Re: taking RPS to the world.

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Comments:: Dear Custardchuk, : This adaptation of yours is really quite enjoyable. Although there are only four of us in my office at the moment, (Iāve sent Arbiter a memo) it still creates an almost electric atmosphere. I can only imagine the effect on a crowd of over 100 people! : : Perhaps I will once again return to the venue of live sporting events, if in lieu of that Nah-nah-nah-nah HEY song during commercials, spectators partook in this form of RPS. : I only wish this had come up last week, so I could have gotten the word out at the "Subway Series" games between the Mets and Yankees. I don't much care for baseball, but it would have served well to set the wheels in motion, as they say. : : Should we bastardise RPS for mass appeal? : I believe we've all asked this question many times before. A colleague and myself came up with a TV game show format for RPS, but couldn't decide if this kind of exposure (not to mention lack of quality prizes) would strengthen or cheapen the public view of the game. : The game worked as follows. : The show begins with 128 contestants. The first three rounds are all single elimination "lightning rounds", best-of-one matches where all games are played simultaneously. Whereas this makes it a bit hard to keep track of at first, it does level the playing field fairly quickly. This will then reduce from 128 to 64 to 32 to 16. : The remaining sixteen will then switch to a best-of-three format. These matches are to be played one by one for optimal crowd participation and to increase the pressure on the remaining contestants. This format remains for rounds 4 and 5, until the field is reduced to four. : We then enter the showdown between the "Formidable Four". It then switches to a best of 3 round in a best of 7 match format. So as to incorporate a bit more strategy into the play, and generate more interest from students of the game who may believe these remaining contestants could simply have been lucky to advance so far. : There is then the "Grandmasters Round", which will decide who is the ultimate champion for that day. It is the best of three round in a best of 11 match. The champion will then pick his prize and be invited to participate in the next show and defend his title. : The audience will also be asked to take a very active part in the proceedings. Although there may be too many contestants to pick a favorite to cheer on, the audience will be split into three sections. One for each of the RPS trinity. This way they can cheer their favorite symbol to victory. : Attendees will also be encouraged to dress in the style of their section. With apologies to Master Roshambollah, for this we have to go with a more commercial than spiritual view. Rock being categorized as a tool of destruction (the simple tools of cavemen come to mind), Paper as that of the intellectuals (for what do mathematicians write their logarithms on? Or Cicero his letters?), and Scissors more of a working man caught somewhere between brawn and brain. : Of course, the audience would also be encouraged to bring signs of support for both their favorite part of the trinity, and the network bringing them such a game. : For example : pAper covers yEs! The rocks : unBreakable Scissors cut do Break the : roCk! Paper Scissors! : Nicely! : : There are still many other matters I will not address here, such as laser-lights, animations, etc. : Of course, all the major broadcast companies expressed no interest. We did have a brief flirtation with the Hand Channel, but they ultimately decided they'd rather stay "true to the game". : I agree with you that RPS should be greater infused into the mainstream consciousness (whereas the aforementioned initiative failed badly). That's one of our greater long-term (although some of the higher-ups insist short-term) goals in the Outreach Office. In fact, I'll be out of the office most of the week travelling to different universities in my region attempting to raise RPS awareness and interest...setting up intramural leagues, round-table discussions on strategies, history of the game, etc. : I think perhaps I'll recommend this adaptation of yours to the young people I meet. Hopefully this will prompt its future use in a multitude of situations such as boring parties, between classes, or at collegiate sporting matches. It'll be a good start. : Great to see you back. : Sincerely, : C. Urbanus : "Paper is the answer, should Rock be the question"

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