http://tsm.gg/index.php/news/leffen-visa-update/

Quote

After an extremely long process to secure a visa for Leffen, we are extremely pleased to announce that we have secured him entry to the United States to compete in upcoming Smash tournaments. The process was complicated by an initial rejection for the following reasons:

Super Smash Bros Melee is a grassroots game and is not institutionalized
Super Smash Bros Melee is not considered a legitimate sport
There is no real ranking system other than a few non-legitimate websites
 

Due to this initial rejection, we had to re-file Leffen’s application which without the complications is already an arduous process. Currently, we have obtained a short-term P-1 Visa, allowing him to compete within the US until and throughout July, meaning that he will be able to attend EVO. We are working on extending this Visa for the long term and will announce an update as soon as one is available. Thank you to all our fans for your patience and thank you to Red Bull for helping us throughout the process.

It's not over yet, though. If the petition is successful, his Visa would be unlimited--as well as the Visa for every other player yearning to compete internationally.

First reasons weird. Is it saying a sport has to be decades or centuries old to be considered "institutionlized"?

Second reason is asinine.

Third reasons pretty interesting in a way that isnt comolete bullshit. Games like Starcraft or LoL with very transparent ladders provide clear indication of how players are scouted and recruited. Ironically though that highlights systems with pretty unclear or outright unfair recruiting like American football.

First reasons weird. Is it saying a sport has to be decades or centuries old to be considered "institutionlized"?

They just mean that there's nothing like an NFL or an NBA to represent its competitive scene. Whereas games like Street Fighter and LoL have their own professional leagues, Smash doesn't have anything like that, so it's been mostly up to the community to keep the game alive for the past fifteen years.

Without some kind of league, there won't be as much financial backing, sponsor support, or even player support for the game. International players will get shafted, and the community will likely stagnate and die. And that's kinda lame.

I would.

inb4 thread edit.

We made it--100,000 sigs. This won't guarantee that anything will happen, but the White House will be responding.

Thanks to those who weren't faggots and actually signed the damn thing.

nah

I'm too lazy and/or apathetic to sign this petition that does not affect me

I'm too lazy and/or apathetic to sign this petition that does not affect me

Doesn't matter, goal was reached. Appreciate the honesty, though.

Quote from: eggsalad on May 04, 2016, 03:42:58 PM

First reasons weird. Is it saying a sport has to be decades or centuries old to be considered "institutionlized"?

They just mean that there's nothing like an NFL or an NBA to represent its competitive scene. Whereas games like Street Fighter and LoL have their own professional leagues, Smash doesn't have anything like that, so it's been mostly up to the community to keep the game alive for the past fifteen years.

Without some kind of league, there won't be as much financial backing, sponsor support, or even player support for the game. International players will get shafted, and the community will likely stagnate and die. And that's kinda lame.

Well, there was, but Major League Gaming kinda royally fucked itself. Maybe an American equivalent to KeSPA is in order. I think Texas already has one.

Quote from: Verbatim on May 24, 2016, 02:14:17 AM

Quote from: BC on May 24, 2016, 12:45:24 AM

"Legitimate sport"

Kys

The point is to allow international players to compete here without having to jump through any flaming hoops. That's the whole point. No one actually cares whether gaming is considered a sport or not, except stupid people like you. It's simply a matter of fairness.

And we reached the goal anyway, so you can shove it up your whiny ass.

Quote from: gats on May 24, 2016, 12:49:57 AM

it's not a real sport

Again, thanks for missing the point. I'll just toss this post in the "I'm a fucking idiot" bin.

I still signed it (and I'm not stupid because I disagree with you), but it is not a real sport.

It is a sport in the classical sense, but definitely not an athletic competition, which is the context that most people associate "sports" with these days.

Quote from: BC on May 24, 2016, 03:54:02 PM

it is not a real sport.

no one denies this, and no one cares

as far as i'm concerned, the fact that it isn't a """"""real"""""" sport is a good thing

all i care about is giving international players a chance to play in america, because it shouldn't be a big deal

Which is why I signed, because people should be allowed to do things they enjoy so long as it doesn't hurt other people.

I don't agree with the label, but I agree with the cause. So I signed it.

Signed it when it just became a thing.