[James3245]

I really enjoyed the challenge this year's game provided our team as we considered possible strategies in the days after kick-off. As valuable as the actually competition is in terms of learning feedback, I think that just as valuable for student learning (and my enjoyment of the season) is the amazing cerebral challenge of analyzing a new game.

Yes, every year provides this. However, by eliminating robot-to-robot contact and defining separate alliance zones the GDC this year unleashed a refreshing set of new opportunities and challenges to consider. I think they did an excellent job in prompting teams to think freshly. For this kudos to the game designers.

I've never witnessed so much excitement in the community about a reveal video as that generated by 148's release. I really enjoyed watching it with my students as it showed elegantly out-of-the-(FRC)box thinking. Such an innovative design would have never come about in a more typical game that included defense.

I don't think there is a "right" amount of offense/defense balance for a "good" game. I hope that the GDC keeps mixing it up year-to-year. It is healthy for the level of student learning. Every game should be refreshingly different; I have no problem with some games being at the extreme ends on the continuum of amount of opportunities to play defense. On a four year cycle of student participation it is desirable to have a variety of games. We all learn more that way.

I would enjoy having another of this same kind some year in the future.