i didnt like this years game....please read

[archiver]

Posted by Kevin at 04/10/2001 9:40 PM EST


Coach on team #308, Walled Lake Monsters, from Walled Lake Schools and TRW Automotive Electronics.


In Reply to: Well ... guess I'm counterpoint
Posted by Ernie P on 04/10/2001 10:18 AM EST:



This year had more teams on the winning alliance than winning teams in previous years. There were more awards (Divisional and National). And the finals / elimination matches were exciting to watch.

But the qualifying matches were not. In previous years, a low scoring struggle still produced a winner and a loser in each qualifying match, and this made it exciting to watch, similar to the elimination matches this year. After every qualifying match in previous years, there was an explosion of cheering for the winning team(s). This year, there was silence when things didn't go well.

Additionally, Dean made a comment at the Great Lakes Regional about media coverage. He mentioned that he was disappointed that no television stations covered the event. Honestly, this year's competition (qualifying rounds) was a poor event for spectators, and I can not blame the television stations. I heard many people comment on the lack of excitement during qualifying rounds, and I agree. Without the element of head-to-head competition, the excitement did not approach that of sports events, or the like. While the game itself should emphasize the FIRST mission and not be destructive ala battlebots, competition is a key element in today's society, economy, and a fact of life, be it in college admissions, first to market, etc.

I do like how this year's elimination matches ran identically to the qualifying matches though. Last year's competition consisted of two very different games, and this year did not.

Just my thoughts.

Kevin

: Hi all,
: Guess I'll be the one who supports this year's game.

: I haven't seen every year of FIRST, but I've been to 4 of the last 6 years and this year's game had more "winners" than I have seen in the past. More winners ... this IS a good thing ... more teams in the finals .... more winners of individual field matches. It helps more of us feel good about ourselves.

: It is a competition ... it has to be to keep our interest ..... so some teams will not do as well as others. This year we had more teams working together to acheive the common goal, and LESS rivalry than the 1-on-1 games of past years.

: The game commity at FIRST has a very hard job. They work to create a unique, exciting, and interesting competition which conveys the message and vision of the FIRST mission. They need to do this with a game???.... it's got to be tough. I applaud there courage to push back against the high violence, battlebot mentality which is re-enforcing our angry youth.

: So, be sure we are all walking the talk. Keep what's important, what's important.

: Best of luck to all and thanks for the wonderful year!!!!
: Ernie P