Editing 2852: Parameterball
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic depicts the game of parameterball, a "raquet" game. This is a misspelling | + | {{incomplete|Created by a BALL THE SIZE OF A BALL, THE WEIGHT OF A WEIGHT, FLYING OVER A NET AS TALL AS A NET, ON A FIELD THE SIZE OF FIELD <small>[[2852: Parameterball/Incomplete Archive|(previous matches)]]</small>}} <!--Edit this any time you want!--> |
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+ | This comic depicts the game of parameterball, a "raquet" game. This is a creative misspelling of the {{w|Racket_(sports_equipment)|sports equipment}} that is [https://www.quora.com/When-do-you-use-racket-and-raquet spelled] "raquette" in French (probably from the Dutch for the action of "striking back"), was adopted into English as "racquet" and later acquired the alternative (and extremely common) form "racket" ([[1010: Etymology-Man|etymologically]] distinct from the noise/"protection racket" use of that word). | ||
There are a number of distinct {{w|List of racket sports|racket sports}}, which generalise to various forms of opposing players hitting a projectile between their respective zones of control. These are usually two-sided (2-{{w|Doubles|or-4}} players) point-scoring games using a delineated court/playing-surface, with a net or {{w|Squash (sport)|markings}} defining either side's control of play. The projectile is often a ball of some kind (or equivalent, such as the {{w|Badminton|shuttlecock}}), which must be hit with a racket(/'paddle' bat). Often, the objective of the game is to hit the ball so that it bounces on your opponent's side, in a legitimate manner, that cannot then be legitimately returned. Two notable examples of this kind of game are {{w|Tennis}} and {{w|Table Tennis}} (also known as Ping-Pong), which demonstrate the potentially different scales of playing area, ball and net. | There are a number of distinct {{w|List of racket sports|racket sports}}, which generalise to various forms of opposing players hitting a projectile between their respective zones of control. These are usually two-sided (2-{{w|Doubles|or-4}} players) point-scoring games using a delineated court/playing-surface, with a net or {{w|Squash (sport)|markings}} defining either side's control of play. The projectile is often a ball of some kind (or equivalent, such as the {{w|Badminton|shuttlecock}}), which must be hit with a racket(/'paddle' bat). Often, the objective of the game is to hit the ball so that it bounces on your opponent's side, in a legitimate manner, that cannot then be legitimately returned. Two notable examples of this kind of game are {{w|Tennis}} and {{w|Table Tennis}} (also known as Ping-Pong), which demonstrate the potentially different scales of playing area, ball and net. | ||
In this comic, a game called "Parameterball" is proposed, where net size, ball size, and court size are randomized every quarter. There are 4 different instances of [[Megan]] and [[Cueball]] playing this game, each in one corner of the comic, so we can assume all four of these were used within the same game of Parameterball. The different examples provide insight into the absurd games that may be played in Parameterball, depending on how mismatched the racket, court, and ball size are. | In this comic, a game called "Parameterball" is proposed, where net size, ball size, and court size are randomized every quarter. There are 4 different instances of [[Megan]] and [[Cueball]] playing this game, each in one corner of the comic, so we can assume all four of these were used within the same game of Parameterball. The different examples provide insight into the absurd games that may be played in Parameterball, depending on how mismatched the racket, court, and ball size are. | ||
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The title text mentions that the ball's density is also randomized, and refers to instances where the net size, ball size, and court size were similar to that of a Ping-pong match, but with a ball as dense as a {{w|Bowling ball|bowling ball}}, which not only led to equipment damage, but does so regularly. Despite this, the participants ''do not'' learn the density until ''after'' their racket is chosen, meaning that they have no way of determining whether the racket they chose is durable enough until it's already too late. (Conversely, choosing an excessively robust item could be a bad decision when trying to play with a light ball, as it would be detrimental in reacting against rapid volleys by a more aptly-equipped opponent.) | The title text mentions that the ball's density is also randomized, and refers to instances where the net size, ball size, and court size were similar to that of a Ping-pong match, but with a ball as dense as a {{w|Bowling ball|bowling ball}}, which not only led to equipment damage, but does so regularly. Despite this, the participants ''do not'' learn the density until ''after'' their racket is chosen, meaning that they have no way of determining whether the racket they chose is durable enough until it's already too late. (Conversely, choosing an excessively robust item could be a bad decision when trying to play with a light ball, as it would be detrimental in reacting against rapid volleys by a more aptly-equipped opponent.) | ||
