Daves Game Hint [Archive]

Chris Fultz

30-10-2009, 12:39

Game hint? "Game hint!" Did someone say "game hint?" Oooo-o-o-ohh! Guess it is time to get to work....
. . .

OK, i didn't want to hijack the thread where Dave posted this, but i think this is a real hint. I know that Dave is into Mind Mapping (where you related thoughts all over the place and come up with something brilliant - Al Gore does this stuff all the time).

So, take this hint above and lets turn it into the 2010 game idea.

"Game Hint, Game Hint, Did someone say Game Hint". That sounds like a direct quote from one of those adult beverage commercials.

The commercial is for a product that features a silver train and snow.

This year, we had a playing field that was like ice (relates to the snow above). And what has even less traction than that? TRAIN TRACKS, a direct link to the commercial above that Dave is mimicking in his response.

I also know that AndyMark (who was part of the wheel supply last year), is located in an industrial park area that, to get to, you have to cross what - RAILROAD TRACKS. Yet another link to the train idea.

And the way trains work and transfer power to their wheels is an awesome yet simple engineering feat.

So what is the game - Robots have to drive around the field doing something (to be revealed at the next game hint) and then get themselves onto a set of railroad tracks that are hidden in a snow like material. The robot will have to be able to drive on the playing field AND the train tracks to be effective.

And you thought rigolith was tough.

PS - Happy Halloween :]

(back to work, lunch is over)

ow to

Daniel_LaFleur

30-10-2009, 12:43

Daves hints are never so straight forward.

The real hint is in the 3 dots at the end, which is a morse code 's'.

We'll get the rest of the hint over the next few weeks ;)

yodameister

30-10-2009, 12:49

OK, i didn't want to hijack the thread where Dave posted this, but i think this is a real hint. I know that Dave is into Mind Mapping (where you related thoughts all over the place and come up with something brilliant - Al Gore does this stuff all the time).

So, take this hint above and lets turn it into the 2010 game idea.

"Game Hint, Game Hint, Did someone say Game Hint". That sounds like a direct quote from one of those adult beverage commercials.

The commercial is for a product that features a silver train and snow.

This year, we had a playing field that was like ice (relates to the snow above). And what has even less traction than that? TRAIN TRACKS, a direct link to the commercial above that Dave is mimicking in his response.

I also know that AndyMark (who was part of the wheel supply last year), is located in an industrial park area that, to get to, you have to cross what - RAILROAD TRACKS. Yet another link to the train idea.

And the way trains work and transfer power to their wheels is an awesome yet simple engineering feat.

So what is the game - Robots have to drive around the field doing something (to be revealed at the next game hint) and then get themselves onto a set of railroad tracks that are hidden in a snow like material. The robot will have to be able to drive on the playing field AND the train tracks to be effective.

And you thought rigolith was tough.

PS - Happy Halloween :]

(back to work, lunch is over)

ow to

Oh dear...Isn't it a bit early to get our minds spinning with notions of game hints from Dave? :)

dlavery

30-10-2009, 13:02

JaneYoung

30-10-2009, 13:21

Oh dear...Isn't it a bit early to get our minds spinning with notions of game hints from Dave? :)

It's just short of November so we're right on time. I haven't burst out laughing yet - so it's not in full swing.

Andrew Schreiber

30-10-2009, 13:21

First, Chris I am now mad at you. VERY mad :mad: See how mad I am?

Second, Dave is a jerk. Nice, funny guy, but he is a total jerk. He knows full well that anything he does out of the norm (ie changing his customary dot to two dots or three dots or even a slash) Will spark a response. Don't feed the troll people! If we ignore him maybe he will stop teasing us.

Third, I am going to fan the flames, not so much because I care but more because I am curious how long this thread will take to reach 100 posts. Look at Dave's last couple posts, see if there is a pattern. The Morse code seems likeliest but if it doesn't spell out anything don't forget to check multiple encodings or anything else.

(I mean these comments in the nicest possible way. Just to clear up any potential confusion, I really do think Dave and Chris are wonderful people)

-../---/-./-/..-./././-../-/...././-../.-/..-/.

yodameister

30-10-2009, 13:42

It's just short of November so we're right on time. I haven't burst out laughing yet - so it's not in full swing.
While that is true, I don't want to use the processor space in my mind entertaining thoughts of the new game...yet, there are already too many applications running at once.:ahh: Brain initiating shut-down sequence.

Mike Soukup

30-10-2009, 13:42

In a few weeks you'll discover that Dave's secret message is none other than "Be sure to drink your Ovaltine."

Josh Goodman

30-10-2009, 15:11

David Brinza

30-10-2009, 15:19

Yes Chris, this is just what we need: a thread dedicated to speculating that a game hint is imbedded in dlavery's post suggesting it's time to create a game hint. :rolleyes:

Fortunately, the clocks turn back an hour this weekend so we have even more time to explore this topic.

Chris is me

30-10-2009, 15:25

I believe a different post Dave has made is a game hint. If I knew where it was I'd link to it. But I basically read it, thought "that really doesn't make any sense", then gasped and started wondering if it was a hint...

BrendanB

30-10-2009, 15:31

I bet you that Dave sits at his computer, calls his co-workers over and says this, "Hey guys! Watch this. Let me start adding dots and say odd phrases and see how many kids go crazy over it!"

Watch. There probably all sitting in his office laughing their heads off.;)

Dave, you have power over us, and some of us have school and work to focus on, DON'T GET US DISTRACTED!!!!:yikes: please Geez I can't wait until some real game hints come out.:D

IndySam

30-10-2009, 16:16

Dave, Dave who?

-.. .- ...- . / .-- .... --- ..--..

Koko Ed

30-10-2009, 17:42

It's amazing how the second I hit college I stopped caring about game hints. I think I've taken on the lazy attitude of "The new game will come eventually, just like every year." Unless of course this year the Grinch steals the 2010 Game. :ahh:

//

Welcome to adulthood.
Remember, patience is your friend. Denial is your shield. Bitter disinterest your salve. Your endless hours of crushing workload will be your strength.
Good luck, soldier.

rtfgnow

30-10-2009, 17:52

Welcome to adulthood.
Remember, patience is your friend. Denial is your shield. Bitter disinterest your salve. Your endless hours of crushing workload will be your strength.
Good luck, soldier.
I am not sure if I should spotlight or run in fear.

JaneYoung

30-10-2009, 17:55

I am not sure if I should spotlight or run in fear.

Well, explain part of it first.

What does 'bitter disinterest is your salve' mean?

Koko Ed

30-10-2009, 18:12

Well, explain part of it first.

What does 'bitter disinterest is your salve' mean?

It's means your immune to the effects of Red Herring because you don't care about them.

Tetraman

30-10-2009, 18:13

I don't really believe in hints anymore except for the ones that they make official. I've grown up and because of that I don't really see any reason to keep "loading coal" into the fire and "chugging" along with off the wall ideas. I mean over the years I've litterly raged like a "smoke stack" trying to "engineer" some answers to Dave's de-"rail"-ing. I'm serious, if I ever find him, I'm gonna kick his "caboose", get the rumor mill back on "track" and just tell everyone not to go "all aboard".

=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=:=

Richard Wallace

30-10-2009, 18:43

A game hint from Dave? Right before Halloween?

It can't be a treat, so it must be a trick!

MikePres

31-10-2009, 10:43

there are a lot of O's there...

