Helped that there was no shortage of rules cards. There were about 10 just at my little station alone... On second thought, maybe we could have done with more 
#FX17 2017 Buckyball Race (first one back gets to name their own star system!)
- Thread starter Alec Turner
- Start date
The one feeling I got was that you were perhaps over-shadowed by the VR side next door and the nature of the event itself. It took me a good 30 seconds to spot your station amongst the 2 gametables and I was actually looking for you.
I think it definitely added to the event but I think one of the issues with things like FX2017 and parts of Lavecon is that there's a lot going on.
The start is always people walking around and getting a plan of what they are going to do with their day (where I got my first run in before it got busier), then there were pretty much back to back talks with maybe 15-20 minutes between them. In between that there were loads of people trying to talk to developers and meet members of the community groups they know and love as well as doing other things like getting food or buying merchandise or bathroom breaks etc.
In short it's a busy busy event, I'd pre-planned to go to Buckyball because I know how insanely good fun the Lavecon one was. I got in there early and squeezed a 2nd run in later on after a wee bit of pestering (what can I say I was not happy with my first time). <- sorry for the pestering too.
For people that didn't plan it in the Expo was a bit busy. Lavecon is slightly better as there's more downtime with people just chatting or going to play Artemis or whatever else although at Lavecon the Lan room is a bit hidden away.
One thing that would be awesome if it could be done (say at Lavecon) is to have the Devs have a go live on the big screen with a 4 way split screen directly next to each other. Get Steve, Ed, Zac and whoever else to compete against each other live head to head. Then challenge other people to go to the station and beat their times.
Maybe do that with competitors on the day too, in a challenge your friend next to you type deal.
Not sure that'd have been possible at the Expo because of the more "professional" atmosphere but I think it may have drawn a few more people in. One thing I did notice speaking to various people is that the people attending the Elite events are often the people who take things slower and don't have billions of credits. Not the typical people that would do races or twitch combat or whatever else, obviously theres a mix but I got the impression it was skewed one way.
Still, 65 runs in ~7 hours is pretty darn awesome with a few minor technical issues during the day too.
Anyway, thanks for the congratulations. One thing I did say on the day which I will echo and make public here. I will be joining future Buckyballs at events like Lavecon but my times will not count. Lavecon was my first official Buckyball race, I've done the A* run a few times since and made up my own Buckyball races to Colonia and Beagle Point. I've now also done the FX2017 race.
It was mentioned on the day and I have to agree that with 2 irl races under my belt now and the long distance rases I have probably too much experience in racing to be on an equal footing with the other racers who turn up on the day.
I'm currently at Beagle point on the Repair Tour but I promise I will do my best to join a few Buckyball races in the future from home and compare myself to the experienced racers amongst you rather than random guests at live events. If Furrycats run of the Lavecon route is anything to go by I still have lots of improving to do!
Also I was asked how good my SRV driving is, the answer is "No idea", but I look forwards to finding out if there's a SRV Buckyball sometime again.
It was a fun day and I have to say I really enjoyed hanging with everyone that was there from team Buckyball again
See you hopefully real soon!
I think it definitely added to the event but I think one of the issues with things like FX2017 and parts of Lavecon is that there's a lot going on.
The start is always people walking around and getting a plan of what they are going to do with their day (where I got my first run in before it got busier), then there were pretty much back to back talks with maybe 15-20 minutes between them. In between that there were loads of people trying to talk to developers and meet members of the community groups they know and love as well as doing other things like getting food or buying merchandise or bathroom breaks etc.
In short it's a busy busy event, I'd pre-planned to go to Buckyball because I know how insanely good fun the Lavecon one was. I got in there early and squeezed a 2nd run in later on after a wee bit of pestering (what can I say I was not happy with my first time). <- sorry for the pestering too.
For people that didn't plan it in the Expo was a bit busy. Lavecon is slightly better as there's more downtime with people just chatting or going to play Artemis or whatever else although at Lavecon the Lan room is a bit hidden away.
