What do you think of this year's game?

[Walter Deitzler]

This game is my favorite of all time. This year was the FIRST year since 3397's conception that we didn't make elims, and it was soooooooo fun to watch. Getting to see 1986 and 1985 on an alliance at the same time didn't hurt either. The scoring is easy to understand and the bridge add a big air of exitment near the end of the game, especially with a triple balance attempt (or success). Hybrid is fun to watch. Overall, the GDC did a really good job on this one.

[coldfusion1279]

The game is fun. I have no problem with the coopertition bridge. As more teams use it, it becomes more fair and an additional challenge.

However, a decent autonomous and triple balance combo is really difficult to defeat from what I have seen. A team can spend the entire match for a triple balance and it would still be worth it. The game in the middle is almost not required if you can triple balance unless your team is a 2056 or 16.

It would be nice if balancing were not allowed until the last minute. But then you would probably need to get rid of the bump so that teams could travel without the bridges.

Also, the penalties for touching the opposing alliance's bridge (9 points!) makes and breaks too many matches. I think you should be allowed to touch it if there is no opposing alliance member on it.

[smurfgirl]

I didn't really expect much of this game when I saw it at Kickoff - I didn't think it would be one I particularly loved or hated. But after two regionals so far, I can say I've been pleasantly surprised. Rebound Rumble is awesome, the GDC did a great job with it. It's fun to watch, and easy for new people to follow. Most teams can score in at least one of the baskets, and most teams are attempting the bridges as well. I do have a few criticisms of it though - I don't like that foul point add points to the opposing alliance score this year, because it is artificially inflating scores. I also think the Kinect could have been worked into the game better - right now it really doesn't add any value or functionality to hybrid mode, so there's no incentive for teams to use it. Overall, a great game though.

[JaneYoung]

It's a game that is showing us what we're made of. I'm ok with that.

I still love the use of the word, bridge, and how it can apply.

Jane

[vhcook]

I really like this game. It's easy to explain to the uninitiated, it's fun to watch, it's relatively easy to scout (as opposed to something like Lunacy), and there are a fairly wide variety of successful designs.

[HumblePie]

I really like this year's game. It has all the elements: high scoring, easily understood, real-time scoring, opportunity for varied approaches to the game, ability for rookies to really compete, and an interesting risk/reward in the end game. Just a couple criticisms, however:

1) I think 2 Coopertition Points for a middle balance is too many. If it was worth just 1, teams would have to evaluate whether to take the middle bridge, or the 10 additional points to balance on their own bridge and secure a win. I saw many teams build for balance only, and head straight for the bridge in teleop. A rookie team in our regional seeded #5 by balancing only with no shooter. Not sour grapes, as we seeded #3 (tied for the best record at 9-2), but well-rounded robots should seed higher and be able to choose specialists as their alliance partners.

2) Defense is almost legislated out of existence. I used to tell my students the old axiom that "Defense wins championships". I don't know that I can say that this year. I appreciate that it's hard to make baskets while being bumped, but initiating contact with a defender anywhere near the key results in a 3pt. bonus, the same as the most difficult goal, way too much IMHO. We collected 4 fouls in rapid succession one match when a defender got within reach, then we made our shot anyway. Why not give the defender a chance to draw a "charging" foul just like the real game? It seems that the only scorers that can be defended are the dumper bots.

I know nobody asked for suggestions, just my $0.02.

Even with my criticisms included, all in all a very good game, and probably my favorite since 2008.

[MichaelBick]

Something that other people have not mentioned, that I really like about this years game, is the high scoring in hybrid. It allows teams that are not "top tier" to still score on that level. While it was a given that top teams were going to get large amounts of autonomous points, teams that have trouble with consistency, speed, or defense still made a difference.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by HumblePie

2) Defense is almost legislated out of existence.

That's just not true. Watch our qualifiers at FLR and any of our games at Buckeye, and you'll see a lot of defense doing a lot of good for alliances.

[bduddy]

Originally Posted by HumblePie

2) Defense is almost legislated out of existence. I used to tell my students the old axiom that "Defense wins championships". I don't know that I can say that this year. I appreciate that it's hard to make baskets while being bumped, but initiating contact with a defender anywhere near the key results in a 3pt. bonus, the same as the most difficult goal, way too much IMHO. We collected 4 fouls in rapid succession one match when a defender got within reach, then we made our shot anyway. Why not give the defender a chance to draw a "charging" foul just like the real game? It seems that the only scorers that can be defended are the dumper bots.

If a robot is shooting from the key, then the best way to play "defense" is to not let them get any balls to shoot. There are other ways to defend in this game than hitting other robots, although of course at times that can be the best way.

[pyroslev]

I'll call this game the better and more evolved version of 2006. It has all the good elements plus some better ones. If the field had been just as over the top as 2004 was with all the structures, then it would be the winner.

The one thing I love this year and the way it should be from now on is the ranking system. Love how it's not clear cut. A zero team can just coop and end up a number 7 seed, then go as far as the semi-finals.

Just a great game, FIRST GDC. Now it's time to super game it.

Edit: Could have done something with the middle bridge for the tournament play rather than just leaving it out there.

[i3randon]

My short answer is the game was great but the ranking system and coopertition was not.

We were the only team to go undefeated going into our 11th match at the Wisconsin Regional. We finished up 10-1 but only got 8th place. I understand why, I just feel that there wasn't any glory in winning. For this reason I dislike the coopertition idea since it was so easy to help/hurt your opponents as the qualifying score was so close.

Changing gears a bit, I have noticed some aspects of the game that presented different challenges. When I joined FIRST in 2006, for Aim High, there were no safe zones or barriers to cross over. There was defense, true pushing and shoving defense. This year it was so difficult to play defense many teams didn't try. I like to show students that being an offensive player can be as important as defense but that simply wasn't the case this year.

Also in 2006 the goals to shoot into were not as hard to shoot for. I really liked the baskets as this required a great deal of accuracy in terms of power and trajectory. This provided students a look into one of the most basic physics/calculus problems, simple 2D trajectory.

One thing that has been mentioned was balls under the bridges. We anticipated this and could actually get up and onto a bridge that had a ball stuck under it. However, not all teams could. This was interesting because we had to change our strategy a bit because balancing alone wasn't worth nearly as much as with another robot, same team or not.

Overall, how can anyone not have fun with FIRST? As always it is a blast!

I like the coopertition bridge. For those who smartly play the game, they get rewarded with a high ranking score. For those who pass it off as negligible, you get the consequences.

EDIT: This is in no relation to the post above mine. Just my personal feelings.

[pendragoner]

My only problem with the years game is I feel the middle bridge is over powered. Maybe i see this because it went against me but still. My teams robot had the most bridge points at our regional event but we were ranked very low because we didn't get a chance to go for the middle bridge. this is my only problem with this years game.

[pendragoner]

Id agree that the ranking system was a little off it mattered more how every team did but not you as an individual team. We did well but our alliance
members did not do as well which caused us to lose.

[DominickC]

Something I've noticed (and other teams as well) is the inconsistencies in the wear and subsequent replacement on the balls. At Suffield Shakedown, the balls were replaced quite frequently. However, at the WPI Regional balls were replaced far less frequently. This caused issues with most teams shooters.

Despite the issue with the balls, I loved the bridges and barrier aspect of the game.