[FRC Blog] 2014 Game Hint

[mrnoble]

Andy knows as much as anyone else in this thread about the next game; he's in the same group as all of us. If anything, it's him playing baseball, and that's it.

Are we sure this is correct? AndyMark designs, builds, tests, sells, and distributes game-specific materials for FRC. I think he, at minimum, knows about things such as size and weight restrictions, allowable motors, etc. His company would not survive a single build season if they stocked products based on a faulty guess about products.

[Anthony4004]

Are we sure this is correct? AndyMark designs, builds, tests, sells, and distributes game-specific materials for FRC. I think he, at minimum, knows about things such as size and weight restrictions, allowable motors, etc. His company would not survive a single build season if they stocked products based on a faulty guess about products.

This is correct. I was told through a friend whos friend works for AndyMark, that they work with FIRST when it comes to the KOP and also some parts of the game. He does know more than we do.

[mechanica]

http://i.imgur.com/YjtI0ND.png

the fact of the sign saying that the weight limit is reduced tells us that we will have to create, or be in, a certain equilibrium with the game environment. it just might be a water game where we all have to float our robots ( we'll have to see how that works out). another idea going around is that it might be a lunar/moon based theme. I was thinking that the reduced weight would be required if we were being hanged from something, as if trying to simulate zero gravity. or the theme could be an underwater astronaut training facility (just throwing that out there).

[Anthony4004]

Not sure if this is too useful, but the GDC posted on their Twitter a couple of hours ago:

What is the link for this? I beleive we have worn down this game hint, lets more on to figuring out the game name! If we can get it then we will (almost) know the game!

[Anthony4004]

0 21 10 11 1_0 21 6 1 6 21 43 11_9 21 10 3 10 15

Obviously numbers to letters wont work as there is a 43.

[mrnoble]

This is correct. I was told through a friend whos friend works for AndyMark, that they work with FIRST when it comes to the KOP and also some parts of the game. He does know more than we do.

I would venture to guess that they have a non-disclosure agreement like anyone else would; of course, they could always work in an exception that allows AndyMark or some particular representative to disclose pre-approved "spoilers" for the game. There are a gazillion examples of this happening with other companies to increase buzz on upcoming products.

And I think that's what's happening here.

[mechanica]

as of now, the best option to crack the code is to crack their system. I feel like this is a red herring, and well probably have to play some far out game that involves lots of crashing and lots of parts falling off.

sheesh, I feel like I'm in a real life da vinci code situation!

[Andrew Lawrence]

0 21 10 11 1_0 21 6 1 6 21 43 11_9 21 10 3 10 15

Obviously numbers to letters wont work as there is a 43.

I was thinking it may still be letters to numbers, but not necessarily in order. Maybe A=3, B=10, etc. They just want us to figure out a lettering pattern and come up with ideas from there.

[mechanica]

just noticed on the Nov. 25 photo, am I the only one that noticed that the red light on the upper left of the picture looks like it doesn't belong there? I mean, it's hanging from whatever it's attached to, and it's kinda throwing me off. (It may just be me because I have certain moments sometimes).

[chrisfl]

Did anyone notice that FIRST gave us the 2009 KOP on Solidworks? 2009 was the Lunacy challenge which we used the slick, hard plastic wheels on the plastic floor. The game must be Hockey or something like that. Using these wheels

[Anthony4004]

I was thinking it may still be letters to numbers, but not necessarily in order. Maybe A=3, B=10, etc. They just want us to figure out a lettering pattern and come up with ideas from there.

Yes, I agree with that. I just meant the obvious A=1 ect. I should have been more specific.

[sur]

Well, I guess @FakeGDC really is fake.

[Andrew Lawrence]

Also FRC teams just posted this after @Fake_GDC asked them to: https://twitter.com/FRCTeams/status/417724461987536896

[M. Lillis]

Just to add to the weight theme that has been going around. Here is a tweet that @FRCTeams retweeted
https://twitter.com/andymarkinc/status/417399429071515648

It probably doesn't mean anything but if someone could find the difference in weight, maybe we can get somewhere.

