Ronxu
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Reasonable.
JustinTimeCuber
Legend
Vcubes didn't disappear, they just became irrelevant to cubers.
Raumaan Kidwai
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"Thank you and f**k rubik's 
" -- Feliks, 2017
Yeah they're not gonna get any world class cubers.
" -- Feliks, 2017Yeah they're not gonna get any world class cubers.
shadowslice e
Legend
Source?"Thank you and f**k rubik's
Yeah they're not gonna get any world class cubers.
One Wheel
Legend
Somebody posted it on reddit, but I'm not convinced it's legit.
Raumaan Kidwai
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It was on his instagram, lemme pull it up.
Micah Walker
Regular
O, boy!! I'm getting excited! the hype is for real!
Raumaan Kidwai
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One Wheel
Legend
I stand corrected. Good for Feliks.
turtwig
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What heinous act are they doing that they're going to 'get away' with? They're not taking anything away from the WCA, why does it matter if they're going to make more money? If anyone becomes interested in cubing after watching this competition, they're probably going to find out about the WCA and participate in its competitions. Obviously Red Bull and Rubik's are taking advantage of what the WCA has created, but so far I think this competition will be mutually beneficial so I don't think it's a bad thing.
pglewis
Veteran
I personally consider it heinous that they're making a legal attempt to shut down TheCubicle (and by extension, all similar retailers). I consider it bordering on heinous that they're insisting on one manufacturer for events. And I now believe if they had their way they'd dissolve the WCA and take over as the official body for the sport.
turtwig
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I was referring to something heinous about this competition. I agree that trying to create a monopoly in the cubing market is horrible, but I think that's a separate issue. I understand that many people are angry at Rubik's for its recent controversy, but I don't think that just because one of its actions was bad, that everything it does is then automatically bad.
If you're referring to the Red Bull competition where one can only use a Rubik's Brand, then you should really rethink the issue. Google's definition of heinous is "utterly odious or wicked". How is Rubik's making certain rules that you don't like at it's own competition heinous? Murdering an innocent person is heinous, forcing people to use a Rubik's brand at a competition run by Rubik's is not heinous.
I've not been caught up on everything that has been happening with Rubik's, so if you were referring to something else (specifically if Rubik's stated that it wanted people to only use Rubik's brand puzzle at WCA competition), feel free to disregard this.
We can speculate all we want, but I won't judge them for anything they haven't done, and I would advise that other do the same.
MiaSponseller
Regular
Honestly, I'm not super happy what Rubik's is doing. I understand sort of that they want people to buy their cubes. But most people usually buy their cube first before buying from the cubicle or wherever they get their speedcubes. they make quite a bit of money from selling their normal 3x3s at $11 or $12.
pglewis
Veteran
I can't find solid verification of this as a fact, but it's my understanding that the WCA and Rubik's could not reach an agreement due to that very stipulation. AFAIK, we've reached the end of sponsorship for WCA events from Rubik's Brands and the WCA is working to replace it with a more stable choice(s).
Bottom of: http://madrid2018.cubecomps.com/
It's pure speculation, and that's always dangerous, but I don't consider it wild speculation and it's based on their actions to date as I understand them:
They've tried to stop all other 3x3s by attempting to enforce their trademark as if it were a patent; their patents are long expired. They lost that case in the EU and they're currently testing it in the US, specifically against TheCubicle. The language of what they're demanding would stop TheCubicle from selling non-Rubik's 3x3s at the very least, if not outright put them out of business. They've attempted to get the WCA to require "Rubik's Brand only" (I would assume only applied to 3x3) and failing that they're now starting their publicity campaign for their own "World Championship".
It's a clear pattern from recent actions and it keeps me from being able to conceptually divorce the Cubicle lawsuit from the event.
CornerCutter
Veteran
Awesome, that's great!
kbrune
Veteran
You introduced the word heinous to the ideas posted. And to be honest it's normal for ppl to use exaggerated words to describe everything. Throwing in a definition and trying to call someone out on it is petty. Guaranteed you've done it too.
