[Mr. Pockets]

Just thinking about this concept I find myself at a slight loss as to how the GDC would make a game that the traditional powerhouse teams would do worse comparitively to the rookie teams.

Scenario A: Make a very simple straightforward game, thus theoretically nulling extra years of experience.

Result of A: The powerhouse teams develop simple, but highly effective robots, and perfect them obsessively until competitions. Thus, while newer teams still put out great robots, the highest ranked team's ranks remain roughly static.

Scenario B: Make a very bizzare, and new style game (like lunacy with the regolith) with the intention that rookie teams will have an easier time adapting to the new challenge.

Result of B: The skilled teams have the resources and experience to adapt to the changing environment, while the new teams struggle to meet a challenge through a process that they have little experience with.

If I missed a scenario feel free to post one. As it is I prefer scenario A (which I consider breakaway to fall under) as it makes for very exciting, easy to understand games. This fact also makes it better from a spectator standpoint as well.