[Anthony4004]

Also FRC teams just posted this after @Fake_GDC asked them to: https://twitter.com/FRCTeams/status/417724461987536896

LETS DO IT!!!

First game hint we thought was so tame
It surely will point to the game
But so far no luck
CD's run amok
Much clearer is this one we claim

[vanjan14]

A separate thread has been created for hint #2
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123822

[Anthony4004]

Just my first thought, this reminds me of hickory dickory dock with the structure. Maybe there is a clue with the beat structure?

[TAlholm]

Just my first thought, this reminds me of hickory dickory dock with the structure. Maybe there is a clue with the beat structure?

I agree with this.

[vanjan14]

A sepreate thread has been created to discuss hint #2:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123822

[Whippet]

Just my first thought, this reminds me of hickory dickory dock with the structure. Maybe there is a clue with the beat structure?

This is a limerick. There are tons of poems using this exact rhyme and rhythm structure. We would have to be crazy to try to find something based on that.

But then again, this is Chief Delphi. We're all crazy here.

[Derpancakes]

Just my first thought, this reminds me of hickory dickory dock with the structure. Maybe there is a clue with the beat structure?

It's a limerick.

[Derpancakes]

I converted the clue to
aifgb aidbdijg eifcfh
by assigning 'a' to 0, 'b' to 1, 'c' to 3, and so on for each of the numbers that appear. Then I put it into a substitution cipher solver (http://rumkin.com/tools/cipher/cryptogram-solver.php), and some of the results that came up started with "grand gridiron." I found the Wikipedia article for gridiron football (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gridiron_football), but then none of the other solutions looked like the name of an FRC game.

"Grand Gridiron Fracas"? It fits with "CDs run amok."

[sergioCorral842]

FRC blogged that the first set of numbers might have been false.

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/blog-Kickoff-Broadcast-Game-Hint-Redux

Here are the new numbers: 61474:135, 12661:1963, 32662:15806

[atucker4072]

Has anyone thought that it making clear references to hockey and baseball may be a hint to the scoring element? Both hockey and baseball use what is basically a stick to hit an object to score. So maybe the element will be sticks? It It could be a similar to the FTC game Get Over It! That also satisfies the reusing idea...

[Hallry]

There has been an error in the game hint. The thread about the FRC Blog post regarding this can be found here: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1318361

[Josh Drake]

So the order in which the number appears in the first number of the set doesn't matter as far as solving the hint, but the second number apparently does.

[BleakRNS]

Something to note:

61126 shifted 2 left becomes 12661 and 62326 shifted 2 left becomes 32662. This tells me it's a cipher and that these are not equations.

Edit: Seems like everyone else noticed it too.

[bduddy]

The first set of numbers was the "iffy" one [edit: not "presumably", that's what he said], because it has been entirely changed. For the other two, the order of the digits in the first number was changed, but '1963' and '15806' were not changed at all.

So, we know they're NOT:

-ZIP codes
-Ratios
-Coordinates

[Zuelu562]

Using the idea that the first number (EDIT: Of each pair) is a date, I searched June 14, 1974, December 6, 1961 (Could be January 26, '61 however), and March 26, 1962.

Those dates yielded some interesting results. June 14th '74 was the date Nolan Ryan stuck out 19 Red Sox in 12 innings. December 6, 1961 was the day the Heisman was awarded in that particular year. March 26 1962 was the birthday of several athletes, covering Baseball, basketball and soccer, and was the day the inventor of wax paper died.

January 26, 1961 (the alternative option to Dec 6 61) was the day Elvis Presley's hit "Are you lonesome tonight?" peaked to #1, and is the birthday of Hockey great Wayne Gretzky.

Lots of references to sports.

[Flimsor]

Just my first thought, this reminds me of hickory dickory dock with the structure. Maybe there is a clue with the beat structure?