What Rubik is doing probably wont end the WCA and will absolutely grow the speedsolving community if they're successful. I've never argued against that specifically. What I can't stand, is that now, after over a decade, They've decided it's time to cash in on the growing cube market. Everything they're doing points to this profit motive. For PR reasons im sure they'll play nice when it suits them. But it's very apparent that they really don't care about a whole lot more then the future bottom line.
Forcing ppl to use only Rubik's product at their own event may not be labeled heinous. But it certainly isn't necessary to secretly organize Championships that are bigger and better then anything the world has seen. They can easily use WCA competitions to promote their products. sponsor the best solvers like moyu, and cubicle etc... Get your cubes in the hands of the best and let the product speak for itself. It's obvious they want more then being a viable product. They're making up for lost time by throwing their weight around while they can.
In the end i don't think this will blow up the WCA and end it. I just feel that Rubik's wants their position. And I'm not ok with how they're doing it. The WCA should be the organization that has Big Money sponsored championships.
Anyway. my 2 cents..
turtwig
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I used the word 'heinous' because you said that they were going to 'get away' with something. I think that people are really overreacting to this, as if something deeply wrong is happening (regarding the competition, not the lawsuit or anything else). I probably shouldn't have criticized pglewis for using the word 'heinous' as I used it first, but I would've even say that Rubik's forcing people to use their products at their competition is even bad, so I was surprised that he pointed that out as an example of Rubik's being 'heinous'. (Note: I was referring to Rubik's and Red Bull forcing competitors to use Rubik's Brand at their competition in my post, which is apparently not what pglewis actually meant. I would agree what he was actually talking about is bad, but I was of course responding to what I originally believed he said.)
I don't think that Rubik's only doing it for the money is a terrible thing either. I don't think one has to want to help someone to help them. For example, most people's employers probably don't care a lot about them personally, but that doesn't mean the bosses aren't helping their employees when they provide them a job. I think it's the same thing here: even if Rubik's doesn't care about the cubing community, doesn't mean that them pursuing their selfish goals won't help us.
Should the WCA be the only organization that is allowed to hold big competitions? Why is that? Because they were the people who grew the cubing community? It seems to me like your logic is similar to that of Rubik's when they're suing other cube companies. After all, Erno Rubik probably spent a lot of time inventing the cube and later growing his company. If other cube companies are allowed to sell their own cubes, why can't Rubik's make their own competitions?
pglewis
Veteran
No worries. I was continuing the use of hyperbole for mild humorous effect and didn't respond to that bit because it isn't really germane to points of view we were sharing.
I agree. I said elsewhere that this is just an attempted money-grab on the part of Rubik's Brands. My problem isn't them making money from this event. If it weren't for their one-trick-pony act of trying to demand a monopoly on the 3x3s you and I use I'd say "hell yeah, I hope they need bulldozers and a fleet of container ships to transport the cash they rake in".
I believe their goals have clearly been defined as "there can be only one" when it comes to 3x3 hardware. If they were to succeed in that would you consider it worth the exposure?
There is so much good that can/could come out of this. Under other circumstances I could be very excited about the prospects. Some of the things like going head-to-head seems kind of silly to me, but I understand it from a spectator standpoint. As an analogy, baseball has the home-run derby during the All-Star game every year. It's not an "official" event that counts towards stats or anything and it can be very entertaining to watch.
Also, this is entirely a matter of principle for me. My lookahead is so bad that being forced to use an RSC isn't going to hurt my average.
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kbrune
Veteran
Good point. I am quite one sided on that concept. Any company or organization is free to hold any size competition.
I'm just loyal to an organization that was founded out of passion rather then one bullying markets for money I suppose.
I can't help but want great things for the WCA.
1001010101001
Veteran
Rubiks is the new Vcube.Once loved but hated by speedcubers everywhere for their greediness.
