WHAT IS THE PGR - WELCOME BACK, THE GAMES HAVE BEGUN
PGStats prefaces the first ever Panda Global Rankings (PGR) for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with the release of the Tournament Tier System (TTS). The PGR specifically made for Smash Ultimate is hereby referred as the PGRU.
The PGR serves as the de facto ranking system for the Smash community and has done so for five iterations, not including the most recent Top 100 All-Time best Super Smash Bros. Wii U players in the world. (1-25, 26-50, 51- 75, 76-100)
PGRv1 through PGRv5 as they were referred to in Smash Wii U, kept track of the top fifty most accomplished competitors throughout five seperate seasons and in Smash Ultimate, the PGR rises to the occasion once again.
What distinguishes the PGR from other ranking systems is the fact that it is created entirely through empircal processes by way of our algorithm. The algorithm is designed and managed by PracticalTAS and uses the input from tournament organizers and competitors from around the world so that results can be adequately reflected in our datasets. Exactly as it was handled in Smash Wii U, set counts and who a player outplaces determines the score received at the end of the season. Additional details regarding the PGRU methodology will be announced before the end of the season.
The first ever PGRU TTS within the timeframe of February 1st 2019 to July 7th 2019. Please note, we reserve to right to extend the season up to two weeks (July 21st) in order to account for sudden events that tend to occur in the first year of exciting game such as Smash Ultimate. We plan on releasing the firs PGRU top 50 before EVO 2019.
HOW THE TOURNAMENT TIER SYSTEM WORKS - THE BEST OF THE BEST
The TTS is a reactive set of standards that apply ratings to tournaments around the world. The PGRU TTS is no different, however, there are a few caveats to take into consideration.
This first season of the PGRU will feature standards that revolve only on general entrant counts for the four tiers. In past TTS iterations, PGR player concentration was taken into account along with general entrant numbers with the higher scoring metric determining the tier of the tournament. This allowed for regions that had high general entrant counts but lacked PGR player attendance to compete with other events.
This season, entrant cutoffs of 200, 400, 800, and 1600 signify the tiers of C, B, A, and S respectively. Tournaments within these tiers are weighed accordingly based on how many entrants are present. Meaning, a tournament with 1800 entrants will have less of an impact than a tournament with 2000 entrants although both are S-Tier events. Once again, all entrants are considered to be in the same grouping - past PGR rankings are not factored in at all. This will be adjusted; for after the first season concludes, PGRU players will be newly minted.
THE LOGIC BEHIND THE TTS - STANDARDS, STANDARDS, AND STANDARDS
In designing the first TTS for the PGRU, early data that came in the first two months of tournament play showed higher interest than what was present in the previous Smash iteration at the beginning.
In the first two months alone, we have seen over 4,000 unique entrants enter events across the world from as close to Don't Park on the Grass 2018 in Seattle with 581 entrants to those abroad such as Umebura SP in Tokyo with 745 entrants. Given the high frequency of events and the high amount of entrants attending, the TTS standards have been adjusted to reflect standards that are accessible yet high enough to ensure events of the highest quality are factored in.
Tournament orgainzers that wish to better understand how their event can qualify for the TTS should message suar in order to reach a clearer understanding of what might be needed to push an entrant count into the desired standard.
The TTS' purpose is to offer clear markers to tournament orgainzers, players, and community members that signal a tournament's relevance and overall competitive impact. Given this fact, the TTS will not shift entrant count standards throughout the season. As stated earlier, only an extension to the season may be applied should there be an event that overwhelmingly demands it due to sheer size, notierity, or perceivable impact. The PGStats team will deliberate such decisions and make a public announcement should the need arise.
KEEPING TRACK OF THE SEASON - IT IS ALL IN THE DETAILS
The TTS will function as an online document that will be continuously updated with new events as they are announced. The link to this document will be live shortly before Genesis and included in its own post.
Tournaments will be updated with their entrant counts on a weekly basis with major spikes in attendance being carefully noted and announced by the PGStats team.
Stay tuned to announcements from the PGStats twitter account and be up to date on the latest in competive Smash Ultimate news.
The PGStats team looks forward to a season filled with shocks, newcomers, and old legends.
Here's to the best possible first season and good luck to all involved!
- The PGStats Team