Rock Paper Scissors International World Championship

[TLK]

LINK (http://www.worldrps.com/)

Wow..... some people have way too much time on their hands.... Wouldn't "World Championship" of covered it?

[bryce]

i can't believe i just clicked on that link.
even more fascinating is the link within that site called 'highlights.' seems like a slight misnomer.

[cuervo72]

Reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Kramer and Mickey play this:

KRAMER & MICKEY: Rock, paper, scissors match.
MICKEY: Alright, rock beats paper.
(Mickey smacks Kramer on the hand for losing)
KRAMER: I thought paper covered rock?
MICKEY: Nah, rock flies right through paper.
KRAMER: What beats rock?
MICKEY: (looks at his hand) Nothing beats rock.
KRAMER: Alright come on.
KRAMER & MICKEY: Rock, paper, scissors match.
KRAMER: Rock.
MICKEY: Rock
KRAMER & MICKEY: Rock, paper, scissors match.
KRAMER: Rock.
MICKEY: Rock.
(Bob walks by)
MICKEY: Hey Bob. What's with you? You gotta problem? (to Kramer) You see that look he gave me? (starts to get up to go after him)
KRAMER: (stops Mickey) Alright, come on.
KRAMER & MICKEY: Rock, paper, scissors match.
KRAMER: Rock.
MICKEY: Rock.

[KWhit]

From the FAQ:


Is it true that Martial Arts is a derivative of RPS?

Yes! RPS was played in the Orient and it is known fact that Martial Arts developed as players upset at the outcomes of certain RPS matches, chose violet action with their fists. That is why many refer to RPS as the Father of all Martial Arts.


* Giggles like a schoolgirl.

[KWhit]

Can RPS be played when there is nothing to be decided?

Never. According to English laws dating back as far as 1842, RPS matches may only be played to make a decision on something. However, often frivolous excuses are made up in order to play. Due to the ensuing public outrage, the law was later amended to include RPS games for "honour". Since the inception of the World RPS Society the vast majority of games have indeed been for honour.

[vex]

I have to get me one of these!!!


http://www.worldrps.com/images/WRPSSCard.jpg

[vex]

And on the membersip info:




PLUS . . .

Written on the back of the card is a SPECIAL BONUS available only to card-bearing World RPS Society members. Showing your card at the beginning of any match with a non-member will enable you to dictate the number of rounds to be played! So any time you are playing you can force your opponents to play in a number of rounds that suits your best playing strategies (perhaps your specialty is lightning rounds or maybe a longer match will reveal your opponent's strategy, or you can even keep them on their toes my mixing it up).

Imagine the envy of your friends as you whip out your card and force them to play a best of 9 tournament, before a decision can be reached. How can we offer this to you? Because we are the governing body of all worldwide RPS matches and no other RPS-affiliated organization can.

You also get full access to the worldrps.com Web site, with areas and articles by your favourite RPS strategists, a bulletin board, FAQs, strategy insights, new moves and much, much more; a directory of all RPS committee heads and the upcoming World RPS catalogue, where you will be able to get posters, playing aids, instructional videos, apparel, limited edition collectors' items, and many other items not available anywhere else!

But that's not all! When attending any regional or national RPS convention, you can take advantage of many special members-only events, such as RPS tournaments, lectures, panels, and workshops where members can meet special convention guests - possibly Micheal Walters (developer of the infamous 2-3 Rock Switch strategy), Jasmine Meade (1998 Junior Women's Champion and co-author of The Grrrls Guide to RPS), or perhaps even the Grand Master himself Douglas Graham!!

So join now - prices will go up in the near future. Memberships are available at yearly or (for a limited time only) lifetime rates. To sign up today simply complete online or mail our Application Form.

[TLK]

Hmmm..... maybe Jim was working on Multiplayer Rock Paper Scissors, until the "World RPS Society" stepped in..... :)

[FrogMan]

Online trainer!!!

New Release! World RPS Society Annouces RPS-OT Version 3.0 (alpha release)
What's new in the RPS OT 3.0 alpha release?

increased performance across all platforms
optimized for dual processor CPUs
Lower RAM requirements
Updated Graphical User Interface
New neural net technology allows the RPS-OT to improve as you play
and a whole slew of new moves, strategies and tactics culled from the pro and veterans RPS circuits
Hold on to your gloves! The RPS-OT is the single most sophisticated RPS Grand Master emulator available anywhere for solo RPS. After years of development (You have done it again, Marty!), intensive engineering and testing it is now available exclusively on the World RPS Web site. Finally a true blend of virtual AND reality.

