American Classic Arcade Museum

Tournament F.A.Q.

1. How does the scoring work for the tournament?

The winner of each division, video, pinball and manufacturers challenge, of the annual classic arcade gaming competition is determined by their combined percentage totals of each of the game titles involved in the competition.

Qualifying participants must play each of the titles involved in that particular area of competition, and their highest score attained on each title is calculated as a percentage of the tournament's highest submission for that title.

Players who did not submit a valid score on each of the game titles will not have any of their scores included in the calculation phase which determines the overall winner.

The sum of a player's percentages on all game titles is therefore representative of their overall performance in the tournament, thus the player with the highest cumulative percentages on all game titles is declared the winner.

To illustrate let us consider a very small competition consisting of just two (2) titles ("Space Invaders" and "Pacman") and two players who shall be referred to as Player (A) and Player (B).

Suppose the highest score attained during the competition on "Space Invaders" is 100,000 points by player (A). Player (B) attains a score of 75,000 points for this title. Thus player (A) earns 100.00% for this title, and player (B) earns 75.00%.

Now suppose on "Pacman" player (B) scores 100,000 points and player (A) only scores 50,000 points. Thus player (B) earns 100.00% for this title, and player (A) earns 50.00%.

Player (A) has earned 100.00% from "Space Invaders" and 50.00% from "Pacman" for a cumulative tournament score of 150.00%.
Player (B) has earned 75.00% from "Space Invaders" and 100.00% from "Pacman" for a cumulative tournament score of 175.00%.

Thus, player (B) is declared the winner in the above scenario.

To illustrate the other scenario, what happens if a player "does not qualify." Let us suppose in the above example that Player (C) attains a score of 500,000 points on "Pacman" yet fails to submit a score on "Space Invaders". Even though this would have meant that players (A) and (B) earned lower percentage points on this title, since player (C) did not submit a valid score on every title in the competition, their score on "Pacman" is excluded from the final determination of the tournament's overall winner.

2. Can I bring my family? Do they have to pay the entry fee?

Yes, you can bring your family. If they are not competing in the tournament they do not have to pay the entry fee. The only area cordoned off for tournament competitors is the row of games in the tournament itself.

3. Do I have to be there for all 4 days?

No, you can come for one day or stay for all four. If you are competing in the tournament you will need to log a score on each game in the competition or your scores will not count (See the scoring explanation above).

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