MODAQ
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| Above: A screenshot of the MODAQ demo site showing a packet from QB League. |
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MODAQ (MODerator Assistant for Quizbowl, also sometimes known as Quiz Bowl Reader) is a web-based system for reading and scoring quizbowl packets developed by Alejandro Lopez-Lago.
The online MODAQ reader can be found here: link.
Alejandro also developed YAPP (Yet Another Packet Parser; link), which processes packets into a format suitable to be used with MODAQ. Another parser available on the QBReader site (link) was developed by Geoffrey Wu and handles several cases not supported by YAPP like paired bonuses.
Overview
MODAQ tracks buzzpoint data and outputs files of stats; these can be fed into and automatically processed by YellowFruit or handled with conventional stats programs like SQBS. The integrated reading and scoring interface allows a single staffer to run a game room with essentially no additional time or effort compared to a two-staffer room, and the stats compilation options reduce the need for a team of statkeepers at a large tournament to a single person, who can usually work from off-site if needed. Major obstacles to use include inertia, staffers needing training, a laptop and access to Wifi, and friction during less common scenarios like tiebreakers and replacement questions. Other notable downsides compared to alternatives like TJ Sheets include the inability of the tournament director to view live scoresheets of in-progress games, which can hinder their ability to notice issues or rebracket promptly, a need to generate a roster file in advance (and then update and resend it to staffers if rosters change), and difficulty fixing mistakes in the .qbj files MODAQ outputs (a moderately technical task sometimes called "QBJ surgery" that requires familiarity with the .json file format used by MODAQ).
MODAQ has been widely adopted by college tournaments, with several iterations of ACF Nationals using versions hosted by Harry White as part of a live-updating stats system. MODAQ has also been used extensively for high school tournaments including PACE NSC and NASAT, but overall usage is lower due to the aforementioned logistical hurdles.