A joke they called Regional Animation Competitions

[Specialagentjim]

I wasn't at a regional this weekend, but I do have some input.

Our team was one of the teams lucky enough to have a place to go watch the regionals via NASA sat video feed. Back at motorola, we used it to watch the whole competition. I was really kinda upset that during the awards ceremony, which was all I was able to watch about animations, they only announced ONE winner. They didnt announce the runner-ups AND they didnt show the winning animation. Team 1038 at the cleveland regional obviously did a good enough job to win and should be recognized by having their animation shown to the audience and to all of us joining in around the country. I STILL have no idea what team 1038's animation looks like!

Why does it seem animaiton is ALWAYs an after thought with FIRST? If they dont recognize it as something worthy of this whole competition, then they shouldn't continue to announce it and have teams of students working feverously to get it done. I mean, com'n! The rules this year made little sense and were very misleading and I still have NO IDEA what the prizes this year are! Last year, a laptop was given out along with copies of 3ds. Somehow...with the lack of a commitment to a prize...(taking a stab in the dark here mind you) I'm guessing the winner will get a pat on the back and be sent back the bleechers. Somehow, I think my efforts will be more so focused to the robot next year...(however, I'll be here helping out everybody who needs 3ds help juss as I did this year, because thats the true "grasiously professional" thing to do..unlike the way animation appears to be running this year.)

All I, as well as the other teams here ask, is that a little more "Grasious Professionalism" be applied to the animation comeptition.


And Lev, I feel sooo bad for you man, you all had a technically excellent animation, I still have yet to see many of the others, as Ive been here in Florida still. I won't have a chance to view the animation judging system until UCF (19-22) and Chicago (27-29) but you can bet I'll post here when that time comes.

Good luck to all the animators out there! Try not to give up hope though...If we band togther and keep at it, something will have to change eventually.