[EricH]

A themed game does not have to be good or bad. As a matter of fact, what makes or breaks a game probably ISN'T the theme, but the theme can enhance the game.

Themed games:
2008 (NASCAR/Mario Kart)
2009 (Moon base)
2010 (Soccer)
2011 (FIRST Logo)
2012 (Basketball)
2015 (Waste management)
2016 (Medieval)

Pre-2008, there really wasn't much of a theme to the games, per se. They were... the games. 2013 and 2014 are left off as well, for a similar reason.

So, with that being said...
2009 and 2015 consistently make "bad game" lists. 2009's primary issue seems to have been the floor and the trailers resulting in scrums; 2015 was essentially 3v0 + 3v0, with "extra" game elements. 2011 is often included on those lists due to the minibots (a rather failed attempt to integrate FTC with FRC to some extent, which happened to decide many matches and tournaments).

On the other side of the coin, 2012 is generally regarded as a good game (though not top-flight necessarily--that depends on how many other good games whoever is ranking it has seen) with the one negative being the coopertition points that year; some teams tell horror stories about being stood up on that bridge. 2008 is "OK"--nothing fancy, nothing too terrible (other than the dreaded lane violation penalty); 2010 is in the same boat (with the main complaints being, as I recall, the ties and the possession limitations). And 2016 is one of the few games that was greeted with "We get to play this? COOL!" rather than "WTF, GDC?", and maintained a generally very high level of liking through the season (minor hiccups aside).

Where does that leave themed games? Done right, the theme enhances the game and makes it more popular. Done wrong, the theme can detract from the game. If a game element is done poorly, the themed game can give all themed games a bad name...


I'm thinking that next year's game will have a hard time passing Stronghold, but I'm willing to give it a shot.