GBilletdeaux930

31-10-2009, 15:03

I'm not one to think too much about hints but somethings going on. Dave has had been quite active in the last two-three days compared to other months. And either he's having way to much fun with us, or his ending "." is part of the hint now because his most recent closer has been "-." which is an "n" in morse code.

Taking all these closings since the "game hint game hint bler bler bler" it says SII N. SII is the stock market abbreviation for SMITH International Inc. which supplies machines and such for oil drilling. Its stock, as it looks, has seen quite a drop off lately.

I honestly think he's just having fun with us. But hey, lets humor him.

rtfgnow

31-10-2009, 15:12

MrForbes

31-10-2009, 18:45

I almost sort of guessed the true meaning of one hint about last year's game, so I can't participate this year.

DonRotolo

01-11-2009, 09:54

The real hint is in the 3 dots at the end, which is a morse code 's'.
there are a lot of O's there...
his most recent closer has been "-." which is an "n" in morse code.
OK, so what does
S O O N
spell?

I am sure Dave is just trying to tell us...
We'll get the rest of the hint over the next few weeks ;)

(Honestly, I feel a bit sorry for the guy. He can't write anything without it being hyper-analyzed and considered a hint. Imagine how frustrating that can get. Bitter disinterest is surely his salve.)

-.-

Nick Lawrence

01-11-2009, 10:28

I won't have any part in this massive trickery!

-Nick

--.-....---.-.--...-.--.-...---...--.-..-.--...---.-.-...---..-.--..-..-.

morse code?!

Big Kid

01-11-2009, 13:54

Just for the heck of keeping myself occupied the translation of .../../-. is SIN, but more letters are soon to follow i think lol, maybe hes SINGing

- .-- --- / -- --- -. - .... ... / .- -. -.. / ---.. / -.. .- -.-- ... / ..- -. - .. .-.. / -.- .. -.-. -.- --- ..-. ..-.

Andrew Schreiber

01-11-2009, 13:56

rtfgnow

01-11-2009, 14:51

actauly his last five posts has been

...
..
..
/
-.

or

S
I
I
/ (no translation but used to divide letters or words when Morse code is written out)
N

Just like GB posted at http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=880646&postcount=21

Nick Lawrence

01-11-2009, 18:34

Trigonometry -> Triangles?

Where's the Cosine? :)

-Nick

Big Kid

01-11-2009, 18:37

or its spanish as SI is yes

lbarger

02-11-2009, 12:10

The three dots have spaces between them. A single in Morse Code dot is the letter "E". In amature radio, the "E" is pronounced "Echo" to avoid miss interpretation with other letters such as "B"(Bravo), "D"(Delta), "P"(Papa), "T"(Tango), etc.

So what if the 'hint' is "Echo Echo Echo"? We plate in a cave, or canyon where we can not see the robot at all times from the drivers' stations. Alternatively, we are repeating a game from years ago.

Just wanted to put forth another tangent. :D

XXShadowXX

02-11-2009, 12:50

Two things;

1) Trains could be fun

2)WHY DO YOU ENJOYING OUR SUFFERING SO MUCH?!?!?!?!?!?11?!?!?!/1?!!?!?

Danny Blau

02-11-2009, 15:20

so I've heard people talk about trains, and snow and I know how much we all love teamwork,
so this video came to mind, it doesn't make any sense for a game but its really cool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF2ZPRmocs4&feature=related
and for more fun watch the videos of them trying to get the plow out

they end up using 6 locomotives and an excavator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06rMZZR2ZT4&feature=related

have fun Danny B

skimoose

02-11-2009, 18:01

Morse code was used heavily by the railroads, but there was another signaling system that was also employed by railroads which was expressed in dashes and ohs or dots. That was the system of train whistle (or in the diesel age air horn) blasts. This is not just the engineer having fun, the sequence of long and short blast has meaning.

Here's the North American system, other parts of the world use different signals.

Sequence What it means:
Succession of short sounds Used when an emergency exists, or if persons or livestock are on the track.
– When train is stopped. The air brakes are applied and pressure is equalized.
– – Train releases brakes and proceeds.
o o Acknowledgment of any signal not otherwise provided for.
o o o When train is stopped: means backing up, or acknowledgment of a hand signal to back up.
o o o o Request for a signal to be given or repeated if not understood.
– o o o Instruction for flagman to protect rear of train.
– – – – Flagman return from the west or south.
– – – – – Flagman return from the east or north.
– – o – Train is approaching public grade crossing(s). This is known as Rule 14L in almost all railroad operating rules.
– o Inspect the brake system for leaks or sticking brakes.

Dave says All aboard!

Chris is me

02-11-2009, 18:15

Have you guys considered the possibility he just typed the period an extra time or two at random to make you guys think there's a hint there?

I wish I was Dave, this must be so fun.

NorviewsVeteran

02-11-2009, 18:22

I bet he's almost chocking on Krispy Kreme he's laughing so hard right now.

EricH

02-11-2009, 19:49

We all have one-track minds this time of year, don't we? Personally, I think he's just messing with our minds. Somebody remind him to be caught eating bananas, Jello, and Krispy Kremes near the field next year.

JaneYoung

02-11-2009, 19:50

Have you guys considered the possibility he just typed the period an extra time or two at random to make you guys think there's a hint there?

I think Dave is capable of teasing and annoying us on many levels, in many time zones, through various dimensions, and on a regular basis. We are not necessarily naive or gullible but we still fall for whatever mischief we think we detect. I can't even imagine the stuff that goes undetected. That must be highly amusing in itself.

And I say - thank you, Dave, for your humor, your silliness, and your ability to keep this fun even when we are so mean to all of you on the GDC after Kick Off.
--
I like all this train stuff - I'm learning a lot.

dqmot17

02-11-2009, 19:55

S
I
I
/ (no translation but used to divide letters or words when Morse code is written out)
N

a.k.a. si in or "yes indiana"
i say indiana jones. that has trains....
EDIT: Or with the echo idea:
C:\dLavery>Echo "We are robotics geeks"
yep
C:\dLavery>

dlavery

02-11-2009, 20:10

HashemReza

02-11-2009, 20:30

Hmm. Fun. More bits to gnash over :)

56 1/2 inches...thats 4' 8-1/2". Sound like size limitations for bots this year? Or a field element?

Oh, dear. The Falcons/Saints game is about to start! I'll think about this during the game...maybe.

rtfgnow

02-11-2009, 20:39

/

again nothing, I'm guessing he did it like that because he has no idea what to spell and is putting off a decision.

NorviewsVeteran

02-11-2009, 21:01

So everyone is clear, 4' 8 1/2" is another train reference. It's the standard width of train tracks (or gauge, if someone wants to run with that too).

dqmot17

02-11-2009, 21:32

So, FIRST is turning into the For the Inspiration of Science and Trains? That makes sense... Not a whole lot of re-branding will be needed....

HashemReza

03-11-2009, 02:05

XXShadowXX

03-11-2009, 02:33

Alright where to trains leave us where...:

The game is based on tracks;
-Robots move on tracks.
-Certain robots move on tracks.
-Move on Tracks for Bonus points.

The game involves train like movement;
-Alliance moves like a train.
-We pull trailers (again).
-Alliance moves like a train for a special period (start/end game).

The game involves train-like properties;
-Alliances must use combined force to move game pieces.
-Alliances must pull/push game pieces

Train Construction:
- Alliances need to haul objects, place objects, and hammer objects to score.
- Alliances need to build something out of game pieces.

What else you got?

Q. Sheets

03-11-2009, 02:48

Being here for a while, 6,462 mi doesn't seem like much. It's only a distance between these two places.