Probably not. This is just a limerick. It's a fairly common type of poem. Unless maybe the fact that they're using a limerick is something, but probably not.

[bduddy]

Using the idea that the first number is a date, I searched June 14, 1974, December 6, 1961 (Could be January 26, '61 however), and March 26, 1962.

Those dates yielded some interesting results. June 14th '74 was the date Nolan Ryan stuck out 19 Red Sox in 12 innings. December 6, 1961 was the day the Heisman was awarded in that particular year. March 26 1962 was the birthday of several athletes, covering Baseball, basketball and soccer, and was the day the inventor of wax paper died.

January 26, 1961 (the alternative option to Dec 6 61) was the day Elvis Presley's hit "Are you lonesome tonight?" peaked to #1, and is the birthday of Hockey great Wayne Gretzky.

Lots of references to sports.EDIT: Misunderstood your post. Yeah, they're almost certainly dates. Good job!

[Zuelu562]

This doesn't work at all with the first set of numbers, though.

I was referencing the first number of each pair.

[saikiranra]

99.99999999% sure this is not it, but if you divide the numbers, you get
455.362962963 6.44982170148 2.06643046944

If you make a date out of this, you get June 2nd, 445

The Vandals apparently sacked Rome on that date.

[BleakRNS]

The gif Frank posted is named 333.gif (http://www.usfirst.org/sites/default/files/uploadedImages/Robotics_Programs/FRC/Game_and_Season__Info/2014/333.gif).

[Hallry]

If you search the first set of the updated numbers, 61474:135, on Google, you get an Aircraft Part:

TRIPLE TACHYMETRIC INDICATOR, Part No. 61474-135-1
Source: http://www.aerosup.com/THALES-AVIONICS/Aircraft-Part-Number-61474-135-1.aspx

No hits for the second or third sets of the updated numbers, though.

[coalhot]

Like usual, everyone's over thinking this. Need to read the blog post again:

Some folks on the GDC honestly thought the hint this year was going to be too easy.

If the GDC thought it was going to be easy, I think we should step back and try to solve the hint in the most simple method possible. We've had hints back in the day that were a lot harder to solve, and we solved them faster and more easily.

[George1902]

Steve Ralston, born 6-14-74, holds the MLS record for assists: 135.

Wayne Gretzky, born 1-26-61, holds NHL record for career assists: 1963.

John Stockton, born 3-26-62, holds the NBA assists record: 15806.

[GCDelp]

They also changed from using slashes to colons, claiming they formatted it to something we would recognize easier. And they used double 6's in each of the last pairs.

[Zuelu562]

Wayne Gretzky holds the regular season record for career assists: 1963.

Ok. That's one of the most solid things we have. Lets go forward with this. Something to do with 135 on 6/14/74 and 15806 on 3/26/62

[GCDelp]

Ok. That's one of the most solid things we have. Lets go forward with this. Something to do with 135 on 6/14/74 and 15806 on 3/26/62

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Ralston

Born on the June date, 135 career assists. I don't think this works too well though. He plays soccer.

EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stockton

Born 3/26/62. 15,806 career assists in the NBA. Sounds like we have a pattern going.

[Hallry]

Suggestion: Continue the discussion of the updated game hint on that respective FRC Blog post thread (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=123823). That way, people don't have to go through almost 800 replies of incorrect guesses and can start fresh with the new numbers. Thoughts?

[Calvin Hartley]

Suggestion: Continue the discussion of the updated game hint on that respective FRC Blog post thread (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=123823). That way, people don't have to go through almost 800 replies of incorrect guesses and can start fresh with the new numbers. Thoughts?

Agreed.

[vanjan14]

Suggestion: Continue the discussion of the updated game hint on that respective FRC Blog post thread (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=123823). That way, people don't have to go through almost 800 replies of incorrect guesses and can start fresh with the new numbers. Thoughts?

Best idea in this thread!

