FIRST is repeatedly marketed as “The sport of the mind” and Dean has stated many times that he hopes that it takes a place besides (or in front) of traditional spectator sports.
There is one amazingly annoying problem in the way. (not the only one, but it’s up there in my book).
The camera angle on webcasts is absolutely terrible! most of the time the camera is focused on two robots pushing each other, it’s zoomed in all the way just in case you were wondering if they were using wedgetop or roughtop on their tractions…
it’s impossible to understand the dynamics of the match, especially since there is more than one game piece!
FIRST can learn from the established spectator sports: Soccer, Football, Basketball, Rugby, Tennis, Swimming, Running… The main “go-to” shot is the wide angle field view, with the zoomed in close up reserved for replays.
Watching a match right now is just a chaotic mash up of robot closeups… not really a spectators game if you ask me.
I’ve already emailed our regional directors, requesting that they make the wide angle view standard.
Do you agree? is there anything we could do to persuade FIRST to make a global decision?
-Leav