So I was at the Airport today during a layover on my way to St. Louis when I happened to chance on meeting one of the head refs also headed towards the game.
I related to him the entire controversy regarding the truss and simplified game and all the fun jazz and shenanigans that were listed above, and asked him what his take was on it.
His response?
"This year's game was designed by a different group of people than previously."
That's right. It was actually really interesting; a different group of FRC Staff did the game this year, which was why they reverted from sensor scoring back to ref scoring, and the game 'felt' different. It also explains the lack of an endgame.
As for the truss, he didn't offer a direct answer, but it seems to be that it was designed simply to resist hits as well as be sturdy. It was simply the best thing they had that was available and durable.
Nothing he said indicated the addition of an endgame, or even that an endgame was intended to begin with and later removed. It's just a different design of game made by a different group of designers, and there's nothing to fuss over.
I'll see all y'all in St. Louis tomorrow, and hopefully we can see some great games without climbing!