[Anthony4004]

Suggestion: Continue the discussion of the updated game hint on that respective FRC Blog post thread (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=123823). That way, people don't have to go through almost 800 replies of incorrect guesses and can start fresh with the new numbers. Thoughts?

Agreed. To the newer thread!!! *cue batman scene change music*:D

[vanjan14]

If you search the first set of the updated numbers, 61474:135, on Google, you get an Aircraft Part:


Source: http://www.aerosup.com/THALES-AVIONICS/Aircraft-Part-Number-61474-135-1.aspx

No hits for the second or third sets of the updated numbers, though.

If you image search "TRIPLE TACHYMETRIC INDICATOR" you get pictures of 3-dial wrist watches.
https://www.google.com/search?espv=210&es_sm=122&biw=1920&bih=954&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=TRIPLE+TACHYMETRIC+INDICATOR&oq=TRIPLE+TACHYMETRIC+INDICATOR&gs_l=img.3...2262.3369.0.4851.2.2.0.0.0.0.63.109.2 .2.0....0...1c.1.32.img..2.0.0.h4p5gPHpzKc

[RedViBritannia]

Hey all! Sorry if any of this has been seen already, but a bunch of things just clicked in my head and I want to get them out

I knocked the ratios down to decimal numbers, and I got(assuming I did my math right):

455.36, 6.45, and 2.07

Since there are 3 numbers, they could not possibly be used for coordinates, so I had to think, 'what else could we use these decimal numbers for?'.

Then I saw the Dr Who image, so I started thinking about Tennant's run.

Then I thought about The Library. The Dewey Decimal System.

Looking up those numbers, this is the categories that they reference:

455.36: Basic Grammar, specifically, Italian (probably irrelevant, that last bit)

6.45 is acoustical pattern recognition, and the only classification in the DDS below that is Speech Recognition (!!!!!). Consider the new abilities of the Microsoft Kinect 2.0 (then again, it is built into the system so...)

2.07 was just meta-book stuff. Not sure what to make of it.

So there's that. I might be way off, but it's something at least, right?

[Mirrus]

In the new numbers they kept the division of the numbers, you can express a division as / or : so this could be a kind of hint. :ahh:

[Hallry]

Again, please continue the discussion of the updated game hint on the updated Game Hint thread (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=123823).

[heisenburger]

61474:135, 12661:1963, 32662:15806

if we think of them as ratios and simplify them we get this.
1:455.3629, 1:6.4498, 1:2.0664

if we round we get
1:455, 1:6, 1:2

Those that ring a bell to anyone???

[zacube]

Listen to this person. The hint has already been figured out, most likely correctly, on the other thread, and it makes a lot more sense than any of the other guesses.
Edit: Well, figured out what the numbers mean. Not quite to the point of "Hint Solved" yet.

Again, please continue the discussion of the updated game hint on the updated Game Hint thread (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=123823).

[gavmac928]

Steve Ralston, born 6-14-74, holds the MLS record for assists: 135.

Wayne Gretzky, born 1-26-61, holds NHL record for career assists: 1963.

John Stockton, born 3-26-62, holds the NBA assists record: 15806.

This is the answer, I'm almost positive! I knew that for this to be true, it had to sort of work for the original numbers too, so I went back to those. The second and third sets are almost identical in the old and new numbers, only the first number is shifted. ( from 61126/1963 to 12661:1963, and from 62326/15806 to 32662:15806). So that means it was originally YY-D-MM, instead of D-MM-YY as George used them.
So, back to the first set of numbers in the original ones, which was 8234/57. This means we're looking for an athlete born on 82-3-4, or march 4th of 1982, who has a the record for career assists of 57. So, I searched athlete 3-4-82. I found Landon Donovan, a soccer player who was born on march 4th, 1982. He played many different teams, including the US National team. On the US team, he holds the record for the most career goals: 57! This cannot possibly be a coincidence. This is why it was iffy- it's not an assists record, and why they replaced it with one for the same sport. They also fixed it to have the year last, as we more commonly express dates.