One thing that would be awesome if it could be done (say at Lavecon) is to have the Devs have a go live on the big screen with a 4 way split screen directly next to each other. Get Steve, Ed, Zac and whoever else to compete against each other live head to head. Then challenge other people to go to the station and beat their times.
Maybe do that with competitors on the day too, in a challenge your friend next to you type deal.
Not sure that'd have been possible at the Expo because of the more "professional" atmosphere but I think it may have drawn a few more people in. One thing I did notice speaking to various people is that the people attending the Elite events are often the people who take things slower and don't have billions of credits. Not the typical people that would do races or twitch combat or whatever else, obviously theres a mix but I got the impression it was skewed one way.
Still, 65 runs in ~7 hours is pretty darn awesome with a few minor technical issues during the day too.
Anyway, thanks for the congratulations. One thing I did say on the day which I will echo and make public here. I will be joining future Buckyballs at events like Lavecon but my times will not count. Lavecon was my first official Buckyball race, I've done the A* run a few times since and made up my own Buckyball races to Colonia and Beagle Point. I've now also done the FX2017 race.
It was mentioned on the day and I have to agree that with 2 irl races under my belt now and the long distance rases I have probably too much experience in racing to be on an equal footing with the other racers who turn up on the day.
I'm currently at Beagle point on the Repair Tour but I promise I will do my best to join a few Buckyball races in the future from home and compare myself to the experienced racers amongst you rather than random guests at live events. If Furrycats run of the Lavecon route is anything to go by I still have lots of improving to do!
Also I was asked how good my SRV driving is, the answer is "No idea", but I look forwards to finding out if there's a SRV Buckyball sometime again.
It was a fun day and I have to say I really enjoyed hanging with everyone that was there from team Buckyball again
See you hopefully real soon!
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Ozric
Volunteer Moderator
If people's times didn't count because they're good at winning, then Cookiehole would never be allowed on the board
If people's times didn't count because they're good at winning, then Cookiehole would never be allowed on the board
I like run by Dara O'Briens Irish rules: https://youtu.be/8YIzoLkStDM?t=77 <- Caution language warning, don't click if you do not want to hear it.
At Lavecon there was all this stuff here that comes under: That's grand.
There is the FX2017 which is: Ah now, don't push it.
And if I were to continue it'd be: "Right! Now you're taking the [biscuit]"
Besides, it'd be boring if year after year, event after event it was the same winner. Gotta promote some variation there so more people have a go
Thanks for write-up Alex.
Speaking of which ... I happened to spot a random photo on facebook today which features your first run, closely watched by myself and Cmdr furrycat.
You sure did manage to get in early - that table was mobbed for most of the day!
Ditto!
Actually, we did get a couple of side-by-side runs during the day with friends racing each other and they were brilliant fun, definitely more entertaining than just watching someone racing a stopwatch.
Speaking of which ... I happened to spot a random photo on facebook today which features your first run, closely watched by myself and Cmdr furrycat.
You sure did manage to get in early - that table was mobbed for most of the day!
It was a fun day and I have to say I really enjoyed hanging with everyone that was there from team Buckyball again
See you hopefully real soon!
Ditto!
Congratulations Alex.
I was the penultimate Xbox One entrant. I wanted to try out the HOTAS they were demonstrating. Unfortunately, that rather undermined my race attempt. The Thrustmaster guy informed me, just after I'd boosted into the rear of the final station, that my time was looking to be very good (under nine minutes). I'd actually pulled off the gravity braking almost perfectly (so well in fact, that he didn't believe that I'd be able to drop at the station as I got to it - I wasn't sure either, but it was perfectly timed ).
I won't be getting one of those HOTAS, lol. Unfortunately, it doesn't get around the Xbox problem of having too many controls hanging off one button. Especially when one of those buttons is boost!
"First" run? Was more than one run allowed? I was under the impression it wasn't?
