From your patch topic:
Testing a concept on a smaller scale and producing results of the test for potential implementation on a larger scale is not uncommon and promoted in the software industry. As you have stated yourself, the patch is a work in progress, and is subject to bugs and unforseen circumstances.
The work-in-progress state of the patch is due to three different factors:
1) Bugs, glitches, unforeseen errors etc.
2) Balance and the effect of the new changes on gameplay.
3) A philosophical point-of-view that the patch (and game) can be continually improved and refined.
As you correctly state, the first of these factors would ideally need to be eliminated as much as possible before such a tournament. I say "ideally": the reality is that most bugs were identified and fixed during the "beta" stage and many more in the (numerous) updates after release. There have been no major updates for some weeks as I am happy that no major bugs exist.
Equally, by definition the patch will have all the same hard-coded bugs the game already has so you can't aim for a bug-free product (certainly not if you're using the original RA2 as a yardstick, since presumably 1.007 already has fewer bugs than 1.006, even counting new bugs it might theoretically introduce).
The second of these factors is long-term and can't simply be eliminated. Moreover, the concept of the tournament (in my mind) will help identify how the patch can be developed. Clearly this also tallies with the third factor.
I also understand that it has not been thouroughly tested with standard maps.
All maps that were changed (and all other commonly-played maps) have been played using all countries with a vast range of players. It is up to your judgment as to whether that qualifies as "thoroughly tested".
A proven concept is easier to implement on a larger scale.
Indeed, but a Hazed vs BA tournament would in fact be a smaller scale compared to the number of people who have played it and given feedback since release.
There are many nuances to running tournaments that you may not be aware of because alot of things go on behind the scenes.
As far as I am aware, tournament organisation is irrelevant to this issue. No special organisation is required, except for ensuring that people download and use the launcher correctly (which is surely of the same magnitude as ensuring people have downloaded the TOE map, for example). And I believe no such testing was done for the TOE tournament.
If you do not wish to assist and/or promote proving the concept, then this will directly affect the likeliness/imminence of a larger scale implementation. If you wish to further debate the decision, please do not expect a quick response, as a resonable solution has been offered.
No, I have already made it clear that (for obvious reasons) I fully support such a tournament and am willing to assist in its running. I fail to see how refuting a confusing (and redundant) decision qualifies as not assisting the concept. It's more likely, I suspect, that there's some confusion as to the complexity of the patch (it is essentially just a glorified mod) or lack of understanding of the months of testing it has already undergone.
