expensive option as it is one less hotel night for those who have trouble affording the trip. It also means parents missing one less day of work and possibly children missing one less day of school.

 

[Rainbowgym]

I understand Pete, one night less hotel can make a difference.
Missing one day of school, well to be honest that one day will not get you better numbers unless you are in your final years passing tests.

Its more I wanted to point on the fact that for European people the options are different.
And for most of them starting in the morning would have been better, if it was only because of the jetlag.

I already have "nightmares" when I think towards Worlds 2007, 30 hours traveling, 12 hours timedifference aughh.