Starkblast tournament: Fun With Flags

[mae]

Just wanted to gauge interest for a tournament to be held here at Starkblast, since it's way off-topic. I had an idea to hold a tournament to vote for the best national flag. Flags are sort of an interest of mine and we all love polls here at TDT.org! This would be a pretty involved tournament, since there are so many nations and sometimes what is and isn't a nation is hard to define. I don't want to get into the technical stuff now, since I'm just wondering at this point if this is something worth doing and people would be interested in participating.

While you mull it over, here's Dr. Sheldon Cooper, everybody:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl12Sp1KiEk

[stroppygoblin]

Interesting Idea, what sort of things are we going to be judging the flags on? Good use of colour?, most interesting heraldic symbol? use of symmetry ?

How do you propose keeping national pride out of this? there are a great many US members on here and we all know how attached you are to your nations flag! :evil:

[mae]

So yeah, flags would have to be judged on their aesthetics alone without any politics or anything else. One of my favorite things about the Olympics, for instance, is the parade of nations, getting to see all the different countries and of course their flag. I dunno, there's something cool about flags, no matter how you feel about any particular county, whether it's your own or one you aren't very fond of for whatever reason. And we have a pretty varied worldwide membership though most are from the US, I think. Still, if people base their votes solely on the look of the flag, it should be fun. I wouldn't bet, for instance, that the flag of the United States would win the whole thing.

[stroppygoblin]

I have your winner right here: Flag of the Benin Empire, that was situated in modern Nigeria. A pre-colonial African state, it lasted from 1440 to 1897:

http://also.kottke.org/misc/images/benin-empire.gif

[RainInSpain]

Count me in, pablo! I'm fascinated by flags, and totally share your sentiment about parade of nations at the Olympics.

[mae]

We would be doing flags just for current states. I've got a list of 200, which contains all current UN members and some other not-quite sovereign countries. There are all sorts of ways to count what is and isn't a country but for the purposes of a poll I think an even 200 is perfect.

[Stockerlone]

Great idea, is probably the only opportunity in the Vatican City or Nepal can defeat the USA, Russia or China in a tournament.:wtf:

[mae]

I really like the system we've got going for the best sci-fi movie tournament (which started out with 160 entries), so I think a similar system can be adopted for 200 entries. It could look like this:


Round 1: 20 groups of 10 flags - top 6 move on
Round 2: 15 groups of 8 flags - top 4 move on
Round 3: 12 groups of 5 flags - top 2 move on



Octofinals: 8 groups of 3 flags - top 1 moves on
Quarterfinals: 4 groups of 2 flags - top 1 moves on
Semifinals: 2 groups of 2 flags - top 1 moves on
Finals: 1 group of 2 flags - top 1 is the winner

[fernandito]

This sounds... interesting lol.

Sure, count me in.

[ladysai]

I will enjoy seeing and judging all 200 flags. Cool idea, pablo!

[mae]

Would love to see some more feedback but looks like it's a go.

[Jon]

Count me in...and don't forget the U.N. flag! It is beautiful!

[Jean]

bears are in

their favorite is Vatican flag

[mae]

Alright, so we'll begin on Monday! No UN flag, just actual countries, and that includes 193 UN member states, 2 observer states (Palestine and Vatican City), 4 other UN almost-members (Cook Islands, Kosovo, Niue, Taiwan) and Hong Kong, just because. All in all, 200.

[needfulthings]

DON'T FORGET.... GRAND FINWICK.
http://imageshack.com/a/img909/168/yR3rnY.jpg

[mae]

Here's the schedule for Round 1. Just like with the best sci-fi movie tournament, it will be a multiple-choice poll of ten entries per poll, with the top six moving on to Round 2, and you are able to vote for up to six choices.

August 18

Group A (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18615)
Group B (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18616) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18631))
Group C (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18617) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18632))
Group D (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18618) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18633))


August 20

Group E (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18621)
Group F (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18622)
Group G (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18623) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18646))
Group H (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18624)


August 25

Group I (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18634) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18665))
Group J (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18635)
Group K (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18636)
Group L (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18637)


August 27

Group M (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18647)
Group N (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18648) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18670))
Group O (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18649) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18671))
Group P (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18650)


September 1

Group Q (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18661) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18680))
Group R (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18662)
Group S (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18663) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18681))
Group T (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18664)

[mae]

The first four groups have been posted. Vote away!

