Round Robin on Einstein

[Dan Petrovic]

Yeah, I really like this idea.

Plus, who cares if the matches on Einstein go on longer? They're awesome matches to watch!

[tennispro9911]

For the sake of playing devil's advocake.

First of all, if it isn't broken, don't fix it.

I do agree that sometimes certain fields produce better winning alliances than others, but all 4 alliances on Einstein are still good enough to beat any of the other ones in a given match. It may seem to be an assured victory, but we know that nothing is ever impossible, especially from an alliance that has already won on a field.

Robots will break. I know that teams need to build robust robots, but things happen. Those robots have already played 2 or so matches in qualifying, 3 rounds to win thier field, and now you're asking them to play another 4 rounds on Einstein. 23 matches in a day is a lot for any team and any robot.

Ties. Matchups matter a lot. Matchups mean everything especially because of defense. A beats B which beats C which beats A. With close matches, this will happen a fair amount. I'd bet at least every other year you are going to have a tie, which means you need to be able to break the tie.

Can anyone think of a truely fair tiebreaker? Head-to-Head is great, but doesn't work for a 3 way tie. Points scored? ... doesn't account for defensive powerhouses. Point differential? ... much better, and this would work well in a game that is scored like this game, but in a game that is scored exponentially like 2007 and others, that can be hugely skewed by one match that an alliance scores say 128 points. Even point differential can be hugely misleading.

Also, I know no alliance would ever tank a match or anything like that, but you also can create the situation where one alliance is up 2-0 and guarenteed a spot in the finals, and another is down 0-2, and already eliminated. You make it so that a match (or two) could be played that doesn't have any chance of affecting the standings.

That said, I love the idea. I think it would be great. I'm mainly pointing out possible flaws/weaknesses so that the idea can be strengthened.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by tennispro9911

For the sake of playing devil's advocake.

First of all, if it isn't broken, don't fix it.

If we stuck by that saying, then we might not have that thing called evolution and innovation

I like the idea.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by tennispro9911

Can anyone think of a truely fair tiebreaker?

That would be a concern.

Also, I know no alliance would ever tank a match or anything like that, but you also can create the situation where one alliance is up 2-0 and guarenteed a spot in the finals, and another is down 0-2, and already eliminated. You make it so that a match (or two) could be played that doesn't have any chance of affecting the standings.

For that reason, the last two group matches are played simultaneously in the World Cup. This came about several cycles ago when the last match scheduled didn't mean anything if the teams tied, but if one of them won, a team watching from the sidelines would advance. Both teams playing that last match were content to bunker down for the tie. While we might say that GP would never allow this to happen, why tempt it?

If those two problems could be addressed, I'd be interested.

Another alternative would be a double-elimination tournament:
Round 1
- A beats C
- G beats N
Round 2 ("loser's bracket")
- N beats C
Round 3 ("winner's bracket")
- G beats A; G advances to finals
Round 4
- N beats A
Finals
- N plays G. N must win twice to take the Championship; G would only be required to win once.

No team is eliminated until they lose twice. The only variable is if the finals go to one match or two.

Edit: A double-elimination scheme would work for regionals and the division finals as well.

[smurfgirl]

Originally Posted by tennispro9911

Ties. Matchups matter a lot. Matchups mean everything especially because of defense. A beats B which beats C which beats A. With close matches, this will happen a fair amount. I'd bet at least every other year you are going to have a tie, which means you need to be able to break the tie.

Can anyone think of a truely fair tiebreaker?

I have to agree with this. I love the idea- I think it would be more fun to play in a tournament structured like that, and more fun to watch it as well- but I was wondering what exactly would have to be done about the ties. As tennispro mentioned, certain methods seem more appropriate for certain games- maybe there would be a different tie-breaker method each year that the GDC thought would work best with the game?

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by smurfgirl

I have to agree with this. I love the idea- I think it would be more fun to play in a tournament structured like that, and more fun to watch it as well- but I was wondering what exactly would have to be done about the ties. As tennispro mentioned, certain methods seem more appropriate for certain games- maybe there would be a different tie-breaker method each year that the GDC thought would work best with the game?

That's an interesting proposal. As if I didn't already have a love/hate relationship towards the GDC & the rules after all the crazy rules in the 8 years I've been involved, what if they decided that in the event of a tie the rules were changed up a bit for that tie-breaker?

For example, in the event of a tie this year, we could have had a rule that said the tie breaker game would have added an additional trackball into the mix for each team (ala' Beantown Blitz this year).
(Just as an example).

The change for the tie-breaker would have to be something that would swing the game in favor of an alliance who understood the game completely, because with a tie you've already proven you are (so far) equally matched playing it "regular style". (Ever get bored playing a competitive racing video game in the normal way, so you challenged an equally matched friend to race the course with you backwards for example & see who could handle the change?)

In this idea, you would throw in some leverage for the alliance who knows the game inside & out & would see who the best is by seeing which alliance could prove themselves & play it (even more) strategically than the first 2 matches.

[EricH]

Originally Posted by InfernoX14

Plus, who cares if the matches on Einstein go on longer? They're awesome matches to watch!

Actually, I think it's to reduce the number of matches that might need to be played. And yes, we care if they run long! Team Social (or whatever it's called) is calling, and we want our share. But we can't get it unless we leave early and miss matches. Also, NASA TV broadcasts the finals--but ends coverage before the matches end. Why? Schedule! If it's more consistent, then it'll be easier to figure out when you can switch to something else--if you're early, you can end early.