Now, what this means can vary. It could have to do with assists, or just the sports. I think it could mean that it's a game with soccer balls, basket balls, and hockey pucks, or a game combining soccer and basketball played on regolith. Both sound awesome and terrifying at the same time.

[Calvin Hartley]

Gavin, good finding, but this was already discussed in the other thread. I realise 1,000+ combined posts between the two threads is a lot to sift through, so no worries. Just know that there is already discussion on the new numbers over in the other thread, including the same solution as yours.

[gavmac928]

Oh! Thanks for letting me know, I didn't even realize we split into a new thread.

[Calvin Hartley]

Not a problem! A new one was created after the new blog post today. The thread can be found here: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=123823

[adammiller3122]

I honestly think that the game has something to do with the number 3 and also a 25% weight reduction. Maybe a triangular field?

[Gaurav27]

This is the answer, I'm almost positive! I knew that for this to be true, it had to sort of work for the original numbers too, so I went back to those. The second and third sets are almost identical in the old and new numbers, only the first number is shifted. ( from 61126/1963 to 12661:1963, and from 62326/15806 to 32662:15806). So that means it was originally YY-D-MM, instead of D-MM-YY as George used them.
So, back to the first set of numbers in the original ones, which was 8234/57. This means we're looking for an athlete born on 82-3-4, or march 4th of 1982, who has a the record for career assists of 57. So, I searched athlete 3-4-82. I found Landon Donovan, a soccer player who was born on march 4th, 1982. He played many different teams, including the US National team. On the US team, he holds the record for the most career goals: 57! This cannot possibly be a coincidence. This is why it was iffy- it's not an assists record, and why they replaced it with one for the same sport. They also fixed it to have the year last, as we more commonly express dates.

Now, what this means can vary. It could have to do with assists, or just the sports. I think it could mean that it's a game with soccer balls, basket balls, and hockey pucks, or a game combining soccer and basketball played on regolith. Both sound awesome and terrifying at the same time.

By the sound of "assists", we could see the return of the concept of co-op.

Instead of co-op between two alliances, it could be separated into the two alliances. Co-op between any two of three robots on red and likewise on blue.

One possibility is directly assisting another robot to score by exchanging a game piece.

Another possibility is a scoring move that is required by 2 of 3 robots on an alliance to open up a goal to score on or release a bonus element.

These are some of the thoughts circulating around our team.
Three days folks! :yikes:

[MooreteP]

I am reposting from the newest thread.

We had hints about 3's for 2005's Triple Play, where we transitioned from the 2 v 2 to 3 v 3. Also the "tetras" as a game piece. This also contained the first vision acquisition autonomous period, that was less than successful. It was also the last year without bumpers. There were some awesome collisions during the endgame frenzy of taking goals and running to the end zone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ePwDtrthWE

Hence my thoughts: I like baseball (three bases), and hockey (three periods and three zones).

Baseball: Wiffle balls. Easy to collect and throw and purchase. No harm to spectators. Three bases on the field for an endgame battle of which alliance can control the bases.

Hockey: A goal at either end that can be defended by a goalie bot. You choose to defend the goal or pull the goalie to grab a base in the endgame that would allow the opposing alliance to easily score. Three periods, like in Aim High.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vuwjse90AA

For some reason, I am still expecting the weight reduction for the robots on the field, but an increase in the withholding allowance to encourage modularity and strategic decision making based upon alliance composition.
Noodle-bot!

[Hallry]

I am reposting from the newest thread.

Instead of reposting it here, why don't we just keep it there, eh? As has been said many times recently on this thread, why don't we leave all discussion of the updated game hint on the respectful updated game hint thread. :)

[ThereYouAre]

I found a post once where somebody found the numbers matched up to sport members. I don't remember the names, but I remember one was in hockey, one in soccer, one in basketball. The most I can think of when it comes to those three are the "goals" and not only that, each sport puts it into the goal in completely different ways.

Here's what I am getting at.

