SoCal Regionals 2018: Thank You & Aftermath
SoCal Regionals 2018 is now officially wrapped up and what a weekend it was! Taking place in Ontario, California this past September 14-16, SCR featured over 15 games, $30,000+ in cash & prizes, over 900 competitors, and 1000+ in attendance. Behind every successful event is a mix of passionate community leaders, event challenges, and feedback to improve future events.
Challenges
Before we jump into all the thank you’s and appreciation, there were some challenges at our event which caused some concern for players regarding our safety policy, emergency online registration, and seeding. We hope that by sharing our challenges, you will gain some insight on our planning processes, solutions, and execution.
Safety Policy
Safety is our number one priority at SoCal Regionals and while there have been no incidents in the history of the event (sans a salty player pulling the fire alarm at UCI in 2014), we are always looking to improve security measures to ensure our attendees enjoy the event to the fullest. This year, we added walk-through metal detectors, handheld metal detectors, and more guards.
Following the events in Florida, we were contacted by parents and attendees with numerous questions, concerns, and feedback about SCR’s security. We looked at social media, e-mails, direct messages, and took everything that was said into account. Due to SCR already being over budget, it was initially difficult to add more security measures. This lead us to come out with a policy that added mandatory bag checks and thorough inspection of joysticks and other peripherals.
After posting our initial safety policy, we received feedback that not only praised our efforts but also raised concerns about voiding product warranty and attendee convenience. The initial policy was our Plan B and we knew it would be a point of contention. This is why we continued to look for ways to fund our Plan A, which added the use of x-ray machines in addition to the metal detectors and bag checks. By shifting some allocation of funds and with the help of some angel donators, we were able to acquire two x-ray machines to help expedite the screening process and do-away with the internal inspection of joysticks.
In the end, our security efforts resulted in a swift and easy process that allowed our guests to arrive at SCR in time for their activities; as well as allowing them to come-and-go as they pleased. We foresee every organizer having to make difficult decisions with their security policies for their future gaming events. We hope that SCR can serve as an example of how security can be implemented for both FGC events and traditional E-sports events.
Emergency Registration & Seeding
SCR has always provided players a chance to sign up on-site. Our window this year was on Thursday, September 13 from 6PM-10PM PST. During the week of SCR, we received numerous messages from players that could not make the window and they asked for another option. We opted to cancel on-site registration and re-open online registration to assist the players.
Also during the week of SCR, we were assisting players by shuffling training partners and/or guests that traveled together to other pools as a courtesy, which is standard across many major events. On Thursday, our bracket admins made final adjustments from 10PM-2AM to lock the pools. A few players were swapped to an earlier pool and did not check their pool assignments for any changes. While we did make an effort to announce the pool updates on Friday morning, our emergency registration efforts caused a few players to be disqualified from their pools. We are currently in communication with these players to work on a resolution.
We acknowledge and apologize for this incident as our intention was to assist everyone that wanted to attend SCR. Moving forward, we will take two actions into consideration:
- Eliminate emergency registration
- Or, make use of a death bracket for all games and put all emergency registrants into the death bracket
Seeding
In addition to the above, we received feedback and concerns about seeding of the various titles at SCR. We are glad to discuss this topic since not many knew what the factors were that contributed to seeding.
Capcom Pro Tour, Injustice 2 Pro Series, Tekken World Tour, and other circuit tournaments are seeded directly from their respective points standing. SCR2018 had the hardest brackets to date since most of the Top 32 finalists were present at the event. We believe players that travel and place high in circuit events should always seed higher than local talent.
Every bracket had a difficult path and it is the inevitable outcome because of a world class competitive field. As a result, we had some of the most memorable match ups starting from pools all the way through the Top 8.
Congratulations to SoCal Regionals 2018 Winners!
We are honored by having the world’s finest competitors showcase the highest level of fighting game play we have ever seen at SoCal Regionals. Congratulations to all finalists and we thank you for joining us in SoCal to celebrate the games we love.
Full Results by Eventhubs:
https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2018/sep/14/socal-regional-2018-live-stream-ft-sonicfox-fujimura-tokido-fuudo-infiltration-kazunoko-dogura-oilking-sako-daigo-chrisg-punk-and-more/
SCR Community
We want to thank the fighting game community from all over the globe for making this our largest SoCal Regionals event in history. It’s a blessing to see the community still going decades strong with many wonderful titles. We’ve had players from Asia, Australia, Europe, Carribeans, Canada, South America, and all over the US making SCR one of the hardest major events in the world.
SoCal FGC
You can’t have a successful tournament without the local scene being great ambassadors for your event. We are thankful for the Southern California fighting game community for welcoming our guests with travel, lodging, late night sessions, food adventures, and everything that makes their visit worthwhile.
Support your locals!
To our awesome local events in SoCal which nurture our talent and prepare them for world class competition. We understand the sacrifices you make every week just to ensure the scene has a place to play and enjoy fighting games. If you are in SoCal and looking for some fighting game action, please visit our friends:
(In no particular order)
eSports Arena x WNF (OC)
2GG Events (LA/OC)
Dropkick Events (LA)
Super Arcade (LA)
Barcode (OC)
Eighty Two LA (LA)
Game Realms (LA/Valley)
T.T.F. (San Diego)
James Games (LA)
Don’s Arcade (LA)
Thunder Studios (LA)
(If we missed anybody, please let us know!)