[stroppygoblin]

I've posted some interesting facts for the UK flag - would like to see similar if your countries flag has been posted. Adds a little more to the pot than just "that looks nice" :)

For instance:
Until 1968, the flag of the tropical Turks and Caicos Islands contained a badge which appeared to feature two igloos. The artist had mistaken two piles of salt (an important export) on an earlier version of the flag for a dwelling, and drawn a doorway. Now their flag features a lobster, a conch and a flowering cactus!

[Jon]

I've posted some interesting facts for the UK flag - would like to see similar if your countries flag has been posted. Adds a little more to the pot than just "that looks nice" :)

For instance:
Until 1968, the flag of the tropical Turks and Caicos Islands contained a badge which appeared to feature two igloos. The artist had mistaken two piles of salt (an important export) on an earlier version of the flag for a dwelling, and drawn a doorway. Now their flag features a lobster, a conch and a flowering cactus!


Bahhh...What Do you know, you .. person!!!! You are likekly a POMEY with a flowering cactus! Bahh!! Horsestuff!!
The next ye' tell me the colonist broke from the King!

[mae]

Groups A through D are closing tomorrow morning, so please vote if you haven't already. Any tiebreakers will be posted soon after, for a shorter polling period than the usual seven days (probably four).

[mae]

Groups I through L have been posted as well as tiebreakers for the first group of polls that closed today.

[Jean]

I don't seem to see the Vatican flag anywhere... or did I already vote for it and then forget? bears are not in their best shape

[mae]

Vatican hasn't been up for a vote yet. Bears only missed the first four polls. See post #16 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18607-New-tournament-Fun-With-Flags&p=869080&viewfull=1#post869080) above.

[Jean]

I see, thank you! it's not easy for bears to follow anything complex nowadays...

[Jon]

Is the U.N. flag included, pablo?

[mae]

Sorry, no, just countries (see post #14 above).

[mae]

The last group of polls for Round 1 has been posted. Vote away! :panic:

[mae]

The last of the first round polls have closed and the final two tiebreakers have been posted. Round 2 starts next Monday.

[mae]

Here's the Round 2 schedule. Flags will be seeded according to their percentages earned in Round 1. With 15 groups, this means that the top fifteen flags will be seeded first in each poll. Then the next fifteen will all be seeded second, and so on. This will mean an even and fair distribution of flags in each poll.

September 15

Group A (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18700) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18717))
Group B (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18701) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18718))
Group C (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18702)


September 17

Group D (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18706) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18727))
Group E (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18707) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18728))
Group F (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18708)


September 22

Group G (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18719)
Group H (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18720) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18740))
Group I (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18721) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18741))


September 24

Group J (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18729)
Group K (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18730)
Group L (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18731)


September 29

Group M (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18737)
Group N (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18738)
Group O (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18739) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18754))

[mae]

So the final tiebreakers have just closed. Round 2 will begin on Monday.

Here's how the 200 flags ended up rating in Round 1 (those moving on to Round 2 are bolded):