If it is sort mail, or anything of the sort, it could mean that there are different levels of sorting mail. Just like in a lot of the competitions. (But I'm not saying I think we are sorting mail, you all just seem to be on a mail, and doctor who vibe right now.)

[Abhishek R]

Maybe we should just lock this thread.

[dellagd]

Maybe we should just lock this thread.

While I don't know what it would be, if someone has a theory still on the original hint, it should go here...

[Hallry]

Maybe we should just lock this thread.

I agree with the locking, obviously some users just post without reading much first, even the most recent post before them in the thread...

While I don't know what it would be, if someone has a theory still on the original hint, it should go here...

Well, since the original hint is incorrect, I don't see why it should need to still be analyzed any further. Mods, feel free to lock this thread (please :p).

[bduddy]

While I don't know what it would be, if someone has a theory still on the original hint, it should go here...The relationship of the original hint to the new one has been well-defined. It switched one soccer player for another and changed the format of the dates.

[dellagd]

The relationship of the original hint to the new one has been well-defined. It switched one soccer player for another and changed the format of the dates.

Hence the "I don't know what it would be." I just wanted to leave things open to people since they are somewhat different numbers. If everyone wants to close the thread up, go ahead. I definitely wont be posting any ideas here.

Well, since the original hint is incorrect, I don't see why it should need to still be analyzed any further. Mods, feel free to lock this thread (please :p).

Also, I responded to your post with an analysis of the first hint using the same theory here (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1318819&postcount=259). The first hint doesnt appear to be incorrect, just slightly more confusing because of a possible mix up with the 57, or so it seems. I think I got it right since its just a swapping of assist record holding soccer players.

[mechanica]

just did some research....

61474:135 - serial number for a triple tachymetric indicator (device which generates target position, speed, direction, and rate of target range change)

12661:1963 - (not sure about this one) nominal pipe size in 200 mm and 250 mm respectively with the capacity in kg/hour fir 4 bars of pressure

32662:15806 - (couldn't find anything with the numbers together, so I divided them by 2 and got 16331:7903; any higher divider would yield a decimal)
7903 - it is an helicopter serial number (most relevant result) and also the name of the 7903 Albioni asteroid belt
16331 - nada

I then divided 16331:7903 by 7 and got 2333:1129
2333 - serial number for greatwall motor (most relevant result)
1129 - nada
however, both numbers' results' had pictures of buses?????

hope this helped!

[roboryan]

seriosuly we already solved it on the other thread this is now an old thread stop posting

[DonRotolo]

seriosuly we already solved it on the other thread this is now an old thread stop posting
Gee, thanks! Good to know. :rolleyes:

[Abhishek R]

Hence the locking.

[Willem Bohrer]

What other thread?

[Blueamber]

What other thread?

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123823

[one4robots]

Well we've got the answer, now what's the question? :D


Since there is a clear, unmistakeable connection to Hitchhiker's Guide, I can only suggest that everyone bring their TOWEL for the water game!

[Calvin Hartley]

Since there is a clear, unmistakeable connection to Hitchhiker's Guide, I can only suggest that everyone bring their TOWEL for the water game!

I was already planning on it. DON'T PANIC!

[Shockwave527]

Ok, get ready for some baseless game conjecture. I've wanted to post this somewhere but didn't know where, and as it has SOME bases in what people think the hint means, I decided to put it here. If there is a game conjecture thread, someone may direct me to it and I will move it there.

I've been looking at past games and trying to figure out, based off trends (but not off the game hint, since that wasn't really understood until today), what it might be. While there's a 99% chance I'm wrong, I would like to put down my thoughts.

