How to build a Melee community in 2020

As originally posted in May 2020 on the now-defunct SmashAdvice website. My friend VeK has recently moved to a remote part of France. There’s no big gaming scene there, and even Ultimate isn’t too active, so he’s wondering if he can build a Melee community in 2020 there. At the same time, another French player,…

Doping rules in competitive Super Smash Bros? The pros and cons

As originally posted in October 2019 on the new-defunct SmashAdvice blog. Doping is considered cheating and bad sportsmanship in traditional sports. It would only make sense that, if esports want the same recognition and sponsorship as traditional sports, similar rules be put into place. But in a discipline that lacks an international federation and the…

Competitive women, Smash Sisters and women’s conversations in France

As originally posted in 2019 on the now-defunct blog SmashAdvice. Disclaimer: I’ve written this analysis as part of my sociology degree, then translated it to English in a less academic writing style. At the end of the post, you’ll find more personal opinions on Smash Sisters and the initiatives by the French Women of Smash.…

How to break into Smash commentary

As originally posted in 2019 on the new-defunct SmashAdvice blog. Are you an aspiring commentator who would like to snag more gigs at Smash tournaments? In this blog post, we’ll be sharing advice on how to get the best commentating jobs! But first of all, I want to thank X1 for the great advice she…

How to be an ally to the women of Smash

As originally posted in 2019 on the new-defunct SmashAdvice blog. This blog post will give you tips to be an ally to women in the Smash community, in order to attract more players, retain the ones who like the game, and be an overall good person. Before anything else, an answer to two common “but…

How to organise a Smash weekly

As originally posted in October 2019 on the new-defunct SmashAdvice blog. This guide includes insights from the East Coast, French, and Swedish communities, in order to help TOs organize their weekly tournaments. Once you’ve organized your perfect weekly, don’t forget to include your TO experience in your resume! The day and time Probably once a…

How to launch Smash Sisters in your region

As originally posted in 2019 on the new-defunct SmashAdvice blog. Introduction: What is Smash Sisters? Smash Sisters is a side event held at some tournaments, where women and non-binary people play in crew battles with the only goal of having fun. There are no winners, no losers, no rankings. Smash Sisters is also, and most…

Including your Smash experience in your resume

As originally posted in 2019 on the new-defunct SmashAdvice blog. Smash is usually a hobby, not a job. Tournament organizers in Europe don’t get paid for their hard work and even go in debt to cover unplanned fees. An overwhelming majority of players won’t be financially independant with cash prizes. Therefore, you need to find…