FRC Blogged - Championship and You Folks are So Nice!

[joelg236]

Originally Posted by Justin Montois

I will say though that I absolutely love the idea of more matches and better real time scoring, BUT, I hope that game design doesn't suffer. I don't want "simple" games for the sake of faster reset and easier real time scoring.

I'd actually prefer simpler games. I think 2012 did that well. What I don't want is easy games. The two concepts are very different. A game that can be quickly understood, like basketball, is very good for spectators and teams alike. As long as the game is hard enough that you can't "do everything", I'm happy with simple, easy to understand games.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by joelg236

I'd actually prefer simpler games. I think 2012 did that well. What I don't want is easy games. The two concepts are very different.

I was about to say exactly this!

[PayneTrain]

Originally Posted by joelg236

I'd actually prefer simpler games. I think 2012 did that well. What I don't want is easy games. The two concepts are very different.

Logomotion was not a very strategically deep game, but it took me a very long time to explain the game to any spectators my teams brought to events. The last two games are easy to understand, and difficult, but had different ways of displaying difficulty. 2012 was a subtly difficult game, with having to arc shots and compromising frame perimeter vs. endgame.

2013 had obvious challenges that allowed a lot of teams to focus efforts on completing simple tasks well while powerhouses could still build great robots that scored more points. 2013's frame perimeter rules, game piece rigidity, selectively open field, and smaller safe zones invited the most strategic depth we have ever seen in the 3v3 era, except maybe keeping track of the rack in 2007.

I think after making easy-to-understand games in 2010, 2012, and 2013, and the community's affinity to them over 2008, 2009, and 2011 will/did influence the development of the 2014 game. The increased importance the GDC has put on autonomous and the evening-out of the endgame with the general teleop period has also made the game a lot more exciting and has made teams consider more about their build to capitalize on autonomous points and time spent pursuing endgame points.

A game that could combine the strategic depth and universal team-by-team success we had this year coupled with near-perfect real-time-scoring would be more than ideal, it would be practically perfect. I was already happily surprised to see 2013 play out so much better than 2012, which I thought was the best game in the modern era.

I also believe it's become clear that FIRST defines its success by the satisfaction of not only its investors (sponsors), but also its customers/products (us), which is a belief I did not have until recently. That is the biggest success story of the year.

[CalTran]

I bet that if Frank made a CD account, he'd be right on par with Bill Miller in terms of reputation/post...

To address some points in this blog post:
Never have I disagreed more with Frank then now. How could he possibly say something I so vehemently oppose?

You folks really are so nice, much nicer than you need to be, and certainly much nicer than I deserve.

Understatement of the year much? He most certainly deserves all of this, and MORE. I also wish that Bill would release the names of the other 18 people so we can thank them in full as well. But alas, that might be divulging too much. Thank you Mr. McLeod! NOw to figure out the best way to thank all thee staff...what would a good sized gift basket be for FIRST HQ...

Bob's email to teams already talked about two key areas...more plays...improved scoring...shortening up closing ceremony.

WOW! All of this being improved? That's insane! They really do listen, and I honestly think they are trying their earnest to fix all of these problems. FIRST is a learning program, both for the students and the staff, and each year the program is growing and getting better. I'm proud to say that I've participated for four years, and am sad that I won't get to experience these changes as a student. Mentoring ho!

The week after Championship is one of the few quiet weeks we have at FIRST, so many of us are taking a couple days off to catch up on our rest. After a very full Championship schedule, this break is something all of us - teams, volunteers, and staff really need!

I hear that Kansas is lovely this time of year; quite relaxing and away from all the hustle and bustle of the true city life... (Look at where I reside.)

EDIT: Hello, Texas Torque post. And at such a great time! Congratulations on your well deserved World Championship. You're no longer "the team from the back woods of Texas."

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by CalTran

I also wish that Bill would release the names of the other 18 people so we can thank them in full as well. But alas, that might be divulging too much.

The FRC Staff - Blog post 12/20/12
Chuck Harris joined after that I think.

[rachelholladay]

Originally Posted by CalTran

NOw to figure out the best way to thank all thee staff...what would a good sized gift basket be for FIRST HQ..."

So my mother and I have actually done that.
Carla Proulx was the person primarily responsible for organizing the Dean's List Summit, which was an absolutely amazing experience. Now, in my family, when you want to thank someone, you send them Godiva chocolate. Unsurprisingly, (we were told) that went over exceedingly well at HQ.

I do have to say that Frank is right that the FIRST staff is incredibly awesome. Whenever I talk with them I am always in awe of their dedication and their wealth of knowledge. We've gotten to Beta Test for four years and, as a student, its been great to be able to work with, in particular, Krista Pratt, Kevin O'Connor and Kate Pilotte. I'm pretty, almost definitely sure that during Beta Testing Kevin doesn't actually sleep.. (not that FIRSTers sleep much in general)

[treffk]

Originally Posted by CalTran

I hear that Kansas is lovely this time of year; quite relaxing and away from all the hustle and bustle of the true city life... (Look at where I reside.)

Kansas sure does have something to suit everyone. 80 degree weather one day and snow the next.

[CLandrum3081]

Originally Posted by treffk

Kansas sure does have something to suit everyone. 80 degree weather one day and snow the next.

Sounds like Minnesota lately.