Tournament Rules

The Tournament will be conducted according to the Tournament Rules stated below. These rules include gameplay settings and other aspects of running an event.

Match Scheduling Players should communicate with their opponents and Tournament Organizers during all stages of the event. If you are playing in multiple events, please let the organizers know so scheduling concessions can be made if possible. Tournament Organizers may disqualify players who can not be contacted after the match start time.

Gameplay Rules

A. Tournament Type The tournament format is double elimination, meaning each player will have the chance to compete in a minimum of two sets. B. Game Settings Tournament matches are initiated through Local Versus mode with Tournament mode enabled using default settings (3 stocks, 8:00 minute timer, Aether Stages “OFF”, Turbo Mode “OFF”). C. Set Format Sets are played in a best two-out-of-three game format until top 12 (top 8 qualifiers) where sets are played in a best three-out-of-five game format. D. Character Selection Characters for the first game are chosen double-blind (at the same time). For successive matches, the winner chooses their character first, and then the loser chooses their character. Characters are chosen before the stage is selected. If a player wishes to choose a random character, that character may remain unknown to both players until the game starts only if the random character pool includes ALL characters. Players using custom random character pools must determine which character is randomly chosen before proceeding to Stage Selection. E. Stage Selection The first game’s stage is selected using 1-2-1 stage striking. Players should determine fairly who strikes first through rock-paper-scissors. In a best of 3 series, subsequent games in the series use winner-strikes-four. In a best of 5 series, subsequent games in the series use winner-strikes-three. When choosing stages, a player cannot return to any stage they have previously won on without the consent of their opponent (modified Dave’s Stupid Rule). Playing a match on a stage where this rule applies without immediately stopping and notifying your opponent that you wish to invoke this rule implies that you have agreed to play on it. F. Stage Legality All stages available in the game are legal in both singles and doubles. The legal starter stagelist will be displayed in-game. Starter stages include all stages not marked “COUNTERPICK”.

Reporting Scores After a set is completed players must report their results. If a player disputes a game claiming a win and submits proof of their claim, the other player must submit proof of their claim to avoid an automatic forfeit of the game. Any players found to be submitting false or doctored results will be removed from the tournament.

Additional Rules A. Rule Violations Violating rules may result in punishments for players. Punishments are made at the discretion of Tournament Organizers and may include loss of game, loss of match or removal from the tournament. B. Reporting Rule Violations At some point during the tournament, a player may violate either the tournament or official rules. The following rules apply toward rectifying rule violations. i. It is the responsibility of the players in the match to detect violations and report them to the tournament organizers immediately. ii. ALL non-gameplay rule violations must be reported to the tournament organizer before the next game starts. iii. Players are not allowed to stop a game in progress to address a non-gameplay related rule violation. Stopping a game in progress to report a non-gameplay rule violation will result in the forfeiture of the game on the part of the person stopping the game. iv. The only time a player is allowed to stop a game to report a rule violation is when that violation occurs during the middle of the game. v. Stopping a game in progress to erroneously report a rule violation automatically results in the forfeiture of the game by the player who stopped the game. vi. A tournament organizer is allowed to report any rule violations on behalf of a player. vii. The only people allowed to stop a game to report a violation are tournament organizers and the players. viii. If a player accidentally or intentionally stops a game for any other reason, he will be forced to forfeit the game. ix. Match interruptions beyond the players’ control (e.g. the game crashes or freezes) will be dealt with directly by the tournament organizers. All best attempts will be made to resume the game from where it left off. C. Reporting Equipment Failure Hardware can occasionally break down during tournaments, leaving the player with the broken equipment at a significant disadvantage. The following rules will be used in the event of a breakdown: i. In the event of an equipment failure, the player has the option to stop the game in progress to obtain a replacement.