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Note that the players can choose their own racket, and can do so after finding out the three parameters given in the main comic. Only the density of the ball is unknown when they choose the racket. Thus this indirectly leads to some randomness in the selection of racket also, as the players try to guess what would be best for a random choice of ball density. | Note that the players can choose their own racket, and can do so after finding out the three parameters given in the main comic. Only the density of the ball is unknown when they choose the racket. Thus this indirectly leads to some randomness in the selection of racket also, as the players try to guess what would be best for a random choice of ball density. | ||
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[[Randall]] may have been inspired by {{w|Pickleball}}, a type of racket sport rising sharply in popularity in the US at the time this comic came out. Pickleball is a middle-ground of tennis and table tennis, with an intermediate-sized ball, court, and net height. Randall may have noticed the distinct parameters of pickleball’s elements compared to its cousin sports and was inspired to imagine a scenario in which such parameters might be randomized. | [[Randall]] may have been inspired by {{w|Pickleball}}, a type of racket sport rising sharply in popularity in the US at the time this comic came out. Pickleball is a middle-ground of tennis and table tennis, with an intermediate-sized ball, court, and net height. Randall may have noticed the distinct parameters of pickleball’s elements compared to its cousin sports and was inspired to imagine a scenario in which such parameters might be randomized. | ||
− | This comic is reminiscent of [[2663: Tetherball Configurations]], also four different settings for the same sport, that makes it more or less playable. Randall also invented | + | This comic is reminiscent of [[2663: Tetherball Configurations]], also four different settings for the same sport, that makes it more or less playable. Randall also invented another ball game with [[1507: Metaball]]. |
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===Table of limits in the comic=== | ===Table of limits in the comic=== | ||
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[Megan and Cueball are playing a game that looks similar to tennis or table tennis in four different settings, one in each quadrant of the comic. Each setting has different | + | :[Megan and Cueball are playing a game that looks similar to tennis or table tennis in four different settings, one in each quadrant of the comic. Each setting has different settings for three parts of the game, the size of the court, the size of the ball and the height of the net. In each case Megan is on the left and Cueball is on the right.] |
− | :[Top left: The court is much smaller than a normal tennis court, each half slightly wider and deeper than a person is tall | + | :[Top left: The court is much smaller than a normal tennis court, each half slightly wider and deeper than a person is tall, the net, however, is fairly normal height, maybe a bit higher than in tennis. But the ball is much larger, even bigger than a beach ball but with curved 'seam' to it similar to certain types of more robust balls. The ball has just bounced on Cueball's side and he is about to hit it.] |
:[Top right: The ball and the net closely match that of a regular tennis game, but the court has a size much like a five-a-side football<!-- still looks way smaller than a standard version of either a soccer or gridiron one! --> field. Cueball has just hit the ball, which is currently flying towards Megan's side, but could seem like it will barely make it all the way over<!-- which is a typical opening serve tactic, actually... --> to the net. Both players are thus very small, compared with this huge court.] | :[Top right: The ball and the net closely match that of a regular tennis game, but the court has a size much like a five-a-side football<!-- still looks way smaller than a standard version of either a soccer or gridiron one! --> field. Cueball has just hit the ball, which is currently flying towards Megan's side, but could seem like it will barely make it all the way over<!-- which is a typical opening serve tactic, actually... --> to the net. Both players are thus very small, compared with this huge court.] | ||
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:[Caption below the panel:] | :[Caption below the panel:] | ||
:Parameterball is a raquet <!--[sic] mispelled in comic--> game divided into four quarters, with ball size, court size, and net height randomized each quarter. | :Parameterball is a raquet <!--[sic] mispelled in comic--> game divided into four quarters, with ball size, court size, and net height randomized each quarter. | ||
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} |