Worst possible game

[EricH]

You guys are all lightweights.

Starting point: 2001. (4vClock) For those that aren't aware of that game (Diabolical Dynamics), the basic idea was to stuff a bunch of playground balls in a couple of mobile goals, stick both mobile goals on a balance bridge, preferably with a large ball or two on top for extra points/multipliers, and stick your entire alliance in the far end of the field, as fast as possible (the faster you were, the higher your score multiplier).

Now, add 2 robots. (6vClock)

Change all the playground balls to Orbit balls, from Lunacy, and change the primary field surface to regolith (also from Lunacy--wheels too, folks!). Bridge gets HDPE surface (common in the '03-'06 timeframe).

And, just to make life totally miserable, the goals are the '02 goals (weighing in at 180 lb each)--AND bumpers are required, '10 bumper and extension rules.

Did I mention that the current field layout is used, and there's no communication between the field ends, but all the robots start at one end of the field?





Every time someone brings up Recycle Rush as bad, I have to remember that they probably haven't seen '01.

[ctt956]

Originally Posted by Poseidon5817

Trump Terror: Robots compete (on regolith of course) to build a wall across the middle of the field. Teams then launch foam balls over the wall into the other alliance's territory. If an alliance relaunches the balls back across the wall, bonus points are given.

Does that make you feel better?

Close, but what if each alliance had their own blocks for building the wall, and they must use the blocks belonging to the opposing alliance for the wall? Meaning there would be red blocks on the red side, and blue blocks on the blue side. The red alliance must take and use the blue blocks, and vice versa. Whoever finishes first wins, but any robots on the wrong side of the wall must be sent back to their side. If they refuse to go there on their own, they may be pushed, dragged, launched, or otherwise moved to the correct side. Additionally, one robot on each alliance will be assigned as Donald Trump, referred to as The Donald. The Donald will be identified by a wig and optional hat.

[Hitchhiker 42]

Originally Posted by EricH

Every time someone brings up Recycle Rush as bad, I have to remember that they probably haven't seen '01.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabolical_Dynamics

Specifically:

A few consider it one of the best FIRST games designed.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Hitchhiker 42

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabolical_Dynamics

Specifically:

A few people probably also think Recycle Rush was the best FRC game to be designed. Ditto for Lunacy.

Just a thought.


(There's also the thought that perhaps someone needs to recall their English lessons from high school, particularly the slight yet significant difference between "a few" and "few".)

[GeeTwo]

Originally Posted by Hitchhiker 42

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabolical_Dynamics

Specifically:

Let's put that quote in context:

Originally Posted by WikiPedia,Diabolical Dynamics, Reception

While most participants did not like the lack of "red versus blue" competition within matches, others praised the game for its inventiveness and emphasis on cooperation. A few consider it one of the best FIRST games designed.

There certainly appears to be a trend that all of the 4n+1 years (1993 Rug Rage, 1997 Toroid Terror, 2001 Diabolical Dynamics, 2005 Triple Play, 2009 Lunacy, 2013 Aerial Assist) have each introduced a distinct new challenge (or as I've called it before, a "bizarro" game), and most (if not all; I can't properly document the first two) seem to have been "love it or hate it" games. Unless the GDC is bucking this trend, this year we are living in "interesting times".

Edit: And OBTW, in 2013, there were at least two bizarro items. Not only were we required to launch frisbee discs with a robot that fit inside a 120" frame perimeter, the "hanging" postgame was regulated such that a "high" climb was mandated to be in no fewer than three separate stages. AFAIK, every other climb/hang game to date (both before and since 2013) could be completed in a single grab and pull.

[cadandcookies]

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

A few consider it one of the best FIRST games designed.

xkcd 285

[D.Allred]

Originally Posted by Poseidon5817

Trump Terror: Robots compete (on regolith of course) to build a wall across the middle of the field. Teams then launch foam balls over the wall into the other alliance's territory. If an alliance relaunches the balls back across the wall, bonus points are given.

Does that make you feel better?

One adjustment. Your alliance wins if the other alliance builds the wall. Ready, set, play.

[PayneTrain]

Cellfone Folly! Break the phones out of phone jail to keep everyone in the arena alive!

[BrennanB]

Triple Balance on the 2012 bridge with 2009 wheels on the drivetrain.

[frcguy]

Originally Posted by BrennanB

Triple Balance on the 2012 bridge with 2009 wheels on the drivetrain.

And the bridge is regolith.

[Nemo]

You will also want to take some cues from FTC.

Make autonomous 30 seconds long and include various available tasks that are worth good points. Allow opponents to point their robot at yours and drive into you during autonomous.

Designate protected areas and field elements that your opponents can't touch. Put them in locations that both alliances need to drive near to play the game effectively. Make the field good and crowded so the protected areas aren't too easy to avoid. Give out huge penalties for bumping into them.

[Alsch]

Considering that both xkcd and sabotage have been brought up, I can't help but feel that https://xkcd.com/689/ is relevant somehow

[efoote868]

Just replay any year, cut the teleop period by 50% and extend the autonomous period by the same amount.

[headlight]

Worst game I could come up with. Pretty long description, but in most of the worse games the devil is in the details.

Field is divided into a grid of 12 zones, 3 across, 4 down. Teams get points for each square they move into from their starting square as well as a multiplier bonus of how many zones away from their starting position they are at the end of the match. Teams may only block robots from entering a zone, they may not push opponents back into other zones, significant penalties are assessed for such an action.

The game objects are 1ft x 1ft memory foam cubes, there are 7 of them on the field, each robot starts with 1 and there is an extra 1 in the middle of the field. Points are awarded when a cube touches the ground inside a zone, per zone, cubes may not be dragged across the ground into a new zone, but must be lifted over the tape lines, if a cube touches the tape it negates the score of the cube. This score is divided by the number of zones away from their starting zone each cube is at the end of the match.

Robots may start in any zone they wish, one per zone. Priority is determined by a staggered load in order (red 1, blue 1, red 2, blue 2... etc).

Designated score keepers are expressly forbidden. There are two referees and the head referee. There is an automated laser grid system that matches the grid lines, but it does not record information, only feeds information about which grids it thinks are occupied based on entrance/exit information back to the referee display in real time.

The referee interface is divided into 3 screens, one screen for actions involving the robot (with alternating buttons for both scoring and penalties on a per robot basis), one screen for the actions of the cubes, tracked per cube, and one screen that is locked until the end of the match at which point the referees enter the starting and ending positions of all 6 robots and 7 cubes. Each referee must keep score and penalties for all 6 robots. When there is a discrepancy between the two referees, the average of the point values is taken per team.

[Zebra_Fact_Man]

Originally Posted by frcguy

Aerial Assist on regolith (with Lunacy wheels)?

Alternatively, Aerial Assist where high-speed ramming is legal and you receive some kind of point bonus for it.

Are you mad?!? That sounds awesome!

Originally Posted by Hitchhiker 42

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabolical_Dynamics\

Oddly enough, DD was my high school team's Head Coach's favorite game.

Originally Posted by EricH

A few people probably also think Recycle Rush was the best FRC game to be designed. Ditto for Lunacy.

One of my design mentor's favorite game so far is RR.
Also, one of my favorite games is Lunacy.

I guess we're just one odd group of mentors.