Albania 90.00%
Kenya 90.00%
Bhutan 87.50%
Kazakhstan 85.71%
Nepal 83.33%
Canada 81.82%
Mexico 81.82%
Macedonia 81.25%
Papua New Guinea 81.25%
Swaziland 81.25%
Sri Lanka 80.00%
Uganda 80.00%
United States 80.00%
Greece 76.92%
Jamaica 76.92%
Seychelles 76.92%
Brunei 75.00%
Sweden 75.00%
Eritrea 72.73%
Serbia 72.73%
Kiribati 70.59%
Hong Kong 70.00%
Marshall Islands 70.00%
Turkmenistan 69.23%
Barbados 68.75%
Malta 68.75%
Georgia 64.29%
South Africa 64.29%
Ecuador 63.64%
Ethiopia 63.64%
Kyrgyzstan 63.64%
Mauritania 61.54%
East Timor 60.00%
Finland 60.00%
Moldova 60.00%
Norway 60.00%
Panama 60.00%
Vatican 60.00%
Brazil 58.33%
Montenegro 58.33%
United Kingdom 58.33%
Uruguay 57.14%
Afghanistan 54.55%
Angola 54.55%
Azerbaijan 54.55%
Cambodia 54.55%
Guatemala 54.55%
India 54.55%
Jordan 54.55%
Slovakia 54.55%
Vanuatu 54.55%
Belize 53.85%
Honduras 53.85%
Iceland 53.85%
Kosovo 53.85%
Saint Lucia 53.85%
San Marino 53.85%
Argentina 52.94%
Antigua and Barbuda 50.00%
China 50.00%
Cook Islands 50.00%
Cuba 50.00%
Dominican Republic 50.00%
Egypt 50.00%
Mongolia 50.00%
Saint Kitts and Nevis 50.00%
São Tomé and Príncipe 50.00%
Spain 50.00%
Tajikistan 50.00%
Uzbekistan 50.00%
Zimbabwe 50.00%
Bosnia and Herzegovina 47.06%
Grenada 47.06%
Denmark 46.15%
Guyana 46.15%
Ireland 46.15%
Germany 45.45%
Malawi 45.45%
Philippines 45.45%
Qatar 45.45%
Tonga 45.45%
Tunisia 45.45%
Botswana 43.75%
New Zealand 43.75%
Andorra 42.86%
Dominica 42.86%
El Salvador 42.86%
Micronesia 42.86%
The Bahamas 42.86%
Democratic Republic of the Congo 41.67%
Libya 41.67%
Togo 41.67%
Tanzania 41.18%
Burundi 40.00%
Comoros 40.00%
Ghana 40.00%
Maldives 40.00%
Mozambique 40.00%
South Korea 40.00%
Trinidad and Tobago 40.00%
Australia 38.46%
Myanmar 38.46%
North Korea 38.46%
Saudi Arabia 38.46%
Nauru 37.50%
Belarus 36.36%
Fiji 36.36%
Rwanda 36.36%
Solomon Islands 36.36%
Iran 35.71%
Japan 35.71%
Lesotho 35.71%
Senegal 35.71%
Slovenia 35.71%
Turkey 35.71%
Cape Verde 33.33%
Israel 33.33%
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 33.33%
Algeria 31.25%
Singapore 31.25%
Haiti 30.77%
Pakistan 30.77%
Suriname 30.77%
Liechtenstein 30.00%
Namibia 30.00%
Nicaragua 30.00%
Switzerland 30.00%
Yemen 30.00%
Bolivia 29.41%
Costa Rica 28.57%
Equatorial Guinea 28.57%
Italy 28.57%
Cameroon 27.27%
Liberia 27.27%
Malaysia 27.27%
Niue 27.27%
Portugal 27.27%
Bangladesh 25.00%
Croatia 25.00%
Cyprus 25.00%
Djibouti 25.00%
South Sudan 25.00%
Czech Republic 23.53%
Venezuela 23.08%
Burkina Faso 21.43%
Central African Republic 21.43%
Luxembourg 21.43%
Oman 21.43%
Paraguay 21.43%
Latvia 20.00%
Sudan 20.00%
Syria 20.00%
Taiwan 20.00%
Chad 18.75%
Thailand 18.75%
Estonia 18.18%
Republic of the Congo 18.18%
Tuvalu 18.18%
Laos 17.65%
Bahrain 16.67%
Kuwait 16.67%
Madagascar 16.67%
Morocco 16.67%
France 15.38%
Lebanon 15.38%
Monaco 15.38%
Ukraine 15.38%
Bulgaria 14.29%
Mauritius 14.29%
Armenia 12.50%
Hungary 12.50%
Ivory Coast 12.50%
Netherlands 12.50%
Poland 12.50%
Samoa 12.50%
Somalia 12.50%
Zambia 12.50%
Romania 11.76%
Gabon 10.00%
Gambia 10.00%
Guinea-Bissau 10.00%
Lithuania 10.00%
Nigeria 10.00%
Belgium 9.09%
Benin 9.09%
Colombia 9.09%
United Arab Emirates 9.09%
Vietnam 9.09%
Guinea 8.33%
Indonesia 7.69%
Iraq 7.69%
Russia 7.69%
Palau 7.14%
Chile 6.25%
Palestine 6.25%
Austria 0%
Mali 0%
Niger 0%
Peru 0%
Sierra Leone 0%

[RainInSpain]

Finally back at the Palaver and ready to join in! (Thanks, pablo, for the invitation, and sorry I am so late.)