-.-

Collin Fultz

03-11-2009, 10:24

What about 2008's game pieces, the track balls?

Could we see a new use for the old game piece?

JaneYoung

03-11-2009, 10:52

What about 2008's game pieces, the track balls?

Could we see a new use for the old game piece?

I thought those things were awesome.

Danny Blau

03-11-2009, 15:36

After reading Bill's Blog today and in his past posts he talks about the current field being developed as the "Delta" field this could simply be the forth iteration of the FIRST field with cost savings features added for the expanded number of fields OR it could also mean that the field/field elements will change from match to match or even during the match.

Another possible hint came when he talked about the use of the classmate PC this year as the driver's station, in the blog he said they played some matches, changing sides, and changing alliances with out problems this could mean that alliances will be changing throughout the course of the match.

the Dartfish software that is being tested for this year is used to overlay video replays of multiple actions, it's been used with '06 robots shotting at the goal and I have also seen it used in air racing to compare the path each plane took around the course. This also hints at the changing field, the Dartfish replay would allow everyone to see the robots doing their tasks as the field changes.

Danny B
"67 days until kickoff " Bills Blog

J93Wagner

03-11-2009, 18:19

the Dartfish software that is being tested for this year is used to overlay video replays of multiple actions, it's been used with '06 robots shotting at the goal and I have also seen it used in air racing to compare the path each plane took around the course. This also hints at the changing field, the Dartfish replay would allow everyone to see the robots doing their tasks as the field changes.

Would teams ever have access to these replays after the match?

EricH

03-11-2009, 20:30

Would teams ever have access to these replays after the match?
I doubt it. That could be legitimate--a performance review-- but it has the potential--serious potential-- to open up a can of worms that is best left closed. I'm talking, of course, about instant replay.

Danny, I'm pretty sure he's simply referring to the testing; during a competition, each individual control system has to be able to connect to the field from any one of the control stations, no matter what is in the other X stations on the field, and then disconnect and reconnect in any station again, in whatever pattern the field is looking for. I don't think we'll see changing alliances during a match; imagine what that would do to eliminations...

DonRotolo

03-11-2009, 21:46

With all the train references, perhaps we'll need to get some TRAINING this year...:p

Danny Blau

03-11-2009, 22:08

I doubt it. That could be legitimate--a performance review-- but it has the potential--serious potential-- to open up a can of worms that is best left closed. I'm talking, of course, about instant replay.

Danny, I'm pretty sure he's simply referring to the testing; ... I don't think we'll see changing alliances during a match; imagine what that would do to eliminations...

I agree that instant replay could get messy; in pro soccer they use instant replay only as treat to the fans, all the referee's calls are final as soon as they are made.

The reason I bring up changing alliances is because it was talked about when designing a VEX game for a local competition and one idea was that if you controlled a certain game piece you could high jack a robot from the other alliance. However without having the VEX bots tied into a field control this would have been impossible to control and difficult to follow for the fans. With FRC though the alliance could be changed, the field used to controls your red/blue LED lights anyways and for eliminations; its all based on what teams are on alliance with the most points at the end of the match and thats the way you start the next match. If your alliance thinks they can win alone this give motivation to prevent a switch and if you think your done for your going to try and switch. the strategy would be all messed up think if red spent the whole match scoring on themselves and then at the end switched sides to steal the win. FIRST is always looking for ways to make things harder and more interesting and this would sure do it.

but hay I could be completely wrong
Danny B

EricH

03-11-2009, 22:22

With FRC though the alliance could be changed, the field used to controls your red/blue LED lights anyways and for eliminations; its all based on what teams are on alliance with the most points at the end of the match and thats the way you start the next match. If your alliance thinks they can win alone this give motivation to prevent a switch and if you think your done for your going to try and switch. the strategy would be all messed up think if red spent the whole match scoring on themselves and then at the end switched sides to steal the win. FIRST is always looking for ways to make things harder and more interesting and this would sure do it. Imagine this scenario: You pick your alliance (or, the top 24 robots are chosen and randomly placed on alliances) for the finals. First match comes up, and robots A, C, F win because they're on the same alliance at the end. (Alliances were originally A, B, C vs D, E, F.) Match 2 comes along, and A, B, E win. Now who goes on? A certainly should, because they've won 2 matches. But B, C, E, and F have one win apiece and D has none, so A has to play again instead of advancing. That's the mess you get into. So you have to have a completely new format for eliminations, one where individual teams advance, or alliances are locked after the first match, or some other similar nuisance.

In addition to totally confusing the teams, not to mention the Joe-off-the-street types we want to see us and the VIPs, you have to figure out how to assess the penalties that happen (which alliance gets the disable/DQ when teams are switching) and all the rest of that stuff.

It's not impossible. It's just crazy to do. Technically possible? Sure, if you can tell the robots that they just switched (and the drivers, for that matter). But it's your worst nightmare in terms of tournament play and who advances.

Now if the entire alliance simply switches colors, that's another thing (and almost pointless).

Danny Blau

03-11-2009, 22:40

All I'm saying is that it would be possible, it would really shake things up and its not like FIRST hasn't gone with crazy in the past, I know the first time I hear that we would be playing on fake ice I thought it was crazy, six weeks is crazy, helping a team that's your opponent later is crazy but it happens all the time.

it would bring a new level of cooperation to the game and would really make things interesting.

It has more chance than a water game but only slightly, anyways I'm still hoping for it (well both actually)
Danny B

keeping the water game hopes alive

Nick Lawrence

04-11-2009, 10:23

What a mess.

I like the traditional round-robin tournament style. :)

-Nick

Lil' Lavery

04-11-2009, 10:55

Imagine this scenario: You pick your alliance (or, the top 24 robots are chosen and randomly placed on alliances) for the finals. First match comes up, and robots A, C, F win because they're on the same alliance at the end. (Alliances were originally A, B, C vs D, E, F.) Match 2 comes along, and A, B, E win. Now who goes on? A certainly should, because they've won 2 matches. But B, C, E, and F have one win apiece and D has none, so A has to play again instead of advancing. That's the mess you get into. So you have to have a completely new format for eliminations, one where individual teams advance, or alliances are locked after the first match, or some other similar nuisance.

Who says an entire alliance has to advance/win? ;)

EricH

04-11-2009, 11:49

Who says an entire alliance has to advance/win? ;)
This is true. What I was thinking (assuming a 3x3 game) is that the first 3 robots to win 2 matches go on and start as an alliance. This would take 3 matches, assuming my above scenario, possibly 4.

Of course, this does introduce the luck factor in a big way, so it may not be feasible.

J93Wagner

04-11-2009, 12:56

I doubt it. That could be legitimate--a performance review-- but it has the potential--serious potential-- to open up a can of worms that is best left closed. I'm talking, of course, about instant replay....

What I was referring to was if a team wanted to make a video using the video that was shot from the regional authority, would they be able to use it?

EricH

04-11-2009, 13:52

What I was referring to was if a team wanted to make a video using the video that was shot from the regional authority, would they be able to use it?
Any team has access to the video drop behind the curtain near Pit Admin, if they want to have it. They just need their own recording device. It's the same feed that the main screen uses.

GaryVoshol

04-11-2009, 15:01

Any team has access to the video drop behind the curtain near Pit Admin, if they want to have it. They just need their own recording device. It's the same feed that the main screen uses.

At an SRE-run event. Other lower-cost events, YMMV.

And I'd think that the video drop would be near the field (the curtain which Eric mentions), which is not necessarily the location of Pit Admin.

