However, we do have several members who have not yet played their matches. Specifically, I am looking at the 1st Round Play-In Matches. Of these 8 matches, only 2 have been played as of this blog. The remaining 6 play-in matches are creating a double-problem since the fighter awaiting the winner of these play-in matches also cannot play since the play-in match has yet to be played. There are 24 matches scheduled in the 2nd round of the tournament, also known as the main colored brackets. Of these 24 matches, 13 have been completed including the one match involving the play-in winner. Of the remaining 11 second round matches, 6 of them are being directly held up by the play-in winner not being decided as of yet.
The European Bracket is also slow so far with only one real match being played (member Altermore forfeited his matches since he was not able to play). My fear of the interest level falling off the table in the European Region, unfortunately, appears to be valid.
I didn't impose any specific deadlines at the beginning of this tournament since I really believe all members would be quick to play these tournament matches especially following 4-week absence from league play due to the PSN outage. However, in order to keep the tournament moving forward, the following deadlines will in effect for the 1st Round Play-In Matches and the 2nd Round opening matches:
1st Round Play-In Matches must be played by Saturday, June 4th, 2011
2nd Round Opening Matches must be played by Saturday, June 11th, 2011
Any unplayed matches at the above deadlines will be "decided". I really hoped that I wouldn't have to do this for a single match, but having nearly 2 full weeks to play 6 Play-In Matches should be more than enough time, especially since everybody knows the drill by now. The 2nd Round opening matches must be played by the June 11th deadline. That gives members (who don't have a play-in match to worry about) nearly 3 weeks to play their matches. Again, more than enough time by league standards. This deadline also goes for the European Region.
The one thing I will reconfirm right now is that a "decided" match may or may not have a winner. If I can determine one party is more responsible for not playing their matches (i.e. - had not been online in 10 days or has not played their other match), then a winner will be announced for the unplayed matches. If no clear evidence is available (such as lack of communication by either member), then a match will simply be Double-Forfeited. No winner will advance, and the next round opponent will have a bye into the next round. I hate doing this, but if members cannot play or do not want to play their matches that they re-committed to prior to the tournament, then I see no need to advance anyone that doesn't play. Anytime a void like this is created, it really hurts the league and the members that do want to play. So please contact me if you are having any problems contacting your opponents. Those that remain silent I can only assume didn't read this or don't care.
For any member who has played (won or lose) their 2nd Round opening matches, thank you very much. The above deadlines do not apply to you since you are now eliminated or have moved into the 3rd Round. With these advancing fighters, I expect the number of unplayed matches to be little to none, so hopefully no other deadlines will be needed. Continue to play your matches as they become available as the tournament really benefits when members are playing in the higher rounds ahead of schedule.
As we get into the later rounds, we are left with not only talented fighters but committed fighters that want to play. In the end, I care more about those committed players than their skill levels. Those members are the ones most likely to get an invitation to return next season when the league is much smaller.
I still plan on writing a couple of SFCCL Reflections blogs, since they were popular last year. However, instead of originally writing 3 blogs about the past, present, and future of the SFCCL, I will limit it to only 2 Reflection blogs, and thus, combing the past and present blog into one. I am working on that one now, and hope to post it in the next couple of days. The second Reflections blog will have the full details of the third season of the SFCCL.
Finally, as we approach the release of Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition next Tuesday (June 7 still a valid?), an official announcement needs to made just to be sure we are all on the same page, or specifically, all playing the same game. Any member who buys the DLC of AE next week must play the Super version for any league matches. Obviously, some of you may be itching to play the new version and that is fine. But since some of us will be waiting for the disc version (like me), we all need to finish the season on the same game, Super Street Fighter IV.
On a personal note, I will be picking up a Nintendo 3DS next week as well as a copy of Super Street Fighter IV 3D, so feel free to send me your Friend Code so we can have some casual matches online. Leave it to Nintendo to make us use 12-digit number codes instead of screen names. Oh well......to the streets we go! Literally...
SFCCL-SALonghorn