First off, thank you to all the members still playing in the current Super Brawl II tournament. The 2nd round matches were closed the previous week, and only one match remains unplayed in the 3rd round. As I posted before, I expect most if not all the remaining matches to be played as scheduled by the remaining committed members. Below is a list of the members / fighters still alive in the tournament thru the 4th round or as noted:
European Region
#1 Cravin456 RYU
#2 Cravin456 ROSE
#4 Shooryukenn BLANKA
#14 Wauhti JURI
Americas Region
#1 Epedemicc GOUKEN
#3 ElGeneral GUILE
#4 Xx_Von_xX KEN (5th rd)
#5 Ccinoone KEN
#6 Fran_Gil BALROG
#7 Manwithnoarms2 ADON
#8 ElGeneral M. BISON
#10 Fran_Gil GUILE
#11 GuurenLagen BLANKA
#12 Ccinoone M. BISON (3rd rd)
#13 Haduken3 RUFUS (3rd rd)
#47 ModeType_Beast T. HAWK
Congratulations to CRAVIN456, ELGENERAL, CCINOONE, and FRAN_GIL for still playing with both of their respective fighters. Of the remaining fighters, 3 of the top 4 European fighters are still alive, and 8 of the top 10 Americas fighters are still alive. WAUHTI, from Finland, had both of his fighters playing into the 3rd round, but a mirror match eliminated one of his fighters. Good luck to remaining fighters.
Part III: The Future of the SFCCL
Unlike last season, I already committed to doing a 3rd (and possibly 4th) season of the SFCCL. With the news of the release of SSFIV:AE made in the spring, I began making plans for a 3rd season. A big reason why I started so early was the chance to completely revamp how the league operates. Not that the current ladder system of division champions and contenders isn't working well. It’s a system that I've become very comfortable with for nearly 20 years, including the last two years on the PSN. However, some of the problems that have plagued the league for the past two seasons could be easily remedied with some changes to the league. Specifically, with so many turnovers in members and frequent unplayed matches each week, the volatility caused by both circumstances caused havoc to the rankings. For example, some fighters moved up the rankings despite losing their last 5 matches simply because others left the league or simply didn't play. As long as everyone played their matches, I was content but the rankings were very flawed due to the lack of participation by many members. This was a problem I could never fully resolve. A change in how the league operates could remedy this issue providing everyone played. This reorganization could also give us the opportunity to limit these 'hiccups' due to scheduling conflicts as well as limiting the amount of lag between members.
In addition, a third season will give us the opportunity for a fresh start in a new system. This new system should create new excitement among current and possibly new members. It really allows members to play at their own pace on their own schedules while maintaining the level of competition from the beginning of the season to the end. We will still end the season in a grand tournament (Super Brawl III and Super Brawl IV for season 3 and 4, respectively), however, earning your way into the tournament will now be a season-long challenge.
The only thing I ask for from EVERY member invited back for the 3rd season is that you give the league your commitment to play for the next 6 months at most. The 3rd season will begin in July 2011 and end no later than December 2011. With a shorter season, I believe most members will return knowing they only have to play for 6 months at most. For some, their season could be as short as one month. This new system provides plenty of flexibility for all types of players from the most active to the most time-challenged. Hopefully this new system will be a hit with everyone, so we can play a 4th season from January to June 2012. If everyone can give the league, me, and your fellow members this 6-month commitment, then I promise an exciting, challenging season.
As for the details, those familiar with professional basketball, the new format resembles a National Basketball Association (NBA) season.
Currently, I am planning for a 30-members roster for the third season. Due to the small roster, invites will be sent out from the current roster participating in Super Brawl II. However, spots will be filled by new members expressing interest to play for any that don't return. The 30-members will be split into two 15-member conferences determined by location. With each member still using two fighters each, the four separate divisions will have 15 fighters each, which means every fighter will face every fighter in their division for a 14-match schedule. We do have a large concentration of members on the East Coast, so expect the Eastern Conference to be very narrow geographically. The Western Conference will be much wider so expect states such as Minnesota, Louisiana, and everything west of those states to be grouped together.
At the end of the season, the top 8 fighters in each division will qualify for the playoffs at the end of the season, also known as Super Brawl III. With 4 divisions, the league will be set up perfectly for a 32-fighter season ending tournament. The 8 fighters from each division will be matched up from top to bottom (1 vs. 8, 2 vs. 7, 3 vs. 6, 4 vs. 5) based on their final winning percentages for the season. The winning fighter moves to the next round of the tournament. The winning division fighters will play each other in each conference (Final Four) before moving on the final match with the Eastern and Western Conference champions fighting. This will give us our Grand Champion for the season. The regular season of matches will be scheduled between July and November 2011, with the tournament beginning in the second half of November and running thru December 2011.
Of course, if your fighter doesn't qualify for the tournament, then your season may only be 5 months, at the most. If you play all of your matches early, then you can sit back and watch the other results come in. You are still committed to the season even if you finish early. You may or may not make the tournament depending on your fighters winning percentage compared to the other fighters in the division.
Wins and losses for each fighter will be posted so everyone can follow the great matchups and see how many matches remain open.
So please take seriously my request for your full 6-month commitment, even if your season ends sooner.
As mentioned, this upcoming season will also be much shorter than previous seasons. The first two seasons were over 12 months long. That is a tremendous commitment asked of all members, and one that only a very few have been able to complete. The 3rd season will completely take place between July and December 2011. Pending interest from the members, I am willing to schedule a 4th season between January and June 2012. That decision will come at a later date however. We may continue with this new system or go back to the champions & contenders system for the 4th season depending on member’s feedback after this upcoming 3rd season.