Lil' Lavery

04-11-2009, 17:11

This is true. What I was thinking (assuming a 3x3 game) is that the first 3 robots to win 2 matches go on and start as an alliance. This would take 3 matches, assuming my above scenario, possibly 4.

Of course, this does introduce the luck factor in a big way, so it may not be feasible.

Who says anything about luck? What if there's a controlled trigger that causes teams to switch alliances? It would just become some very chaotic, sophisticated, and twisted strategies. ;)

Karibou

04-11-2009, 17:38

Who says anything about luck? What if there's a controlled trigger that causes teams to switch alliances? It would just become some very chaotic, sophisticated, and twisted strategies. ;)
You ARE turning into your dad...

And that wouldn't be a very audience-friendly game :/ or a scout-friendly game, for that matter.

dlavery

04-11-2009, 18:32

You ARE turning into your dad...

And that wouldn't be a very audience-friendly game :/ or a scout-friendly game, for that matter.

Meh, audience understanding is over-rated anyway. I mean, think about it - big crowds actually continue to gather year after year to watch cricket matches, and NOBODY understands that game!

-dave

....

EricH

04-11-2009, 18:36

Like father, like son.

Let's see, so far it's been SII N. Dave just used 4 dots, which translates to "H".

sinh--Oh, no, not hyperbolic functions!!!!!

dqmot17

04-11-2009, 19:40

This just proves that off-season FIRST guessing is just as bad as the prisoners getting tortured by the barney theme.

Karibou

04-11-2009, 20:38

This just proves that off-season FIRST guessing is just as bad as the prisoners getting tortured by the barney theme.
That's not necessarily torture! It could be worse, it could be the Hannah Montana theme song...

lenny8

04-11-2009, 21:49

That's not necessarily torture! It could be worse, it could be the Hannah Montana theme song...

Agreed. :D

GaryVoshol

05-11-2009, 06:34

That's not necessarily torture! It could be worse, it could be the Hannah Montana theme song...

There is such a thing? Please, keep it away from me.

BrendanB

05-11-2009, 09:06

Meh, audience understanding is over-rated anyway. I mean, think about it - big crowds actually continue to gather year after year to watch cricket matches, and NOBODY understands that game!

-dave

....
Depends on what country you are from because for the big crowds you mentioned that is their definition of a good Friday night.

Karibou- now all I can think about right now is the Hannah Montana them song. Oh well, at least it is better than Taylor Swift IMHO.

..//...

JaneYoung

05-11-2009, 09:35

According to Wikipedia:

"In England some early lines in colliery (coal mining) areas in the northeast of the country were built to a gauge of 4 ft 8 in (1,422 mm)...

George Stephenson used the 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) gauge (with an extra half-inch of free movement to reduce binding on curves) for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, authorized in 1826 and opened 30 September 1830. The success of this project led to George Stephenson and his son Robert being employed to engineer several other larger railway projects...

The influence of the Stephensons appears to be the main reason that the 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) gauge became the standard, and its usage became more widespread than any other gauge."

Thank you, Wikipedia, and Norviews for the context :)

Not to take anything away from our pop culture of today but this post intrigued me. I spent a couple of hours reading about George and Robert Stephenson and the information was interesting, inspiring, and created a couple of moments that made me think. If the opportunity arises, do some research on this father and son, especially regarding the father's education or lack of. His accomplishments were achieved in spite of it and his setbacks were affected by it. His son followed a somewhat different path and it looks like his education influenced that.

There's no hidden reason in this suggestion - the opportunity to read about the Stephensons presented itself and I took advantage of it and may explore it further. Bottom line, I think many of us take going to school for granted and we shouldn't. That's what I thought about.

Richard Wallace

05-11-2009, 18:02

... sinh--Oh, no, not hyperbolic functions!!!!!
Reminds me of Impure Mathematics (http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/susan/joke/polly.htm).

Chris Fultz

05-11-2009, 20:31

That's not necessarily torture! It could be worse, it could be the Hannah Montana theme song...

You know, it is interesting that you mention Montana.

Montana has the lowest level of train miles per acre of any state in the continental USA.

And now we are back onto that whole train idea.

GaryVoshol

05-11-2009, 21:00

But Montana was already a hint ...

RoboMaster

06-11-2009, 00:59

I think it might be helpful to create a list of dots/dashes/etc from all of Dave's recent posts. He seems to be doing this elsewhere, not just where we are posting about it. Like, can we make a search for his posts and then compile all the custom signatures into a list in order by time?

Also, I think it is very significant that he quoted skimoos when he posted about the alternative to Morse code. That, along with the distance reference and a couple other things, seems to be pointing to trains.

But I do think 50% that he's just messing with us. It probably just vaguely has something to do with the game and could be interpreted in many, many different ways, if at all, just like all the other hints.

EDIT:
Here's the list ever since he's stop posting just one period.*

. . .
..
..
/
-.
---
/
-
....

Which is in English:
SII NO TH

Hmm, doesn't make much sense (yet!), but at least it translates correctly from Morse. So there's some meaning in that. Maybe the Morse code message itself is encrypted by another code. Does anyone have a detective, cryptographer, or riddler for a parent or mentor on their team? Help us out with all of Dave's hints!

If anyone wants to do their own decoding, I recommend Wolfram Alpha (http://www.wolframalpha.com/), which can do Morse code. And it's absolutely amazing in general anyway.

*However, I think someone mentioned that one dot in Morse is an "A", so maybe one of his dots counts in the message. ASII NO TH? AASII NO TH?

EricH

06-11-2009, 01:51

EDIT:
Here's the list ever since he's stop posting just one period.*

. . .
..
..
/
-.
---
/
-
....

Which is in English:
SII NO TH

Hint Is O, scrambled up to SII NO TH.

OK, I'm out of my league on codes. I'll chalk it up to Dave messing with our heads, with eager assistance from Bill and Aidan as needed.

Chris is me

06-11-2009, 01:57

When he gets around to posting "U" and "T", the official Game Hint will have been released. Count on it. :D

RoboMaster

06-11-2009, 03:17

When he gets around to posting "U" and "T", the official Game Hint will have been released. Count on it. :D

Exactly, it will be something like that. :D

Nice job with the un-scrambling. Good idea. Now we just need to make him post a lot so he can finish the phrase! Haha now we're manipulating him! Well, actually, it's easier said than done. And maybe he'll stop posting so that he doesn't have to reveal more. Hmm...

JaneYoung

06-11-2009, 10:30

Exactly, Haha now we're manipulating him!

Right. (http://peterbe.mobi/plog/interior-octopus/octopus.jpg)

BrendanB

06-11-2009, 10:35

Right. (http://peterbe.mobi/plog/interior-octopus/octopus.jpg)

WOW! That woke me up. (Late night)

I bet you it will be some thing like still no game hint you losers! Just my guess. Can't wait until we start getting some real game hints.:] Like moon fish!

psychomonkey

06-11-2009, 12:27

I think it's funny how last year, when presented with a picture of a fish, people were actually pulling it apart in photoshop to figure out the text on the other side of the page that it was scanned from. Kinda makes you wonder how crazy it's going to get this year. I do seriously hope that we play on a solid surface this year though. It was much more exciting when the robots were fast. We should all make guitar hero robots and have them compete. WITH REAL GUITARS! YEAH!:D

EricH

06-11-2009, 13:34

We have another letter, folks. In the punctuation thread, Dave ended with "..".

Another I.

SII NO THI

Chris is me

06-11-2009, 13:38

Can you safely ignore the I since he said in the post "This is not a hint"?

