Planet Zero SBO qualifiers are Rigged

[ShinBlanka]

This is an unfortunate turn of events indeed. I’ve contacted SBO committee and notified them (again) of the situation and received an initial reply stating that any kind of qualifying criteria other than by tournament result process is strictly against SBO policy. I’ll put up some excerpts from the response here:

From Tetsuro Sugita:

“No, winner should be selected by qualify. And let us know result of qualify by public webpage to see fair play. Selecting winner by an interview is banned. The same is equally true of voting, lottery. I’ll write immediately a letter of complaint to Emotiongear. We allow no exceptions of this rule.”
“Team member of Planet Zero created an incident involved in a immigration control law last year. Planet Zero caught it from their sponser SUBARU because the Planet Zero undermined confidence in the sponser company. In order to prevent a similar problem Planet Zero review the human dignity of player this year.
SBO committee have no concern with this matter.
Then, they are in tune with that process.
I thought Planet Zero should notice about that in advance.
I heared that great while ago. I’d forgotten about that!
This is against SBO rules for a fact and should not be allowed.
Select team member by individual match is against SBO rules too.
They are exceptionally admitted taking the circumstances of outside Japan into consideration. Both exception are not allowed in Japan.”

Please excuse the English as it is difficult to understand but I’ll try to put it in perspective.

This isn’t the first time I contacted SBO staff regarding this controversial qualifier. There have been concerns from players since the beginning and I’ve been contacted by a handful. I’ve voiced their concerns by passing it onto the committee and the response is always something along those lines stating that those actions are not in accordance with policy.

However, saying something is not right and actually doing something is a whole another story. Although they state that they do not agree with his actions, they do not really do much about it. If you look at this situation from their point of view (Japanese business culture) there is little motivation or incentive to do anything about it. Why should they concern themselves with US politics? They’ve already made arrangements in their event allowing for a certain number of players and they do not have the bandwidth to concern themselves about how all the players will get to the final tournament. Especially with affairs that are outside of their home country.

That is a reason they’ve appointed me as a point man to handle such matters in the US. Unfortunately, Emotiongear applied for and secured his qualifier directly through SBO and not through me so this is out of my hands. Note that SBO is partially funded by money contributed by the featured game companies and qualification locations. I’m not sure of the arrangements they had with Planet Zero but most likely he’s paid his dues some way or another. Hence he was awarded with a spot. So even though they may not approve of his actions, they’ve already received the money from him and they have little reason to concern themselves with foreign politics.

Now in terms of from the US side of things. I did not ask for a Guilty Gear spot for SBO this year because at the time for qualifier applications, there just wasn’t any arcade Guilty Gear availability in the US. Hence I did not request for one. I only requested for ST and 3S which I thought we would be able to run a fair qualifier throughout the US. Note that a stipulation in SBO rules is that the qualifying event must be run on arcade hardware, not console. So with no Guilty Gear cabinets around, I could not request for one.

Due to his ability to secure that rare arcade game for Planet Zero, Emotiongear was able to get a spot for Guilty Gear. Now players and the SBO committee may not agree with his actions, but bottom line is that he is footing the bill and the qualifier is under his own control. We can complain all we want but we have little power in this situation unless SBO committee steps in and does something. (which is unlikely)

So instead of complaining about something we do not have control over, here are my thoughts. For next year, if the Guilty Gear community can pull together and come up with a suitable qualifying location/event, then I can request for a spot on your behalf. If the spot is granted, then the qualifying event rules can be under more fair controls rather than being dependent on someone else’s rules. We can work out details when the time comes but if the community can come up with a suitable event location and at least half of the plane ticket costs for the winning team, I will try to cover the other half. (assuming 3 players ~ $3000. So I’ll throw in $1500)

So that’s my offer to the Guilty Gear community. Instead of complaining about something we do not have control over, take action now and start planning to hold your own qualifiers next year.

In the meantime, I’ll keep discussing with SBO staff about the situation. If they propose on any kind action, I’ll update everyone with an announcement.