ii. If a game is stopped in progress, the reporting player must forfeit the current round. iii. New equipment must be immediately available. If replacement equipment cannot be obtained in a timely manner, the player must continue to play on their current equipment or forfeit the Match. iv. Once replacement equipment is obtained, the players will be given a chance to test the new equipment and the players will start the next game (score as of the time the equipment failure was reported will stand); and v. A player may opt to switch out equipment between games at no penalty. When this occurs, the player will be given ample time to test the equipment before the next game begins. D. Player Behavior All players are expected to maintain respect for one another and for all tournament staff, including tournament organizers, their staff, agents and representatives, and spectators. In addition, the following is strictly forbidden: ● Predatory or Disturbing Behavior ● Swearing, Screaming or Threats ● Harassment ● Violence ● Offensive, vulgar or obscene usernames, avatars or tags ● Cheating of any sort through any means ● Any other known or unknown manner of tampering with gameplay ● Any other type of conduct deemed inappropriate at Administrators’ sole discretion Collusion of any kind with your competitors is considered cheating. If the Tournament Organizers determine that any competitor is colluding to manipulate the results or intentionally underperforming, the collaborating players may be immediately disqualified. This determination is to be made at the sole discretion of the Tournament Organizers. Anyone disqualified in this manner forfeits all rights to any titles or prizes they might have otherwise earned for that tournament. The Tournament Organizers have a zero tolerance policy toward violence, threats of violence, intimidation, and other forms of verbal or physical abuse. Any threat of violence, extreme intimidation, or violence of any kind will result in an immediate ban. E. Recording/Broadcasting Permissions By participating in the tournament, players grant permission to COST and the COST team and their associates to record, photograph, and videotape the players’ voice, name, image, likeness and to use such recordings for all purposes in connection with the tournament, including, without limitation, recording and exhibiting tournament gameplay, presenting and/or otherwise displaying tournament results. If a tournament organizer requests that a match be streamed or a replay be shared on any affiliated Twitch channel, players will be given instructions on how to do so. F. Cheating Using cheats or any third party tools is a rules violation and is strictly forbidden. G. Bugs & Glitches In the event of a bug or glitch that affects gameplay, the full match should be played out. If a player calls for a rematch due to the bug or glitch they must save and submit a replay for an RCS administrator to review. H. Sanctioned Controllers Any compatible controller may be used in the tournament as long as it is configurable in a timely manner. If your equipment is uncommon (i.e. not a GameCube or Xbox controller), please test it or talk to an organizer before your tournament set. Utilizing hardware programmable input entry, rapid-fire, or other hardware assisted mechanisms are strictly forbidden. These rules are an attempt to ensure that the tournament runs fairly and as smoothly as possible. However, unforeseen circumstances may require a special response, and for that reason the Tournament Organizers reserve the right to change any of the tournament rules or remove any player at any time, for any reason, at their sole discretion.

Additional Official Rules

The Tournament is open to all legal residents of North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand who are at least 13 years old or older. All players who are at least 13 years old, but under the age of majority in the jurisdiction in which they live (a “Minor”) (i) must have the permission of a parent or legal guardian to register for and participate in the Tournament, and (ii) must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the Tournament in which he or she participates.

How To Register for the Tournament To register, please go to https://smash.gg/COST2023. Certain information about you, as a Player, will be recorded for the purpose of administering and fulfilling the Tournament as reasonably required to do so. This information will be stored and used in accordance with the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy on the registration and bracket website. Please review these terms for further information.

Player Participation Releases By participating in COST 2023, Player hereby grants to Dan Fornace and its Tournament Organizers permission to record, videotape and photograph the Player’s voice, name (including Player name, username, avatar, gamertag or equivalent), image, likeness and to use such recordings, images and information, as well as Player’s biographical information (“Player Information”), for all purposes in connection with the Tournament, including, without limitation, recording and exhibiting Tournament gameplay, presenting and/or otherwise displaying Tournament results on the Tournament website, Twitch.tv, and other online and offline destinations; recording, tabulating, presenting and/or otherwise displaying gameplay information pertaining to Player performance. All Player Information, including images, audio recordings, databases of information, bracket information, etc., made in connection with the Tournament will be owned by Dan Fornace, which it may use, license, transfer or assign in its sole discretion. Player grants to Dan Fornace and each of its designees, the right to use, edit, adapt, post, stream, copy, display, perform, transmit, broadcast, and otherwise exploit Player Images and the Player Information, including any names, likenesses, voice, conversation, biography and any other attributes of Playerʼs personality and appearance, individually or with others, in whole or in part, alone or in conjunction with other material, in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, in perpetuity (except for residents of France, which will expire within 5 years from date of participation) throughout the world, for the purpose of trade, advertising, promotion or any other lawful purpose whatsoever, without additional compensation, consideration, notification or permission, except where prohibited by law.

