abunickabhi
Legend
This post is not related to the technical details of blindsolving but rather the economics and the financial cost of pursuing it.
Assuming that a serious MBLDer goes through a few iterations of buying his multi-blind cubes, there are a lot of added costs other than just the cubes. It is important to convey a number on how expensive it can be to pursue this event seriously. I never had a number when I started out, but I guess it won't hurt to do periodic guesstimate on the investment that pursuing multi-blind needs.
The cost breakup includes:
Now it is difficult to exactly quantify the total costs so I would try to guesstimate the total investment. For simplicity of the global audience, I would do the calculations in USD.
Travel costs: 20 attempts a year, 4 at home, so 16 places where travel and accommodation need to be paid for = $200 x 16 = $3200 / year
Registration fees: This can vary a lot, but I am assuming $20 per comp, which gives me $400 / year
Accessories: $500 (ballpark)
Multi-blind cubes: Assuming competitor buys 50 new cubes each time
Iteration 1: Meilong 3C or random budget cubes $4.95 x 50 = $247.5
Iteration 2: Meilong M $7.95 x 50 = $397.5
Iteration 3: RS3M v5 $8.95 x 50 = $447.5
Iteration 4: MGC3 Beta $21.95 x 50 = $1097.5
Total: $6290 !!
Assuming that a serious MBLDer goes through a few iterations of buying his multi-blind cubes, there are a lot of added costs other than just the cubes. It is important to convey a number on how expensive it can be to pursue this event seriously. I never had a number when I started out, but I guess it won't hurt to do periodic guesstimate on the investment that pursuing multi-blind needs.
The cost breakup includes:
- Travel costs to competitions as MBLD is organized less for most of the regions of the world, and a serious MBLDer cannot do with 1-2 official attempts a year.
- Cost of accessories: Harmonica holder, mat, earmuffs, focus goggles etc
- Cubes for multi-blind: I am assuming 3 iterations of same brand cubes, and one iteration of mixed up random 3x3s. These 4 iterations can be spaced over many years of the competitor's MBLD career depending on their decision on when to grind and update their hardware
Now it is difficult to exactly quantify the total costs so I would try to guesstimate the total investment. For simplicity of the global audience, I would do the calculations in USD.
Travel costs: 20 attempts a year, 4 at home, so 16 places where travel and accommodation need to be paid for = $200 x 16 = $3200 / year
Registration fees: This can vary a lot, but I am assuming $20 per comp, which gives me $400 / year
Accessories: $500 (ballpark)
Multi-blind cubes: Assuming competitor buys 50 new cubes each time
Iteration 1: Meilong 3C or random budget cubes $4.95 x 50 = $247.5
Iteration 2: Meilong M $7.95 x 50 = $397.5
Iteration 3: RS3M v5 $8.95 x 50 = $447.5
Iteration 4: MGC3 Beta $21.95 x 50 = $1097.5
Total: $6290 !!