There seem to be a lot of games involving balls as the main playing piece, and since last year's was a frisbee, although this is no guarantee, I'm thinking we'll have a ball game this year. Yet this year, while looking toward being ball based, also seems likely to be a slightly more obscure game (less obvious than the past years of basketball and frisbee), so I don't think we'll have a definite sport. The ball may be weird in some way, which got me thinking: beach balls. Another reason I came to this conclusion is that last year's game primarily had shooters as the way to move game pieces, and while it's certainly possible to have that again this year, I feel that won't be the primary means of moving a game piece. Instead, I theorize that the game may involve some kind of "kicker", where robots are thrown beach balls by a human player and must keep them in the air without holding on to them, and score them into some form of baskets for points. This could also lend to the idea of assists, where potentially a ball could be worth more if it has been handled by more than one robot. There could be red and blue balls for each alliance, and white balls which can be scored either in autonomous or maybe by either team for more points.

I am fairly sure beach balls has not been done before, nor has some form of volleyball (which is not that obscure a sport, I guess, but the beach balls change it up), so that's a possibility. Also, lighter playing pieces with some floatieness could add an interesting dynamic to the game. Beach balls also are not that expensive to buy or make, so that wouldn't be problematic. However I think they stated the game this year may be somewhat easier than last year's game, as newer teams last year were discouraged by the difficulty. I don't know if this gameplay would be easire or harder, but there would probably be some way robots could gain points by pushing balls into a goal as well, something that even the simplest robot could do.

With the glow-in-the-dark tape measure, someone had suggested caves of some sort. As a way to score extra points, there could be tunnels a robot could go under while they send the ball over to score extra points. The one problem I see with my theory (aside from the fact that everything is simply conjecture at this point) is that I'm pretty sure I've heard the game will be easier to score, whereas this would require careful watching and marking down to see if balls are passed, sent over caves, held, or dropped. Despite this, and especially after hearing assists, I think the idea is plausible, if not the most likely idea out there.

One last thought, and this is past theory and more just my stupid idea. First often likes names with puns, and I thought of a perfect one for this idea: "Keep It Up."

2 other points I wanted to make:

1: With assists also, maybe if all 3 members of the alliance hit the ball there would be a huge multiplier or point bonus. I'm betting while FIRST loves to make teams really work together, this game will focus a lot more on that with the idea of "assist". Teams must work together and help one another, rather than rely on one good bot, to truly succeed.

2: Most of my theories are probably just confirmation bias, as I thought of these last week and may simply be molding the "assist" clue to fit my idea.

[Stonemotmot]

Hey, I'm working off the idea that the numbers are a cipher. The only recognizable number is 1963 perhaps this is the key. If you search "1963 secret codes" into google, a book called Alvin's Secret Code by Clifford B. Hicks comes up as the top result. Now get this. The book is literally a novel about a boy cracking codes. In fact a reprint on amazon includes the authors notes on ciphers in the appendix. I'm currently trying to determine if the book actually has a key in it that could be used on our hint. Unfortunately, I do not have my own copy.

[David8696]

The original hint is not that difficult: The second two are just "Year Month Day" formats of the same dates (with the same second numbers); the first is a "Year Month Day" format of the birthday of Landon Donovan, all-time US international soccer assists leader, with his number of assists.

Well, we're about to find out for sure!

[mechanical_robot]

I predict the game is going to be throwing balls into a top goal for 10 points along with bonus points for your alliance working together. Also I predict the game is going to be called Aerial Assist. I also don't look at the timestamp this was posted on 12/31/13 xD

[Chris is me]

This hint had two layers. One was assist, and the other was one game piece at a time, an element common to all of these sports. They all also involve getting past defenders to score one piece into a goal as well as some form of inbounding to resume play with the single game piece.

[thegreensniper]

AERIAL ASSIST

[Derpancakes]

Don't know if anyone has pointed this out, but they're in a hangar in the picture. Look at the floor drains, the corrugated metal walls, and the cockpit diagram in the back left. Seems interesting.
Ahem, guys. Did I call it or did I call it?:D

[MooreteP]

Uhhh, choice C, You didn't call it, IMHO.
If you had mentioned the truss at the top, I would have bought you a corn dog.

[Dt33345]

So is Racecar.

Overdrive redone confirmed

HE CALLED IT

[TAlholm]

Holy rebirth batman