A member can still change their fighter during the season, but changes will be limited. First, every member will be allowed to change their fighter only one time during the season. Since we all have 2 fighters, we will be allowed to change each fighter only once. And obviously, you can't change a fighter's division. The results of any completed matches against other members will stand for any new fighters. You can only play the remaining matches on your schedule - you cannot replay completed matches. The wins and losses will remain part of the new fighter's record. So, if you do decide to change, change carefully.
Full schedules, tables, results, and division standings will be posted on this site & updated as results come in similar to the on-going tournament. This process also saves me a lot of time compared to the massive website updates I had to do every two weeks for the first two seasons. I still plan on writing blogs to keep everyone updated on the latest news and information around the league. Perhaps even a weekly blog with all the results as they come in.
Since we will no longer be using a champion and contenders system, the popular Special Live Events and Prize Matches will also change. Since we won't have a ranking system next season, winners of an event will no longer be able to choose their Prize Matches. Instead, the winners of the 3 live events planned for the season will receive an additional "win" for each of their division fighters for 1st place, and a single "win" for one of their division fighters. For example, if I were to win the Survivor Series (stop laughing Epedemicc) tournament, my two fighters would each receive an additional win to their season records. The runner-up of the tournament (in this example, Epedemicc) would receive an additional win for only one of his fighters (his choice). What this extra "win" does is obviously improve your winning percentage, and thus, your chances of making the season-ending playoffs/tournament. For example, if my fighter (Ken) ended the season tied with another member's fighter for the final 8th spot in the playoffs with a 9-5 record (.642 percentage), my Ken would get that extra win to make his record 10-5, or a winning percentage of .666 instead of .642. Thus, my fighter would get into the playoffs over the other fighter. Normal tie-breaker rules will have the winner of the head-to-head matchup going ahead of the other fighter. Therefore, winning these live events are still important as they could push your fighter(s) into the playoffs or possibly into a higher seed. In case of a three-way tie in the standings, the fighter to first complete all of their matches takes precedence. The live events and dates will be announced at a later date.
As I stated before, there are no plans for a European Region next season due to lack of interest on their part.
I've provided some mockups of graphics you can expect to see come next season. These pictures hopefully make the season easier to understand. I really feel most members will like the openness and freedom allowed to each member/fighter next season. At the same time, the pressure to win is still there in every match. Each loss comes closer to ending your season and each win come closer to clinching a high seed for the tournament.
All current active members participating in Super Brawl II are invited back to play in this new season. However, I am dropping the names of those that did NOT play their matches in Super Brawl II (4 total) and re-inviting back former members who have expressed their interest in playing next season. Below is the preliminary list of the 30-members invited back for season 3:
1 . Alfredurst ( New Mexico , USA )
2 . Brainswho ( Georgia , USA )
3 . Capitolc ( Maryland , USA )
4 . Ccinoone ( New York , USA )
5 . Chidoridillon ( Minnesota , USA )
6 . Crusader884 ( New Jersey , USA )
7 . Cuby ( Florida , USA )
8 . DJ__C--4 ( Guatemala , Guatemala )
9 . Doctor_Rouse ( South Dakota , USA )
10 . Domokun_Nomnom ( Massachusetts , USA )
11 . Elfonki28 ( Florida , USA )
12 . ElGeneral ( California , USA )
13 . EncodedNybble ( California , USA )
14 . Epedemicc ( New Jersey , USA )
15 . Feiinweltall ( Texas , USA )
16 . Fran_Gil ( Dominican Republic , Dominican Republic )
17 . GuurenLagen ( Quebec City , Canada )
18 . Haduken3 ( Washington , USA )
19 . Kommander-Kev ( Waterloo , Canada )
20 . Manwithnoarms2 ( California , USA )
21 . ModeType_Beast ( Louisiana , USA )
22 . ND2130srk ( Virginia , USA )
23 . RickyTocky ( Pennsylvania , USA )
24 . SFCCL-SALonghorn ( Texas , USA )
25 . Shoryuken ( Washington , USA )
26 . Sweet_Poison_ ( Nebraska , USA )
27 . TrickyTewi ( California , USA )
28 . Wild_X_187 ( New York , USA )
29 . xx_Von_xx ( Minnesota , USA )
30 . ZTI890 ( Louisiana , USA )
Please note that this list will most likely change before we begin playing as some members may opt out of the 6-month commitment. If any do, I will fill in their spot with another interested player. For those wanting to make their commitment now, please use the Sign-Up form on the website to let me know your location and the 2 fighters you want to use next season. This includes any player that is not on this preliminary list. Get in line now to fill those expected vacancies.
All of this information may sound a bit confusing at first glance, but trust me when I say the season will be exciting yet very different from what we've done the past two years. Those familiar with the NBA should be able to see how the upcoming season will work. Overall, this new system should solve the previous problems mentioned above. With a committed group of members knowing in advance how the season will work and how long it will take, we should have a nearly perfect season in terms of matches played. With members being group by location, this should increase the number of matches played due to the similar time zones and little lag due to distance. I will give updates (via blogs, PSN messages, and Facebook posts) to let everyone know how many matches they should have completed every two weeks or so, just so we stay keep a good pace. This gives everyone a chance to see how their season is progressing.
So get ready for another exciting season of the SFCCL! It will be all too familiar but at the same time all too different. July 15th is the date I am planning to update the website and post full schedules for all committed fighters. ShinNagakure is already working on graphics for the new season. So get your information to me now to lock in your spot! Please feel free to post your comments or questions below regarding this blog.