Everybody should be able to stay home and play their own games, take a picture of their scores and send it in with their entrance fees and a treat of some sort. Whichever treat the judges like the best, is the winner.

It's only a dollar

I wish they'd just make the date later, but wouldn't mind this.

They’re over on tilt.forums.

So make people commit to playing a SCS, when they still have 2 months of tourneys to play and don't really know where they stand in all options?

It sounds like folks want their cake and eat it, too. Oh well. As a newbie who will be playing in my first SCS in January, I say: Pick a state and focus. Flame suit on, but I think Whysnow makes a good point.

I’d like to pick my state based on my seeding so I want to wait until Jan 1. If i can get a bye somewhere else maybe I’ll go there instead.

This may not hype play in nov and dec much as guys are already scrambling to get all the points they can.

Other options-
Don’t play the championship in January play feb 1 or later so you can make better plans.

Use you home state not where the points are scored. I know this will rile people up but it is a solution.

This sounds like a solution looking for a problem. Only a hand full of TDs and top players are involved. All the guys on the bubble will still be on a bubble. They are usually ‘local’ anyway aren’t they?

I think it should be very easy to handle. Whatever state is listed on your drivers license is the state that you can participate in. If you happen to move during the year, and have proof, then you can pick which state you want to go for by the current deadline. as there shouldn't be that many that moved that it couldn't be handled in a timely manner

The current way really doesn't benefit anyone other than the people that run ifpa. Just imagine how mad the lead players in Illinois would be if only a couple got to go instead of the usual same ones that always get to since they qualify in other states.

Make me think of the Olympics which generally piss me off. Take hockey, you have all these guys that live in the US, work for a US corporation making millinos, then when its time for the Olympics, they play for Russia and such. Where you live should matter for where you get to play

I was born and raised in Louisville, KY. Work there too. I moved to southern IN, just minutes away, so my home state is IN, but ALL of my tournament play is in KY. I'd have to travel 2.5 hours north weekly to participate in the active IN tourney scene. There is absolutely no competitive play in southern IN. I get what you are saying, but I'd have to disagree on a situational basis.

Also, this is me since we are posting IFPA profiles:
https://www.ifpapinball.com/player.php?p=9794

Nope, I really only qualify in GA, so I was making a point, not referring to me.

There will always be a bubble, you will never solve this. Even if you eliminate the out of state players, it will never be just he top 16. Some people can't or won't play in the SCS, so the line moves down until the last minute. If someone is really interested they can look at previous years to see how low the line went and they can estimate, that's what I did the first couple years. In GA we usually go to about # 40. Mainly due to Pinvasion, but there are folks in the teens that just can't play anyway, and we suggest alternate 1 & 2 are at the ready.

This is solved by using all of your points accumulated that year (or at least your top 20), not just the ones in your home state.

This would actually increase tournament participation by out-of-state players and help grow associated shows. If out of state points counted in GA, I would travel to regional shows more regularly - like Nashville, Louisville, Free Play Florida, the tournaments in AL, SC & NC. These don't count now, so I don't go out of my way to attend the events.

Well, let's use your state for example.

Jeez dude you got some work to do!

Light humor aside, there's no need to change anything. I haven't heard anybody clamoring for this, and the majority of players who will actually qualify for this will prefer the flexibility they currently have.

It's also the first year of the new system (the fruits of the dreaded $1 fee that was going to destroy the IFPA) so I think a wait and see approach is prudent before suggesting drastic changes.

WI (resized).jpg

Apparently it's top 24 this year. Maybe only in some states?

What an incredibly American opinion.

So what?

I'm not talking about myself.

PLenty of players will have a number of options. For some reason that you can't explain to my satisfaction you think they shouldn't, when exactly NOBODY except yourself has ever suggested the current system doesn't work.

I'm not suggesting your opinion doesn't carry much weight because you are so poorly ranked in your own state. Everybody is entitled to an opinion.

If you really want to get players' opinions on this, you should throw it out on tiltforums. Those guys are aching for something to discuss.

Whenever we handle the selection process, the same amount of resources on the IFPA side are used. Everyone waiting to decide until October 31st would lead to a mad wave of responses on 10/31. Waiting until January 7th leads to a mad wave of responses on 1/7. I've always been on the side of any players that have earned the right to play in multiple states should be at an advantage based on their performance. Whether they decide they want to stay home, travel, play for an easy Nationals path, play for a larger State pot, those players should be given the time to evaluate that with all data in hand.

I will say in favor of Hilton's suggestion, I've recommended State Reps to reach out to the players in their state ahead of time about the INTENTION of what players plan on doing. I do this in Illinois pretty much for the sake of my dad who is always a bubble boy. I'll typically send out an email to the top 50 on November 1st asking for people to let me know if they know for sure that aren't playing Illinois. That allows me to give a ballpark figure to my dad that he's not 68th, he's actually 18th. State Reps now have live access into the email addresses for everyone in their state standings, so I'm all for the pre-end-of-season reach out.

