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.

[String]

Every game in FRC history has had flaws, and every game in FRC history has had people that hated the game. Look at last year. People said the game was terrible right at kickoff. After Einstein everybody agreed that Aerial Assist was an incredibly fun game despite all the negatives. Every game has its pros and cons. It's up to us to focus on the pros and enjoy the games that GDC gives us.

[JesseK]

This game isn't my favorite. The meta-game has a bit of a gaping hole in mid-range bots, and so many of the upper-echelon bots do the exact same concept to score lots of points. It's also every bot for itself. Probably the most interesting moments of a good match happen before the match during the driver discussion.

But even with a half-way decent working robot, it's fun-ish to play (maybe I'm biased, I'm a driver coach). It was (is?) a very tough challenge to design and build for given the square game pieces after years of round game pieces (maybe I'm biased, I'm the team's CAD mentor). All of our build kids had a lot of fun with it. Our drivers have been a bit stressed about it, but that's life as a driver with a multi-function robot.

I wouldn't say I'm burned out by it, not yet at least. If we were out of weight budget and couldn't improve further, then maybe it'd be different.

[Katie_UPS]

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 really sure where else you expect them to "complain". A more helpful comment would be directing OP to threads that exist already pertaining to this subject, or a "somewhere else" for them to continue this conversation.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?