[deL]

Originally Posted by Chris@CityHunter

the current prize set up has the prizes distributed as roughly 80% to the top comp and 20% to the 2nd comp, so what should it be reduced to 10%? 5%? 0%? please tell us so we know for future reference?

All other decent players might as well play their best. The way to maximise this is to offer some additional "low value" prizes for 5th, 6th etc in Div 1.

4th-8th all go home with a electronic helicopter [/QUOTE]
I think the issue was with the vagueness of the prizes. It seemed to us that the 1st prize in the Silver division was equal to the 2nd prize in the Gold division, which is obviously a problem. Prize distribution seems fine for now.

Originally Posted by Tom

TL;DR

Best way to get legitimate play - do not let any players have access to game results until everyone has qualified! This will not prevent private arrangements between players (but these players run the risk of someone not "honouring" the bargain).

I don't think this is an option if what dippa is saying is true - this detracts from a lot of the fun for people who have no chance at winning. The reason I go to LANs as someone who has no chance at a prize are for 2 main reasons: meet and play with friends/sc2 fans and to follow the results/watch games. Without being able to follow along with a bracket as a spectator or player who isn't there to win is going to diminish a lot of the fun for me personally and I assume there are people who think similarly. Also I don't think it would be that effective because there are match histories so you can construct your own results, and many people are well known on SEA so I think you could make quite accurate guesses about at least the top 3 placings in a bracket and how many wins or losses that is going to be. This was the case for NRG qualifier groups as almost every favourite topped their group.

The easier way is to just ensure a fair format and prize distribution and you will not have any more game-throwing or foul play than any other tournament and that is all you can really ask when the standard of these other offline or online tournaments is acceptable.