How much does it cost and can I pre-pay online?

– People who are entering the tournament pay $15 ($10 venue fee + $5 into the pot). Unlimited casuals are included with the venue fee. $2 off venue fee if you bring a Switch, Dock, GameCube adapter (Official Nintendo or Mayflash adapter is highly preferred), and SSBU ideally with all DLC. A monitor is not required but is appreciated.
– People who don’t want to enter the tournament but would like to play friendlies must pay the venue fee, but they don’t have to pay $5 into the pot.
– Spectators (people who have no intention of playing at all, not even friendlies before or after the tournament) can come watch and enjoy the atmosphere for free.
– We strongly encourage you to pre-pay on start.gg

Casual friendlies are available before and after for those who want to congregate and get some games in.

How do I pay in-person and do you accept cash? You can pay at the venue front desk with all major credit or debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and other NFC’s, and Afterpay. No cash, please. Once you pay, you will be added to the bracket. We accept:

Does the entry fee and prize pot fee have to be in cash? Actually, we prefer credit/debit cards. Payouts are via Venmo/PayPal.

How can I donate to the prize pool? Use this link, contact an administrator on our Discord server, or scan the QR code below:

Is there a prize pool for the tournament I’m joining? Yes, every tournament has a prize pool. Scroll down to the rules section to see the payout information. It’s dependent on the number of entrants.

If I can’t make it, can I get a refund? If you’re not sure you’re going to be able to attend, we strongly suggest you register online and pay at the venue. There are no refunds once you’ve paid.

Do I need to bring anything besides a controller? That’s all you need! But if you also bring a setup you’ll get a discount and help the tourney run a lot faster! Note: We hope that you can stay at least 2-3 hours, so we can use your setup for a good chunk of the tourney.

What does bringing a set up mean? We have about a dozen available monitors but only 2 Switches to accompany them, so we ask people to lend their switch setup for the night in exchange for a discount. A setup includes: Dock with power cable, Switch console, updated copy of Smash with all the character DLC, and a GameCube controller adapter.

Can the GameCube adapter be any brand? What if I don’t use one? Technically we will accept any brand GameCube controller adapter, but it is highly HIGHLY preferred that you bring either an official Nintendo adapter or a MayFlash adapter as they have the least issues.

Most of the common controllers are permitted. GameCube controllers are the best for the running of a smooth tournament, but you can also use a Pro Controller or Joy-Cons. If you’re using a Pro Controller, we’d recommend bringing your own USB-C cable to make syncing faster and simpler. Basically, as long as you’re not using a modded controller with macros, you’ll be fine.

I don’t have the adapter. Should I still bring my switch and dock? Since approximately half of everybody uses GameCube, we can’t give you the discount without the full setup (Switch, Dock, Adapter, Game) but more setups means more opportunities for friendlies and so on, so yes, please bring it! Also, sometimes people bring extra adapters so you could potentially combine and get the discount. Make sure to have your Switches updated to the latest version.

You lookin’ like you need more setups? Yes, we always need setups!

Is there a limited number of setup discounts? We currently have space for around a dozen setups, with more on the way.

What time is the tournament open for people to come in? You can come as early as you want once we’re open, there’s a Switch at GameSync for you to practice or get some friendlies in with other early people. Our official casuals time starts at 5pm, with most people arriving at 6pm. See hours & location.

I pre-registered on start.gg, do I have to show up early? No, you can come any time up to the tournament start time.

What time do the the tourneys typically end? It’s entirely dependent on how many people are in the tournament and how many setups people bring, but they’ve been “ending” (grand finals finishing) typically around 11pm. Keep in mind that only the top four people in the tournament or so are still in the tourney by around 10pm. Most stations are friendlies by then, and friendlies go on until the last person leaves (typically around midnight, but can be as late as 1am). The tourney technically ends when the final match is played.

How can I let the TO (tournament organizer) know I’m running late? As soon as you realize you’re going to be late, immediately post a message in #late-check-in on our Discord server and a host will confirm. Kindly provide:

1. Estimated time of arrival
2. Your in-game name as seen on start.gg
3. If you pre-registered on start.gg or not

It’s much better to pre-register in advance, especially if you’re running late. You can pay at the center when you arrive, but we can’t seed the bracket if you’re not on the attendees list!

When you arrive, please let a host know you’re there. Hosts are typically near the front of the venue when you come in. Side note: unless he’s busy running the tourney, host Casey is always down for friendlies, so if you want some practice against a Snake main, let him know!

When do people typically show up? I wanna get some friendlies too. Any time after 5pm is typically when most people start to show up. 

Do you play friendlies afterwards? Yes, until the venue closes at 1am.

Could I just pay for friendlies and play for a number of hours before and after the tournament? Yes!

