[archiver]

Posted by michael bastoni of team #23, PNTA, from Plymouth North High School sponsored by Boston Edison Co.

Posted on 5/2/99 3:30 PM MST


In Reply to: Next year: Make the game understandable posted by Andy Baker on 5/1/99 11:18 PM MST:



Andy,

I feel you are right on target....the games need to have popular appeal
and part of the 'algebra' of popular appeal is understanding the game.

In addition to understanding it...it must have some 'sex' appeal...and that
is why it is so important to allow aggressive contact and yes...even knockdowns..
in fact encourage knockdowns...

Why was Robot Wars (Currently defunct due to a lawsuit) immediately popular
nation wide after only 1 or 2 tv appearances.....

I'll guess 3 reasons..

1.) What you noticed Andy..the game was REALLY easy to understand..
Any average Joe surfing through the channels lands on a Robot Wars game and he or she
immediately 'gets it'..like WWF Wrestling....

2.) It was immediately apparent who was winning and who was losing. This
certainly makes it worth watching....it actually resulted in the
average channel surfer putting down the remote and setteling in for the
duration of the program.

3.) This is for you JJ....That average channel surfer IMMEDIATELY recognized
the game from year to year....cause it remained simple and unchanged.


Now I'm NOT advocating we keep the game the same forever....
Just do not change it EVERY YEAR....why is that such a big
compromise....what is the difference between 12 months and
say 24 or 36 or even 48 months....c'mon think about it...give up
so little,,,,,possibly gain so very much...

The flag waves on....and I both welcome and admire dissent...
Remember, that's how this great country got started....

The Heretic,
Mr.B