TOURNAMENT RULES

• Game Platform: PlayStation 5
• Double Elimination
• Tournament Mode Settings applied
• Rounds: First to Three (3)
• Matches: First to Two (2)
• Winners Finals, Losers Finals and Grand Finals will be First to Three (3)
• Time Limit: 60 seconds
• Character Customizations: OFF
• Character Preset Costumes are legal for Tournament use.
• Players cannot use the same Preset. Should both Players wish to use the same Preset, they will play a Best-of-1 Rock-Paper-Scissors tiebreaker supervised by the Game Marshal to determine who may use their preferred Preset Costume for the duration of the Match.
• If a Character Customization or one of the above listed Presets that cannot be used are used, the Match is subject to not being scored. Players are responsible for immediately finishing the Match with one (1) Player holding forward for the remainder of the rounds to quickly return to the lobby and restart the Match.
• Stage Selection: Random
• Winner of prior game must keep same character
• Loser of prior game player can choose between selecting Stage Select and choosing a new randomly selected stage or returning to Character Select to pick a new character and a new randomly selected stage.

GENERAL RULES

• If a player is late, he or she runs the risk of being eliminated from the tournament.
• Even if you are eliminated from the Winners side, you can still participate from the Losers side. You can view your bracket here in start.gg.
• Unless otherwise specified in the additional rules for each title, all games will be played using the latest version of the game at the time of the event, with default settings.
• You can freely change the in-game controller settings.
• The use of macro functions on the controller, including continuous fire, is prohibited.
• If a game is interrupted due to a pause, PS button, or controller trouble, the player who interrupted the game loses the round.
• In the event of unforeseen trouble, the game will be resumed after recreating the situation as much as possible.
• The next set shall start as soon as the marshal has deemed both players ready.
• In the event of a draw game, the match will be replayed under the same conditions.

PAUSES & STOPPAGES

• If a game pauses during play, players should immediately signal for a marshal. Unless the Inevitable Defeat condition is met (see below), the player whose controller paused the game will receive a Round loss. The round loss due to a pause could simultaneously result in a game loss if the pausing player’s opponent is on game point, as well as a set loss if the opponent is on set point. If the game does not have rounds, the pause results in a game loss, and could result in a set loss if the opponent is on set point.
• In the event that the game pause is due to a legitimate malfunction with one of the players’ controllers, the player will be allowed to find another controller prior to continuing the Set, if possible. The player will still receive the round or game loss penalty. If a replacement controller cannot be obtained in a timely manner, the player must continue to use their current equipment or forfeit the Set.
  Once a replacement controller is obtained, the player is allowed to use the remainder of the round time to configure their buttons and test their controller without gaining any in-game material advantage (e.g. building super meter). If the player gains an advantage in this way, the penalty for pausing will be increased to a game loss. Players are allowed to re-configure their buttons between games in the set, if needed.
• In the event a game is interrupted for reasons beyond the players’ control—such as in the event of an unexpected power outage—the marshal and the players will make the best attempt possible to resume the game in as close to the same state as where it was when the interruption occurred. If the game state cannot be sufficiently recreated, the game will be replayed with both players picking the same character(s).

INEVITABLE DEFEAT

The Inevitable Defeat condition comes into play if a pause occurs during a move or animation, and after the game has been unpaused, the round or game ends (i.e. a player is KOed) with no further inputs from either player. If this condition is met, the pausing player will not be penalized a round/game, and the set will continue as normal.

BUGS & GLITCHES

If a player intentionally triggers a known bug or glitch that prevents the game from being played, the player will be penalized with a game loss. If a player unintentionally discovers a bug or glitch during the course of a tournament set, no penalty will be issued. It is at the marshal's discretion to determine culpability.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Players can be disqualified for not following general gameplay rules and/or an individual game’s tournament rules. Players who are disqualified will be marked as having lost 2 sets and are eliminated from the tournament. Their opponents will automatically advance. Players who are disqualified from a tournament are not entitled to a refund. Actions that may lead to a player receiving a disqualification include, but are not limited to:

• Failure to check in to their tournament pool
• Inability to be located at the time their set is called to play
• Intentionally changing in-game settings on tournament consoles (e.g. lowering the timer, adjusting input delay) without informing a marshal and without the consent of any opponent(s)
• Tampering with tournament equipment (e.g. shutting off a console) unless instructed by a marshal
• Intentionally using a controller or input device that does not comply with tournament regulations
• Assuming the identity and tournament entry of another player in order to compete
• Colluding with other players and/or intentionally underperforming to manipulate tournament results (see below)

COLLUSION

Collusion is intentionally under-performing in a tournament set in order to manipulate bracket results. Players who are determined to have colluded or collaborated in collusion will be disqualified from the tournament and forfeit all rights to any titles or prizes they might have otherwise earned. The determination as to whether collusion took place will be made at the sole discretion of the Geek+Pop Fight Club higher-ups. Marshals cannot, and will not, make this determination.

WARNINGS & REMOVALS

For serious infractions, players may be banned from all Geek+Pop events for not following event rules. Depending on the severity, players may be allowed one (1) warning about their actions, and will be removed upon a second infraction. Players who are removed will be disqualified from all Geek+Pop tournaments they are entered in and escorted from the venue for the remainder of the event.

Actions that will lead to a player receiving a warning include:

• Physically interfering with an ongoing tournament set in which they are not a participant
• Excessive out-of-game misconduct during a tournament set, such as:
• Repeatedly loading into and immediately quitting out of games to change characters
• Leaving the pool station area between Games in a Set