Best of luck to all,
John

All I can say is WOW!!!:tup::tup::tup::rock::rock::rock: That is how you support the scene sir. I wish I had it like that. You are a true MAN of the community! A lot of people say they are, but I heard nothing but good things about you. We all try to do our part to keep this hobby of ours strong for the future fighting gamers! To run a huge sbo qualifier would take atleast 4 ggxxac machines imo to complete in 1 day. I wish I had the money for 3-4 ggxxac boards so I could have it at FR. The gg players have always shown love for final round and I wish I could help them in their time of need, but I don’t have the resources to get 3-4 ggxxac boards. If I win the lottery then it’s on shawty.:lol: I’ll do my part if I can with FR. Hey Jason Wilson. PM me man. Maybe we can do something next year to help the gg players. I got a few idea’s running through my head.:tup:

I’m not going to comment on the PZ people or the way they run their tournaments. It’s none of my business, but I think everyone that has been to FR the past 2 years understands how I feel about those people!:tdown:

[ChoiBoy]

I still haven’t gotten a good answer to this, maybe Choi can answer this:

What it 4 people went to SBO claiming to be the team, I assume that they’d take the 3 “real” winners then. This is why I suggested we as the community made sure the right people went.

$1500 is too much for one person, but split around 100-200, it wouldn’t be so bad. (Don’t know the exact needed costs)

Can someone let me know if this idea is viable, or if it would work? Choi would be the best person, since he knows the SBO people.

PZ John has control over his “spot” and has official SBO player qualification cards given by SBO. (required for entry into the event as a competitor) As such, in case there was an argument as to who is actually on the team, the person with the card would be the victor.

Aside from all that, I don’t think that is a good idea as it would make the US look really stupid by bringing our drama directly to their face. Makes us all look incompetent in general.

John

[System_1]

That is basically my fault and I apologize for any problems caused to Andy/TGA/EC SBO hopefuls. Wizard/EVO was not the cause of that.

Last year was very hectic with 4 EVO quals and 4 SBO quals all happening at different venues and dates. It was difficult for players to choose among the 8 separate events. Since the core audience is similar for both events, I thought it would be beneficial for all if the events were combined. This should increase player attendance, require less travel, and hopefully have a better talent pool of US players to compete and represent at SBO.

With preliminary blessing from EVO staff to piggy back the EVO events, I talked to Andy and secured control of the EC qualifier thinking it could later be run at EVO East. Note that during this time, sponsorship talks were in process and not guaranteed yet. However, things did not turn out according to plan as due to various reasons, EVO was not able to lock down sponsorship this year. So, fast forward to months later and to salvage the situation, the EC qual event is actually taking place at MWC. Fortunately, MWC contains arcade cabinets of the SBO games which is a requirement for the qualifier. Thanks to Jason Wilson for agreeing to host it this year.

For next year, I will only push for this joint venture if the sponsorship is guaranteed at that time. If not then you will probably see Andy/TGA host it again.

John

I totally understand where you are coming from, and i appreciate it that you thought that far into it. But at the same time, you took away a valid qualifier held on japanese cabinets (the same controls that the event will be held on in Japan) and put it on American cabs. without consultation of the masses. that is my major gripe - there was no asking around of what might be the right way to go, you just assumed that you were doing the right thing. After the whole 2-year-deal with Toyota (which many major players knew about for a long time) we all had questions about how long EVO could hold so many qualifiers for so long. Just assuming that EVO would be “in the money” was not the right way to go here. You need to see the big picture and what is best for the community…this year, there are only two major teams attending the ST SBO qualifier at MWC, and neither of them are accustomed to japanese controls.

Next time, my advice to you, try asking around the major players in a region before you assume you are doing the right thing. We all knew that SBO quals had to be held on arcade…and TGA is the only arcade with japanese controls on the east coast…so it’s a no-brainer to hold them there. It really is a major slap in the face to learn that your cost “lost” a qualifier, and then to learn that it’s not even being held on the same format as people will be playing on in Japan. YOU FUCKED UP, but you thought you were doing the best thing, so I really can’t hate. Just please learn from your mistakes and we’ll move on.

…Emotiongear is a ***.

[arstal]

Ah, thanks for the explanation.

I guess, in the end, there’s nothing really the community can do to stop this from happening, other then to make sure it doesn’t happen again. The only real option would be suing in small claims court, and I’m unsure if that would work- would need a lawyer type to see if fraud could be claimed.

[EveryFlowerFlow]

Choi is boss.

[Sage]

John

Thank you very much Mr.Choi for explaining as I was kinda left wondering about that, much respect to you. No worries tho, no warm was done and we are very understanding. I hope everything works out for the best in the future, i know you are trying to do alot for the community.

DSP: chill out , things happen sometimes. Next year will be alot better.

btw I hear the Japanese think its a major pain to install American sticks for foreigners and afaik they have only done it once.

