2015 Game

[RunawayEngineer]

I hope it's not another shooting/launching game but it's definitely trending towards put Object A into Target B and get X amount of points plus Y amount of bonus points for any particular game functionality. Unless they have a simpler scoring structure for picking up/capping/stacking an object, I think we'll be seeing more objects in goals of some kind.

I'd be pretty disappointed if FRC keeps going with shooting games. 1 more will mean that the class of '15 went their whole FRC career in shooting games. There's nothing particularly wrong with the challenge of distance scoring, but variety helps round out the experience.
I'd at least like to see a game where shooting is left as an option, instead of being a requirement (e.g. 2014 - no height extension, 2008 - height extension allowed, so you could choose to lift or shoot).

[Joe G.]

I think that if assists return, it won't be explicitly spelled out with the focus of the game based around them as was the case last year. I could definitely see a game with "virtual assists" though. 2010 and 2012 are both good examples of this concept. Rather than rules, they used barriers on the field to make it more efficient for robots to play a zone based strategy, and pass balls from one end of the field to the other.

I'd also like to see this concept reborn in the endgame. I strongly believe that 2007 had the best endgame FRC has ever seen, followed by 2012. Both required all three robots to work seamlessly together to score the most points, and in many cases, designs centered around "user friendliness" were common. 2010 had the potential to top either of these, but the lack of point incentive for suspension resulted in a great concept rarely actually taking place.

[GKrotkov]

I'd be pretty disappointed if FRC keeps going with shooting games. 1 more will mean that the class of '15 went their whole FRC career in shooting games. There's nothing particularly wrong with the challenge of distance scoring, but variety helps round out the experience.
I'd at least like to see a game where shooting is left as an option, instead of being a requirement (e.g. 2014 - no height extension, 2008 - height extension allowed, so you could choose to lift or shoot).

This was a game where shooting was left as an option. Our team built a robot without a high goal shooter, and worked purely for assists. As a result, we did better in MAR than we ever have, reaching MARCMP eliminations for the first time. On the whole, though, I'm behind your point. It would really be a pity for an entire class to go through the FRC shooting things at a distance.

[bigbeezy]

On the whole, though, I'm behind your point. It would really be a pity for an entire class to go through the FRC shooting things at a distance.

My years (2005-2008) we built an arm-type robot 3 of the 4 years. Currently there are 0 team members on our team with experience competing with a "pick up and place" type game. That is why this summer we built a very simple "Arm-bot" with the intention of getting the students some experience with seeing/operating a robot of this size and type. Once they have that basic experience they can much easier think of and design improvements should we need to this coming year.

[Kingland093]

My years (2005-2008) we built an arm-type robot 3 of the 4 years. Currently there are 0 team members on our team with experience competing with a "pick up and place" type game. That is why this summer we built a very simple "Arm-bot" with the intention of getting the students some experience with seeing/operating a robot of this size and type. Once they have that basic experience they can much easier think of and design improvements should we need to this coming year.

We've had some type of shooting game the last 3 years now, I doubt they'll do 4. We're due for an arm or some type of stacking or puzzle game

[SoulianPride]

I feel that FIRST, realistically, is going to give us some other sports ball next. Maybe a football? Even better would be playing Hockey. In Water. While Podracing.

[Link07]

I feel that FIRST, realistically, is going to give us some other sports ball next. Maybe a football? Even better would be playing Hockey. In Water. While Podracing.

It's been hockey for the last three years now...

[RonnieS]

Since 2002, FIRST has followed the pattern of even years being balls and odd years being alternative objects. Although 2009 was a "ball shape" I still consider it a different object. I would say that more than likely, there will not be a football this year as that is technically a ball. It is a weird shape to work with but I just hate the idea of 4 shooting games in a row. I'm hoping for another stacking or lifting type game that has tasks taking low cycle times(ex: everyone lifting their own tubes continuously instead of "assisting" them to one another.) This would allow more teams to partake in the finishing aspect of games that can really only be one at a time if done in a assisting/zone type game.

