Thoughts on Rubik’s recently?

[Underwatercuber]

As of late Rubik’s has started a lawsuit against the cubicle and announced a completion to rival the WCA. What are your thoughts on this?


I personally am pretty irked that Rubik’s isnt satisfied with the millions (probably billion) of dollars they are making and instead of doing something productive like when they collaborated with Gan they are trying to force themselves on the speedcubing community. At least that’s how I see it personally.

 

[applezfall]

(Plus they cancelled their clock which was the only good puzzle they ever made)

the clock sucks

 

[Sajwo]

it's gettin hot in here

 

[Ordway Persyn]

They definitely have poor timing. The recent lawsuit has really PO'd a lot of the community. With them announcing them organizing their own comps, they basically need to have the community with them. Even if this lawsuit didn't happen, the new line of competitions would have alienated many cubers to begin with. People don't like change, despite the fact we like to say that we do.

 

[Sajwo]

They definitely have poor timing. The recent lawsuit has really PO'd a lot of the community. With them announcing them organizing their own comps, they basically need to have the community with them. Even if this lawsuit didn't happen, the new line of competitions would have alienated many cubers to begin with. People don't like change, despite the fact we like to say that we do.

Actually they don't need our community at all. They are multi-billion dollar company and they can make their own community. WCA has ~80 000 competitors and I believe that Rubik's could do like 10x more than that. Results will catch up eventually in a couple of years.

 

[One Wheel]

It looks to me like the Red Bull thing is more aimed at elite competitors, or at least claiming they have elite competitors (that's what Red Bull does, and they're really good at making slick videos), while WCA is focused on allowing everyone to compete. The catch is that WCA already has all, or nearly all, the elite competitors. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a lot of people who see the Red Bull competitions (they'll get somebody to compete) and then come to WCA competitions. At least they're using the "Speedcubing" term, so people will find WCA when they look.

 

[xyzzy]

Results will catch up eventually in a couple of years.

Probably not even that long if they've got the Gan sponsorees (sponsee? (is that even a word?)) along with them, and some of them showed up in the promo video.

 

[Cubing 101]

yeah i heard about that. Rubik's cubes are crappy and so is this decision.

 

[kbrune]

It looks to me like the Red Bull thing is more aimed at elite competitors, or at least claiming they have elite competitors (that's what Red Bull does, and they're really good at making slick videos), while WCA is focused on allowing everyone to compete. The catch is that WCA already has all, or nearly all, the elite competitors. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a lot of people who see the Red Bull competitions (they'll get somebody to compete) and then come to WCA competitions. At least they're using the "Speedcubing" term, so people will find WCA when they look.

That isn't what the result will be. Elite cubers will be drawn to these sponsored comps because the money will be much bigger. Sure maybe a few will boycott them. but MONEY talks. They will go for the money. More then not.

What happens when new people start cubing? Usually, they see someone amazing at it and decide omg i want to do that too. New cubers will go to RCSA and WCA will eventually become the smaller less relevant body.

Maybe im wrong and the RCSA will become the place where elite cubers end up. And the WCA is where beginners will get their start.. but i doubt it. RCSA would include WCA in the whole process if that's how they wanted to be.

I'll say it again and again. This is about money. plain and simple.

 

[Ghost Cuber]

That isn't what the result will be. Elite cubers will be drawn to these sponsored comps because the money will be much bigger. Sure maybe a few will boycott them. but MONEY talks. They will go for the money. More then not.

What happens when new people start cubing? Usually, they see someone amazing at it and decide omg i want to do that too. New cubers will go to RCSA and WCA will eventually become the smaller less relevant body.

Maybe im wrong and the RCSA will become the place where elite cubers end up. And the WCA is where beginners will get their start.. but i doubt it. RCSA would include WCA in the whole process if that's how they wanted to be.

I'll say it again and again. This is about money. plain and simple.