[ShinBlanka]

I totally understand where you are coming from, and i appreciate it that you thought that far into it. But at the same time, you took away a valid qualifier held on japanese cabinets (the same controls that the event will be held on in Japan) and put it on American cabs. without consultation of the masses. that is my major gripe - there was no asking around of what might be the right way to go, you just assumed that you were doing the right thing. After the whole 2-year-deal with Toyota (which many major players knew about for a long time) we all had questions about how long EVO could hold so many qualifiers for so long. Just assuming that EVO would be “in the money” was not the right way to go here. You need to see the big picture and what is best for the community…this year, there are only two major teams attending the ST SBO qualifier at MWC, and neither of them are accustomed to japanese controls.

Next time, my advice to you, try asking around the major players in a region before you assume you are doing the right thing. We all knew that SBO quals had to be held on arcade…and TGA is the only arcade with japanese controls on the east coast…so it’s a no-brainer to hold them there. It really is a major slap in the face to learn that your cost “lost” a qualifier, and then to learn that it’s not even being held on the same format as people will be playing on in Japan. YOU FUCKED UP, but you thought you were doing the best thing, so I really can’t hate. Just please learn from your mistakes and we’ll move on.

…Emotiongear is a ***.

Yo phil that’s not entirely true sir. I know when you came to frx we only had american sticks for ST on arcade cabs, but now we have american sticks and japanese sanwa’s sticks for ST at Final Round. ST will always be the arcade version at Final Round. I’m still debating if i’m going to throw a st:hd remix tournament due to the # of games i’m having over a 3 day period. I will say that tga or mwc should be the ec quals for now on, but we do have the ability to hold atleast the ST and 3S quals for sbo at future Final Rounds. I know several people with 3S boards in the southeast region that I can get to donate to FR if needed.

I just run it on console to save time since we usual have over 100+ for the past 3 years in 3S. Final Round can be an option also if the community needs it to be one! I’m just putting it out there if anyone was wondering.:tup: This is a great thread. I like seeing the community banding together like this.:encore::tup::rock:

[ShinBlanka]

It’s actually real simple. Either you’re mad enough to stop supporting emogear and his tournies or you’re not.

If a lot of people stop supporting him then this actually means something, if not then he could give a shit less, and rightfully so.

Personally, I’m not gonna give him shit. I heard bad things about PZ before, but I was going to give it a chance regardless. Now though this whole thing just leaves a bad taste in my mouth, especially after all the insults being lobbed at the posters and zinac for simply bringing up a valid point.

The problem is a lack of honesty and people don’t do business with people they can’t trust. Just remember that.

Nothing else needs to be said. You about sum it up with that post sir!:tup: And don’t you live in H-town sir? Wow, great post!

[Buktooth]

i complain a lot

he apologized already, wtf do you want

[System_1]

Yo phil that’s not entirely true sir. I know when you came to frx we only had american sticks for ST on arcade cabs, but now we have american sticks and japanese sanwa’s sticks for ST at Final Round. ST will always be the arcade version at Final Round. I’m still debating if i’m going to throw a st:hd remix tournament due to the # of games i’m having over a 3 day period. I will say that tga or mwc should be the ec quals for now on, but we do have the ability to hold atleast the ST and 3S quals for sbo at future Final Rounds. I know several people with 3S boards in the southeast region that I can get to donate to FR if needed.

I just run it on console to save time since we usual have over 100+ for the past 3 years in 3S. Final Round can be an option also if the community needs it to be one! I’m just putting it out there if anyone was wondering.:tup: This is a great thread. I like seeing the community banding together like this.:encore::tup::rock:

no offense but…uh…are you drunk? i didn’t address final round once and final round has never been an official SBO qualifier…so what are you talking about?

sorry, don’t mean to hijack the thread, i should take this to PM.

Yeah…Emotiongear is a douche!

[System_1]

he apologized already, wtf do you want

like i said, learn from your mistakes. i think John will since he really is one of the major positive parts of the SF community and always has been. he’s always been self-sacrificing as opposed to Emotiongear who is all about fucking over the community for his own reasons. I can’t wait to hear the next SBO staff reply to the situation. I have massive faith in John, and I have a turd stored in my ass for the next time I see Texas John.

[insanelee]

nc john > pz john

[System_1]

nc john > pz john

i hope you post again in 10 pages because your identical post is just as relevant now as it was the first time :rock:

[Buktooth]

i hope you post again in 10 pages because i still like comlaining a lot

it’s about as relevant as you complaining that somebody “took sbo quals away” from the east coast

[JoeyH]

zinac posted that he was told by Jais, who was informed by kensou, that he was 100% not going, while emotiger said that nothing had been decided, but zinac posted that kensou was simply relaying information given by emotiger. Kensou can you confirm whether you did or did not say this to Jais?

