Nintendo releases strict new guidelines for smaller-scale fan tournaments

eurogamer.net:

Nintendo has released strict new guidelines for the smaller-scale competitive tournament scene, outlining exactly what it will permit — with caps on everything from competitor numbers to ticket prices — before organisers must apply for an official license from the company.

As detailed in its new Community Tournament Guidelines — which were initially published by Nintendo of Japan before appearing in locally adjusted form on Nintendo of Europe's website earlier today — tournaments will be permitted to continue without a license after 15th November this year, provided they are «small-scale and not for commercial profit».

More specifically, these strictly limited events — which Nintendo is terming «community tournaments» — may not have more than 200 participants a day when held in-person, increasing to 300 daily participants for online tournaments. Additionally, money raised through spectator tickets and entry fees, capped at £18/€20 and £14/€15 a person respectively, must not exceed the costs of organising the tournament and raising prize money — although prize money (limited to a total of £4,500/€5,000) also cannot be generated from spectator ticket sales.

And there're plenty more restrictions where those came from; Nintendo is explicitly prohibiting the sale of food and drink at venues with spectators, for instance, while tournaments may not use the name of a Nintendo game in their title (although use is granted for accompanying event descriptions), and schools can only host a license-free community tournament provided it is not open to the public and is held between no more than two schools.

Reams of additional stipulations are outlined in the accompanying FAQ, none of which are likely to fill tournament organisers