How Nintendo Is Finally Embracing the Grassroots Competitive Super Smash Bros. Scene

The basic structure of the Panda Circuit is divided into qualifiers for various grassroots tournaments, and existing events such as CEO and Dreamhack will field competitors for the Panda Cup Finale. Online qualifiers were also held for additional competitors, with final invitations handed out to players selected by a panel of trusted members of the Super Smash Bros. competitive community.

Nintendo chose Panda because of its ability to participate and organize the Smash Bros. grassroots community that has been building over the years and to give it official endorsement of the Nintendo brand.

“We have been in this community for eight and a half years…we understand it very intrinsically. But we are doing it, creating infrastructure and creating stability,” explains Bunny.

In addition to enhancing grassroots tournaments, Panda can also improve the health and safety of these events and highlight players dedicated to Super Smash Bros. in these tournaments. This is an important factor given some of the controversies the community has faced over the years. .

When it comes to Nintendo, being an official partner means we can take these grassroots events to a new level, offering clear goals and prizes for the winners.

“As far as what we bring to the table, obviously number one is licensing and licensing this circuit with Panda will make it the only officially licensed Super Smash Bros. I mean. This opens up a lot of opportunities,” explains Trinen.

Aside from having access to Nintendo partners for potential sponsorship opportunities, Nintendo also assists with logistics, production, and even the individual tournaments that make up the building blocks of the Panda Circuit series.

Trinen and Bunny pointed out that this was a true partnership, and Bunny wanted to clarify exactly what it meant. “They’re making a big deal about it. This specifically means that Nintendo isn’t paying us to advertise like a sponsor. Thing… [Nintendo is] They are truly our partners. ”

Overcoming internal issues

Nintendo has hosted various Super Smash Bros. events and tournaments over the years. Most notably, the E3 2018 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Invitational. But the community has also criticized Nintendo for trying to shut down some grassroots events and competitive ventures.

Trinen said it was the result of internal challenges that could overturn the grassroots community.

“We love our grassroots community and want to see it thrive. We want to see it grow stronger, but we also have our own internal challenges as Nintendo.” “It can be a challenge for us, for example, if we run into problems where people are trying to do things that aren’t using the brand in the right way. It becomes difficult when you don’t have one or you may engage with us without giving us enough time to address some of your questions or requests.”

“Panda has been in the community as an organization for a long time, which is why we wanted to specifically partner with Panda. , is to bring a place where grassroots tournaments can find a home.”

Bunny says working with Nintendo will improve the productivity of these grassroots tournaments. “Nintendo also provides access to official assets for games and brands, supports these events, creates promotional materials, and knows the guidelines for doing things right,” Bunny said. It cites access to “very high quality” character renderings that can be used in events.

It’s finally about Smash Bros.

The pinnacle of the circuit is the Panda Cup Finale in December. The Panda Cup has one thing that other esports don’t. It’s Super Smash Bros.

“What makes Super Smash Bros. – and really competitive Smash Bros. – is that there’s a camaraderie that I think is unique in a lot of games,” explains Trinen.

“This game is a way of bringing people together from different backgrounds, and the amount of people I’ve been exposed to and made friends with over the years through that grassroots community is really inspiring to me. It was a target.”

“To me, I think it’s really about Nintendo. If you go back to the days of the Nintendo Entertainment System and Nintendo 64 and even the Wii, a lot of what Nintendo has done is to bring people together in front of their TVs and have fun. , was to enjoy friendship and enjoy a little bit of competition.Super Smash Bros. is the epitome of what was truly at the heart of Nintendo and the smiles it seeks to bring through the entertainment it produces.”

“I don’t really want to do what other people are doing,” agrees Bunny. “Everyone has what you think about a certain way of competitive play. I think everyone wants to be that super cool thing or fog machine or whatever. It’s okay, it’s totally okay. But , we’ve seen this and Panda Cup and hopefully want to make more.

Right now, the focus is on the finals of the Panda Cup, and while Nintendo and Panda are keen to grow the competitive Smash Bros. scene, they’re not yet ready to discuss plans for 2023 and beyond. It was an event, but there are no plans yet to add next year’s E3 to the event schedule.

“I wish I could answer that question, but obviously the E3 news, or at least the latest news, hit. [this week]We don’t have any plans at the moment, but we’re looking at what the future holds, where we’re going to place some of those tournaments, what tournaments Nintendo might run and what Panda might do on top of that. doing. The uniqueness of the Panda Cup, or how the two mix.

Trinen tells IGN that he’ll keep an eye on it, but it seems clear that Nintendo is moving forward with its competitive Smash Bros.

Matt TM Kim is IGN’s News Editor.you can contact him @lawoftd.