Themes for FRC games

[NShep98]

Originally Posted by Jay O'Donnell

Did you enjoy the theme more or less than you thought you would?

I dunno, ask Tim

[TheBoulderite]

I think it added a fun atmosphere. The Colorado MC, Todd, dressed up in a royalty costume to narrate the matches. At the end of the regional, when he announced the winners of the awards, he put on a jester hat and read aloud some poems that were created about the winners of the awards.

My favorite medieval aspect, though, is something I think was unique to the Colorado Regional. To crown the winners of the regional (1619, 1011, and 4550) Todd had the drive captain from each team come down to the field, where he proceeded to pull out a sword and knight them for their victory. The whole crowd loved it!

[Hitchhiker 42]

I think that the theme was useful in ways other than for us (the students and mentors). While most of us didn't really care about the theme and got down to business building and making a robot work, the theme was useful in the spreading of FIRST to others. The theme let outside spectators (those not actively involved with FIRST) to get more acquainted with the game and enjoy it more. In that sense, the theme definetly did a good job.

Beyond that, it was fun seeing entire hockey arenas filled up medieval-dressed people, pits, fields, and robots. I loved it!

[GeeTwo]

I liked the theme from day one (teaser). As Billfred noted, it worked naturally with the game mechanics. Kickoff was a bit over the top, but it's supposed to be. (Though this is the first time I can recall that I knew this much of the kickoff dialog before it was shown.) Even after kickoff, the theme was still used in the art design, such as with the scoreboards, and status and selection screens, and some of the communications (baguette and leg of mutton, anyone?). The standards were a great idea, and I hope they can incorporate team emblems into future themes. 3946 also used it as inspiration for our pit design (a castle), various costumes and swag, and the "arts and crafts" table at Bayou (decorating paper crowns). If you look at any crowd footage from Saturday at Bayou, you'll see those crowns everywhere.

Having a good game is key, of course - great theming won't redeem a stinker of a game. A good theme is good gravy.

[SenorZ]

As a very pragmatic person, I chose to not participate in the theme.

We read the rules, spent six weeks freaking out, and had a robot at the end. I think the theme was for the audience.

[SpaceBiz]

Originally Posted by TheBoulderite

My favorite medieval aspect, though, is something I think was unique to the Colorado Regional. To crown the winners of the regional (1619, 1011, and 4550) Todd had the drive captain from each team come down to the field, where he proceeded to pull out a sword and knight them for their victory. The whole crowd loved it!

I am jealous. I didn't know winning an event could have been even more fun...


As far as themes go, I only think a theme can be pulled off if it works with the game. FIRST was able to have stronghold tell a medieval story that was incorporated well. Just the name Recycle rush made me cringe even before I knew how bad the game would be. (mostly because it sounded like an FLL game) Along with the game being bad, there was no story at all, and one objective of the game was to throw litter...

The only problem with stronghold was the theme furthered the "nerdy" impression that many schools' have of their robotics teams. It makes robotics seem less "cool" from an outside perspective.

I personally like any theme that...
1) Actually makes sense with the game itself
2) Doesn't further negative stereotypes of robotics
3) Makes the game memorable when looking back at past games (as someone already said; most themes do this)
4) Allows for more fun from a spectator perspective

I think sports themed games achieve this, but so would other themes, a water theme would be really fun after all...