[mae]

The last group of Round 2 has been posted! Please vote away :excited:

[mae]

The last poll ended in a tie, and once this last tiebreaker closes (on Friday), we'll begin the third round. This is where it gets tough. There will be 12 groups of 5 flags with the top two moving on to the playoffs.

The schedule is as follows:

October 13

Group A (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18764)
Group B (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18765)
Group C (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18766) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18780))


October 15

Group D (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18768)
Group E (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18769)
Group F (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18770) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18786))


October 20

Group G (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18781)
Group H (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18782) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18798))
Group I (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18783)


October 22

Group J (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18787) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18800))
Group K (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18788) (Tiebreaker (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18801))
Group L (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18789)

[mae]

The first groups of Round 3 have been posted! Remember, only up to two votes each here.

[mae]

So the last group of Round 3 polls just went up. After this, the playoffs start! Single votes only.

[Jon]

Thank you, pablo, for taking on this protect!

[Merlin1958]

Thank you, pablo, for taking on this protect!


There we go, "Fun with English" LOL

[Jon]

Bite me, "Ebola Grey."

[Merlin1958]

Bite me, "Ebola Grey."

You don't want me to "Bite You". I have the "Ebola virus"!!! LOL

[mae]

So barring (hopefully) any tiebreakers, here's what the final stage of this tournament (the playoffs) will look like. It will be in four weekly stages, hence the need for the semi-real "octofinals" phase.


The Octofinals will begin on November 3: eight groups of three flags posted, all at the same time, with the top one moving on.
The Quarterfinals will begin on November 10: four groups of two, with the top one moving on.
The Semifinals will begin on November 17: two groups of two, top one moving on.
The Finals, with the last two flags left standing, will begin on November 24, the week of Thanksgiving Day, to thank all who participated!

[mae]

Here are the 24 flags that made it to the Octofinals:


United Kingdom 87.50%
Macedonia 81.25%
Angola 66.67%
Bhutan 66.67%
Guatemala 60.00%
Kazakhstan 60.00%
Papua New Guinea 60.00%
Sri Lanka 60.00%
Barbados 56.25%
San Marino 56.25%
Uganda 56.25%
Albania 53.33%
Brazil 53.33%
Canada 53.33%
Marshall Islands 53.33%
Ecuador 50.00%
Turkmenistan 50.00%
Argentina 46.67%
Montenegro 46.67%
Saint Lucia 46.67%
Hong Kong 43.75%
Kenya 43.75%
Mexico 40.00%
Jamaica 31.25%

[mae]

So here's the playoffs schedule:

November 3

Octofinal 1 of 8 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18807)
Octofinal 2 of 8 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18808)
Octofinal 3 of 8 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18809)
Octofinal 4 of 8 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18810)
Octofinal 5 of 8 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18811)
Octofinal 6 of 8 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18812)
Octofinal 7 of 8 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18813)
Octofinal 8 of 8 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18814)


November 10

Quarterfinal 1 of 4 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18825)
Quarterfinal 2 of 4 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18826)
Quarterfinal 3 of 4 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18827)
Quarterfinal 4 of 4 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18828)


November 17

Semifinal 1 of 2 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18836)
Semifinal 2 of 2 (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18837)


November 24

Final (http://www.thedarktower.org/palaver/showthread.php?18849)

[mae]

The octofinals have just closed; the quarterfinals begin shortly.

Here are the flags moving on:


United Kingdom 66.67%
Marshall Islands 46.67%
Bhutan 42.86%
Kazakhstan 42.86%
Angola 40.00%
Guatemala 40.00%
Macedonia 40.00%
Ecuador 35.29%

[mae]

Okay, so only four remain: United Kingdom, Bhutan, Guatemala, and Ecuador (a Western European county, an South Asian country, and two almost neighboring South American countries). The semifinal polls have gone up. Coming down to the wire now!

[mae]

It's been a fun diversion but it's all down to this, the last poll. United Kingdom and Bhutan.

[Jon]

Thank you, pablo!

[mae]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[RainInSpain]

This was a fun tournament - thank you, pablo, for coming up with the idea and making it work!

[mae]

You're welcome. And we're done.

[Ben Staad]

Thanks for putting together a fun tournament. It was extremely interesting to see all of the different designs and reading a little bit about each one.