This year's "game" is a job, not a game

[nixiebunny]

I'm getting a bit burned out by this year's competition. The game a couple years ago was Ultimate Frisbee; this year's is stacking bins in a warehouse. The winning robots all look like racks of bread in a bakery.

My engineering day job is more fun.

Thoughts?

[angusg]

Originally Posted by nixiebunny

I'm getting a bit burned out by this year's competition. The game a couple years ago was Ultimate Frisbee; this year's is stacking bins in a warehouse. The winning robots all look like racks of bread in a bakery.

I couldn't disagree more!

This year's game results in intense, fast-paced action - at the Australia regional last week we had crowds and teams watching on the edge of their seats as the teams playing tried to reach the maximum points they could.

It's all about playing the game to the limit.

Also the fact that it's hard to build a robot to do everything, it makes strategically selecting complementary alliance partners incredibly important.

Without wishing to be negative, I think all this complaint (this isn't the first post of this type) about the 2015 game is completely misplaced. If you build a great robot, you will have heaps of fun trying to win.

[Sperkowsky]

I'm tired of these negative threads about this year's game. Go complain somewhere else the gdc tries their best. I'm not a big fan of the game but I'm not going to complain on the Internet when there's no way the game is going to change.

[mrnoble]

I'm tired of all the negative comments about negative comments about the game. If you are upset because you think people shouldn't get upset about the game, well, I for one don't want to hear it.

Wait, no. Actually, I'm sick of all the negativity toward people who say that they are sick of the negativity. Quit picking on people who pick on people who pick on people who pick on the GDC!

No, wait

[mrnoble]

Seriously, the game isn't my favorite. It has problems. But, it's still fun and worthwhile, and I very much appreciate the effort of all the folks who continue to challenge me and my students each year, including this time.

[orangemoore]

I disagree. This game has made a lot of changes to rules that have been complained about for a really long time.

• No Bumpers
• No Size Limitations*
• Less ambiguous rules
• Progressive and Responsive GDC/Q&A

*Other than height and transport configuration.

Basically everyone should enjoy the game for what it is. There will be a new game next year. It will be different.

I think I have gotten tired of listening to people complain about the game every year. The game will never be perfect.

[TimTheGreat]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

Go complain somewhere else the gdc tries their best.

The GDC has had some pretty exciting games in the past. Basketball was great, especially with the End Game, and Aerial Assist was very fast-paced game, but this year is sub-par. This is definitely not the best GDC has/can come up with.

That being said, I don't think this years game was specifically meant to be the greatest game ever, but designed to raise awareness about the environment.

[g_sawchuk]

Originally Posted by TimTheGreat

The GDC has had some pretty exciting games in the past. Basketball was great, especially with the End Game, and Aerial Assist was very fast-paced game, but this year is sub-par. This is definitely not the best GDC has/can come up with.

That being said, I don't think this years game was specifically meant to be the greatest game ever, but designed to raise awareness about the environment.

Suitable to the conversation of who likes what, you like end games. I strongly dislike them. Who likes what game is all based on personal taste.

[mrnoble]

I loved last year's game, in spite of (not because of) the violence and refereeing difficulties. Never had so much much fun. This year's unexpected turn was difficult to swallow, but FRC is still the best thing going.

[The other Gabe]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

I loved last year's game, in spite of (not because of) the violence and refereeing difficulties. Never had so much much fun. This year's unexpected turn was difficult to swallow, but FRC is still the best thing going.

the violence was my favorite part 3

(IE the strategic smashing of our robot into other robots that we called defense and that got us a surprisingly high DPR considering we did not really plan any defense into our design other than our 6 CIM drive. then our robot broke. probably because we smashed into so many other robots. oops)

I like the alliance selection strategy of this year, but miss having an endgame that is completely different from the rest of the challenge (a la 2013's pyramid and 2012's bridges), and I miss defense.

[Rangel(kf7fdb)]

I won't repeat what's already been stated and I never thought I would ever say this but I miss bumpers. Not just for defense but because it gave all robots a lot more color pop to them and team numbers were way more identifiable. Maybe not as strict of bumper rules as in the past but they at least made teams a lot more identifiable and is a relief from how much gray is in the game whether it be the fields or robots.

[James1902]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

I'm tired of these negative threads about this year's game. Go complain somewhere else the gdc tries their best. I'm not a big fan of the game but I'm not going to complain on the Internet when there's no way the game is going to change.

If I pay 5,000 dollars expecting a certain experience and that experience does not live up to my expectations I will complain about that experience, regardless of how much effort was put into creating it in the first place.

I'm not a fan of the game and I think that certain aspects of it, if adopted long term, could harm the FIRST program. I think a game that (in my opinion) doesn't engage an audience of non-engineers in the same way that a sporting event does is contrary to FIRST's goals. Because of this, and because I want FIRST to continue to inspire and engage students, I will make my opinions known.

[Sperkowsky]

Originally Posted by James1902

If I pay 5,000 dollars expecting a certain experience and that experience does not live up to my expectations I will complain about that experience, regardless of how much effort was put into creating it in the first place.

I'm not a fan of the game and I think that certain aspects of it, if adopted long term, could harm the FIRST program. I think a game that (in my opinion) doesn't engage an audience of non-engineers in the same way that a sporting event does is contrary to FIRST's goals. Because of this, and because I want FIRST to continue to inspire and engage students, I will make my opinions known.

you paying 5k....

You are not the team you dont personally spend 5k on the game therefore you didnt pay 5k. We all pay the same entry fee and we all play the same game. I dont love the game but theres nothing we can do about it. Give the gdc a break because I am sure you wouldnt want their job (I Know i wouldnt) they make a solid game every year and all everyone ever does is complain. Its not a sports themed game and a lot of people like sports themed games. But it doesnt mean its not a fun game to play. The GDC doesnt need your opinion to help them. Throughout build season they have heard thousands of the same opinions; and I hate to break it to you they are moest likely deep in development of next years game.

Im not wanting to start a war I simply want to drop the atomic bomb to end it.

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by Sperkowsky

you paying 5k....

You are not the team you dont personally spend 5k on the game therefore you didnt pay 5k.

Ask my students how many hours I spend with them in robotics that I could have used to earn money.

Also, I would have the same reaction to spending my school's money on a defective $5000 machine, or software package, or whatever. It's the school's money, but I'm still not gonna say "oh well".

Notice the extremely positive outcome to the cheesecake incident just today from the folks at FIRST. Would that have happened without strong feedback?

[KushP384]

While I don't completely agree with the opinion that this years game is unexciting, it's definitely not as fast paced as Ultimate Ascent or as violent as Aerial Assault.*

Personally, any game with an objective is thrilling when the bot your team has put blood, sweat, and tears into is on the field and [hopefully] moving.