[Link07]

Although 2009 was a "ball shape" I still consider it a different object.

"It's a ball, but it breaks the pattern so it's not really a ball" :rolleyes:

[BBray_T1296]

"It's a ball, but it breaks the pattern so it's not really a ball" :rolleyes:

Confirmation bias and the "law of close enough"

[Zaque]

"It's a ball, but it breaks the pattern so it's not really a ball" :rolleyes:

Especially since most people would consider a Lunacy game piece to be closer to a ball than a football.

[USAFRoboticsNut]

I know this probably wont happen anytime soon, but i think that an air game would be awesome

[Endless Bread]

Hi, I Was Looking At The Posts On The Site And I Found A Clue About The 2015 Game

http://i.imgur.com/B5xDOrw.jpg

I Think We Are Finally Getting It This Year !

Edit: I Can't Find It Anymore :c

[BBray_T1296]

Hi, I Was Looking At The Posts On The Site And I Found A Clue About The 2015 Game

http://i.imgur.com/B5xDOrw.jpg

I Think We Are Finally Getting It This Year !

Edit: I Can't Find It Anymore :c

I have solved it:
Boats float on water
Boats have poor "traction" (if you will)
Lunacy had poor traction

Regolith is back!

[RonnieS]

Maybe its more of the waves in the water rather than the water. My assumption now will be a mowing goal game. This could be a wire you have to hang things from that sways or movable goals you have to stack things on.

[Derpancakes]

We mustn't overlook that FIRST often tries to relate the competition to recent events. It appears that NASA will be in the news quite a bit with the Dawn spacecraft landing on Ceres, the New Pathfinder studying Pluto, and the launch of the LISA Pathfinder. There will also be a total and a partial solar eclipse on 2015. My money is on something space-themed, but far from Lunacy, I'm sure the GDC doesn't hate us too much...

[HumblePie]

What I find interesting about the blog post is that Frank says everything is on the table, year after year. I seem to recall that some very clever folks here last year connected a "hint" (legit or not, I dunno) to GPS coordinates, and a bridge with a weight limit road sign. Anybody else think a reduced weight limit, say 110lbs, might be specified, to go with the new(ish) 112" perimeter? It might force some difficult decisions on strategies, meaning fewer "do everything" robots. It might it also help level the playing field for rookies and struggling teams. What does C/D think?

[Tungrus]

It's a water game with twist...as in ice bucket challenge! Each alliance is allowed to carry, pass and pour water into goal tank. The goals are at different levels. And no, water pumps are not allowed!

[Derpancakes]

What I find interesting about the blog post is that Frank says everything is on the table, year after year. I seem to recall that some very clever folks here last year connected a "hint" (legit or not, I dunno) to GPS coordinates, and a bridge with a weight limit road sign. Anybody else think a reduced weight limit, say 110lbs, might be specified, to go with the new(ish) 112" perimeter? It might force some difficult decisions on strategies, meaning fewer "do everything" robots. It might it also help level the playing field for rookies and struggling teams. What does C/D think?

I could see this happening eventually, but not until control systems become more integrated.

[g_sawchuk]

It's a water game with twist...as in ice bucket challenge! Each alliance is allowed to carry, pass and pour water into goal tank. The goals are at different levels. And no, water pumps are not allowed!
No. Just no. Please no.
:(

[Twins Inc.]

So in all seriousness, Andymark sells a field (am-2800) that "has the ‘fit and function’ necessary for use in the 2015 FRC". So we at LEAST know the size of the 2015 game!

http://www.andymark.com/Field-p/am-2800.htm

[Whippet]

So in all seriousness, Andymark sells a field (am-2800) that "has the ‘fit and function’ necessary for use in the 2015 FRC". So we at LEAST know the size of the 2015 game!

http://www.andymark.com/Field-p/am-2800.htm


Has anyone tried buying one of these to check for watertightness?

