Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Tournament manger software frustration

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And this is why i use Tourny for Palm (that and the fact I have a Mac and Palm PDA). It works so much better (still no age Modified, but that doesn't really matter as our league dosn't run Age Modified Swiss, we just run normal Swiss). And you don't have to lug around a Laptop. Just bring your small PDA and your set.
 
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jdb728 said:
Another quick question, if you're required to use the software, and then it crashes, and you have to do the final couple rounds without it, are the results of the tournament void(since obviously the software wasn't used through the whole thing)?
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Let me clarify the statement about having to use the software - IF you are going to use software, then you must use the TMS software. TOs still have the option of running their tournament with pencil and paper. That does get complicated and time consuming when the tournaments get too large, but there is nothing that says you can't do it. If the software crashed half way through a tournament, you could certainly finish under a manual system.

BDS
 
The player in the incident Dayton Gym Leader describes above is me. I'm disappointed, but not enraged. I'll try to email a complaint to TPC.
 
Big Daddy Snorlax said:
Let me clarify the statement about having to use the software - IF you are going to use software, then you must use the TMS software. TOs still have the option of running their tournament with pencil and paper. That does get complicated and time consuming when the tournaments get too large, but there is nothing that says you can't do it. If the software crashed half way through a tournament, you could certainly finish under a manual system.

BDS
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Ok, thanks very much
 
I must admit that these software issues are putting me off sanctioning the 3 tournaments I'm currently scheduling.

The overwhelming temptation is to simply use DCI Reporter (especially since I already have 60 players in my local player database).

I haven't even tried the Nintendo software and I'm already frustrated! ;)
 
If you are allowed to use pencil and paper then why couldn't you use DCI reporter to run the tournament and transcribe the results to POP?
 
Bear in mind that PUI is in the middle of a lawsuit where WotC is accusing them of using their proprietary work and products. If PUI put any kind of blessing or even "allowed" people to continue to use a product that is clearly owned by WotC to support Pokemon TCG, they would be put in a bad position regarding that lawsuit.

Don't expect them to allow you to use that software.
 
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Adv1sor said:
If you are allowed to use pencil and paper then why couldn't you use DCI reporter to run the tournament and transcribe the results to POP?
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Because Wizards of the Coast only allows their copyrighted program to be used with their DCI Sanctioned Tournaments. The DCI Reporter is not freeware. DCI Reporter is PC tournament software for running and reporting DCI sanctioned tournaments in most of the card games manufactured and sold by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., including Magic: The Gathering, Star Wars, MLB Showdown, Football Champions and Risk 2210. The software is licensed to Wizards of the Coast, Inc., who is making it available to DCI tournament organizers.

If anyone is using the DCI Reporter, stop. If you see any Head Judge or Tournament Organizer using the program in a sanctioned event, tell them that they cannot use it, and report them to [email protected]. There is no excuse for using the DCI Reporter, even if the current program has problems. What would happen if your computer crashed or would not run the current program?

With all the problems the website and tournament software has, those involved need to redirect their priorities to fixing these bugs before we start the qualifiers leading up to Worlds. Personally, I could care less if the webteam changes the background every time a new set comes out... let's fix the registration and result submission problems that are still around.
-Phil
 
DCI reporter is now licensed to Wotc. Using it for other than wotc tournaments presumably breaks the license agreement.

The software's author has retained copywrite, at least as of 2.5.0c .
 
GymLeaderPhil said:
With all the problems the website and tournament software has, those involved need to redirect their priorities to fixing these bugs before we start the qualifiers leading up to Worlds. Personally, I could care less if the webteam changes the background every time a new set comes out... let's fix the registration and result submission problems that are still around.
-Phil
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I agree with Phil. Who really cares what the background of the website looks like. It would be one thing if they actually updated the WHOLE site with the background, but they don't. Half the site has one background, the other half has another.

I honestly don't understand why Pokemon USA hasn't hired Cecil M. Menzel whom created DCI reporter to make there program. I have his email if they want it. I am sure Cecil would love to make some easy cash by copying his program, changing it a little, and giving it to Pokemon USA. Haven't the programers of the new program proven they have no clue what they are doing? I mean who releases a product without testing it first? These programers gave Pokemon USA a program without even taking the time to make sure it worked correctly. Nintendo wouldn't release a video game like that.
 
Exactly.

At a time when the Pokémon brand is currently on the upswing, it makes no sense to tarnish that brand with substandard software... especially when that software is critical to running the very premier events that are critical to the resurgence of the TCG.

It is tantamount to releasing the next installment of the GBA games with bugs that render them unplayable!

This situation threatens to damage the image of Nintendo, as well as the enthusiasm of Pokémon fanatics like me.

Nintendo must commit the resources (small, by Nintendo standards) necessary to rework the tournament software into a usable state. They need to do so now.
 
Like I mentioned before. A better alternative, if you have a Palm Powered PDA, is to use Tourney. I use it at our League and Tournaments seeing as I don't have or use Windows and it works great. Don't have to lug around a Laptop. Just bring your small Palm PDA. You can find it at Palm Gear.
 
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GreatFox said:
Like I mentioned before. A better alternative, if you have a Palm Powered PDA, is to use Tourney. I use it at our League and Tournaments seeing as I don't have or use Windows and it works great. Don't have to lug around a Laptop. Just bring your small Palm PDA. You can find it at Palm Gear.
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Only one problem with your suggestion, The contract us Premier TO's sign specifically says we can't use any other software other then the software supplied by Pokemon USA. If we do, we can lose our rights to run tournaments.
 
Farbsman I asked this before and no one with the paper work replied.

Are you allowed to use the old fashioned pencil and paper method to run a tournament or is the use of this software MANDATORY?

We haven't seen this software in the UK so can't offer comment or advice on its use. I have been checking out chess software as a backup for swiss tournaments.
 
rather than start another thread that will go over the same ground...

I've just spent several frustrating hours trying to enter a large tournament into the Ninty software after the event. The ordered pairing facility is so bad that I gave up and entered the tournament into an excel spreadsheet. The .TRN files are in CSV format. As others have commented be ever so carefull with peoples names no apostrophies or commas if you want to avoid a crash.
 
NoPoke said:
Farbsman I asked this before and no one with the paper work replied.

Are you allowed to use the old fashioned pencil and paper method to run a tournament or is the use of this software MANDATORY?

We haven't seen this software in the UK so can't offer comment or advice on its use. I have been checking out chess software as a backup for swiss tournaments.
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Of course you can. But the file has to be submitted in the TRN format. Not a huge disadvantage as it is fairly simple to export the pairings as a CSV then massage it a bit. Looking at the TRN file it is pretty obvious what the format is. You can also "fix" a screwed up tournament by editing this file and re-running TMS, but it's liable to just screw it up again...
Chess software works a bit differently as they must also pair by colors played - really obfuscates the pairings and such. Plus I think the rankings play a bigger part but I guess they can just be defaulted to the default formula.
Cheers.
 
I'd like to see 'colour' introduced into Pokemon tournaments: The pairings software endevours to ensure that each player 'wins' the opening toss half the time.

I have asked Cecil (the guy who wrote reporter) if individual copies of Reporter were still available. But he has replied that he now has an exclusive deal with Wizards :(. Worth a try!

Anyone know anyone with an old personalised copy? Could make for an interesting item on ebay ;)
 
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