Hey guys,
Now that CC2012 is over, I think it's a good time to post this before the whole CC wind goes away. I appreciate your open mind while reading this, thanks.

I've been participating or observing CC since 2009, and my observation is that the most problematic aspect of CC is also what makes it so different and special: changing clients to Chimp names. I've seen it holding back many folders from participating, causing within-team discussions/frictions, which in turn can go as far as donors or teams to swear off CC. I think we all agree that this aspect of CC is both valuable but troublesome at the same time.

I believe the biggest reason why changing CC names is not favored is because personal recognition/objectives are important for some donors (more than others). I believe we should all respect their point of view. On the other hand, there are others who are in it to win it for the Team. I believe we should all respect their point of view, as well. But then, when things heat-up, especially when losing, there starts finger-pointing within the team. 

So, I've been thinking how to manage this; keeping the specialty of CC while minimizing the issues it causes. There is basically no way without trade-offs, but as simple as it is, I believe what I'm going to propose will make things "better" ;)

Proposal: Each participating party in the CC, create a new Chimp team (yes, team). Donors who wants to participate in CC for this Chimp team change their team number accordingly, while keeping their username.

Question/Comment: What?? New teams?? ****? 
Answer: Yes, new teams for Chimp names. Was that a question?

Q/C: How is it different from Chimp usernames?
A: The differences are, 1) The donors get to keep their folding names under the new team, 2) Switching to the new team is easier than switching to a new username; a) typos will be fewer, if any, and b) no need to change the passkeys, which 3) Enables a more secure and more efficient process, and 4) It is easier to communicate to new folders (my subjective view).

Q/C: Are there any benefits in doing this? Why bother?
A: On top of the logistics aspects, 1) It opens the CC to a whole new dimension. It is not the original folding teams that are competing now, but it is the Chimps! It suggests that regardless of their original folding teams, donors come together in a totally different team and engage in a totally different competition. 2) Discoupling the CC from original competition (at least to some degree) enables establishing and enhancing the camaraderie between folders across the whole folding community. It can really bring the whole folding community together and do something for fun while still competing, flinging poo, and smack-talking. It can hopefully make it so that it's not about winning but doing it for the celebration of the efforts we're all in together (something we unfortunately forget sometimes).

Q/C: I don't like that team points will be separated. 
A: This idea suggests that CC will not be about the folding teams anymore. CC will be a battle of Chimps; this will put the "Chimp" in Chimp Challenge. We're too much immersed in team competition, and why? Why does it really matter what team you're folding for? I hope you can see that it really does not. So, why not change your team to another one for 10 days, just for the fun of it? ;)

Q/C: How are we going to calculate "Growth"? Especially for new Chimps?
A: For the first year, which will be a transient (and imperfect) state, it will be based on last year's points. For new Chimps, there are a number of alternatives to go for. One possibility that I like is giving them the average of their scores in other categories.

Q/C: How about "Conversion"?
A: This is challenging, and there are two alternatives: 1) Same as before, 2) Get rid of it. The first one suggests we divide the Chimp team points to the folding team points and go from there. However, this is not what I have in mind, because it links the Chimp team too strongly to a single folding team; the opposite of what I'm trying to achieve. On the other hand, getting rid of "Conversion" will probably require another category to replace it with (I will post an idea about this as well). My side suggestion: get rid of it, because I envision CC to be decoupled from original teams, and Conversion is working just the opposite way.

Q/C: I don't like it.
A: OK(?)..

Any more questions/comments, please post below minding respect to others' (starting with me :p) ideas. Thanks!

PS: I posted this in OCF and [H] forums as well...
 

Horvat

Any input yet from the other forums? Initially, the idea is not displeasing but requires collective thought and input from all fo us.

 
Yet, this is the only response from the mighty team EVGA... 
 

Afterburner

I feel silly...  Why are we having two thread on this subject? http://forums.evga.com/tm.aspx?m=1608494 I am certain to be missing something... 

 
It's not the same thread. Quote from your OP "This thread is an attempt to improve our internal communication and find ways to create a foundation that is impervious to the outside elements that are out of our control." I opened this one to discuss this particular idea. Totally different purposes...

I don't really see much interesting here.  The basic principle he presents is that people are more loyal to their own name (individual production) rather than their team (EVGA in this case). Other than that, things are exactly the same and the exact same issues arise. 
 
On top of that, I would think it is a harder sell to lose not only risk your individual standing within the team ranks, but also risk the team standing (especially with renewed competition for the top spot).  Personally, my loyalty is to the team first.
 
I guess I just do not understand how separate teams are any different than the current format.  I don't see any value added, and I see it raising further issues rather than simplifying things. 
 
I also disagree with some of the advantages you claim:

• I do not understand how it is easier to change team number rather than team name.  In fact, it seems more difficult as EVGApes is much easier to remember than a randomly generated number. 
• If (as you suggest) teams don't matter, then neither does individual production.

I think that if you really want to pursue this idea, you have to completely abandon the current contest format.  Don't bother worrying about growth, conversion, ect.  If you want something truly interesting, I believe you have to expand a little beyond "lets change the team number instead of the name!"  What new and exciting things can you do with the team change format that can't be done with the name change format?

Also, troy your point that it would hurt team production. Doesnt the CC already hurt team production. Im not so concerned with putting all my points into team EVGA as I am in participating in a fun contest and simply folding for the science.

Punchy

According to foldingforum.org, the bonus qualification system is based on the combination of passkey+username only, so changing team number will not require repriming.

 
I stand corrected.  Will edit my post.

Now that Gryphon is now folding for [h] Why is anyone listening?
Never could understand some people!
I will take it back HE DOESN"T Fold For [h]!

ramcharger89

Now that Gryphon is now folding for [h] Why is anyone listening?
Never could understand some people!

 
this why we lose members ...pointing fingers
I don't care what team they associate with (I fold for 2 teams, so do others)

have you check his stats for EVGA has been folding all this year for us
http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/user_summary.php?s=&u=449084
 
if they fold here too they are our teammate, in fact the obvious is in reality to grow the team we will need both users from other teams as well as new people who never folded.
 
it about time we poached/persuade people to come back
 
 
 
 
 
 

Xavier Zepherious

ramcharger89

Now that Gryphon is now folding for [h] Why is anyone listening?
Never could understand some people!

this why we lose members ...pointing fingers
I don't care what team they associate with (I fold for 2 teams, so do others)

have you check his stats for EVGA has been folding all this year for us
http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/user_summary.php?s=&u=449084

if they fold here too they are our teammate, in fact the obvious is in reality to grow the team we will need both users from other teams as well as new people who never folded.

it about time we poached/persuade people to come back

How can I say it, He doesn't FOLD 4 US anymore.
 
So no more points for this team.
Now He wants this team to change it's team # during the next CC {which [h] doesn't do}
Now if that's what this team wants to do then great!!!!
But he doesn't fold for Evga.
 

So yeah, who cares what team anyone is on, suggestions on improving the next challenge have nothing to do with any teams. If your that butt hurt that folds for [H] take it to PM's...or call 911 or something. I welcome all opinions, anything the get this team back to where it belongs, at the #1 Spot!

things are getting to political here.no wonder we are having problems with team spirit.

theGryphon

ramcharger89

Now that Gryphon is now folding for [h] Why is anyone listening?
Never could understand some people!

I don't know what to say to you...