FAQ

These are the answers to some Frequently Asked Questions about the 4chan Cups.

What... is this?

Put simply, a simulation of Pro Evolution Soccer being competed between teams which are embodiments of boards of the 4chan imageboard. The players represent facets of each board's culture.

Who's playing?

All of the matches are AI versus AI. However, humans "manage" each team, creating their tactics and giving input during games as they happen to make substitutions and tactical changes as they see fit.

Okay, but it seems like the level of participation is a little limited...

There are a range of ways to get involved beyond direct management. People are needed to design the kits, design players, assist the managers by testing tactics, and contribute to the wiki. Regardless of which board you come from, there is probably a role you can take on to help out.

Who runs all of this?

No single individual keeps the whole thing running. However, "official" tournament and friendly streams are operated by DrBorisG, on the official streaming channel http://twitch.tv/the4chancup.

Is there a meeting place to discuss all of this?

There is always a discussion thread on /vg/ which serves as a hub for all boards and general discussion of friendlies, tournaments and the intracacies of the game.

How do the teams and players work?

Every player is 77 (out of 99) in every attribute, except for what is known as the medal players. The medal players are the star players of the team, with each team having two golds (99 in every attribute)and two silvers (88 in every attribute). Goalkeepers must be 77. This system is known as the GGSS system.

Tell me more about the matches.

Matches are twenty minutes long, ten minutes each half. As in most competitive association football, teams are allowed to make three substitutions during a match.

When are they played?

We have four major tournaments annually. The 'main' events are in Winter and Summer, appropriately named the Winter and Summer Cups. These take place in February and July respectively. The other two are held in Spring and Autumn and are known as the Babby Cups.

>Why PEZ and not Feefur?

The most important thing for the 4chan Cup is customization. FIFA is extremely limited in that regard, while PES has countless options. FIFA AI is also clearly not capable of playing with itself.

Why "Babby Cup"?

We currently have 48 teams at competitive level. This is far too great a number to have in a single tournament, so the Babby Cup is a qualification tournament. 32 teams compete for 16 qualification spots in the Summer and Winter Cups, which also contain 32 teams. Corollary, the worst-faring 16 teams in the 'main' cups are relegated to Babby Cup level to keep numbers even. For more information, consult the 4chan Champion's Cup article.

What teams are "good"?

We have a fairly complex ranking system, based on its FIFA counterpart, which does its best to show how "strong" each team is, though it shouldn't be treated as gospel. Check out the Rankings page for more information.

What are those coloured arrows on the formation setup screen?

The arrows indicate a player's (normally) randomly-generated conditioning, also known as "form." The 'lower' an arrow is pointing, the worse their form is, which will have an impact on their performance in the coming game. For more information, see the Conditioning page.

I think I want to manage. Wat do?

If you're serious about this then there are a number of things you'll need to undertake/consider:

• Does "your" board currently have a manager?

If so, then you're out of luck. Unless the board's manager is due for the sack imminently then it may be worth putting yourself forward for a testing role.

• Have you consulted "your" board and received their blessing to become manager?

It's considered good manners to go to your board and announce your intention to manage the team. It's probable you'll have a limited, negative or non-existent response (prompted by a swift 404) but at least make the effort to introduce yourself. If you do gain a response then consider it an opportunity to go into greater detail and discuss possible roster/squad changes.

• Are you able to drop your schedule and make yourself available for important matches?

This is an important factor. Too many times have managers fallen victim to having to miss an important match due to IRL commitments and fallen foul. While it's impossible to keep a schedule totally clean, it's recommended to make the effort to stay free on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during tournament time to ensure you're around for your team's big game.

• Are you willing to dedicate time to testing?

If you're starting from scratch then your team (and yourself) will need a lot of work to become proficient.

"My" board has a manager. Can't I just manage the team of some other board?

This is currently a difficult subject in the community. Some feel it's important for boards to have an "organic" interest and put forward their own manager and team. Others feel it helps to 'kick-start' a team by bringing in a manager from elsewhere and bringing the board success which in turn may generate enough interest for a board 'native' to take the reins. Either way, it's recommended to contribute in some way to the efforts of your own board.