I am a little confused about the AC/DC Comps....and would have handled it differently from the organisers point of view.
Heres an example. In QLD, to be able to play/compete in the upcoming QLD version of what you had today Nino, which is the 1st December coming for QLDers, you had to get a high score apparently on a machine around the traps where 3 or 4 AC/DC Pro machines are located in 4 different locations (locations unknown to me except one !).
(this is where the problem starts) In order to get a invite to play in the comp on the 1st December, you had to travel a good 25 to 30 kilometres to play and pay for a play on a AC/DC Pro. That is very difficult for working people during working hours etc..and will people travel so far on weekends...and even if u did that and played a AC/DC machine, how do u know if your high score has or hasnt been beaten, which means u have to keep going back....this doesnt work....works for the operators pocket perhaps, if u travel, but you just cant keep going all the way back...
OK, so keep that style of comp only for a local prize pool of $100 for that machine only for locals who play that machine...but for a big comp, or a state final, it has to be a bigger place and qualifying on that day needs to be open to all...
What Stern/AMD needs to do from now on, is advertise heavily thru the forum, via the AMD usual email announcements, get us to use word of mouth etc, and have a qualifying tournament at a given location, where alot of us can turn up, and compete against each other and so on...
Then, when it comes to the Final (where u win prizes or something excellent), everyone will still turn up and give it a go...but there is no incentive for people who didnt get a high score on a machine 30 kilometres away to compete up here say on the 1st December, cause we cant win anything, or even brag about coming a place in the comp...its also harder, when people like me who own a AC/DC would love to compete, but the AC/DC machine at Timezone was in filthy condition, with the first ever software on it, compared to the latest software I have here, 6 updates later...
The whole format needs a tweak...at least well done Nino for your attendance and enthusiasm.