PLAY FASTER!
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The idea of the 6:30 break is: 1) Yes, some games will be wrapping up and end close to 6:40; 2) Perhaps time for a quick bite of food*; 3) Time to look at Session 1 results and see if any games are playing long
I totally understand this request. Iâve run tournaments with this format 4 or 5 times now, and my preference is to use points rather than percentage. Hereâs my justification:
- Weâll do everything we can to make ball times similar from game to game
- At the beginning of the second half, players who have played the fewest games will get the advantage of starting in a playing position rather than the queue
- Part of the âfunâ of this format is trying to win or lose efficiently
- Top 8 make the playoffs, so several players with higher win percentage but not higher win total will likely advance anyhow
*In case anyone started the tournament after, say, driving from Vermont. 
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Sounds awesome.
Theee hours in a row is too long for this format so a break is a good idea. I ran it once for two hours (no break) and people thought it was a little too long. My queue was only three people deep (with six matches going on), so you barely had time for a deep breath while standing in line.
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A big problem with using winning percentage is whatâs to keep someone from winning his/her first game and then never playing again? Batting 1.000! An extreme example but using points, though it does lend itself to potential volatility in the results, avoids a some potential gaming of the system.
Hire a bouncer to make sure the players donât leave. Honestly havenât run into that problem yet. If that scenerio does worry you, you could set a minimum amount of games to qualifyâŚsay 50% of the amount of games played by the player with the most games. Shouldnât be too hard.
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I know some bouncers who would find this an amusing way to spend a day.
âExcuse me, sir, were you leaving the que? No leaving the que! Get back in line!â
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Either MatchPlay or some homebrew Google Sheets/Google Form solution that a friend has created (@fletchtb) . The latter works great in general, but there can be a bit of variable lag with getting the information to populate so people can confirm their latest entry and overall standings.
Pre-registration for the Pre BPSO Flip Frenzy Tournament will begin around 5 pm ET tonight. Details will be posted in the event description and in the Discussion section of the Facebook event.
Iâll try to post pre-registration details here are well.
To recap:
50 spots
$30 (no coin drop needed)
3 hours of non-stop Matchplay plus finals
Yachts
To pre-register, send $10 via PayPal (please use the Friends and Family option if not using a bank account or existing balance to pay) to: -------------------------.
EDIT: All 50 spots taken as of 2/13! To get on the wait list, email vermontpinball@gmail.com.
You can either pay $10 or the full $30 â your choice. If you pay $10, you must pay the balance by 7/16/2018.
Anyone dropping out before the end of 7/16/2018 will receive a full refund. No refunds will be given after 7/16/2018. Spots are limited to the first 50 players to pay $10.
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FYI: 28 spots taken, 22 spots left
Two updates:
First - The Pre-BPSO Flip Frenzy has filled up! To get on the waitlist, email vermontpinball@gmail.com
Second - Just added: The Buffalo Pinball Summer Open 4 Strikes Womenâs Tournament! Sunday Aug. 19, hosted by Buffalo Womenâs Pinball. Info/register: http://www.facebook.com/events/190398128230757/
A block of rooms is now available for the Buffalo Pinball Summer Open at the Courtyard by Marriott Buffalo Downtown/Canalside. Book by 7/16/18 using this link to receive the discounted group rate: http://www.marriott.com/meeting-event-hotels/group-corporate-travel/groupCorp.mi?resLinkData=Buffalo%20Pinball^BUFDT`BUPBUPA|BUPBUPB`179.00`USD`false`4`8/16/18`8/19/18`7/16/18&app=resvlink&stop_mobi=yes
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For out of towners, the above hotel is great for downtown activities for when youâre not at the club competing but note that youâll also have to pay a toll every time you go to Grand Island (where the tournament is) and parking is also $15 a day at the hotel. If you plan on spending the the entire time on the island, the Radisson on the island is currently $30 cheaper a night ($100 total) and will save you a 30 mile drive each day.
That said, if youâre not booking immediately, who knows what the prices will be like in 4 months so itâs nice to have that rate locked in till 7/16/18 by BP guys at the Marriot.
Working on some other options too, so stay tunedâ˘
I heard this toll was $1 each way. True? Google seems to confirm.
Iâve also heard that the IFPA somehow gets this dollar. True? Google is cloudy on this one.
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There is a $1 toll to get on the island, yes. I heard theyâre trying to build prize pools for competitive islanding.
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An additional block of rooms is now available for the Buffalo Pinball Summer Open at the Radisson Hotel Niagara Falls â Grand Island. Call (716) 773-1111 to book by 7/9/18 and mention âBuffalo Pinballâ (block ID 1291942) for a discounted group rate ($119/night for Thursday, $139/night for Friday and Saturday). Iâve been assured that these are extra-fancy âriver viewâ rooms, to maximize your yacht club pinball tournament vacation experience.
Note that both hotel blocks have a limited number of rooms (15 at the Marriott and 10 at the Radisson), so I recommend booking soon if you want to get these rates.
For a more comprehensive list of hotels and attractions in the area, Iâve put together a page here: https://buffalopinball.com/summeropen/location-and-travel/
Awesome work Kevin. I was simply trying to help others save $100-$200 and 160 miles of extra driving. Looks like theyâre saving even more with the group rate!
A lot of irons in the fire 