I think its a fantastic format, especially for the viewer. We nicked it almost directly from the circuit final ladder format. I have watched pretty much every streamed pinball event and without a doubt that first circuit final at the old PAPA facility when Daniele ran the ladder is the best Pinball viewing I have ever seen.
In the last few years, due to pressures from players who wanted more WPPR points (This format is worth very little because of the limited number of players), they changed the format and increased the number of qualifiers. However, they have now changed back, trying to recapture some of that magic they got so right the first time they did it. Obviously within the US they play for a lot of cash and we initially tried to build the pot so we would have something similar, but this was hard to manage.
If we could stream the event, I think it would be fantastic. There is only ever one game going on at a time, so you get to follow the whole bracket, you see the whole competition unfold, which is unlike any other competition format. Obviously at Domino this would be fantastic as with Neil's mobile rig this would be super duper easy to do. You don't need a 'featured group' or anything, basically every game played is a final for those 4 players, its captivating viewing.
It also really rewards those players who have played consistently well throughout the whole calendar year, with them only joining the ladder at the very end. It gives you an incentive to play more, which is always good. Obviously its not going to be to everyone's liking, but if you don't see it as just another competition, but the culmination of a year's worth of competing in which you have managed to qualify as one of the top 20 best players in the UK for that calendar year, then I think its very very cool.
I always wanted to build the grandeur of the event, so for example if we compare it to the US, Bowden who is the current number 1 in the Stern pro circuit, is guaranteed a minimum of $900 because of his great play throughout the whole year. He is in the final already and if he beats the other 3 players who make it to the final he gets a NIB Stern. That is a real incentive to play more and be that number 1! I'm sure
@mufcmufc (the current UKCS leader) would love to be in that position!
Dan and Greg do a fantastic job and as Greg has already pointed out, this year has been the highest number of competitions that the UKCS has ever had count towards its overall standing, so those 20 players who qualify have worked really hard to get there! I believe it deserves status, maybe it isn't cash (agreed Dan, the small amount won in each round really wasn't worth it) but definitely something. The winner of the UKCS is a bad ass pinball player.
Anyway, its a really cool event, it could be amazing. Support it, strive to be in that top 20, get down to Special When Lit and run the ladder like Daniele did.
) and there is time for another comp to be run alongside. Loads of benefits.