Here's how it works



Hit the Let's Rock! button below to start
The program will engage in a standard three prime shoot after the image loads
Play against the Online Trainer with your own fist in front of your monitor
Synchronize your priming with the speed of the graphic
Deliver your throw!
The page will automatically refresh every 6 seconds


Sound simple? It is! However, there is a catch, the Trainer's playing style is a hybrid of the playing styles of several retired Grand Masters. We took some of the most devious strategies and tactics ever seen on the World RPS circuit and packed them into our artificial intelligence engine.

Note: In keeping with the honour system the Trainer does not keep score for you.

ENJOY!

LET'S ROCK!!! (http://www.worldrps.com/play.html)

[KWhit]

When in a RPS match against a perceived psychic what is the best strategy to adhere to?

This is rarely encountered, but should you find yourself in this situation, we would recommend that you practice your throws while thinking of the name of another throw. Instead of thinking of it by its rightful name think of it by the throw that beats it. Therefore, throw scissors- think rock, throw rock - think paper, etc. This results in the psychic "hearing" your intention to play a certain throw, they will react and throw the throw that beats it, all the while you are actually throwing the throw that beats your opponent's. Practice it enough and it will become second nature.

One caveat, this effect may become permanent and affect your playing style professionally.

[vex]

I'm just at the semi-pro level right now, so I should be good.

[KWhit]

Is it standard procedure to do the "motions" (i.e., scissors cutting the paper, or paper covering rock, or rock smashing scissors)?


The RPS Steering Committee made a ruling on this very issue in the late 80s. It was once common practice to "ritualize the win", as it was called, but unfortunately for a promising young player it was disastrous. In a hotly contested semi-final round Mustafa Nwenge of Kenya pulled a scissors and had the ligments in his index finger crushed by the overzealous rock of a Swedish contestant. Needless to say, the RPS Steering Committee ruled out ritualized wins for professional play. Sadly, Mustafa was never able to play competitively again, but we have been informed that he is in very hot demand as a motivational speaker.

[KWhit]

Do you feel that the Simpsons episode where Bart plays RPS with his sister Lisa and thinks to himself "good old rock, nothing beats it" has influenced the playing styles of competitors?


Funny you should mention that. The RPS Public Relations Department recently issued a study entitled "The Effect of Recent Media Coverage on RPS Throws" which made many astounding discoveries, among them:

Occurence of Rock has risen by over .3% since the airing of the famous Simpsons episode

Use of RPS in restaurants decreased by 70-80% in the 2 years following the release of the film "Alive" (where RPS is used to decide who gets to eat the fat guy's leg).

Use of RPS in the televsion show "Ally McBeal", still doesn't make the idea of unisex office bathrooms very believable.

[vex]

Originally posted by KWhit
Is it standard procedure to do the "motions" (i.e., scissors cutting the paper, or paper covering rock, or rock smashing scissors)?


The RPS Steering Committee made a ruling on this very issue in the late 80s. It was once common practice to "ritualize the win", as it was called, but unfortunately for a promising young player it was disastrous. In a hotly contested semi-final round Mustafa Nwenge of Kenya pulled a scissors and had the ligments in his index finger crushed by the overzealous rock of a Swedish contestant. Needless to say, the RPS Steering Committee ruled out ritualized wins for professional play. Sadly, Mustafa was never able to play competitively again, but we have been informed that he is in very hot demand as a motivational speaker.


Wow.

[KWhit]

That website is a gold mine.

[vex]

Originally posted by KWhit
That website is a gold mine.

What are you talking about???



The World RPS Player's Responsibility Code


6. Think twice before using RPS for life-threatening decisions.

[vex]

FISTFUL O' DOLLARS

This move took the 1967 RPS World Championships by surprise and is arguably still one of the great surprise offensive moves.

[JAG]

This site has to be linked to the FOFC Journal. I have had to struggle not to bust out laughing reading about playing a psychic, tearing ligaments, training programs...awesome.

[Ksyrup]

NOT TO BE COPIED!!!! (http://homepage.mac.com/grahamwalker/.Movies/RPS%20DVD%20Excerpt.mov)

[sterlingice]

Originally posted by KWhit
Do you feel that the Simpsons episode where Bart plays RPS with his sister Lisa and thinks to himself "good old rock, nothing beats it" has influenced the playing styles of competitors?

As much as I'd like to attribute everything I know to the Simpsons, this is one of the things I (and pretty much all people) knew before that episode, otherwise the humor wouldn't have been nearly as good. After all, this was when they were still writing good universal humor not retarded nonsense humor (Seinfeld) or leaning on the crutches of reputation and guest stars (current Simpsons).