2017 Hilton would be APPALLED at 2018 Hilton's $8 contribution

Meanwhile at IFPA HQ:

pasted_image (resized).png

How are state reps selected in the first place and what duties do they have? (Pm preferred)

I agree with Hilton. Earlier declaration would be a good thing due to the lack of time between end of year numbers and scs finals date. (Now to call my doctor, did I agree with Hilton?)

I don't have access to that info, but would tend to agree with your guess being a completely reasonable one.

I'm not seeing any kind of "greater good for the sport" argument. One could argue that most people STAY HOME. With that argument one could reasonably estimate where they actually fall on the qualifying standings. We've tried to help provide that information by listing a player's registered location on the actual State standings.

A very quick view of the current WI SCS standings, and out of the top 50 players, 11 of them are registered outside of Wisconsin.

I think it's a great idea as WI State Rep . . . email those 11 people. I have no doubt you'll be able to get some quick feedback of their intentions. While you may run into someone like Werdrick saying "Mayyyyyyyybe, you'll just have to wait and see", I think most people know where they are going well ahead of time.

Sorry that doesn’t seem fair at all. Besides you’ll get everyone to commit knowing it doesn’t mean anything until Jan 7 anyway.

You need to relax. This isn’t rocket science and there no reason to lock this in early - other than to make the TD happy. There will be last minute changes no matter what you try.

That's pretty funny. Jason showed up in Louisville this year a couple weeks prior to the KY state championship to "check out the venue", I assume, but he didn't end up playing here.

I think you are underestimating the number of players that play in multiple states in tight crowded areas, like the Northeast. I can only speak for the NJ/NY/DE area but I know there is quite a bit of overlap because you can get to tournaments in any state within a few hours. NJ and DE also hold events that in the fourth quarter that will have a large impact on the SCS standings, simply because there are not many regular events held throughout the year. It would be impossible for most of those players to declare with any certainty where they are going to play by Nov. 1.

You forgot one big part. Venue for finals matter and most state reps still haven't communicated to all the players where that location will be.

That was kinda my point. It really doesnt help anyone. Nothing is set till 1/7.

You’ll create false hope for some and false bad news for others. Why mess around with it. If people are in the hunt then let them keep trying.

As far as practice, that just poor sportsmanship to restrict access in a made up process just to make you happy.

Everyone should reply to your email positively and then just backout on the 7th. When that happens what have you gained?

Seriously you are trying to solve a problem that doesn’t really exist. Kinda like dollar entry fees in WI.

You had mentioned earlier that you thought less than 20 people would be affected, but those 3 states alone produced 10 people, and that is only 3 states out of 50. The point I was trying to make is that I think you will find this would affect more players than you think. I am sure you would find similar situations across the Northeast. I bet Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut probably share many players as well.

And @gravitar made a good point about venue selection. For a state like NY, venue selection could be the determining factor as to whether players will play in NY or another state. Last year, the venue was in Upstate NY, so many NYC-area players came down to NJ to play as it was closer to them. When it is held in NYC, I believe many Upstate NY players choose to play in another state. Venues may not be finalized by Nov. 1 so players may not have all the information that they need to make a selection.

This is one thing I think would benefit decision making for those participating. If you live in PA and you are on the eastern side of the state, you are better off playing in NY, NJ or MD if travel is an issue. I also think we should rotate the venues to include other areas/locations to help promote growth in the hobby.

If you are lucky to be in a state with venues that can support an scs in the first place. In MI. I can only think of one venue that is enjoyed by all and is scs ready. The players that don't like to travel pretty much put an end to that dream location though, sadly enough. The rest would have to fix up games, get more games, improve lighting, etc...

What if I decide I want to try to qualify in OK? (after Oct) I'm screwed because of this unnecessary rule. (or I had to falsely declare, or whatever, tainting the CO field if I don't make it)
I think you would be better off pushing for a Feb/March date for SCS, and a mid-year Nationals. (THAT I could get behind)
If anyone is pushing for a spot or bye, they should be playing anyway! And with the mystery of multiple state qualifiers, it should give MORE players a hope of qualifying., and bump tournament attendance.
Making everyone declare before the smoke has cleared and the tournaments are over actually seems to deflate the excitement, everyone should be grinding for points that last couple months!
...and those on cut lines had best be hoping the mighty Werdrick isn't coming for Them!!!

I like the cap of 20 events but would like to see a floor of 5 events as well, that way if some fly by night player doesn’t have to get an invite into the SCS. This saves work for the TD to track down the person who will ultimately 9 times out of 10 say no.

if you only pay $8 for the top 8 to collect points. Wouldn't those top 8 hardly get any points since the value of the points is based on who participated in the event? So a 8 person event, wouldn't be worth diddlydick. correct? At that point, might be better to just save your $1

Um, just an example of how this idea is not a good one.
If I earn Multiple spots, I can choose, that's how it is, and how I imagine it will stay.
Also, I don't play silly games, everyone knows where I will play, I would tell anyone who asks even if I were qualified in multiple states.