World Championship Dominoes

mrbill · 06-23-2006, 05:42 PM

Since its on ESPN, I'm putting this in Talk Sports.

WTF. Seriously, WTF. I've watched this for two days and decided I could write a computer program that could probably win this "tournament". Many moves are non-decisions, you only have 7 dominoes, and you know every domino is in play with one of the four players.

How is this challenging enough to be on TV?

abailey3313 · 06-23-2006, 05:47 PM

What's the prize?

mrbill · 06-23-2006, 05:51 PM

$90,000 bones (ha, ha, ha)

But, seriously, the branching factor for this game has to be many many orders of magnitude smaller than Chess, where computers can already compete with the best of the best.

Now, obviously they'd probably just ban computers or hand held devices at the tournament, but it'd be fun to do, likely a weekend project for me and my roommate and we'll bust it out on Yahoo games to see how it does.

piperclap · 06-24-2006, 01:24 AM

psst-this was done months ago.

Dominos is huge in latin america-if I recall, this telecast was very popular in Mexico when I was down there. I imagine they saw the ratings down there and figured it'd be a good time filler here.

At least as interesting as poker.

bababui · 06-24-2006, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piperclap

psst-this was done months ago.

Dominos is huge in latin america-if I recall, this telecast was very popular in Mexico when I was down there. I imagine they saw the ratings down there and figured it'd be a good time filler here.

At least as interesting as poker.

Whats next...Go Fish???

Big Willis 16 · 06-24-2006, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bababui

Whats next...Go Fish???

Heads up 7 up.

marc · 06-24-2006, 02:27 AM

ESPN will televise ANYTHING apparently.

Skipaway · 06-24-2006, 02:29 AM

Why not more eating contests or Magic the Gathering!

boilermaker · 06-24-2006, 02:42 AM

You know.....once the World Series of Poker became a mild hit, you know some shirt and tie at ESPN has been wracking his brain for a follow up unorthodox niche hit and I bet this was one of the ideas.

mikev · 06-24-2006, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marc

ESPN will televise ANYTHING apparently.

West Coast baseball?

boilermaker · 06-24-2006, 02:52 PM

With no World Cup on ESPN 2 today, they're running an obstacle course marathon....Awesome.

magnet · 06-24-2006, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boilermaker

With no World Cup on ESPN 2 today, they're running an obstacle course marathon....Awesome.

This is the second time I've watched the obstacle course competition. It makes me want to try it.

piperclap · 06-24-2006, 03:34 PM

Most Extreme Elimination Challenge?

magnet · 06-24-2006, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by piperclap

Most Extreme Elimination Challenge?

Nope, I don't think its the same. Its in Japan, and they have 4 or 5 obstacle courses that 30-40 people attempt to get through in the time allotted. Usually 2-3 actually do.

Skipaway · 06-24-2006, 03:50 PM

http://www.fujitv.co.jp/en/programsales/whatsnew.html

Scroll down to 1/30/2006 and there is the description of the Viking: Obstacle Course show.

Japan got a lot of these shows, specially designed challenges instead of fixed form competitions.

magnet · 06-24-2006, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skipaway

http://www.fujitv.co.jp/en/programsales/whatsnew.html

Scroll down to 1/30/2006 and there is the description of the Viking: Obstacle Course show.

Japan got a lot of these shows, specially designed challenges instead of fixed form competitions.

Thats the one. Do you know anything about how to enter, or if there is any requirements?

Skipaway · 06-24-2006, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnet

Thats the one. Do you know anything about how to enter, or if there is any requirements?

It's like all TV contest shows, they hold auditions. You can probably write them a letter, maybe with a tape of how you train. It'd be the best if you both got decent ability and a good backstory for the producers to use.

06-23-2006, 05:42 PM	#1
mrbill All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: LA, CA Posts: 982	World Championship Dominoes Since its on ESPN, I'm putting this in Talk Sports. WTF. Seriously, WTF. I've watched this for two days and decided I could write a computer program that could probably win this "tournament". Many moves are non-decisions, you only have 7 dominoes, and you know every domino is in play with one of the four players. How is this challenging enough to be on TV? __________________ UBL - Best Online League Evar! - Los Angeles Dodgers: 25 seasons, 13 NL West titles, 4 WC, 8 NL Titles, 5-time Champs LBB v5 league (retired) - Detroit Tigers/Commish: 19 seasons, 18 straight AL Central titles, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2015 Champs! NGBL v6 league (dead) - Texas Rangers: 10 seasons, 4 AL South titles, 2 Wild Cards, one WS app

06-23-2006, 05:47 PM	#2
abailey3313 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,718	What's the prize? __________________

06-23-2006, 05:51 PM	#3
mrbill All Star Reserve Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: LA, CA Posts: 982	$90,000 bones (ha, ha, ha) But, seriously, the branching factor for this game has to be many many orders of magnitude smaller than Chess, where computers can already compete with the best of the best. Now, obviously they'd probably just ban computers or hand held devices at the tournament, but it'd be fun to do, likely a weekend project for me and my roommate and we'll bust it out on Yahoo games to see how it does. __________________ UBL - Best Online League Evar! - Los Angeles Dodgers: 25 seasons, 13 NL West titles, 4 WC, 8 NL Titles, 5-time Champs LBB v5 league (retired) - Detroit Tigers/Commish: 19 seasons, 18 straight AL Central titles, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2015 Champs! NGBL v6 league (dead) - Texas Rangers: 10 seasons, 4 AL South titles, 2 Wild Cards, one WS app

06-24-2006, 02:27 AM	#7
marc Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,505	ESPN will televise ANYTHING apparently. __________________

06-24-2006, 02:29 AM	#8
Skipaway Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Where you live Posts: 11,017	Why not more eating contests or Magic the Gathering! __________________ Jonathan Haidt: Moral reasoning is really just a servant masquerading as a high priest.

06-24-2006, 01:24 AM	#4
piperclap All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 671	psst-this was done months ago. Dominos is huge in latin america-if I recall, this telecast was very popular in Mexico when I was down there. I imagine they saw the ratings down there and figured it'd be a good time filler here. At least as interesting as poker.

06-24-2006, 02:42 AM	#9
boilermaker All Star Starter Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,956	You know.....once the World Series of Poker became a mild hit, you know some shirt and tie at ESPN has been wracking his brain for a follow up unorthodox niche hit and I bet this was one of the ideas.

06-24-2006, 02:52 PM	#11
boilermaker All Star Starter Join Date: May 2004 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 1,956	With no World Cup on ESPN 2 today, they're running an obstacle course marathon....Awesome.

06-24-2006, 03:34 PM	#13
piperclap All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 671	Most Extreme Elimination Challenge?

06-24-2006, 03:50 PM	#15
Skipaway Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Where you live Posts: 11,017	http://www.fujitv.co.jp/en/programsales/whatsnew.html Scroll down to 1/30/2006 and there is the description of the Viking: Obstacle Course show. Japan got a lot of these shows, specially designed challenges instead of fixed form competitions. __________________ Jonathan Haidt: Moral reasoning is really just a servant masquerading as a high priest.