...unless that's what he's writing.

Oh.

AcesJames

06-11-2009, 15:31

SII NO THI...

Hmmm....probably realistically going to turn out to be this

THIS IS NOT _ HINT

It's going to be This is not a hint, I bet. We've already gotten all of the necessary letters to make it except the A, which will probably be his next letter :p

EricH

06-11-2009, 15:49

BrendanB

06-11-2009, 16:25

If he post yet another "I", we know that either 1. It can't be "this is not a hint" 2. There is yet another phrase he is spelling or 3. it really is nothing to what he is saying, just a game. A game that we all keep playing.:p

hipsterjr

06-11-2009, 19:01

"SII NO THI"

see nothi n g

my guess

BEEKMAN

06-11-2009, 19:54

"THIS Is NOt It" only needs one 's', and two 't's......makes sense, we're all talking about sorting and going green, and recycling in the other thread, so maybe, just like last years game, we're all off....

RoboMaster

07-11-2009, 00:42

I think Eric's first try was getting somewhere:

maybe:

hint is so
hint is os

Dave McLaughlin

07-11-2009, 02:37

It might just be me, but I think Mr. Lavery is just trying to hack into the Main Frame with all these dots and dashes. I'm probably wrong, but I'm just saying... Mr. Martus, you might want to go check the Main Frame...

Karibou

07-11-2009, 15:06

Am I the only one who, when reading "sii no thi," feels like I'm saying "sign o' (or "of") thee"?
I feel like the next word should be apocalypse...

Danny Blau

08-11-2009, 19:49

the first sequence that Dave left was ". . ." as three dots this is "s" but including the spaces (.-.-.) its a question mark

?II NO TH

NO might not mean "no" it could be "know"

and the IIs could be roman numeral

with these assumptions its "question to know..."

Danny

JB987

09-11-2009, 12:43

Daniel_LaFleur

09-11-2009, 12:49

Maybe Dave's favorite song is "Crazy Train" by Ozzy O. and Black Sabbath with lyrics, "I'm going off the rails on a crazy train".

I thought his favorite song was the "Truckin'" by the Grateful Dead :p

EricH

09-11-2009, 19:18

If somebody in the DC area has a tranquilizer gun, could they target Dave?

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=881815&postcount=66

Oh, and it's a trailing space.

DonRotolo

09-11-2009, 20:03

If somebody in the DC area has a tranquilizer gun, could they target Dave?
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=881815&postcount=66
I second that, for the same reason.

Andrew Schreiber

09-11-2009, 20:05

I second that, for the same reason.

How many votes do we need for this to pass? Add one vote from me.

hipsterjr

09-11-2009, 20:26

Karibou

09-11-2009, 22:26

How many votes do we need for this to pass? Add one vote from me.
And one for me.

And I am pretty sure that the plural form of aluminum is "6-pack" http://www.snackrack.co.uk/image/diet_coke_6pack_mid.gif

-dave

/

Alright, it's going to be another 3vs3 game. The robots must be cylindrical and made completely of aluminum. Matches will last 10 minutes - the amount of time it takes for Dave to drink a 6-pack of Diet Coke cans.

EricH

10-11-2009, 11:08

We now have a -. in the solar sail thread.

SII NO THI N

(The first letter is probably not a question mark, which is actually ..--..)

My call for the tranquilizer still stands.

hipsterjr

10-11-2009, 17:14

SII NO THI N
maybe it's a madgab

I fear a revolt if the next letter is "g"

Chris is me

10-11-2009, 17:49

"This is not a hint" still might work, you know.

Man, if you guys are this dedicated to solving a word puzzle, imagine how fierce a competitor you guys must be on field o.0

RoboMaster

10-11-2009, 19:13

I know, Dave is preparing us for the future. We'll be world renowned computer scientists!!! :yikes:

dqmot17

10-11-2009, 19:24

I literally crack up because we nerds spend so much time interpreting it :) I bet none of us spend that much time analyzing a piece of literature for english class...
From talking with another friend about this thread. Completley true.

Karibou

10-11-2009, 19:39

I literally crack up because we nerds spend so much time interpreting it :) I bet none of us spend that much time analyzing a piece of literature for english class...
Hey, if you're geeky, creative, and lucky enough, Dave's hints COULD be analyzed as literature. If you have a good English teacher, you might be able to get away with working the game hints into some paper or another.

EricH

11-11-2009, 10:06

The next letter is not G.

SII NO THI NI

J93Wagner

11-11-2009, 13:02

I wonder if those dots underneath his signature really is only a tangent to make us forget how far away January 9th is...

Andrew Schreiber

11-11-2009, 13:05

I wonder if those dots underneath his signature really is only a tangent to make us forget how far away January 9th is...

DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER.

Plus, January 9th is too close. I still have 4 new programmers to train, Pit displays to design and build and a bunch of other stuff. The funny part, I'm not even on a team anymore. I think I'm going to take a page out of Andy Baker's book and clone myself. Unless Dave could pull a few strings and have Kickoff moved back to the second Saturday in February, you guys wouldn't mind a REALLY short build season would you? I think it would keep you guys right on track for what you have to build.

BrendanB

11-11-2009, 13:24

DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER.

Plus, January 9th is too close. I still have 4 new programmers to train, Pit displays to design and build and a bunch of other stuff. The funny part, I'm not even on a team anymore. I think I'm going to take a page out of Andy Baker's book and clone myself. Unless Dave could pull a few strings and have Kickoff moved back to the second Saturday in February, you guys wouldn't mind a REALLY short build season would you? I think it would keep you guys right on track for what you have to build.

Could you have them push the regionals and events back too? That way everyone can have drive practice outside in April in beautiful sunny weather. Just so that Florida teams don't have an upper hand anymore.;)

59 days of Davetorture left...yippie!:rolleyes:

Andrew Schreiber

11-11-2009, 13:36

Could you have them push the regionals and events back too? That way everyone can have drive practice outside in April in beautiful sunny weather. Just so that Florida teams don't have an upper hand anymore.;)

59 days of Davetorture left...yippie!:rolleyes:

I don't know what you are complaining about, drive practice outside is how 67 was so awesome.:rolleyes: (I never said it was with their robot)

BrendanB

11-11-2009, 13:41

Hey drive practice up here on the driveway is impossible outside in the middle of February. I would love this much better:p -
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/media/photos/30978

For week 1 this past season I was in Florida on vacation, all I could think of was how much nicer they have it down there. I got on the plane and it was 80 and got off the plane and it was 0 at the airport and -2 at my house. NOT FUN!!!:)

BEEKMAN

11-11-2009, 13:51

how come FIRST can have spring training in florida??

I wouldn't mind going to florida a couple weeks before kick off, and having a 3 day mini-build season

Karibou

11-11-2009, 17:32

DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER.

Plus, January 9th is too close. I still have 4 new programmers to train, Pit displays to design and build and a bunch of other stuff. The funny part, I'm not even on a team anymore. I think I'm going to take a page out of Andy Baker's book and clone myself. Unless Dave could pull a few strings and have Kickoff moved back to the second Saturday in February, you guys wouldn't mind a REALLY short build season would you? I think it would keep you guys right on track for what you have to build.
Hey, can you clone me while you're at it? Multiple times? I have the feeling that my team and the school's pit orchestra program would appreciate it :P
</twitter/facebook reference>

Actually, could you clone our mentors and group leaders too? We still have to organize/wire our machines into our new shop, in addition to doing training :/

XXShadowXX

11-11-2009, 17:36

I'll just leave this here

Dave's ending punctuation for the last couple days.