So if nothing official had been decided, why was this information told to Jais? Was there a meeting to discuss the situation where something like this came up:

“well we know we want someone from Houston going on the team as a representative and we feel that Zinac is the weakest link, so we know he is the one that is going to be replaced by the Houston representative.”

Then the information got leaked to him? If that’s what happened, while maybe the whole team isn’t finalized, zinac’s chances are. Why not just tell him that instead of telling him this information, knowing the kind of response you’re going to get from most people in the situation, then when he gets upset tell him, the team is still being formed and your named is still being considered, but acting like this isn’t helping. Is that a way to bait him into having a reason not to take him to Japan?

I don’t know if my questions make any sense, but basically what I am asking is, Jais found out from Kensou, who found out from Emotiger that Zinac was 100% not going, then after that, Emotiger posted that the teams were still being formed and that Zinac’s name was in fact still being considered. It just sounds like someone is lying. Did Kensou really not tell Jais, then why did Jais make up that lie to Zinac? Did emotiger really not tell Kensou, then why did Kensou make up the lie and tell Jais? Did Emotiger really say that to Kensou, then Emotiger is lying when he said that Zinac’s name is still being considered.

Can the people mentioned above please confirm anything?

Oh and can someone please tell me who the guys working on finalizing the team are?

[Nydrin]

SNIP

I was wondering the same exact thing. It sounds like they are totally lying about zinac still being in consideration. It seems they’re trying to use the way he reacted as a way to justify him not going as well, even though they are responsible for him jumping to such conclusions. I don’t think emogear is as good of a businessman as he fancies himself. A true businessman would have never been caught by some many random people setting up his own fixes. Emogear you might wanna take some more late night business courses my friend. You ain’t no arcade donald trump yet.

[G.O.T]

zinac posted that he was told by Jais, who was informed by kensou, that he was 100% not going, while emotiger said that nothing had been decided, but zinac posted that kensou was simply relaying information given by emotiger. Kensou can you confirm whether you did or did not say this to Jais?

So if nothing official had been decided, why was this information told to Jais? Was there a meeting to discuss the situation where something like this came up:

“well we know we want someone from Houston going on the team as a representative and we feel that Zinac is the weakest link, so we know he is the one that is going to be replaced by the Houston representative.”

Then the information got leaked to him? If that’s what happened, while maybe the whole team isn’t finalized, zinac’s chances are. Why not just tell him that instead of telling him this information, knowing the kind of response you’re going to get from most people in the situation, then when he gets upset tell him, the team is still being formed and your named is still being considered, but acting like this isn’t helping. Is that a way to bait him into having a reason not to take him to Japan?

I don’t know if my questions make any sense, but basically what I am asking is, Jais found out from Kensou, who found out from Emotiger that Zinac was 100% not going, then after that, Emotiger posted that the teams were still being formed and that Zinac’s name was in fact still being considered. It just sounds like someone is lying. Did Kensou really not tell Jais, then why did Jais make up that lie to Zinac? Did emotiger really not tell Kensou, then why did Kensou make up the lie and tell Jais? Did Emotiger really say that to Kensou, then Emotiger is lying when he said that Zinac’s name is still being considered.

Can the people mentioned above please confirm anything?

I see where ya going with this. One of these suspects is a phony.:tdown:

[pherai]

The worst part of this is I’m sure people who are complaining in this thread will continue to patronize PZ. Props to Arlieth, Choi, Andy, and anyone else involved in running honest SBO quals. We should be able to take for granted that the winning team goes to Japan, and I appreciate the guys who do make that happen. :tup:

[Overworld]

Hopefully not to get entirely lost in this is to be happy for the two who do get to play. Since this is still their opportunity to go to SBO and hopefully this won’t hurt the communities reaction to them. I’ll still cheer them on when the time comes.

Now that replacement third guy…I may not go as far as saying I hope he looses, but I don’t really think I’ll root for him since it will just seem like another player getting jipped worse if we all forget him being screwed over.

[Ceirnian]

Hopefully not to get entirely lost in this is to be happy for the two who do get to play. Since this is still their opportunity to go to SBO and hopefully this won’t hurt the communities reaction to them. I’ll still cheer them on when the time comes.

Now that replacement third guy…I may not go as far as saying I hope he looses, but I don’t really think I’ll root for him since it will just seem like another player getting jipped worse if we all forget him being screwed over.

I’ll cheer for the team that won, I hope the forced replacement gets raped so hard that he shits himself in embarrassment. Double perfect.