If (and that is the key word here, "IF") you want to reduce the time....
-Jeff
Hi Jeff, regarding the running time, a big reason it ran late was....THE STONE FACTOR. Eric Stone was there and since he didn't have to be in a hurry (since not a frenzy), if he was player 1, he typically kept his foot on the gas as there was no incentive to stop playing. If he was player 2, he typically needed to only play 2 balls and plunge ball 3. Some other players did same and similarly lagged behind the field in terms of total games played and so that extended the overall qualifying run-time.
Regarding physical game modifications, having been playing in various venues across the state, many of which are relatively new in terms of offering tournaments, it's not practical for many of them including the Pinball Dudes to physically modify games since everything they do, they then have to un-do afterwards. Personally I'm not a fan of making games much more difficult to prevent a minority of players from "blowing up" the games when those game modifications negatively affect the
majority of player's experience in the tournament. I'm seeing so many newer players these days that we want to ensure they have an enjoyable experience so they come back or continue playing competitively, and usually that means getting a chance to "play" (meaning having decent ball and/or game times vs flip-drain, house-ball-drain, flip-flip-drain). This is why the Silverball tournament is not a strikes and instead is a pre-determined number of rounds. That's one way to ensure people get to play and make it worth the drive, even if they come from hours away. That said, the more "serious" tournaments like Points Monsters or FPF or even many of the TPL events that attract the top 75 ranked players is a different story, and modifying those games is more standard, expected and to some extent even necessary.
The qualifying time isn't usually what is going super late although obviously it runs later with more rounds and other factors, it's the finals that seem to be running rather long so the majority of players aren't as affected. The Dudes' event the finals alone went close to 2 hours. But most making the finals know what they are in for...a late night anyway.
I like your and Lauren's point relating to games eligible for finals as a TD can elect to reduce the Arenas from what was available in qualifying by eliminating some of the longer playing games from being selected. This can trim some time, maybe 30-60 minutes off the finals depending on players and games.
Perhaps the biggest factor is what I've seen this year more than in the past is a stronger emphasis on WPPRs and TGP. This has caused tournament formats to be adjusted to make events more worthwhile in that regard but also causes them to run longer/later. Just saw that last night at Reboot (I wasn't there but following along), where once they added a finals vs automatic tie breakers/position a few months back to get higher TGP, the events run later and then the Stone Factor was in effect last night so it ran until until 1:30 am or something (of which Finals was probably 2 hours of the total run-time).
As you know, the majority of the 300+ players currently showing in Florida rankings don't care too much about WPPRs. That said, most know I do pay attention to the potential WPPRs and care but frankly, I'd rather see 88% or 96% vs 100% or 104% if the lower TGP is better for the majority of players based on feedback to the TD. If there's no complaints and it doesn't impact turnout, then I'm all for getting full TGP and having whatever amount of rounds or format to accomplish that as it means more play for the players overall as well.