I mean, think about it. A rock's a rock and it crushes silly scissors. And a piece of paper is just paper. Or at least that's the tought process in most people's minds. As odd as it sounds, I bet ranking of the items is: rock, paper, scissors, for that very reason. This, despite the fact that they are all equal.

Lisa: Look, there's only one way to settle this. Rock-paper-scissors.
Lisa's brain: Poor predictable Bart. Always takes `rock'.
Bart's brain: Good ol' `rock'. Nuthin' beats that!
Bart: Rock!
Lisa: Paper.
Bart: D'oh!

SI

[ice4277]

Originally posted by Ksyrup
NOT TO BE COPIED!!!! (http://homepage.mac.com/grahamwalker/.Movies/RPS%20DVD%20Excerpt.mov)

That's great. Whoever thought of this has way too much time on their hands :D

[KevinNU7]

Looks as though the NFL has become a little concerned regarding the surge in popularity surrounding Pro-level RPS.
http://www.boston.com/sports
Specifically, note the following line -

"Tough to say," said the team owner, "but you can forget about rock, scissors, paper . . . we're not going to make a mockery of this. We are dignified sportsmen."

It seems to me that the NFL's smear campaign has begun. The only two questions I have are;
1) Why didn't Al Thorn inform us of this impending attack?
and
2) What are we, as members of the governing body of World RPS competition going to do regarding this vertical paper to the face?

Furiously,

-Garth.

[sabotai]

The best part of that video.

(refering to Odds-Evens) "There's not much reason to that game, it's just throwing out fingers."

That had me laughing for a good while.

[sterlingice]

Just an update, of sorts... (Canadian pride!) The story even has a link to the World RPS Society

Canadian Beats World at Rock, Paper, Scissors

Link (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031026/wl_canada_nm/canada_odd_rockpaper_col_1)

TORONTO (Reuters) - The competitors, in glitzy, off-the-wall costumes, call themselves professional athletes. Some even bring along team doctors to supervise their nutrition and take them through intense warmups.

Related Links
• 2003 RPS Championships
• World RPS Society



This, it seems, is serious stuff to the 320 competitors who shook their fists early into Sunday morning at the World Rock, Paper, Scissors Championships at a nightclub in downtown Toronto.


The man who did win -- and netted himself a purse of C$5,000 ($3,825) -- was Toronto's Rob Krueger, a member of the team "Legion of the Red Fist."


To achieve the lofty title of World RPS Champion, he threw a combination of rock-paper-paper, defeating his opponent's offering of three rocks.


Treading a thin line between silly spectacle and serious sport, the event drew a crowd of about 900, including many bemused spectators who wandered, with drinks in hand, among a slew of local and international media.


Andy Cumming, 28, flew to Canada from London with five other members of the United Kingdom team, as well as their team doctor who counsels them on warmups, diet and practice.


"It's an internationally played game, you know," he said, wearing a pair of worker's coveralls with the red, white and blue of the Union Jack patterned on it.


"It's a complete travesty that not many people take it seriously."


To the uninitiated, taking the playground game seriously is something of a tall order. Many competitors wore crude, homemade costumes, and played with a can of beer in their non-throwing hand.


Douglas Walker, managing director of the Toronto-based, 700-member World RPS Society, is a little more realistic about the so-called sport he promotes.


"We take rock, paper, scissors about as seriously as you take something like rock, paper, scissors. We have a lot of fun with the concept."

[Ksyrup]

I have an unconfirmed report that there was some sort of interview/feature on the RPS Championship on Sunday morning's Today show on NBC. Someone please tell me I got an erroneous bit of infirmation. Unless it's a Jeannie Moe report (how do I get a job like that?), this has no place as a news feature.

[Buccaneer]

"It's a complete travesty that not many people take it seriously."

A complete travesty?? I really don't think so.

[digamma]

I sympathize with the runner-up.

In college, when we would play (with the loser having to chug a beer), the all rock strategy was my staple.

[vex]

That's what he gets for going with rock-rock-rock.

[sperril]

My favorite part of the FAQ was this gem:

7. Does Rock crush Scissors or is Scissors dulled by Rock?

There is no clear answer to that question. Younger and aggressive (or American) players tend to favour the Rock crushing Scissors view. More liberal-minded players take the view that scissors are dulled by the Rock. The World RPS Society created a task force in 1987 with a hope of eventually resolving the issue but it has been locked in debate and we no longer hold much hope of quick resolution.