Instant Replays

[Austin]

Do you think that there should be instant replays on the big screen of interesting or amazing plays so that people who weren't watching that particular section of the field could experience the excitement of the play?

[Jeff Rodriguez]

As long as the rules prohibit instant replays than there shouldn't be any on the screen.

[Koci]

I don't believe the rules concern the question. He is thinking about making the competition more enjoyable for the viewers in future competitions.

[Ian W.]

I think that if there's something that happened for 5 - 10 seconds, it would be appropriate to show on the big screen (if there is one) while the refs tally the score. anything longer though, and i think it would interfere with the game.

[Austin]

Yes, i think that the replays should not be 'instant' per-say, but they should follow the match and be purely for the audience/drive team's enjoyment...being instant might interfere with the drive team using the screen to manouver their robot as well. also, as was said, i think that this specific rule refers to the refs watching replays to make game decisions...

GM2 "...The referees will not review any recorded replays"

[Jack Jones]

I think that, between matches, the big screen should be used primarily to provide information, rather than the current shots of the crew stacking boxes, ..., etc.

It should show the results of the previous match for a longer period of time - right now, if we blink we miss them. It could display the up coming three or four matches. It could show the seeding list. BTW - 1..12 then later 13..24 etc. - rather than the snail crawl we see in the pit area. Extra bonus would be to reduce congestion in the pits.

Quality replays would take an ESPN-like crew and resources. I'd rather see what I need/want to know up there.

Jack J.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Guys,
What you are asking for is that an additional person and video recorder be added to each competition. That is a pretty expensive option. With companies cutting back this year, it is hard to get big screen and camera coverage as it is. Midwest had only one camera, high, with a long lens that tried to cover everything on the field. Each competition has video recording facilities for teams, and Soap has been recording as much as possible for web play, so the added expense would be nice but an unnecessary expense.

[Wetzel]

I did scorekeeping with KenL at SVR. The data on the screen, (the results and ondeck) came from us. With the current system, showing ondeck for multiple matches ahead is not practical. We select the match results screen, freeze it on the output monitor, tell the video guy, tell the announcer, ready the next match, when the results is clear, show the ondeck, freeze that, swich to next match start.

While showing multiple matches ahead is possible in theory, in practice there is not enough time to flip ahead, and it could confuse the system, in addition it might also confuse the crowd with who is actually up next.

As to congestion in the pits, I don't think there is any solution to that.


Wetzel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fix it in the software.

[Jeff Rodriguez]

The rules says that refs do not look at replays, but iff they started showing them, the argument would be brought up. Why play the replays if they do not count for anything?
Yes, they would please the audience, but what is shown in replays alot of the time, controvesial calls. Thats what would be shown, and the audience would see it and start to dislike the refs for making bad calls. We all know that the refs have to make quick decisions and that they do their best, but showing replays would not help their reputation.

[Koci]

the audience would see it and start to dislike the refs for making bad calls

We all watch the replays that we record on our own video cameras, or on the webcasts. What's the difference? We still see all of the same faults we would have seen in the replays. If they have the replays (although I know it would be difficult to pull off), it would allow so much more for the enjoyment of the audience.

[Joe Ross]

At major league baseball games, they do not show instant replays of close calls in the stadium. I could see them doing the same thing for FIRST. Although, like Al, I think there are about 100 things that are more important then instant replays.