Someone fast should compete, win, and publicly donate all the money to the WCA

 

[Underwatercuber]

Someone fast should compete, win, and publicly donate all the money to the WCA

Yessss

 

[turtwig]

Once something gets big enough, people will always try to make money off of it. It's completely natural that the best cubers will be attracted to this competition. They've worked hard to get where they are, can you blame them for trying to get some extra benefits, or possibly even make a living with their skill?

 

[One Wheel]

That isn't what the result will be. Elite cubers will be drawn to these sponsored comps because the money will be much bigger. Sure maybe a few will boycott them. but MONEY talks. They will go for the money. More then not.

What happens when new people start cubing? Usually, they see someone amazing at it and decide omg i want to do that too. New cubers will go to RCSA and WCA will eventually become the smaller less relevant body.

Maybe im wrong and the RCSA will become the place where elite cubers end up. And the WCA is where beginners will get their start.. but i doubt it. RCSA would include WCA in the whole process if that's how they wanted to be.

I'll say it again and again. This is about money. plain and simple.

You are probably mostly right. On the other hand, two things: first, WCA is better positioned to track and ratify world records. I don't know what non-Red Bull affiliated RSA events will look like, but the Red Bull part WCA would be well served to recognize single speedsolve times (and OH, but without inspection there are unlikely to be many world class times). Outside of that, since Guinness has recognized WCA times they really can't retroactively invalidate them. I would like to think that there is still a slight possibility of some cooperation. The second issue is puzzles other than 3x3: Rubik's-Gans has decent 3x3 hardware, and now Gans has a 2x2 as well, but they're so far behind on big cube hardware it's not even funny. Without opening up to non-rubik's branded hardware there is virtually no chance that they can expand to other puzzles.

Someone fast should compete, win, and publicly donate all the money to the WCA

If only I was fast.

 

[GenTheSnail]

they're so far behind on big cube hardware it's not even funny.

I actually think it's funny how bad their 5x5 is.
I laugh (and shudder), remembering when it was my only one.

 

[kbrune]

Once something gets big enough, people will always try to make money off of it. It's completely natural that the best cubers will be attracted to this competition. They've worked hard to get where they are, can you blame them for trying to get some extra benefits, or possibly even make a living with their skill?

Of course! Making money from your cubing skills isn't a bad thing. Im not oppose to that at all. I just don't think Rubik should get away with taking all the work that the ppl who poured their blood sweat and tears into making the cubing scene what it is today for free. While raking in all the cash.

How much profit has the WCA made off of cubing since it's inception??

You are probably mostly right. On the other hand, two things: first, WCA is better positioned to track and ratify world records. I don't know what non-Red Bull affiliated RSA events will look like, but the Red Bull part WCA would be well served to recognize single speedsolve times (and OH, but without inspection there are unlikely to be many world class times). Outside of that, since Guinness has recognized WCA times they really can't retroactively invalidate them. I would like to think that there is still a slight possibility of some cooperation. The second issue is puzzles other than 3x3: Rubik's-Gans has decent 3x3 hardware, and now Gans has a 2x2 as well, but they're so far behind on big cube hardware it's not even funny. Without opening up to non-rubik's branded hardware there is virtually no chance that they can expand to other puzzles.

I hope you're right. But they made a deal with Gan cause they were far behind in the basic hardware. I think they'll just do the same in a year or 2 for the rest of the cube sizes once they sink their claws into the introductory events.

 

[One Wheel]

I hope you're right. But they made a deal with Gan cause they were far behind in the basic hardware. I think they'll just do the same in a year or 2 for the rest of the cube sizes once they sink their claws into the introductory events.

I'll be getting my popcorn ready for the day when Rubik's tries licensing a higher order cube in V-cubes jurisdiction.

 

[xyzzy]

I'll be getting my popcorn ready for the day when Rubik's tries licensing a higher order cube in V-cubes jurisdiction.

Plot twist: they license it from V-Cube.

 

[tx789]

Big companies like making money without caring much about ethics. They will appear to care for PR reasons.


I still think there is a chance of this failing but it is too early to tell.

 

[Max Cruz]

Is there not a thread already?

 

[DhruvA]

I think maybe rubiks will disappear like vcubes