[archiver]

Posted by Mike Aubry at 1/6/2001 4:40 PM EST


Engineer on team #47, Chiefs, from Pontiac Central and Delphi .


In Reply to: Re: Perplexed
Posted by Raul on 1/6/2001 2:42 PM EST:



: The sad part, in my opinion, is that this year's game will move us farther away from what the typical game watcher wants to see.

I concur wholeheartedly, but its obvious that the rational for the game is not aimed at the "Game watcher" !

: 1) The scoring is too complex - the normal person will not know what the heck is going on. Now tell me how long it will take to explain to your grandmother how the scoring works?

I concur again, as I have stated in the past - The key to an interesting game is one that everyone (players, watchers, casual observers, can all figure out the score in their heads, real time (okay, some finger and toe counting is acceptable)

: 2) Who won? Yeah, yeah we are all winners. But since you are not competing against anyone, it will be very boring to watch this year's game!!! All we have to go by is our satisfaction of completing some tasks as required. How many seeding matches can any of us take when their is no winner at the end of the match?

Again you are right on the money. Next thing ya know we'll all be sitting around the playing field, holding hands and singing "Kumbaya"!

: 3) In the elimination rounds, when in the past things got really exciting, it just will not be the same to have to wait to see how the other team does to determine if you won or lost!

No, wrong this time. You'll only be sitting around to see where you end up seeding during seeding rounds. Then later, during elimination rounds you are correct - so then isn't going second a distinct advantage? Hit the red timer buttons the second you have accumulated 1 point more then the initial group did.

: 4) Say good bye to any team who liked to be defensive. Who needs a robust design anymore? Who needs an agile robot to get around your opponent? The game has become nothing more that a strategy contest. Close to becoming a science fair - which Dean says it is not.

Some is true, but science fair is a bit to drastic. The key to this years competition is the stress relief that Dean has allowed everyone. Once everyone realizes that they cannot control their own destiny, no matter what, - they will all relax a bit and concentrate on building a robot that does just ONE thing extremely well, NOT a robot that can do alot of things good, but instead rely on the fact that each alliance in the finals will be looking to fill specialty capabilities creating a team of 4 that can maximize the score. Therefore, Raul(my friend), take a deep breathe and simply enjoy the fun of building a robot. Forget the winning stuff it obviously doesn't matter. You will just have to "inspire" by teaching, strategic planning, teamwork and gracious professionalism! Good Luck, and is it out of the question to have preset alliances with a combined strategic robot design and build process thart assures maximum robot team capability if the opportunity arises (Nationals - ChiefDelphi, WildStang, Beatty, and the Kats?)

: Raul