Quoted from SquidVicious

Sad to hear but I've got to agree with Adam in the end they have to decide what is an acceptable loss/cost for the tourney. Fairly easy for us all to talk about promotion and what they need to do but we aren't the ones covering the losses. It might be short sighted on SB behalf but that is their choice.

Yeah, I believe this to be a serious bummer/blunder. Looks short sighted to me as well, but that may be coming from my personal disappointment rather than a "business perspective" with needs to be less dictated by what one thinks on the more complex human level. And rightly so, when looking at this gig from a business perspective, the numbers have probably made the call again. One shortcoming in using past numbers to ultimately justify a decision, is that vision and instinct are subtracted from the possible opportunities lurking.

I was really looking forward to making it down the 401 and using this opportunity to meet more MAACA members and fellow freaks.

I didn't expect much more from Starburst.  They don't want to understand that 1) it is a recession, of course home sales are down (and 2nd market income should be up), 2) it's about exposure and goodwill, not about immediate sales, 3) you have to commit to something for 3 - 5 years at a loss to see any real benefits.  They should have joined the Championship to the Toronto Pinball and Gameroom show.

The real fact is that not only are we in a big recession, but Canada has 1/10th the population of the US, and if the market for Pinball is dieing, it is dieing 10 times as fast here.

Maybe this means that the budget that would have gone into an event like this (or at least a portion of it) goes into next year's Toronto show (if that happens)?  Starburst was a sponsor, but maybe they could take a more active role next time around in the tournament (providing more games, prizes etc)?  

Agreed on the long tail effect though-I never would have gotten back into pinball had it not been for the CPC last year.  

Quoted from websherpa

The real fact is that not only are we in a big recession, but Canada has 1/10th the population of the US, and if the market for Pinball is dieing, it is dieing 10 times as fast here.

Really? We're seeing new members on this board all the time. I think interest in pinball collecting/owning is growing all the time. As arcades close down, more people will be willing to buy games, as there's nowhere else to play them.

If there was an arcade down the street with a bunch of awesome and working pins, I probably wouldn't own six machines.

Just wanted to bring this thread back as I had a good talk with Guylaine from playdium about the CPC this year and why it isn't being run.  

According to Guylaine, Playdium took 3 big losses on doing shows in 2009/2010.  They lost money at the Toronto Hobby show, they lost money on the Championship and they lost money at the Toronto Game Room show.  3 attempts at marketing to the pinball community and 3 events that ended in the red for them.  So she said it was very tough to sell upper management on doing the CPC again this year because of all the other losses that had been piling up.  

Now she did say that they want to do it again and were planning on running it in 2010.  She can see the value it brings to the pinball community and the positive exposure it brings to Playdium.  But there were other factors as well, Playdium showroom is scheduled for a big renovation and overhaul to increase the size of the show room floor.  This is slated to start late this month early next month, so the playdium show room will be in no shape to host the CPC at it's usual time.

They thought maybe it might be a good idea to instead do the CPC at the playdium entertainment complex in Missassauga but the problem is that the Playdium complex is already booked solid with corporate events and it's not like they can cancel them to make the space available for the CPC.  

They are kicking around the idea of doing it in the spring but it is still very preliminary at this point.  

Anyway after having the conversation and getting a better explanation on everything I figured I would post here so everyone could better understand the reasons behind why the CPC will not be happening in 2010.  

After talking with Guylaine and getting this explanation I don't see how anyone can fault them for not running the CPC in 2010.

The prizes don't need to be so big.. I'm sure with most players, bragging rights and a nice trophy or plaque for the gaming room is incentive enough.

Then again, I'll never win one so what do I know    Just playing pinball with friends is enough reason for me, though.

Quoted from machine.slave

The prizes don't need to be so big.. I'm sure with most players, bragging rights and a nice trophy or plaque for the gaming room is incentive enough.

Then again, I'll never win one so what do I know    Just playing pinball with friends is enough reason for me, though.

Less prizes means less players and less exposure guaranteed,  

Sounds like they care about the community, but they are a business first. I'm glad that they can at least see past the losing money on the event problem to the positive effect it can have in the long run.

Quoted from jonny_eh

Sounds like they care about the community, but they are a business first.

That's the feeling I get as well

Quoted from Vengeance

Less prizes means less players and less exposure guaranteed,  

Like I said before... don't narrow it down to pinball. Did you all take a look at Starburst's showroom? Good... then use ALL of it.

Have a vids tournament as well. Vids are WAY less hassle to deal with for a tournament. Have a billiards tournament as well. Have a CHARITY poker tournament dedicated to a kids' charity. that makes it more family friendly.

Have redemption games on for kids... not turned off like last time in order not to disturb any of the pinball players.

You are narrowing it down way too much. Not many families will go there, but if you add other elements in the mix, you will get more exposure.

If you stick with only pinball, you will stay in the red.

Quoted from Sparky

Like I said before... don't narrow it down to pinball. Did you all take a look at Starburst's showroom? Good... then use ALL of it.

Have a vids tournament as well. Vids are WAY less hassle to deal with for a tournament. Have a billiards tournament as well. Have a CHARITY poker tournament dedicated to a kids' charity. that makes it more family friendly.

Have redemption games on for kids... not turned off like last time in order not to disturb any of the pinball players.

You are narrowing it down way too much. Not many families will go there, but if you add other elements in the mix, you will get more exposure.

If you stick with only pinball, you will stay in the red.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but they have already done all of that, not at the same event, but over time.

They had a pool event.

Then did the DK challenge in conjunction with the CPC last year.

Quoted from Vengeance

I'm not disagreeing with you, but they have already done all of that, not at the same event, but over time.

They had a pool event.

Then did the DK challenge in conjunction with the CPC last year.

I hardly qualify 1 Dk machine as a vid attraction. Fun, yes, but it wasn't a main focus.

Starburst would make money with NON-collectors at one of these events. And they had very little to offer that crowd. They won't buy a NIB game, nor will they go through the hassle of the auction for scraps. Nor will they drive over to play a few vids off hand like that.

It was a bit boring once you were no longer playing tournament pinballs. There were no activities going on. Nothing to attract a crowd. Nothing that says "HEY people... you can OWN one of these in your own home!"

Just my opinion...