2015 Lessons Learned: The Negative

[The_ShamWOW88]

Reading through the thread, I agree with a lot of the comments and suggestions made so I won't make this a long reiteration. However, my feelings are as follows:

Recycle Rush - I won't go as far as saying this was the "WORST GAME IN THE HISTORY OF FIRST" because maybe those who are saying that weren't around for the "game that must not be named" in 2001 (although I know this point has been made). This year was better than that, 2009, 2003 and 2008 even (which is of my own opinion and I could spend an entire thread talking about just that). However, with that said, FIRST, I understand the idea behind it and that you are always trying new things and pushing boundaries but I have to say, you pushed a little too far this time. This was a glorified FIRST Lego League game minus the 100% autonomous but if this is the direction they're headed in then count me out. I just didn't feel the "Competition" in FIRST Robotics Competition. It didn't matter the "opposing" alliance's score in the moment (during Quals) so there was not motivation factor to try and "win". Not until Elims did both scores really factor into mine or the drivers' thinking.

I also saw no reason for a team to specialize in any one this this season, I saw no reason for actually working together as an alliance and as we got further into the higher levels of play, you really only needed two teams that could MAX stack or as close to MAX stack as possible to win and the third (or fourth for Champs) only needed to stay out of the way (again, my observation, not yours).

I hope this "Average Score" and no "W-L-T" is an experiment because the experiment didn't produce good results. Considering that, as far as we know, the FIRST design committee builds games years in advance, I sincerely hope they have settled on a traditional 3v3 game which takes into account teams' abilities to specialize and work as such, a team. Please, FIRST, if you do anything, stop the "no robot contact, no head-to-head" before it gets out of hand. It didn't work in 2001, it didn't work this year.

Outside of the game - I can't comment on Champs as a whole as my team did not attend. I don't think the stream was nearly as bad as it sounds, quality wise, but the angles provided (no full-field) and the insane amount of time sitting and waiting for things to start (just watching different teams dance) was crazy.

There's other opinions on the 2-champs split, etc. but I'll save those for the actual threads discussing those topics as it's just too much information for one post.