Agreement to the Official Rules By participating in the Tournament, Player fully and unconditionally agrees to and accepts these Official Rules (including the Tournament Rules, which are the rules of gameplay for the Tournament itself), which are final and binding in all matters related to the Tournament. Receipt of any Prize is contingent upon Playerʼs compliance with all of these Official Rules and satisfactory completion of any and all documentation necessary to effectuate payment (including tax forms or equivalent, as required by law). VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

Code of Conduct All players are expected to maintain respect for one another and for all tournament staff, including tournament organizers, their staff, agents and representatives, and spectators. Any player behaving inappropriately, or not competing in compliance with these official rules, may be immediately disqualified from the tournament and forfeit all potential prizes. Inappropriate behavior includes, but is not limited to, the following: ● Predatory or Disturbing Behavior ● Swearing, Screaming or Threats ● Harassment ● Violence ● Offensive, vulgar or obscene usernames, avatars or tags ● Collusion ● Cheating of any sort through any means ● Any other known or unknown manner of tampering with gameplay ● Any other type of conduct deemed inappropriate at Administrators’ sole discretion Players agree to be bound by the decisions of the tournament organizers, which shall be final and binding in all respects. The tournament organizers reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the type, process, or operation of the tournament, or to be acting in violation of these official rules. Further, the tournament organizers reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to ban infringing players from any future tournament event organized by tournament organizers, if deemed necessary.

Prizes The awarding of Prizes is void where prohibited or restricted. All Players must be verified by Tournament Organizers to ensure their eligibility prior to being declared a winner and/or receiving any prize. Display of statistics in the game (e.g., on a leaderboard) or on a website during the Tournament does not entitle any participant to a prize. Payment for all who qualify as winners will be sent out within 30 days of the conclusion of COST 2023.

Limitations of Liability TOURNAMENT ENTITIES HEREBY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, WITH REGARD TO THE VIDEOGAME SOFTWARE, EQUIPMENT, OPERATION OF THE TOURNAMENT, OR PRIZING, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NONINFRINGEMENT, AND THEIR EQUIVALENTS, UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION. Tournament Entities shall not be responsible for any of the following: (i) incorrect or inaccurate information whether caused by users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in a Tournament or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of a Playerʼs registration or gameplay; (ii) any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction, or unauthorized access which may result in alteration of gameplay or game results; (iii) any problems or technical malfunction of any network or lines, servers or providers, equipment, or software, including any injury or damage to Player resulting from participation in a Tournament; (iv) injuries or losses to Playerʼs person or property arising or resulting from participation in a Tournament; (v) any acts or omissions by Tournament entities or their employees, whether negligent or willful, in the conduct of the Tournament; (vi) any equipment or software malfunction; or (vii) the inability to complete a Game due to any technical malfunction. Tournament Organizers, at their sole discretion, may require the replaying of any Game, match, or Event, or declare any of the foregoing null and void by reason of any technical or other system error. If for any reason the Tournament or any portion thereof is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failure, or any other causes beyond the control of Tournament Organizers, which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Tournament or any portion thereof, Tournament Organizers reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Tournament or any portion thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that Tournament Organizers determine, at their sole discretion, that any individual game, match, Event or Tournament, has been tampered with or that the validity of any game, match, Event or Tournament has been compromised for any reason, it may eliminate that game, match, Event or the Tournament, and may conduct the Tournament on the basis of the remaining game, match, Event and/or Tournament. In the event that any individual is adversely affected in a game, match, Event or Tournament by any technical or equipment malfunction, Tournament Organizers reserve the right to schedule special game, match, Event or Tournament among any such competitors so adversely affected. In the event of any cancellation, termination, modification or suspension of the Tournament or any portion thereof, Tournament Organizers will post a notice promptly on the Tournament website. BY ENTERING AND PARTICIPATING IN A TOURNAMENT, PLAYER AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND, RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS ALL TOURNAMENT ENTITIES, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, DAMAGES, EXPENSES, COSTS (INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEYSʼ FEES) AND LIABILITIES (INCLUDING SETTLEMENTS) FOR ANY INJURIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH, OR LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND, ARISING FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE TOURNAMENT, ATTENDANCE AT ANY TOURNAMENT, OR ANY PRIZE. OR ANY OTHER MATTER OR ACTIVITY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY RELATED TO THE TOURNAMENT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LIBEL, SLANDER, DISPARAGEMENT, DEFAMATION, COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, INVASION OF PRIVACY, OR INFRINGEMENT OF ANY PATENT, COPYRIGHT, TRADEMARK, TRADE SECRET OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT OF ANY THIRD PARTY. THIS OBLIGATION SHALL CONTINUE BEYOND THE TERM OF THE TOURNAMENT.