On October 29
. . .

On October 30th
..

On October 30th (later)
Nothing, most odd since it breaks all paterns

On October 31th
-.

On Nov 2nd
/

Nov 3rd
...

Nov 4th
...

Nov 5h
... or ,...

Nov 9th
/

Nov 10th
...

Nov 11th
--.

Nov 11th
..

J93Wagner

11-11-2009, 19:31

DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER.

Oh, so now someone agrees with me... :D Sweet!

EricH

14-11-2009, 22:19

We've picked up a ..., a .-, and a /, in that order.

SII NO THI NI SA

This is no ai ?
Hint is on siia ?

Dave's being mean again.

Akash Rastogi

14-11-2009, 22:46

Watch this end up being:

"This is not a hint, you all wasted your time. Thank you, come again"

Oh how I don't doubt the possibility of that. :rolleyes: :p

ChrisH

14-11-2009, 23:20

Dave's being mean again.

Why do you say "again" did he ever stop? ;)

Actually he is merely stretching your minds, that is why your brains hurt, they are not used to doing that sort of heavy lifting.

rtfgnow

14-11-2009, 23:29

Thank you Dave, by the time build season comes around my brain will be buff and ready to tackle the impossible challenge that is the brain child of several evil geniuses at first.

Chris is me

15-11-2009, 05:21

Watch this end up being:

"This is not a hint, you all wasted your time. Thank you, come again"

Oh how I don't doubt the possibility of that. :rolleyes: :p

More likely "This is not a hint", as Dave has used that exact line a few times recently in his posts. I'm still likely to be right and that makes me happy :)

J93Wagner

15-11-2009, 11:20

More likely "This is not a hint", as Dave has used that exact line a few times recently in his posts. I'm still likely to be right and that makes me happy :)

If you're happy, I'm happy. :D

I do agree with you though.

EricH

17-11-2009, 11:51

Add a .... and a .- to the list.

SII NO THI NI SA HA

I think it translates to: "You think there's a hint here? Come on now. There won't be a hint at all this year." (And that suggestion about the tranquilizer is still in effect. Dave needs the sleep for another month or so.)

Andrew Schreiber

17-11-2009, 11:57

think it translates to: "You think there's a hint here? Come on now. There won't be a hint at all this year." (And that suggestion about the tranquilizer is still in effect. Dave needs the sleep for another month or so.)

I don't think we can tranq him, we could probably just restrain him so he finishes the game animation some time before the day of Kickoff though. We just have to figure out an automated Krispy Kreme and Diet Coke dispenser.

pandamonium

17-11-2009, 14:13

yodameister

17-11-2009, 14:20

"Guess it is time to get to work"
Posted 1 day before daylight savings time. Coincidence I think not. This makes more sense than mores code and train tracks. It may be indicating increased match time..../..,
I don't know about that. With the prospect of increasing the number of matches at regionals, an increased match time may make it difficult to squeeze in more matches let alone keep the ones we already have.

ResetRenatus

17-11-2009, 14:35

I'm still waiting for an increased focus on the autonomous mode.

yodameister

17-11-2009, 18:44

Now that would be cool

Danny Blau

18-11-2009, 14:40

you could have something with time...the time zone system was introduced by the railroads it was the trains and train schedules that started setting all the clocks in all the towns in the country to the same time.

could we see another game where you can stop the clock early or the length of game is random?

hey that could be fun

Danny B

EricH

18-11-2009, 20:14

Today's Dave post-enders: a - and a .. which translate to T and I.

SII NO THI NI SA HATI

THIS IS NOT A HINAI

Something tells me we missed a T in there. Then again, this is Dave. Could he just go hibernate for a month?

Akash Rastogi

18-11-2009, 20:16

More likely "This is not a hint", as Dave has used that exact line a few times recently in his posts. I'm still likely to be right and that makes me happy :)

Well, duh. That was a joke. ;)

JaneYoung

18-11-2009, 20:20

dqmot17

18-11-2009, 20:23

Does anyone else love how a few teenagers (and sadly some older folks) suddenly spent their time slowly tracking (stalking) a random guy's posts? Then they analyze it deeply and once again like every year conclude its a water game or that someone is messing with them. But yet in the end we will see it was a hint in some WAY off message, like moonfish = luancy.

JaneYoung

18-11-2009, 20:27

(and sadly some older folks)

Hey! I resemble that remark! :)

We had a game named luancy? Wow, I must have missed that one. ;)

It's only going to get better.

synth3tk

18-11-2009, 22:03

Come on, it's part of the FIRSTmas spirit. It's not the holiday season without a game-hint craze leading to the great Kick-Off Day. And personally, it gets me into the mood for the next FIRST season. :D

GaryVoshol

19-11-2009, 07:00

I don't know, I think analyzing the hints before the hints are given is like putting up the Christmas displays before Halloween.

synth3tk

19-11-2009, 08:40

I don't know, I think analyzing the hints before the hints are given is like putting up the Christmas displays before Halloween.
Wait, you're not supposed to put up Christmas displays before Halloween?

Daniel_LaFleur

19-11-2009, 09:39

Wait, you're not supposed to put up Christmas displays before Halloween?

I've seen them up as early as the 4th of July

BrendanB

19-11-2009, 09:46

Before July? That's ridiculous.
Homedepot has had stuff out since September up here. Cracker Barrel has stuff out in August.

See guys, this isn't a hint and you now realize that Dave has more control over you.;)

Andrew Schreiber

19-11-2009, 10:31

I don't know, I think analyzing the hints before the hints are given is like putting up the Christmas displays before Halloween.

In that case, please tell my former boss that playing Christmas music publicly before Thanksgiving is bad? :cool:

And Brendan, most of us know that Dave has more control over us than we want. We just accept it and move on.

BrendanB

19-11-2009, 11:04

In that case, please tell my former boss that playing Christmas music publicly before Thanksgiving is bad? :cool:

And Brendan, most of us know that Dave has more control over us than we want. We just accept it and move on.

I know. I just find it funny at how some of us analyze everything he says when it is just junk.:)

And someone tell my boss that taking down Christmas decorations on the 23rd is wrong and not having Christmas music playing on the 23rd and 24th is also wrong.

Daniel_LaFleur

19-11-2009, 12:03

I know. I just find it funny at how some of us analyze everything he says when it is just junk.:)

And someone tell my boss that taking down Christmas decorations on the 23rd is wrong and not having Christmas music playing on the 23rd and 24th is also wrong.

Funny thing is, one of these days he'll tell us the absolute truth ... and no one will believe it :P

BrendanB

19-11-2009, 12:12

Funny thing is, one of these days he'll tell us the absolute truth ... and no one will believe it :P
DARN IT!!:D

Should we all take shifts on when we'll believe him?:]

Karibou

19-11-2009, 12:13

Funny thing is, one of these days he'll tell us the absolute truth ... and no one will believe it :P
I think that's what he's trying to build up to. I can't wait until he actually DOES tell the truth, though.

I really like guessing what Dave's "hints" mean. They work my brain, and help with my creativity. I can make connections between two abstract ideas a lot better now. And to think, I owe this new talent to a random guy from VA who has an obsession with Krispy Kreme and Hawaiian shirts :rolleyes:

ChrisH

19-11-2009, 15:04

I think that's what he's trying to build up to. I can't wait until he actually DOES tell the truth, though.

There are four kinds of lies:

The bad lie which is complete fabrication.

The good lie which is partially truth.

The excellent lie which is mostly truth.