[thatprogrammer]

Has anyone tried buying one of these to check for watertightness?

$19,600 is a bit high just to check if a field is watertight... :p

In all seriousness, I think we're going to be looking at something similar, but not exactly like, to Aerial Assist's field.

[Michael Hill]

Has anyone tried buying one of these to check for watertightness?

It's not watertight, but it IS Jello-tight.

[Grey Mann]

It's not watertight, but it IS Jello-tight.

Yes. Please.

[thatprogrammer]

Yes. Please.

Dave has corrupted yet another...

Have we ever had a game with 2 very distinctive game pieces? By "very distinctive" I mean something like a ball and tubes, not necessarily like 2004's multiple ball sizes.

[fwoop_fwoop]

Just because the field might not be water tight, doesn't mean that you can't put a tank within the perimeter....

What I want to see is a submarine type game where the robots much adjust their density to float to the different goals. Unrealistic? Probably. Super Cool? Absolutely.

[Rachel.Alaynick]

If the field size stays relatively the same, I think obstacles will be added. 2014 was wide open with an emphasis on mobility and teamwork, so 2 years in a row of open fields seems unlikely. I'm guessing it'll be a large field with obstacles + an unorthodox "ball."

.... a watergame where we navigate coral reefs ;)

[thatprogrammer]

If the field size stays relatively the same, I think obstacles will be added. 2014 was wide open with an emphasis on mobility and teamwork, so 2 years in a row of open fields seems unlikely. I'm guessing it'll be a large field with obstacles + an unorthodox "ball."

.... a watergame where we navigate coral reefs ;)

But... 2013 was open as well! Of course, it wasn't AS open due to the pyramids, but it was also a field that emphasized mobility. Still, I do agree that we're probably not going to see a completely flat field again.

[BBray_T1296]

But... 2013 was open as well! Of course, it wasn't AS open due to the pyramids, but it was also a field that emphasized mobility. Still, I do agree that we're probably not going to see a completely flat field again.

With all the complaints related to high speed 6 CIM drives and open courts facilitating hard impacts, I agree.

[orangemoore]

All the field needs is something like the bump from 2012. It split the field and seemed to make moving very fast harder to accomplish while also going over the bump.

[BBray_T1296]

All the field needs is something like the bump from 2012. It split the field and seemed to make moving very fast harder to accomplish while also going over the bump.

I still say, that instead of the bump from 2012, the bumps from 2010. That would make the game ENTIRELY different

[orangemoore]

I still say, that instead of the bump from 2012, the bumps from 2010. That would make the game ENTIRELY different

Yes it would. I wish January was now. I like new games. They keep me busy.

[thatprogrammer]

I still say, that instead of the bump from 2012, the bumps from 2010. That would make the game ENTIRELY different

Stairs from 2004! It'd be interesting to see how teams adapt to multiple heights and widths of stair cases. Perhaps even have different patterns. (EX. Spiraling stair cases and straight ones.) Not only would you see teams try and climb stairs, but you'd also see teams just climb over them, and teams go across them. Honestly, I'd LOVE a mix of 2004, 2008, and 2013.

[Christopher149]

Stairs from 2004! It'd be interesting to see how teams adapt to multiple heights and widths of stair cases. Perhaps even have different patterns. (EX. Spiraling stair cases and straight ones.) Not only would you see teams try and climb stairs, but you'd also see teams just climb over them, and teams go across them. Honestly, I'd LOVE a mix of 2004, 2008, and 2013.

Stairs or ramps haven't been seen in a while, and would be a break from let's-drive-really-fast-for-everything. It would make for a good design challenge. Either something exciting like the 2013 pyramids, or something you have to do repeatedly to score particularly well.

And on a possibly off-topic note, there is a stair climbing robot (http://youtu.be/A_-3ieQKtS0?t=18s) in the upcoming Big Hero 6 movie (alongside a cat with rocket boots and a robot arm playing table tennis in the same scene around 0:17-0:19).