XLink Drift GranPrix (XDGP)
What is XDGP?
XDGP is the newest form of drift competition here on GTP. XDGP unlike GTPDC/GTPC offers a more real-time battle style environment. This gives drifters a chance to exhibit their skills with everything on the line right then and there. Also, unlike GTPDC/GTPC, we will not judge on an anonymous level. We are trying to model this similar to D1GP and Forumla D. They don't drive nameless, and you won't either. Good drifting is good drifting reguardless of identity. We will not deviate from what is due to the better drifter.XDGP Rules & Regulations
[1] 3-Lap Tandem runs. Lap 1 - Practice session. Lap 2 - Tandem. Lap 3 - Switch Tandem[2] NO DRIVER AIDS. If you are found using drivers-aids, you will be automatically disqualified.
[3] Malicious contact will result in an automatic disqualification. Accidental contact resulting in poor tandems will be re-run. We are leaving these decisions at the discretion of our judges.
[4] Try to keep 2 wheels on the track at all times. Rumble strips, or other track like surfaces are considered part of the track.
[5] Judge cars are impartial during tandem runs. Any attempt to interfere with a judge car warrants automatic disqualification and is viewed as cheating.
[6] Passing is allowed, however you may only pass as the result of a drift. So no straight away pulls, sorry. A pass does NOT equal an automatic win of that lap. We are encouraging drifters to rise above the crowd and not loose their composure under pressue of a pass. You WILL continue to run the tandem until the lap is over. We are leaving the passing issue in the hands of our judges. If there is any sign of an unsportsman-like forced pass, you will either be disqualified or be forced to re-run your tandems.
[7] Tardiness will not be tolerated. We understand users come from different timezones, and there is always a chance of scheduling conflicts. Repeated tardiness and failure to appear for challenges will result in disqualification and suspension from future XDGP tandems.
[8] Lag is not an excuse for poor performance. You choose your opponent, so you should know before hand what gameplay is like with them.
[9] DO NOT disrespect any judge, their opinion, or any other drifter. Doing so will cause automatic disqualification, and the possibilty of being banned from future XDGP tandems.
Judges & Judging Criteria
Judges will consider your basic criteria of Speed, Line, & Angle. Smoke cannot be taken into account heavily, but as your speed and angle increase the smoke will naturally follow. Strategy will play a major role in determining a winner. In a tight tandem, it's up to the leader to choose/maintain a line that will still allow for speed and angle, but not allow their opponent to pass. It's also up to the chaser to do whatever they can, barring malicious contact of course, to disrupt the leaders rhythm and create an opportunity to pass. Consistency will also play a major role in how judges view your performance. Does that mean if you have afew wobbles or tap a wall you'll loose, no. Does it effect how judges view your performance, yes. More weight has been put on "In the heat of the moment" decisions and drifting rather than a set points scale. It makes for more interesting situations, and further levels the playing field for all drifters.Judging will be done in a real-time style. Judge cars will lead/chase during the tandems, and during the replay will record from their respective angles. Judges will then review the videos and post them when a decision has been made on a winner. In the event of a tie, there will be a 2-Lap judged tandem.
Judges for competition are as follows:
BreakerOhio (Ohio), Dking (California), Droptop_Chick (Texas), Suzuki (Tennessee)
We currently are not in need of more judges, but are always on the lookout for others to help out to keep the lag down. Requirements for becoming a judge include: XLink playability (obviously), good broadband connection (ping of under 100 with atleast one judge), and the ability to capture replays( NO Digital cameras or web cameras).
Issuing Challenges & Stipulations
*THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!* - Before issuing challenges, you MUST have actually drifted on XLink. Technical problems can always be expected. You must give notice of atleast 4 hours to any judge if you cannot compete in your scheduled tandem challenge due to technical problems or scheduling conflicts.We offer an open battle format, so you're free to challenge whomever you wish, with whatever stipulations you can both agree upon. Meaning If you feel you can keep up with your opponent with and MR/FR and they're using an AWD, it's your decision. We do encourage that cars remain close in power, as to promote a tighter run. We also do encourge that you choose to challenge someone in close proximity to yourself in an effort to reduce lag. Tire choices are also entirely up to contestants. There are advantages and disadvantages of going with low grip tires and high grip tires, so choose wisely. Building a gap will not equal a win if you're drifting is sub-par and erratic. So don't choose Sport Softs if you can't drift with them, because you WILL loose if your opponent displays a good show of drifting.
You can issue challenges or let people know you're open to challenges by posting it in the GTPC/XDGP: Challenge Listing & Registration Thread
PLEASE make sure when you post that you make it clear you're looking for an XLink Challenge to avoid confusion. Upon the confirmation of an accepted challenge, both participants please converse reguarding track selection, power limitations, and drivetrain choices. Once you have both come up with stipulations you can both agree on, PM any XDGP judge with the track and prospective car selection. Also make sure to PM us with dates & times (yes more than one date & time, judges have lives too) when you are BOTH available to tandem. As contestants and judges hail from different time zones, please include which time zone you fall place in (i.e. PST/MST/CST/EST). When we have come into agreement that these stipulations are fair for both parties, you will receive a PM confirming when your XDGP challenge will take place and who will be judging your tandems. When we have come into agreement that these stipulations are fair for both parties, you will receive a PM confirming when your XDGP challenge will take place and who will be judging your tandems. Contestants can either decide amoungst themselves who will lead/chase first, or you can pick a number from a chosen range of numbers. Whomever gets closest will decide the order of the tandem.
The Future of XDGP
Since there currently isn't a large amount of GT4 drifters on XLink, we have yet to devise a ladder system for a real D1GP/Formula D style tournament. As interest grows, the ladder system will be developed, as well as a fair seeding system so drifters can drift with less lag.Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
We're trying to keep this thread clean and efficient, so please don't post mindless dribble here. If you have anything positive to contribute we'd love to hear it, but do NOT post useless crap here, or it WILL get deleted.If you have anything you have to say reguarding XDGP, feel free to PM any one of our judges (BreakerOhio, Dking, Droptop_Chick, Suzuki) and they'll do the best they can to fill you in or help you out.
PLEASE remember these rules can and most likely will change over time, as we work the kinks out. So keep an eye out for added information.