[FRC Blog] Five for FIRST

[itsjustjon]

Originally Posted by Drivencrazy

I mean, it's been 4v0 before. (Also 6v0 in some instances in 2010 but that's a whole different story)

But isn't OP talking about 3v2? 3 Offense vs. 2 Defense?

[g_sawchuk]

Originally Posted by BrennanB

Do we really need another thread for this

We need five threads for this.

[Bob Steele]

Originally Posted by D.Allred

Might be semantics, but I believe FIRST was trying more to tease the general public, not us. The video to me has the opposite effect.

If you want Cinnabon attraction by teasing the "smell*" of FIRST, the passion of competition is the best way to do it in my opinion. Ending that video with the Stronghold picture would have been plenty of teaser for those in FRC.

David

* Any reference to Skunkworks was unintended...

Perhaps this has a better smell...:0) enjoy!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9PvIsZL4cg

[Ty Tremblay]

Originally Posted by Drivencrazy

This teaser gets the campers in the tent excited about the game, but utterly fails to engage people outside the tent. They would also do well to pay for mainstream media advertising as opposed to this social media approach they are taking.

I don't think I could disagree with you more.

There are too many facets to FRC to assume that showing exciting competition video is the only way to get people excited. Frank stated specifically in this blog that the goal of the teaser was to attract "the attention of folks whose ears may not automatically perk up when the phrase ‘robotics competition’ is uttered."

This video is literally not targeted at the people that already enjoy the thrill of competition.

"Mainstream media" is a whole other can of worms...

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by Ty Tremblay

I don't think I could disagree with you more.

There are too many facets to FRC to assume that showing exciting competition video is the only way to get people excited. Frank stated specifically in this blog that the goal of the teaser was to attract "the attention of folks whose ears may not automatically perk up when the phrase ‘robotics competition’ is uttered."

This video is literally not targeted at the people that already enjoy the thrill of competition.

"Mainstream media" is a whole other can of worms...

I agree Ty. Pretty much every promotional video that FIRST has done has the same stuff in it. This was something different.

Medieval theme stuff is definitely only for nerds, because you know, Game of Thrones was only popular in the nerd crowd. Same with the Lord of the Rings movies or the Hobbit movies. Only nerds went to go see those.

[Drivencrazy]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

I agree Ty. Pretty much every promotional video that FIRST has done has the same stuff in it. This was something different.

Medieval theme stuff is definitely only for nerds, because you know, Game of Thrones was only popular in the nerd crowd. Same with the Lord of the Rings movies or the Hobbit movies. Only nerds went to go see those.

I have no problem with the video itself. I'm just saying I don't think it is an effective tool to do what they want to do. I'm sure there is a group of people that will go for this kind of video (I mentioned a board game store earlier) and it may even get some more kids to join FIRST teams which is great. But as a way to get a lot people "outside the tent" genuinely interested in coming back, I think it fails.

I would never show this to a coworker or somebody with the means to sponsor an FRC team. And I sure as hell would never show them this. That's just not what "most" people are into. But I'd definitely show them parts of something like the Roboleague video. It's got everything about FIRST in it. The problem is it's too long.

I mean, look at Battlebots. It used to be a joke, run on Comedy Central. They made it more like SportsCenter and upped the production quality and it was the number one show on Sunday nights for a couple weeks.

And yeah because GoT, LotR and the Hobbit were all snow white and the seven dwarves production quality

[Drivencrazy]

Originally Posted by itsjustjon

But isn't OP talking about 3v2? 3 Offense vs. 2 Defense?

Agreed. Just pointing out it's not always 3v3, 2v2, etc.

[JB987]

Originally Posted by mwmac

Did someone say "quest"?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWS8Mg-JWSg

LIKE...

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Ty Tremblay

I don't think I could disagree with you more.

There are too many facets to FRC to assume that showing exciting competition video is the only way to get people excited. Frank stated specifically in this blog that the goal of the teaser was to attract "the attention of folks whose ears may not automatically perk up when the phrase ‘robotics competition’ is uttered."

This video is literally not targeted at the people that already enjoy the thrill of competition.

"Mainstream media" is a whole other can of worms...

The problem with this video is I'm pretty sure the general Highschool population will laugh at my students if they share it with them.

[cadandcookies]

While I'll agree that the teaser has some issues with regards to how effective it might be for its stated purpose, I definitely think they're going in the right direction in terms of intent-- bringing in people "outside the tent" is a commendable goal and I hope future attempts will be more effective in that regard.

Personally, I think it's a fun video, and I think that using it to explain a bit of FIRST culture to somebody outside the tent isn't completely ridiculous-- it gives a nice opportunity to explain the context of the video (game hints), which can lead into a discussion about the program. I'm looking at this as a small net positive thing on the part of FIRST-- it may not be exactly what they're going for, but it's definitely a step in the right direction attitude-wise.

[Ty Tremblay]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

The problem with this video is I'm pretty sure the general Highschool population will laugh at my students if they share it with them.

But that's beside the point isn't it? This video is targeted at the ones that will think this is cool, not the ones that will make fun of it.

[MrBasse]

Originally Posted by cadandcookies

While I'll agree that the teaser has some issues with regards to how effective it might be for its stated purpose, I definitely think they're going in the right direction in terms of intent-- bringing in people "outside the tent" is a commendable goal and I hope future attempts will be more effective in that regard.

I couldn't agree more. Unfortunately, everyone I have shown it to hasn't understood what it means. I'm left with blank stares and a lot of people saying they don't get it. Not a single one has asked for more information based on the video. The only questions I've gotten so far have been "How does this relate to robotics?" and "Why is there a robot in the middle ages?"

I have some hopes of what the season may bring, but I have learned to not hold my breath until January. So far this teaser has lived up to being a teaser. What for, nobody seems to know...

[MrBasse]

Originally Posted by Ty Tremblay

But that's beside the point isn't it? This video is targeted at the ones that will think this is cool, not the ones that will make fun of it.

If thats the point then the whole "make it loud" idea has been a huge waste of time. We should appeal to the masses, not the secluded groups who already get it. I want to bring some football players and hockey players in again, they make the team more well rounded. I already have a group who gets this kind of thing.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by Ty Tremblay

But that's beside the point isn't it? This video is targeted at the ones that will think this is cool, not the ones that will make fun of it.

Then it's targeting too small of an audience.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

Then it's targeting too small of an audience.

I think its difficult when you are trying to make a teaser to get people excited about the upcoming season, but can't really show them anything because the game doesn't get announced for another 3 months.