Red Bull Rubik's Cube World Championships

[Mellis Ferton]

I really doubt that will happen, as long as people want to host, delegate and compete in WCA competitions, the WCA will not die. In fact, I even think that the number of WCA competitions could drastically increase if this was successful.

I agree. Some people who have never heard of speedcubing may know Red Bull, and hear about this. A part of people might be interesting into solving one, and another part might be into speedsolving! More speedcubers would be the best for the WCA. More people going to competitions, and maybe more people hosting competitions.

 

[RedJack22]

I've been reading all these comments, and it's honestly quite interesting (and cool) how passionate people are about cubing!

Now I don't a whole lot of room to talk, as I've never been to a comp before, and have only been cubing for about 7-8 months, but as efattah said above: "The people with more money, and the better eye for media & sponsorship always win in the end, if they execute well." There is a reason why Monster Energy now is NASCAR's main sponsor; they have the money, and they want to make more of it.

If you think about it, this could give cubing a new look, which isn't inherently a bad thing. However, as the old saying goes: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The community is fantastic right now (from my perspective), and there's nothing about that seems to need change.

One thing that I haven't seen is the fact that competition (in terms of Rubik's vs. WCA) ALWAYS leads to improvement. The fact is, if Rubik's competitions are better than WCA competitions, then people will leave the WCA for Rubik's; that is basic economics. However, it might be such a thing that nobody likes the new style of comps, and then Rubik's will fail colossally!

This doesn't mean cubing will suck now; it's just a part of change, and the I guess the best thing to do is to take it with our best foot forward, because who knows? It might be one of the best things that has ever happened to cubing!

-Jack, from JCB ShortFilms

 

[Mellis Ferton]

I've been reading all these comments, and it's honestly quite interesting (and cool) how passionate people are about cubing!

Now I don't a whole lot of room to talk, as I've never been to a comp before, and have only been cubing for about 7-8 months, but as efattah said above: "The people with more money, and the better eye for media & sponsorship always win in the end, if they execute well." There is a reason why Monster Energy now is NASCAR's main sponsor; they have the money, and they want to make more of it.

If you think about it, this could give cubing a new look, which isn't inherently a bad thing. However, as the old saying goes: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The community is fantastic right now (from my perspective), and there's nothing about that seems to need change.

One thing that I haven't seen is the fact that competition (in terms of Rubik's vs. WCA) ALWAYS leads to improvement. The fact is, if Rubik's competitions are better than WCA competitions, then people will leave the WCA for Rubik's; that is basic economics. However, it might be such a thing that nobody likes the new style of comps, and then Rubik's will fail colossally!

This doesn't mean cubing will suck now; it's just a part of change, and the I guess the best thing to do is to take it with our best foot forward, because who knows? It might be one of the best things that has ever happened to cubing!

-Jack, from JCB ShortFilms

Honestly one of the best I've seen so far.

 

[kbrune]

I really doubt that will happen, as long as people want to host, delegate and compete in WCA competitions, the WCA will not die. In fact, I even think that the number of WCA competitions could drastically increase if this was successful.

I agree. Some people who have never heard of speedcubing may know Red Bull, and hear about this. A part of people might be interesting into solving one, and another part might be into speedsolving! More speedcubers would be the best for the WCA. More people going to competitions, and maybe more people hosting competitions.

I didn't say that WCA would die. My point is that Rubik will become the relevant body. And competing in WCA events won't hold any importance. Winning a WCA event will be meaningless. It'll become like a practice session or trainging grounds for up and coming talent. Not to say that this is terrible either. I just think that the WCA should remain as the most revered body of speedcubing relevance. Since they created the scene as it is today from the ground up. WCA should have championships sponsored by Big money. Rubik should stay as a manufacturer much like all the others. The NHL isn't run by CCM or any other company that sells hockey equipment. Im not laying this out the way i'd like but somewhere in there is truth.

Rubik is after money plain and simple. And they will stomp on the WCA to get it if they have to.

 

[Ordway Persyn]

I didn't say that WCA would die. My point is that Rubik will become the relevant body. And competing in WCA events won't hold any importance. Winning a WCA event will be meaningless. It'll become like a practice session or trainging grounds for up and coming talent. Not to say that this is terrible either. I just think that the WCA should remain as the most revered body of speedcubing relevance. Since they created the scene as it is today from the ground up. WCA should have championships sponsored by Big money. Rubik should stay as a manufacturer much like all the others. The NHL isn't run by CCM or any other company that sells hockey equipment. Im not laying this out the way i'd like but somewhere in there is truth.

Rubik is after money plain and simple. And they will stomp on the WCA to get it if they have to.

I doubt winning a WCA comp would become meaningless, as this is really in the eye of the beholder. I do see a point with the last 3 sentences, and one of the things I don't like with this is that you have to use rubik's 3x3s.