I like the idea too.

As for "if it isn't broken, don't fix it", the engineer has two counters for that. One is "If it isn't broken, it doesn't have enough features" and the other is "If it isn't broken, fix it 'till it is".

[Cory]

Originally Posted by EricH

Actually, I think it's to reduce the number of matches that might need to be played. And yes, we care if they run long! Team Social (or whatever it's called) is calling, and we want our share. But we can't get it unless we leave early and miss matches. Also, NASA TV broadcasts the finals--but ends coverage before the matches end. Why? Schedule! If it's more consistent, then it'll be easier to figure out when you can switch to something else--if you're early, you can end early.

I like the idea too.

As for "if it isn't broken, don't fix it", the engineer has two counters for that. One is "If it isn't broken, it doesn't have enough features" and the other is "If it isn't broken, fix it 'till it is".

For the record, NASA knows that the event will never end on time. FIRST's refusal to modify the schedule to accurately reflect the end time is the reason why coverage is cut short.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Cory

For the record, NASA knows that the event will never end on time. FIRST's refusal to modify the schedule to accurately reflect the end time is the reason why coverage is cut short.

It's not the fault of the competition itself. It's the endless parade of people giving speeches, which kills me because people have been complaining about too many speeches going on for too long for years! So what's FIRSTs response? Get more speakers! Way to know your audience guys!

[JVN]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

It's not the fault of the competition itself. It's the endless parade of people giving speeches, which kills me because people have been complaining about too many speeches going on for too long for years! So what's FIRSTs response? Get more speakers! Way to know your audience guys!

Do you really believe you are the target audience? I have a feeling I'm not.

[jgannon]

Originally Posted by JVN

Do you really believe you are the target audience? I have a feeling I'm not.

Ed may not be the target audience, but he certainly isn't the only one I've heard complaining either. To nobody's surprise, high schoolers would much rather watch robots than people talking. I like most of the speeches, and I think they're very important, but increasing the ratio of talking versus robots when the students are already fidgety does demonstrate a lack of understanding of the audience.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by jgannon

but increasing the ratio of talking versus robots when the students are already fidgety does demonstrate a lack of understanding of the audience.

The speeches are an opportunity for those whom FIRST develops partnerships with to be in the spotlight for a bit. That time in the spotlight is like the sponsor name on the robot.

There are no easy answers in managing the time.

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

The speeches are an opportunity for those whom FIRST develops partnerships with to be in the spotlight for a bit. That time in the spotlight is like the sponsor sticker on the robot.
There are no easy answers in managing the time.

The root of that problem is that only 2 times a year in FRC is the event given to a global audience with the soapboxes at each leading to a lot of talking.
Kickoff, & The Championship Event.
(I know some other events are webcast, but none get as much viewing time as these 2 I'm willing to bet anything on that.)

To solve this, maybe FIRST or the general community can organize a suppliers/sponsors/supporters summit to be broadcast to the FIRST community as a quarterly broadcast, or even in e-mailed video format to alleviate some of the speaking during the big show.
Youtube & many other media oulets exist, let's use them for their educational purpose & throw some speeches up there for example.

I know The Championship Event & Kickoff, & the program is not "all about the robots", this is certainly true, but what draws us in to the FRC program, and the Kickoff, & the Championship Event?
Not the promise of hearing a speaker talk (no matter how great they are) but the promise of some exciting matches on the competition playing field, & the possibility of seeing your own team make it to the big show & go all the way. (of course all while being inspired by science & technology)

I guess what I'm trying to say here, is let's not criticize any speakers, or the time of their speeches, or their failure to "reach the intended audience", because they deserve to be there as much as we do after all the support they give the program, but let's strive to find a nice balance of speaking & competing while not favoring one over the other, but also knowing that each has it's place in the grand picture & try to find how the two have in the past & refine how they may be able to compliment each other in the future.

If a moderator wants to move all the posts in here referring to speech vs. robot time discussion to another thread since we've strayed from the original round-robin format proposal here, feel free to do so.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by JVN

Do you really believe you are the target audience? I have a feeling I'm not.

I mean the kids, John.
Parading an assortment of adults in front of over stimulated kids while anchoring then to the seats with the promise of even further excitement and then talk at them for long periods of time has not proven to be a popular choice amongst the masses.

[smurfgirl]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

I mean the kids, John.
Parading an assortment of adults in front of over stimulated kids while anchoring then to the seats with the promise of even further excitement and then talk at them for long periods of time has not proven to be a popular choice amongst the masses.

Koko Ed is right, once again. I don't think I've ever seen anyone stay excited through all of the awards and the closing ceremony- in fact, I've seen a lot of people who have fallen asleep. It not that the kids don't respect the people speaking or have zero interest in what they say, it's just that they've been running around for three days between two buildings, staying up too late at night, and have been intensely involved in something they are very passionate about which is just about to get more exciting... and then someone who is presenting an award gets up and goes off on what is a tangent from the excitement on Einstein, a 20 minute speech with a bit of a political agenda, which keeps sounding like it is going to end but continues anyway. I've enjoyed some of the speeches I've heard, but it really is hard to have your robot ready to go on Einstein and forget about all of that excitement and adrenaline so you can sit patiently and focus on someone giving a long speech.