Title says it all. We only have a little time left to look back before we plunge headfirst into 2020. I can’t really make a judgement because I only have been part of the program for a year (though I really loved Destination Deep Space), and so I would like to know what others think.
2013
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2013, and it’s not close.
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This is the correct post.
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2014 would probably like a word.
Unless the person calling for that is a ref. Then 2013. So 2013.
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Same (correct) opinion as everyone else so far. 2013
Not just the best game of the decade—best FIRST game period
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Gonna be the odd one out here and say 2016.
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A lot of people say it was the best of the theme games. The worst of the theme games is, unanimously…
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Late season 2014 can hold a candle to 2013 but it’s still 2013.
2013 just had so many things going for it
- Audience friendly, easy to watch/understand
- So many different successful robot and alliance archetypes
- A very difficult and unique challenge to FRC
- Good scoring balance
- Lots of robot interaction
- Chance for unique defense that isnt just shoving
- Lots of other things I can’t think of in the moment
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The endgame looked sick! All the different approaches I have seen teams do in videos were spectacular
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2014 was the only game that had my non-robot-caring co-workers jumping out of their chair watching matches. That seals it for me.
(Notwithstanding that it required more ref training than was feasible during an FRC season)
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Oh your profile picture says a lot about you opinion 
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I really enjoyed playing 2018, Power Up is my personal favorite game.
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2014 - Best High Level Matches
2013 - Best Low Level Matches
2015 - Best Engineering Challenge
2016 - Best Match Strategy Choices
2018 - Best Autonomous Gimmick
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I think high level 2012 warrants mention as well. But from the general CD opinion I think that could definitely be my nostalgic bias talking.
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Also bear in mind that FRC had less than half as many teams in 2010 as it does now (and more half of those teams will have “retired” in that time). That, plus newer memories being newer, means that people will tend to remember more recent games.
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2014 coulda beena contender, if FRC went for more than one season per game. I still think it’s the best game. But I’ll concede everyone else’s point about 2013.
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So I will say that 2014 is the spectator friendly game that has ever existed. It is the one game you could put on TV and anyone would understand.
I love 2013 because I think it is perfectly balanced and beautifully designed. There were multiple different alliance strategies that were 100% viable. It is the only game where the best teams were each doing something radically different and everyone had their own approach.
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2013 or 2014. 2014 had higher peaks but also lower lows.
I think people who say 2014 unequivocally tend to forget the ridiculous value of penalties, weekly rule changes (plus unscheduled ones), and inconsistent calling of penalties, as well as how agonizing matches could be with poor teams.
That said though, top level 2014 matches are easily the best general set of FRC matches out there to me. If I had to pick a previous game to play again for 2020, I think I’d risk it and go with AA, and hope that the floor has been raised over the last 6 years and that penalty values could be toned down and the rules clarified better. I’d love to see UA again though.
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It’s hard to erase build season drama and struggles from the memories of 2013… even if we made it to champs… but as a game goes its 2013 first and 2016 second.