 

[kbrune]

I doubt winning a WCA comp would become meaningless, as this is really in the eye of the beholder. I do see a point with the last 3 sentences, and one of the things I don't like with this is that you have to use rubik's 3x3s.

Exactly. Everything Rubik is doing sheds light on their true motives. Lawsuits, limiting hardware to their product. Take over the cubing world while it's still not quite mainstream yet.

 

[RedJack22]

Honestly one of the best I've seen so far.

Thanks. I really appreciate it!

 

[JustinTimeCuber]

Feliks Zemdegs just liked a post on Instagram (by Antonie Paterakis) supporting boycotting this competition.

 

[cuber314159]

I dont think we should completely boycott it but educate the public that Rubik's cubes are rubbish and that the WCA is better, that way we can grow speedubing without letting Rubik's mess it up

 

[Miro]

Why WCA denied cooperate with RSA? Can someone write relevant info?

 

[tx789]

Having the manufacturer of the equipment running comps is a conflict of interest. Also these comps for the redbull world championship is likely to have a lot of issues it will be like comps in and around 2004. Their lack of experience may be what kills it for them. People did not know how to run comps back in the day because the had not be ran yet. In addition that the organizers don't cube leads to issues with format.

Personally the lack of events they have would make it boring. They go on about the mind and intelligence need for solving a cube without including BLD or FMC. FMC would be too boring as far as they are concerned in the way the WCA does it. Deciding not to have BLD shows a lack of research in my opinion. Which would be crippling.

We will have to see what this brings. It could be a failure, who knows maybe the WCA will end up with bigger sponsors once they realise that WCA comps are so, so much better established. The fact you can just turn up to a comp easily is something that needs to stay for growth of cubing.

Rubiks certainly are not helping themselves with this. Redbull must of noticed the negative reaction.

The format proposed could be fun to do as a unoffical event but as the way of ranking competitors? It would be different.

Still the lawsuit seems to focus only on 3x3 and the event at this comp all involve 3x3. It is interesting to note.


To summarise a manufacturer of the equipment used in a comp is a conflict of interests and should be avoided at all costs. Having people run a comp with no knowledge of what they are doing is stupid. It may seem simple to them but there are a lot of small things you don't think of that will affect the comp. Time limits for competitors, logistics of scrambling, penalties ,and more. There are a lot of things I can't think of but I am sure if you ask people around in 2003, they can give you a list.



This is not the end of the world. Redbull is likely expecting a certain turnout of publicity and if the event does not reach that level, then they are unlikely to sponsor again.

 

[DhruvA]

Rubik's is getting greedy.
The sponsored the World Championships and also made the competitors in nations cup use the rsc. If they want more, they better make some good cubes. Suing TheCubicle was bad enough already and now this thing.

I hope nobody competes in this and makes the comp a flop.
They probably haven't even decided some regulations to be followed and this also seems quite amateur to me.
WCA put in so many years of hardwork into making speedcubing a thing and now rubik's can't do anything to compete with that.

 

[One Wheel]

BOYCOTT THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!

It would be nice if they could be quietly convinced to drop the whole thing, but ultimately more effective will be to use the publicity. How expensive/feasible would it be for WCA to buy youtube ads that play on videos about Red Bull Mind Games?

 

[Ronxu]

Why WCA denied cooperate with RSA? Can someone write relevant info?

Probably something along the lines of everyone uses Rubik's products or no deal.

It would be nice if they could be quietly convinced to drop the whole thing, but ultimately more effective will be to use the publicity. How expensive/feasible would it be for WCA to buy youtube ads that play on videos about Red Bull Mind Games?

That money is better spent elsewhere.

 

[One Wheel]

That money is better spent elsewhere.

Probably so, but at least it's a more constructive way to piss off Red Bull/Rubik's/RSA/Seven Towns than boycotting them. If they can introduce modern speedsolving to a broader audience, and WCA can be there to say that there is more to it than facing off against some inhumanly fast person.

 

[CarterK]

Does this have anything to do with this?

 

[Underwatercuber]

Personally the lack of events they have would make it boring. They go on about the mind and intelligence need for solving a cube without including BLD or FMC. FMC would be too boring as far as they are concerned in the way the WCA does it. Deciding not to have BLD shows a lack of research in my opinion. Which would be crippling.

This event is 100% to show off speedcubing. Fmc and bld aren’t super spectator friendly events and therefore they will not have them.

 

[Micah Walker]

This whole thing is kind of dumb! this competition is clearly being run by a couple ginormous organazations who have never been to a speedsolving competition, and are just trying to make money. I'm happy they're trying to promote speedcubing, but the way they're going about it doesn't work for the community!
A better way to promote speed cubing might be having a couple top cubers in a commercial, or what they did at worlds last year at Worlds with the head-to-head event.
I think the best thing we can do as a community is boycotting this whole thing!

 

[Underwatercuber]

The plot thickens...

 

[sqAree]

Props, Dana's way of handling this seems reasonable.