The artful lie which is completely true, yet decieves.

In my limited interactions with Mr Lavery, he has never communicated less than the truth. That does not mean I necessarily believed what was true as a result. But he is not responsible if I only hear what I want to hear...

Robert Cawthon

19-11-2009, 15:41

SII NO THI NI SA HAT Ok. What I see in it is "See Nothing, Ha Ha!"

Drive by Camera?

hipsterjr

20-11-2009, 00:16

I have run "SII NO THI NI SA HAT" through all kinds of anagram solvers and haven't even come close to figuring this one out.:confused:

Akash Rastogi

20-11-2009, 00:24

I have run "SII NO THI NI SA HAT" through all kinds of anagram solvers and haven't even come close to figuring this one out.:confused:

It will still be "This is not a hint"

EricH

20-11-2009, 00:28

Well, that missing T did in fact show up, so Dave is saying

THIS IS NOT A HINT IA

Not sure what the extra letters are supposed to mean, though the A could simply be reversion to habit.

ralcony

20-11-2009, 00:53

Well, that missing T did in fact show up, so Dave is saying

THIS IS NOT A HINT IA

Not sure what the extra letters are supposed to mean, though the A could simply be reversion to habit.

Or maybe he's starting a new train of thought... "THIS IS NOT A HINT I A"...maybe I AM something?

EricH

20-11-2009, 12:40

Add another A and a space.

Robert Cawthon

20-11-2009, 13:13

Who said that its done? It could continue "THIS IS NOT A HINT. I AM JUST MESSING WITH YOUR MINDS!"

EricH

20-11-2009, 22:43

And a .--. or P

THIS IS NOT A HINT IAA P

hipsterjr

22-11-2009, 14:11

Add an "." which is an "E"

SII NO THI NI SA HATA PE

EricH

22-11-2009, 18:52

There was another P yesterday, before the E.

THIS IS NOT A HINT IAA PPE

synth3tk

22-11-2009, 22:14

And it appears that we have found a game to replace Hint-Hunting(tm) this year.

EricH

23-11-2009, 20:50

Two more, in this case .- and .-., better known as A and R. Also a space (/) added later.

THIS IS NOT A HINT IAA PPEAR/

THIS IS NOT A HINT I_ APPEAR_ A, maybe?

EricH

26-11-2009, 14:08

We have another S. Sadly, I thought we were due for one.

THIS IS NOT A HINT I APPEARS A, maybe?

Edit: Dave just added a T.

Richard Wallace

26-11-2009, 18:53

THIS IS NOT A HINT I APPEARS A, maybe?This is not a hint, it appears, after all.

And be sure to drink your Ovaltine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5OWoG44VAw).

Repeating my advice from two years ago: "Now stop reading CD, do your homework, eat your peas, brush your teeth, and go to bed. Any time you spend speculating as to what Dave's ravings might mean is completely wasted."

Danny Blau

01-12-2009, 13:58

Repeating my advice from two years ago: "Now stop reading CD, do your homework, eat your peas, brush your teeth, and go to bed. Any time you spend speculating as to what Dave's ravings might mean is completely wasted."

Is it a waist to challenge one's mind? To look deeply at a situation and try to extract the hidden meaning?

yes it's true that the odds of us figuring out the game are extremely high but this is about more than that, this is a ramp up to kickoff, this is getting people excited about the coming session, and its another way the community comes together to work on a shared problem.

This is a bunch of robot building, strategy analyzing, regional competing deprived people getting there fix; and it is fun

Danny B

hipsterjr

04-12-2009, 21:26

add a space and a "B"

EricH

04-12-2009, 21:49

add a space and a "B"
And an "O".

THIS IS NOT A HINT I APPEARS A BO

Dave, don't you need to get busy rendering something?

rsisk

05-12-2009, 08:43

I think Dave has been spending time on icanhascheezburger. Either that or the fumes from his rendering machines have affected the grammar control portion of his brain.

Chris is me

05-12-2009, 09:53

That or he isn't posting Message 2 in order. Much like message 1.

NorviewsVeteran

05-12-2009, 10:59

I think Dave has been spending time on icanhascheezburger.

You made me do it.
http://images.cheezburger.com/completestore/2009/12/3/129043586874301726.jpg

lbarger

05-12-2009, 19:07

That or he isn't posting Message 2 in order. Much like message 1.

This is part of a second message? What was the first? I thought I had kept up with this thread, but perhaps I missed something. Is this not the continuation of the original SII/N Morse code speculation? For that matter are we sure there were no preceding letters missed.

On the flip side, anagram algorithms have been coming up with solutions containing "This is not a hint" for some time. How long are we going to analyze declarations of that something is not a hint, looking for hints? :)

Or are we working on the assumption 'that he doth protest too much?' :)

AcesJames

05-12-2009, 19:24

Well, considering it's December, the real game hint is due out soon, so it might just be better to wait for that, unless this message IS the game hint, in some odd twist of fate. :ahh:

MiniNerd24

05-12-2009, 22:04

Well seeing as how we're usually given rather obscure hints within hints (like the fish last year relating to the slippery field) and because I've seen a lot of people guessing and adding letters, I'm goning to say that it has something to do with letters, which would have something to do with postal services and shipping, which in turn tells me that our game will involve us "shipping" game pieces in boundary goals called "crates" that we use to score with, now THAT is obscure. by the way good job with guessing and good luck in the competition this year!

Cody #279

08-12-2009, 09:20

Can some one please tell me the Hint for the game?

David Brinza

08-12-2009, 09:34

Can some one please tell me the Hint for the game?Be careful of what you wish for...

Robert Cawthon

08-12-2009, 13:27

Well seeing as how we're usually given rather obscure hints within hints (like the fish last year relating to the slippery field)

The fish was not a reference to a slippery field, but rather a reference to the moon. (It is sometimes called a moon fish.)

shgshgshgshg

08-12-2009, 17:08

I am more interested in the OOOOOOs the Os look like bubbles which could be another hint at a water game....

or it could undeniable be a message that the hint is comming....
or not...::safety::

Madman503

10-12-2009, 21:15

I posted this in another thread but thought i should also be put here too...

I think Dave "hint" is is a hint. Just because he kept saying "This is not a hint" doesn't mean that is what the message means. Actually I think that he wants you to think that it says "this is not a hint". However if you notice that the word "appear" is also given, which doesn't really make any since. But if you reorganize the words you can get "this hint is not as it appears" with a few sparse letters after that. so i think that that is the clue...morse code!

But i could be wrong!

Tom Line

17-12-2009, 22:32

Ok.

We never even realized this post was here, and dug through all his posts today to put the morse code together ourselves (silly us!).

It's interesting that he started posting with a series of periods. Eight periods together are the morse representation for "Error" when sending. Likewise, two of the posts in that group of 16 consecutive E's did NOT have any morse at all.

I believe it was the second, and the 13th.

If you leave the current morse in order of his postings, you get:

SII Nothing is ahat it appears to be. What I...............

The blank posts are the 2nd (meaning the second letter in SII - the I - is an error. The 13th letter is the "a", which is also an error.

S_I is problematic, but: "Nothing is what it appears to be. What I" seems like it could be pretty reasonble. I'm working from memory because I didn't bring the files home, so forgive me if I got a word or two wrong.

DMetalKong

17-12-2009, 23:01

Ok.

We never even realized this post was here, and dug through all his posts today to put the morse code together ourselves (silly us!).

It's interesting that he started posting with a series of periods. Eight periods together are the morse representation for "Error" when sending. Likewise, two of the posts in that group of 16 consecutive E's did NOT have any morse at all.

