of the competition and set all his
scores, where someone else may only
compete in the very last week. It is
not a direct competition like MOA or
AOOC. In contrary, all the benchmark
scores are graded at the exact same
time: at the end of the competition.
My suggestion to address the issue
of sandbagging relates to that last
point. We should change the way
the competition is “closed” and how
the points are awarded, and make
it as asymmetric as the competition
itself. For this, we need two additional
phases during the competition: “Dark
Day” and “Popcorn Time”.
Dark Day is the 24H period before
the end of the competition during
which competitors can still submit
results, but the ranking and scores
are no longer be visible. You are
in fact competing in the dark; you
don’t know who is submitting what
scores, and you don’t know who is
leading. You also don’t know who has
just submitted sandbagged results.
The only information you have is
the ranking before Dark Day, and of
course the information from your
competitors as they tease in the forum
or on social networks.
Popcorn Time is the three hour
period after closing the competition.
Instead of grading the scores at
an exact time, the competition
engine randomly reveals the scores
submitted during Dark Day. The
ranking is adjusted accordingly.
Popcorn Time essentially stretches
the emotional experience of
competition closure over a longer
period: from a single instant to
three hours. Additionally, you’re
not sure if a score was sandbagged
or in fact achieved on the last
day of the competition. Popcorn
Time also allows to create a more
exciting ending of the competition. It
introduces a three-hour live show,
and highlights more than just the
scores of the teams competing for the
top ranking. Envision a live updated
scoreboard, an embedded chat, and of
course beer with snacks.
IN CLOSING
San