I was the penultimate Xbox One entrant. I wanted to try out the HOTAS they were demonstrating. Unfortunately, that rather undermined my race attempt. The Thrustmaster guy informed me, just after I'd boosted into the rear of the final station, that my time was looking to be very good (under nine minutes). I'd actually pulled off the gravity braking almost perfectly (so well in fact, that he didn't believe that I'd be able to drop at the station as I got to it - I wasn't sure either, but it was perfectly timed
).I won't be getting one of those HOTAS, lol. Unfortunately, it doesn't get around the Xbox problem of having too many controls hanging off one button. Especially when one of those buttons is boost!
"First" run? Was more than one run allowed? I was under the impression it wasn't?
Nice job! Unlucky on the accidental boost, you weren't alone in doing that. If you enjoyed racing and like the idea of doing some more in your own time then that's basically what we (The Buckyball Racing Club) do. If you click the race banner I have as my signature it will take you to a forum page describing our latest race which runs until next weekend.The Thrustmaster guy informed me, just after I'd boosted into the rear of the final station, that my time was looking to be very good (under nine minutes). I'd actually pulled off the gravity braking almost perfectly (so well in fact, that he didn't believe that I'd be able to drop at the station as I got to it - I wasn't sure either, but it was perfectly timed
Yes it was. Part of the spirit of the Buckyball Racing Club is running the course multiple times, learning where you went wrong and challenging your own personal best time as well as the times of others. The only thing I did advise the other ambassadors about that was to give priority to people waiting for their first go. Apologies if you were given the wrong impression.
Final FX17 Scoreboard
Okedoke folks ... here's the final scoreboard. I've excluded the DNF's (of which we had 14) and the times over 20mins (to spare the blushes of those particular commanders). That said, you're all winners in my book just for taking part.
Congratulations again to Alex and also to the 6 entrants (2 each for PC, XBOX and PS4) whose names were drawn from a hat to win a joystick (FD will be contacting you re: your prizes in due course).
o7 commanders
P.S. if anyone wants their name removed from this list, for whatever reason, then please pm me and I'll get that done ASAP.
Okedoke folks ... here's the final scoreboard. I've excluded the DNF's (of which we had 14) and the times over 20mins (to spare the blushes of those particular commanders). That said, you're all winners in my book just for taking part.
| 01 | Alex Brentnall | 08:47 |
| 02 | Ozric | 09:32 |
| 03 | Aaron Rimmer | 09:35 |
| 04 | Oliver Mccourty | 09:37 |
| 05 | Duke Leaminton | 09:39 |
| 06 | Theo Gillibrand | 09:44 |
| 07 | Andy Wright | 09:59 |
| 08 | Felix Rowan | 10:07 |
| 09 | Ben Garcia | 10:42 |
| 10 | Gary Baxter | 10:43 |
| 10 | Ivan | 10:43 |
| 10 | Enrico Placci | 10:43 |
| 13 | Alexey Krylov | 10:48 |
| 14 | Cmdr Lightning Bolt | 10:50 |
| 15 | Josh Green | 10:53 |
| 16 | Tom Leche | 10:54 |
| 17 | Richad Williams | 11:04 |
| 18 | Dave Hart | 11:34 |
| 19 | Elliot Yorston | 11:38 |
| 20 | Joel | 11:42 |
| 21 | James Moth | 11:46 |
| 22 | Joe Harris | 11:51 |
| 23 | Alister Miller | 11:55 |
| 24 | Matthew Reece Ford | 11:56 |
| 25 | Liam Brown | 12:18 |
| 26 | Jason | 12:24 |
| 27 | Neil Hodgson | 12:27 |
| 28 | Ben Watson | 12:38 |
| 29 | Connor Pindar | 12:39 |
| 30 | Kaylan | 12:42 |
| 31 | Rik Smiles | 12:51 |
| 32 | Chris Kendrick | 12:54 |
| 33 | Stephen Mancley | 12:56 |
| 34 | Terry Gibbs | 13:06 |
| 35 | Julien | 13:38 |
| 36 | Steve Oakley | 13:48 |
| 37 | Chris Dobson | 14:03 |
| 38 | Jamlaw | 14:20 |
| 39 | Alan Dell | 14:39 |
| 40 | Michael Yorston | 14:46 |
| 41 | Edward Ferrow | 16:03 |
| 42 | Dave Jackman | 16:57 |
| 43 | Julian Cadot | 17:29 |
| 44 | James Pavey | 17:42 |
| 45 | Simon Wellsted | 19:50 |
Congratulations again to Alex and also to the 6 entrants (2 each for PC, XBOX and PS4) whose names were drawn from a hat to win a joystick (FD will be contacting you re: your prizes in due course).
