by MeanMalix
It counts more in our hearts than on the scoreboard. There are different beliefs and opinions about this. I’ll give mine here. We have had more competitive matches, more fair games, and arguably more stakes during individual sets online. I include the first to fifties in this. I consider Ginger’s rank one in this. As well as JuneBug’s Donkey Kong.
It matters to consider fairness in rankings. It is important to count tournaments, it’s okay to not count them for the offline rankings, but in the case that happens, then, we should count them in a different format.
Online tournaments are more competitive. Yes, even with bad ping. How do I come to this conclusion? In many ways but to keep it simple. Barriers of entry tend to maintain fair competition. The barrier to entry for online is more of ease in many ways than that of in person events. The more competitors the more competitive. Different people will think differently about this.
Barriers are acceptable and necessary, if you have a history of dangerous behavior, can’t be here. Sorry you weren’t socialized properly. Is that fair? No, but it’s how it has to be for now. Not affording the fee to a local? Well that barrier of entry can be discussed. Barriers are what makes the event what it is.
Online events are meaningful to the people that compete in them. They are meaningful to the people who watch them. It is Melee. It is a different environment, but the same game. Do they need to count for summer and end of year rankings? No of course not. Could there be a respectable conversation about them being a part of an official rankings. Yes.