If I come in early for friendlies but I don’t have a Switch with me, can I still practice? We have a Switch at the center that can be used for friendlies.

What is the cutoff time? Please arrive by 7PM and don’t be late as it delays the tournament for everyone. There’s also a chance you’ll be disqualified, even if you pre-register. We can’t wait for you forever. That being said, there is a grace period if you’re running a few minutes late. Please pre-register and use #late-check-in on our Discord server to inform us when you’re arriving.

My work ends at 6:30pm, I can get to your venue by 7:20pm, is that too late? Ehhhhh, that’s cutting it pretty close. There’s a good chance we’ll just start without you at that point, but message the TO in #late-check-in on our Discord server and you might be fine.

I had registered for today’s tournament but I won’t be able to show up, is there a way I could be unregistered from the event? Please post on #ssbu on our Discord server.

Do I register on start.gg or at the center? You can do either, but pre-registering is extremely helpful towards running a smooth event! Links are here: Sync or Swim | Sync up Saturdays

Do people tend to register in-person for the Smash tournaments instead of pre-registering? A lot of people do but many sign up online too (even last minute). If people pre-register it helps everything run smoother, but you’re still welcome to do it in person when you arrive.

I’m trying to register but the registration website isn’t working. Can I register/pay on-site? If you have any issues registering on start.gg, they have free live chat support available. To date, we’ve had no problems with their platform. If you’re still having issues after troubleshooting, you’re welcome to register and pay in-person.

I signed up for the event online. I also paid online. When I get to the venue how will they know I paid online? We’re admins, we know 🙂

The credit card I want to use to pay for your event isn’t registered on my PayPal account, can I still use it to pre-pay online? You will need to add the card to your PayPal account first, or you are welcome to use your credit card in person (choose the “pay at venue” option on start.gg). You can also pay online with a current PayPal funds balance, if you have one.

I went to pre-register on start.gg but it shows no attendees. Don’t wait until the last minute like so many others, just go ahead and pre-reg now. It helps on all levels.

At what point do you start seeding the tournament? Literally minutes before it starts because not everyone pre-registers (unfortunately). The TO can’t seed people if they’re not in the bracket!

What is “seeding”? Seeding is the process of entering or “planting” contestants on a bracket prior to the start of a tournament. This is done primarily so that the best players do not meet until later in the competition. If the two most likely to win players had to fight each other in round 1, then one of them is getting sent to the loser’s bracket right away, which isn’t exactly fair.

How does seeding work? Despite what some people think, seeding is not an exact science and there are a lot of subjective/case by case considerations to be made when seeding, at least at the weekly local level. The basic idea is that players are seeded in order, with the most likely to win on the top and the least likely to win on the bottom. This seems simple, but it is a lot more complicated than it appears. First of all, it is impossible to see the future, as “most likely to win” doesn’t mean “will win.” Seeding is based on previous results or experience, but not every player has already played every other player, and even if they had, there would be an exponentially large number of matchups to consider to make a “perfectly” seeded bracket. Also, many people register last minute and they must be seeded manually, which further compounds the difficulty of seeding “perfectly.” Additionally, nobody wants to fight their carpool/training buddy in round 1, that’s no fun! As such, the tournament organizer (TO) does his best to consider that while seeding as well. Lastly, players who show up for the first time have no results to speak of, so knowing where to seed them is arbitrary or speculative at best! As you can see, seeding is a delicate and complicated process, but we always do our absolute best to execute this task at the most fair and balanced level possible.

Do you ever run side events like doubles? Occasionally the TO will feel like running a side event when the main bracket is winding down. He’s done doubles, DK only brackets, Redemption (for 1-2 and 0-2ers), etc. Check our Discord server for the latest updates!

Do you offer arcadian style tournaments to give more people opportunities to win? Yes, we occasionally do this. Check our Discord server for updates.

Is there an age requirement to join the tournaments? There’s no minimum age limit.

Are there any rules about what you do after your set? After a set, win or lose, you might feel like throwing your controller or “popping off” in your opponent’s face, but we are here to have fun, not make other people uncomfortable. A salty no eye contact fist bump or a quick stand up “let’s goooooo!” is fine, but anything that disturbs other people’s matches (like slamming the table or screaming) will result in either a warning or a ban, depending on the severity of the incident.

Is there a rule against IRL stalling? Like someone taking forever between sets? You cannot stall excessively between your sets. If your opponent is taking more than a couple minutes between sets, let the TO know.

How can I make rule change requests? We value individual opinions but for any changes, we want to get as much of the community’s input as we can, so we can make sure that changing the rules is something that will please the majority. That said, feel free to DM us your opinions on what rules you think should be changed, if the stage list should be changed, or anything else you think would be relevant to bring up in relation to potential rule changes, and he’ll consider it.

What settings remain as default?