SCR Registration Desk
To our SCR registration check in and administration team. You are first contact with every SCR guest and we are honored to have you welcome the fighting game community in SoCal. Thank you for taking care of our attendees old and new every year!
Kitty Nguyen
Jessica Nguyen
John Cao
Aimee Tang
SCR Commentary Team
To our talented SoCal Regionals commentary team. Your passion to inform, entertain, educate, and analyze matches never ceases to amaze us. Keeping the viewer engaged is a difficult skill and we are honored to have experienced some of the best commentary to date. Thank you for knocking it out of the park on the mics!
2GG
We are thankful to work with one of the largest Smash ambassadors in the scene once again at SCR. Champ, Jmex, and everyone at 2GG put on a wonderful event for the Smash community at SCR and we couldn’t be more proud of their growth since our humble beginnings at SCR Prelude a few years ago. Thank you 2GG for being the leaders the Smash community deserves.
Sponsors
To our amazing sponsors which provided SCR tremendous support from gaming chairs, headsets, prizing, infrastructure, equipment, and all other necessities for a successful event. Thank you so much for being wonderful partners and supporting the fighting game community at SoCal Regionals!
Aksys Games
Arcade Shock
Splitframe
Bandai Namco
BenQ
Body Count Fighting
Capcom
Cross Counter
Dropkick Events
Eightarc
Esports Ecosystem
Fantasy Strike
HORI
HyperX
Red Bull
Samsung Simple Mobile
Omen of Sorrow
Shunao
Vertagear
Victrix
World 8
SCR Staff
To our SCR staff which welcomed and serviced over 1,500 guests throughout the weekend. SCR cannot function without your passion to be community leaders and ambassadors to your scenes. Thank you for being an integral part of SCR by coordinating every tournament on our roster!
Production Team
To our production teams which showcased every game on the lineup to fans worldwide. Your hard work was definitely appreciated by the fighting game community watching from home and by the players on the stream stations. Thank you for your commitment and drive to produce a wonderful show for us at SCR.
Street Fighter V
Production
10/0
Commentary
Tasty Steve
Sajam
Vicious
James Chen
Rynge
Staff
Andre Pena
Nate Torres
Liam Bautista
Sidney San
Rex Page
Shinobee
Konmai
WolfgangChuck
Hated Greatness
Karch
Tekken 7
Commentary
Markman
Aris
Rip
Kitana Prime
Myk
Rickstah
Rynge
Staff
Blixy79
Hated Greatness
Karch
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Production
Kiyobi
Kevin Ha
Commentary
Samifish
Jake Ryan
Kitana Prime
Rynge
Sajam
Shyguy
Staff
Liam
lttlbear
Nate Torres
Andre Pena
Sidney San
Rex Page
Shinobee
Konmai
Karch
Injustice 2
Production
Kiyobi
Kevin Ha
Commentary
Jessr
Shyguy
Kitana Prime
Staff
Konmai
Rex
Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo
Production – leveluplive
Kiyobi
Kevin Ha
Commentary – leveluplive
James Chen
eltrouble
Production – silentscope88
Silentscope88
Eltrouble
Commentary – silentscope88
eltrouble
AndyMaComedy
Moocus
Cinco
DGV
Jephrocs
Jaeron
James Chen
Staff
KillerMiller
eltrouble
Gunzablaze
Jephrocs
Moocus
Kuroppi
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Production
Kiyobi
Kevin Ha
Commentary
James Chen
Vicious
Staff
Liam Bautista
Rex Page
Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator 2
Production
Yvonne Williams
Vincent Monges
Commentary
Rynge
Samifish
Xie
Staff
Lanthro
Under Night In Birth Late:[st]
Production
Yvonne Williams
Vincent Monges
Commentary
Samifish
Brando
Xie
Staff
Lanthro
Blazblue Central Fiction
Production
Yvonne Williams
Vincent Monges
Commentary
Beautifuldude
Brando
Staff
Lanthro
Blazblue Cross Tag Battle
Commentary
DC
Samifish
Xie
Staff
Lanthro
Rex Page
Nate Torres
Soul Calibur VI
Production
Yvonne Williams
Vincent Monges
Commentary
Beautifuldude
Icecoldedge
Marvel vs Capcom Infinite
Production
Yvonne Williams
Vincent Monges
Commentary
Eliver Ling
Neo
Staff
Liam Bautista
ARMS
Production
2GG
Commentary
Yashoki
Cedge
Staff
Pops
Pokken Tournament DX
Production
2GG
Commentary
Tloc
Nightshade
Staff
Quiet
Smash
Production
2GG
Commentary
Cedric Hyon
Daniel Coke
Philip Fukuto
Michael Wong
Vance Christopher
Staff
Worarit Tangwongkitsiri
James Chacon
Jourdan Williams
Nathan Begay
William Kwon
Danny Merino
Javier Leyvas
Charles Thoren
Karch Cabalo
Photography by Tobechi Ugwamba
Setup: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmskA2Df
Day 1: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmnQUgGo
Day 2: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmnVhb41
Day 3: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmj16pad
SCR Graphics by Anna Heart
SCR Stage & Lighting Director
Michael Hionis
SCR Show Engineers
Pete Cary
Sean Patrick Mebane
SoCal Regionals Founders – Level Up, LLC.
Jimmy Nguyen
President, Chief of Operations, Executive Producer, Production Engineer, Technical Liaison, Backend Business Development & Relations
Alex Valle
CEO, Business Development, Public Relations, Tournament Director
Leave a Reply