Boring Game

[BEEKMAN]

Originally Posted by BrendanB

I think it was very exciting! I am not surprised that you are seeing this since most of the teams are new. What I really like about it is that when a team kicks the ball, you know there is a good chance it will bounce out which makes moving balls more of a suspense to watch and such an excitement to watch.

I personally like this years game.

I agree, as an operator I can say that the crowd loved when anybody was scoring from zones 2 and 3. (yes it did happen...quite a bit). I agree however that alot of robots are similar in look, but in design and function, there is great diversity.

[Chris is me]

Originally Posted by Hurband

Now I must admit I am biased but if you get a chance to watch the Greater KC Regional final you will change your mind. The Red Alliance was beat handily in the first match then rallied to take the next 2 in the most exciting matches I have ever observed in FRC history. For all present, including Bill Miller and Woody Flowers, it has to be the best weekend of our teams history.

In case you're wondering if his affiliation with the winning team is making him inflate his story, it's not.

I thought this game was going to be boring when there were no good robots on the field. Every GKC elimination match changed my mind. This game is fantastic. There are so many dynamics, strategies, breathless moments, and decisions that make every match absolutely intense. This is a smart, simple, yet wonderful game. Get the crappy qualification system out of there (cough cough IRI) and this is my favorite game.

I can't honestly see why I ever liked Lunacy after watching the GKC elims.

[IKE]

Its funny. The scores were right where I was expecting them for week 1. You know there will be problems, you know the scores will be low, and you know there will not be a lot of strategy at first. While reading through the rules the first time, we could tell penalties would play a huge role. All this in mind, like Chris said, the game felt very slow on Friday.

After a nights rest though, everything changed. Saturday quals, the scores ratcheted up and the game was much better. Strategies began to be deployed, and defense was starting to be played.
Elims at Kettering were great. Although they went the traditional seeding order, they were still a blast to watch.

[UCGL_Guy]

After 11 years of participating this by far is the least exciting game yet. Even underpassing the infamous 4 on 0 year.

[V_Chip]

I think you should change the thread title to "Really Boring Game"

It just doesn't excite me very much (make that at all).

The only match that I found exciting was the final- FTW.
IMHO this year's game and seeding point system makes this season look. . .
"Bad"

They should revive recent years' games.

They're beginning to Breakaway from the fun.

[IndySam]

Week one play is usually boring until eliminations start. This year is no exception.

[Tarzan19]

Originally Posted by Hurband

Now I must admit I am biased but if you get a chance to watch the Greater KC Regional final you will change your mind. The Red Alliance was beat handily in the first match then rallied to take the next 2 in the most exciting matches I have ever observed in FRC history. For all present, including Bill Miller and Woody Flowers, it has to be the best weekend of our teams history.
Dick Hurban FRC 525 Cedar Falls, IA

Have to agree with Hurband here, mostly because i was on the field during these matches. ha. It was so excilirating that im still on a high right now. This game is the most exciting one ever put on by first.
Go 525, 931, and 2345.
Also kudos to 16,1625, and 2410 for a fantastic final match.

[Wildcat]

after kettering...i have to say overall it is a boring to watch game it didnt really pick up untill about the semi-finals at kettering

[JM987]

THIS GAME ROCKS!

[BrendanB]

Originally Posted by JM987

THIS GAME ROCKS!

It is really fun to watch!

[Kage]

I don't think that is is THAT boring.
Being behind the glass is different though, I am my teams "designated driver" and from my standpoint, the reason that it may seem kinda "boring" is that the new scoring system pretty much puts defensive alliances at a disadvantage in the long run. If there was more defense in the qualifying matches, then the matches would be a bit more hard-hitting action packed fun that I was expecting...

at GSR, there were quite a few good shots from mid field...
our robot scored about 10% of its points from mid-field, and one match, I got a lucky bounce over another robot and into the goal from far mid field haha

it is alot more exciting from behind the glass, too bad they couldnt come up with a way to let EVERYONE have that same experiance...

[DtD]

I had alot of fun watching it at the Greater Kansas City Regional! Lots of robot - robot interaction fighting for access to the goals!

However the seeding system did suck.

~David

[Clinton Bolinger]

This game is way better then last year, the low scores keep the game exciting just like Hockey and Soccer. So far I think the GDC got the point values right, elevated robots at Kettering decided whether or not a team won or lost. Hopefully in the weeks to come we will see more balls scored, elevated robots, and even a double suspension.

The eliminations are way better then the qualifications but that is expected. Also low scoring and slow matches is expected as well in week 1 of competition.

However, I do feel the FIRST dropped the ball on the ranking system this year (good idea on paper). Teams in Michigan should be playing to win instead of ranking because that is what gets you to States.

I think that the Michigan State Championship will be some of the most exciting matches this season and I am looking forward to our team's next week of competition.

-Clinton-

[Josh Goodman]

Definitely not boring if you're a referee....

Teams are playing "two different games" this year. In the qualifiers its all about Cooperatition™ and ranking points. Although the GDC made the game very simple and easy to watch, the motives in the qualifiers are completely skewed. Trying to get ranking points instead of winning the game plus all the penalties and cards makes the game super hard to follow. Even for the people IN FIRST.

However, I challenge you to watch ANY of the regional elimination matches and tell me that they were boring. In the elims you have the best of the best all competing for the sole purpose of winning. THIS is the game the GDC had in mind...and I LOVE it.

Unfortunately for the first day and a half, watching grass grow is another way to waste your time.

[Alan Anderson]

It occurs to me that having "two different games" has always been an issue. Even when the winning strategy was just "win", things always step up a notch in the elimination rounds. So perhaps this is something like the introduction of alliances: we can't prevent it, so let's make it mandatory.

During qualification rounds, the goal is often mostly to show off what you can do. Unless all you can do is defend, that's perfectly consistent with the seeding scheme this year. The actual qualification match play might not be terribly exciting, but so what? You get a chance to watch some interesting robots doing some impressive things without being distracted by the intensity of game play.

I think everyone agrees that the elimination matches are not a problem for spectator friendliness. That's not where the complaints have been directed. So instead of bemoaning the lack of action during qualifications, it would probably be more pleasant overall to simply adjust expectations and recognize that the qualification matches should be different. Winning is not the ultimate goal in those matches...though from what I saw at DC, and from comments I've read about other regionals from people whose viewpoints I respect, teams who played to win rather than trying to "play to seed" did end up seeding well anyway.