Advanced

How can I join your Discord server to get more info? Join here and check the posts in #🔔announcements and #ssbu. These channels have the information most people are looking for.

What channel on your Discord server should I use to organize friendlies at GameSync? #ssbu

Is there a Twitch stream for the tournament? Every event is broadcast live at https://twitch.tv/gamesync

How can I access VOD’s of the tournaments? Watch at https://youtube.com/@GameSyncGaming

What time does the stream start? Sync or Swim on Thursday nights and Sync up Saturdays typically start around 7:30PM PST. A schedule is also posted on our Twitch channel.

Can people go in to play Smash Bros casually any day of the week or only Thursday and Saturday? I would love to go in and practice or play with friends on non-tournament days. You can come in to play Smash anytime, we have Switches and GameCube controllers available. We also have open play/friendlies before and after every tournament (included with the venue fee).

Where can I park? There are numerous parking spots available, both in the parking lot for the venue and on the street nearby. Parking is free. Please refer to the map for reference.

Are your locals on during holidays such as Thanksgiving, Veteran’s Day and Christmas? Yes, they’re on! Unless otherwise noted on our Discord server, assume that it’s going down!

Where can I find the calendar of all the upcoming events? Scroll up on this page or visit our full calendar.

What kinds of concessions do you offer? We carry a host of sodas, energy drinks, candy bars and other snacks. Our most popular are Mexican Coke in a glass bottle, Mountain Dew and Monster Energy. And who doesn’t love a good refrigerated Snicker’s Bar?

What other services and amenities does GameSync offer?

– Fighting game weekly tournaments
– BenQ pro console gaming monitors
– 1 Gbps DIA symmetrical business fiber with CAT6 solid networking cable throughout the facility
– Extensive BYOD (bring your own device) section with physical network cable connections
– Snacks and drinks available for purchase
– PC gaming stations with HyperX peripherals and gaming chairs
– Centrally located in Kearny Mesa (805/15/52/163 access)
– Open late 365 days a year

Is the venue indoors? Yes.

I’m not feeling well, should I still come? DO NOT show up to the event if you’re showing flu like symptoms.

What if I’m not that good at the game or I’ve never played in a tournament? People of all skill levels come to our tournaments, so don’t worry about that. If you have never played Smash with others before, this is a great opportunity to improve your skills and make some friends!

Between the Sync or Swim or the Sync up Saturdays, are both fairly competitive? Both are competition based, but Saturday usually has less entrants.

Do you offer any tournaments for Melee/Smash 64/Brawl/etc? Not at this time.

Do you offer watch parties for Smash content? We are trying to get this going, please ask for details in #ssbu on our Discord server.

Who does everyone main here? There is a lot of diversity to be had! People have won with Snake, Captain Falcon, Diddy Kong, everybody plays everybody!

Are switch consoles with modded music allowed? I don’t have any music mods. I’m just curious if I were to alter the in-game music, would that disqualify me from entering with my switch. As long as the game logic and visuals are unaffected, we don’t see anything wrong with it.

What mu’s would I be facing most often at your tournaments? It really varies! You can stop by our Discord server and ask in #smash-chat

I heard you have a special Halloween cosplay event every year, is that happening and what costumes do people wear? It might be – check our Discord server for updates.  We’ve seen all kinds of Smash characters: Snake, Pokémon Trainer, Roy, etc.

Does your community ever play online? Most of us prefer IRL (in real life) events and don’t play online much, if ever. We believe that local is the way to go and we’re sure you will too once you try it. Online is almost like playing a different game due to the lag, input delay, lack of atmosphere, etc.

I think I left my controller there? Please message us on our Discord server in #smash-chat or DM an administrator directly.

Who is the best player who comes to your locals? It varies, you can check results in #winners on our Discord server.

Is it as fun as it sounds? Yes!

Do I need to be on Smashdata to register? No.

How do you suggest I improve if I didn’t win? Try our free esports performance training services! Get 1-on-1 help from a coach (learn more at https://gamesync.training). There are also lots of tips if you scroll down this page.

Are patches legal? Yes, so make sure to update your Switch before bringing it in. You can also ask on our Discord server in #smash-chat to confirm.

Do you get a high concentration of players? What about Power Ranked (PR) players? Yes, we get both, with the larger concentration on Thursday nights.

Where can I find the winners? The best place is our Discord Server. We also use the following social media:  Twitter. Facebook. Instagram.

How do you become a commentator? Talk to us at the tournament or message us on Discord.

Is there a carpool to and from my area?  I’m willing to throw in money for gas. We have a number of players that drive in from all over San Diego. Try posting on our Discord server (try asking on #ssbu) or talk to us or some attendees at the venue for some rideshare ideas.

Do you offer tournaments for other titles? We’re looking for tournament organizers to start up new scenes! Contact us if you’re interested.