[2010 Ideas] Adding and removing events

[Masayuki]

Hi,

Last year we added 6x6 and 7x7 as new events.
But I haven't seen any discussion on adding and removing events for 2010.
So I made this topic.

I personally like to add Mirror blocks as a new event.
Positive reasons
#1 The puzzle is commercially available.
#2 Unofficial competitions has been done in two areas.
#3 Visually impaired people can compete without extra regulation.

Negative reason
# Basically it is same as 3x3x3

Masayuki

[cubetalk]

I believe that negative reason is why it was turned down last year. Its just another 333 event with a twist. OH and blindfold are variations of the 333 just like mirror blocks.

If any puzzle should be added, it should not be a "cubical" puzzle

[anders]

IMO, if we want a new kind of event we should aim at Mirrorblocks blindfolded!

[BryanLogan]

If any puzzle should be added, it should not be a "cubical" puzzle

Why are you dismissing Skewb?

Mirror blocks has had 11 competitors unofficially in two competitions 150 miles apart, but Skewb has had 18 in two different continents.

#1 The one thing I worry about Mirror Blocks is long term availability. Skewb has been on the market for years. I think Mirror Blocks might end up like the Rubik's Brain Racker (http://www.rubiks.com/Shop/Products/Rub ... acker.aspx) Yeah, you can find it in a few places, but not many. I suspect the Mirror Blocks could be discontinued at any time, or at least be very difficult to obtain in other parts of the world. It's not exactly easily available in the US because of the Rubik's licensing having to cross boundaries.

#2 Two areas? You mean Japan and Japan?

#3 Is this a benefit that will even be utilized?

And the thing about adding Skewb is unlike 6x6 or 7x7, it can be relatively quick to scramble and solve, so it won't be a pain in the butt for organizers.

[blade740]

I am in support of both Skewb and Mirror Blocks.

Skewb is a fun event, different from every current event, and widely available. It's easy to learn, quick to solve, and fun.

Mirror Blocks is an amazing puzzle. I would especially like to see blindfolded (no inspection) competitions, though speedsolving it is fun as well.

More events = more fun. No competition is FORCED to hold any events, but those that wish to should be able to.

[deadalnix]

IMO, if we want a new kind of event we should aim at Mirrorblocks blindfolded!

That could be really fun ! Obviously, no inspection is allowed !

[Thom]

Add Skewb, remove feet and multiBLD.

I don't think you should add Mirror Blocks. What's next, Master Pyramorphix?

[deadalnix]

Skweb is very similar to pyraminx. I'm not sure it's a really good idea.

Removing multiBLD ? Are you kidding ? This one of the most challenging events !

[Ron]

Why Skewb? I haven't seen this event as an unofficial event many times, so it does not look like there is enthusiasm for it. Also, do we have a good scramble program? Let us first do some unofficial ones in 2010.

Mirror Blocks blindfolded could be an interesting event. But I do not think it is that important to make it official and do it in a World Championship.

[BryanLogan]

Why Skewb? I haven't seen this event as an unofficial event many times, so it does not look like there is enthusiasm for it.

It's a chicken-and-egg thing. People won't hold it if it's not official unless they have a lot of extra time. How many times was 6x6 and 7x7 held as unofficial?

[qqwref]

At least in the US, competitions are usually one day, so we never have enough time to do every event people want. If we had extra time we would do another official event, not an unofficial one, because people like the chance to improve their official results. No matter how popular an unofficial event might be, the attitude here is that there is already not enough time in the competition, so there is no point wasting time there to do something that nobody will get official credit for. So that's why you don't see a lot of unofficial rounds from this country.

It's also a chicken-and-egg thing as Bryan said. A lot of people who compete in official competitions only care about official results, so they will only practice something if it's already official, no matter how interesting the event might be by itself. (And even if an event is boring, if it is official people will practice it.) So Skewb doesn't have a lot of people practicing it because at the moment it's just another unofficial puzzle, but if it became official I think many people would try it, because it's an interesting and fun puzzle.

[Ron]

Yes, I also think this is a chicken-and-egg problem.
But if there is no time for an unofficial Skewb event, why would there be time for an official Skewb event?
I promise if we will have 8 unofficial Skewb events this year, that I will vote PRO Skewb next year.

[BryanLogan]

Yes, I also think this is a chicken-and-egg problem.
But if there is no time for an unofficial Skewb event, why would there be time for an official Skewb event?
I promise if we will have 8 unofficial Skewb events this year, that I will vote PRO Skewb next year.

How many unofficial Skewb events were there?

[Tim]

I count 8 exactly. Please let me know if you're aware of any competitions I might have missed.

StanfordSpring2010 [4]
OhioOpen2010 [6]
BattleofLexington2010 [3]
JapanOpen2010 [7]
FinnishOpen2010 [6]
Cubetcha2010 [4]
DeVry2010 [4]
Minnesota2010 [1]

[Sebastien]

It's a chicken-and-egg thing. People won't hold it if it's not official unless they have a lot of extra time. How many times was 6x6 and 7x7 held as unofficial?

I don't agree. As far as I remeber 6x6x6 and 7x7x7 have been hold on like every competition I was between their release and their declaration as official event. I also see a lot of enthousiasm for Mirror Blocks in Germany, but none for Skewb. Of course this might be different from region to region.

I'd have no problem to see both of them as official events by the way.

[Radu]

I don't see either any point in introducing Mirror Blocks as an event.
+I agree with Mirror Blocks BLD, though.
+I also agree with Skewb.

Very few have said something about removing events. I think here is the difficult part because there will always be a lot of people who won't like this.
-Master Magic - It's plain boring and just a matter of skill. ( I was thinking of both m and mm, but Magic is quite easy to learn and can bring new people into cubing.).
-Rubik's cube with feet. It is more of a curiosity and usually takes place only in very big competitions. Maybe it was fun a few years ago when cubing started, but nowadays when competitions have become more professional, I think it's an useless event and makes speedcubing look like circus.

Also, if the Board decides that an event must be removed, I think it should not take place immediately for the year to come, but be announced 1 year in advance. For example, if it is decided that "Master Magic" is going to be removed, then it should be removed starting 2012, not 2011, so that people get used to the idea.
Just my personal thoughts.

[Sebastien]

[..] makes speedcubing look like circus.

I agree with you in that point.

Concerning Master Magic. I'm surely no fan of Magic/Master Magic, but there is absolutely no benefit in removing these.

[Dene]

I count 8 exactly. Please let me know if you're aware of any competitions I might have missed.

StanfordSpring2010 [4]
OhioOpen2010 [6]
BattleofLexington2010 [3]
JapanOpen2010 [7]
FinnishOpen2010 [6]
Cubetcha2010 [4]
DeVry2010 [4]
Minnesota2010 [1]

I don't want to support this but we also had skewb at an Australian competition.

[AllDamiano95]

the Skewb is fantastic.
is a good variant of the Rubik's Cube.
many people in Italy would be happy in this category.