o7 commanders
P.S. if anyone wants their name removed from this list, for whatever reason, then please pm me and I'll get that done ASAP.
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WOO 38th!!!
That's the spirit! Rejoice in your scoreboard position regardless of where it is.
P.S. if anyone caught the bug and fancies another race then click my "Fat Tony's Festival of Racing" signature banner for details of the latest one which still has nearly a week left to run (and also includes an SRV event if that's more to your liking).
WOO 38th!!!
the thing is, Jesus was actually planning on hitting the 38th spot, so in fact this was an absurdly accurate time set specifically for him to get that position, well done!
Too bad I made a booboo on the scoreboard and had two people in 4th by mistake - now fixed, sorry Jesus, you're actually 39th!
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Ozric
Volunteer Moderator
Woohoo 2nd will do me nicely. I'm still really annoyed that I dropped out of Supercruise too early, but c'est la vie. I think it's amazing that 2nd to 6th place were all covered by just 12 seconds! That and the fact that 3 people got exactly the same time
That's what I love about Buckyball racing! I certainly hope some of you who were trying this for the first time join us on a more regular basis. There's always great comradery and the skills you learn (because we all share) will help you in virtually every aspect of the game.
Thanks once again to Alec and to Frontier for giving an amazing prize. And a big congratulations to Alex *he says through gritted teeth* I would have got you if I had time for a second run (I probably wouldn't)
That's what I love about Buckyball racing! I certainly hope some of you who were trying this for the first time join us on a more regular basis. There's always great comradery and the skills you learn (because we all share) will help you in virtually every aspect of the game.
Thanks once again to Alec and to Frontier for giving an amazing prize. And a big congratulations to Alex *he says through gritted teeth* I would have got you if I had time for a second run
(I probably wouldn't)Was a really close one, and as Alec mentioned LOADS of DNF results (including some very experienced commanders just pushing that envelope a little too much). Now I suppose we just have to find out what Alex wants to name his system
It matters not, I'm happy with the time I got considering the circumstances under which I played.
I couldn't get the hang of using the thrustmaster after using an X52 for so long. But I never got round to entering because the queue was too long and I kept on being called back to the Lave Radio Stand.
(Although my voice being recognised by some of the guys running the event was awesome!!)
(Although my voice being recognised by some of the guys running the event was awesome!!)
Yeah - everyone struggled with the unfamiliar controls, we had the same problem at Lavecon. I think it's inevitable really. Sorry you didn't get a chance to enter (although I think the queue was for VR and not for the race ... I wasn't aware of a race queue ... I'm afraid we were so busy timing and supervising the racers that we didn't have any spare time to explain to everyone milling around what the deal was with getting a go in the race).
I've only just seen this thread - I'd have been tempted to have a go at the Expo, though I would expect my time to be in the 15-20 minute region after working out which button does what and been destroyed by the station a few times when accidentally crashing into a ship at more than 100m/s... ;-)
It was a good laugh. Obviously is Alec and I had been allowed to set times we'd definitely have won and completed the course in under 6 minutes... but we didn't want to put people off... right, Alec..? right?!
6 minutes!?!? Were you planning on stopping off for fuel along the way?? I've done it in my T9 in under 4!