I believe it was the second, and the 13th.

If you leave the current morse in order of his postings, you get:

SII Nothing is ahat it appears to be. What I...............

The blank posts are the 2nd (meaning the second letter in SII - the I - is an error. The 13th letter is the "a", which is also an error.

We're still not sure about what S_I is, but: Nothing is what it appears to be. What I..... seems like it could be pretty reasonble. I'm working from memory because I didn't bring the files home, so forgive me if I got a word or two wrong.

From entering S?I into http://www.unscramble.net/modules.php?name=Crossword I get sai, sci, sei, shi, ski, sri, and sui. None of those seem to make sense given the particular context. It's also possible that his shenanigans didn't start until the 'Nothing is...' business.

Tom Line

17-12-2009, 23:41

Admittedly, this is a pretty huge jump and I doubt there is any connection, but:

A is morse is .-
W is .--

Could he have made a simple error?

In addition, the only reference to "SII" I can find that is even possibly plausible is the SII Nebula. Some connection to the WISE launch recently?

I sincerely doubt it, but I haven't heard anything better yet :D

DMetalKong

18-12-2009, 00:11

It's also possible that SII could refer to the Science Information Infrastructure (http://www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/sii/). According to their website The Science Information Infrastructure (SII) is a collaboration among teachers and scientists. The SII at the Exploratorium is developing educational resources using NASA images and datasets. Possibly a connection to NASA images and datasets?

kramarczyk

18-12-2009, 07:28

Is it an anagram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anagram)? It has been before http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=668190&postcount=232
:ahh:

Have fun.

lbarger

18-12-2009, 08:32

Morse Code was once used in communications, but even the Coast Guard does not listen for it any more. Voice radio, satellite phone and such have outdated Morse. (So why are we listening to Dave's "chatter"? :rolleyes: )

The coming season is '2010', which happens to be the title of a book/movie pinned by Arther C. Clarke. Clarke was the first person to propose communication satellites back in the late 1940's.

We will be getting a small laptop for the driver's station this year to get more feedback from the robot. Could it be that the only thing Dave it hinting at, if anything, is that communications will be important this year?

Chadius012

18-12-2009, 09:01

I agree with you Lee.

I think that Dave's morse code is just an allusion to more communication with the robot and possibly with your alliance.

DMetalKong

20-12-2009, 18:50

I don't watch the show, but is it possible that the quote is a reference to Dollhouse? It's one of the first things that turns up in Google.

hipsterjr

20-12-2009, 20:09

"nothing is as appears" which is another way of saying "more than meets the eye", So, we are having a Transformers theme!:p

nighterfighter

20-12-2009, 20:23

"nothing is as appears" which is another way of saying "more than meets the eye", So, we are having a Transformers theme!:p

YES!

Time to bring my car in...

:D

Nameo0

21-12-2009, 01:57

ICntIHaveRbtics

21-12-2009, 11:24

LOL

But I read a post on another thread that talked about the FRC games relating to real world engineering challenges. Last year it was moon based (we are supposed to return to the moon), two years ago it was driving/NASCAR (we were talking about alternate fuel sources for cars), etc. This year since one clue talks about coke cans, cracker jacks, and haagen-daz packages (which are all recyclable and we are talking about global warming) we might be looking into a game in which teams will have to sort out the pieces and the challange maybe getting them into the correct containers. Because Haagen-Dasz is packaging soiled in food it can count as trash, Coke can is aluminum, and the Cracker Jack box is paper.

Wow. That's exactly the same train of thought I had. I second!
But then, thinking about how that would be executed, I think there has to be more than the simple sorting. Because I'm sure that the game wouldn't simply be "pick up the trash and put it in the container". Thats far too easy. There has to be something else...

nighterfighter

21-12-2009, 11:46

...pick it up, THEN FRY IT WITH A SHRINK RAY! :D

Karibou

21-12-2009, 13:04

Wow. That's exactly the same train of thought I had. I second!
But then, thinking about how that would be executed, I think there has to be more than the simple sorting. Because I'm sure that the game wouldn't simply be "pick up the trash and put it in the container". Thats far too easy. There has to be something else...
Hey, Overdrive was just running laps around a track and throwing giant inflatable balls over the overpass. The only thing that was complex about that game was the penalties *twitches at the thought of <G22>* I think that just sorting items is a possibility, and the real challenge would be in the form of gaining bonus points by doing something special in regards to sorted items.

Nameo0

21-12-2009, 14:00

Wow. That's exactly the same train of thought I had. I second!
But then, thinking about how that would be executed, I think there has to be more than the simple sorting. Because I'm sure that the game wouldn't simply be "pick up the trash and put it in the container". Thats far too easy. There has to be something else...

Well if this you think is far to easy the look at Lunacy in which there balls scattered all over the field and robots had to pick them up and put them into moving targets (this sounds a bit harder then my idea/our) but it could have a twist like the bins would be placed at various levels and the higher bins would be worth more. So like the trash would be at the bottom, paper would be in the middle, and aluminum would be at the very top.

martinswat1806

24-12-2009, 16:26

this would not make sense. If the wanted to do this then the tracks would have to move without being noticed or teams would know where the track is after the first match.
Makes no sense.

hipsterjr

28-12-2009, 22:25

Dave's letters as of 12/17 to 12/28

..
...
--
.-
-.--
-.
---
-
-...
.

ISMAYNOTBE

when added all together they:

SII NO THI NI SA HATIA PPEAR STO BE WHAT ISMAYNOTBE

This is not a hint ; appears to be what is may not be

Kims Robot

30-12-2009, 10:29

Ive seen some ideas posted a few places, but sort of consolidating the SII might be something stuff...

Googling SII...
Smith International, Inc. (Smith) is a provider of products and services used during the drilling, completion and production phases of oil and natural gas development activities. The Company operates in three operating divisions: M-I SWACO, Smith Oilfield and Distribution. In addition to the W-H operations, the Company provides a range of technologically-advanced products and engineering services, including drilling and completion fluid systems, solids-control and separation equipment, waste-management services, oilfield production chemicals, three-cone and diamond drill bits, borehole enlargement services, tubulars, packers, liner hangers, fishing services and casing exit and multilateral systems. The Company also offers supply-chain management solutions through North American branch network providing pipe, valves and fittings as well as mill, safety and other maintenance products. On August 25, 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of W-H Energy Services, Inc. (W-H).
Someone mentioned sorting items before... some other interesting words in there that might apply...
Speech Intelligibility Index: This standard defines a method for computing a physical measure that is highly correlated with the intelligibility of speech as evaluated by speech perception tests given a group of talkers and listeners. This measure is called the Speech Intelligibility Index, or SII. The SII is calculated from acoustical measurements of speech and noise.
I highly doubt with the game that we would be doing anything audio related as venues vary so much, but maybe they could encourage use of sonar some how?
The Science Information Infrastructure (SII) is a collaboration among teachers and scientists. The SII at the Exploratorium is developing educational resources using NASA images and datasets.
This is from the same site Jane found (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=891585&postcount=25)... (read her post after I quoted this). Not sure if they would do another NASA theme though?

DonRotolo

30-12-2009, 22:49

There has to be something else...
I third that idea.

The twist is that you need to do it maybe 100-200 times in 2 minutes to be competitive. Grab a bunch of unsorted game pieces, sort them and bring them to the "bins". Repeat. Often.

TD912

01-01-2010, 11:43

Maybe we will have to manipulate the game piece itself in order to 'recycle' it somehow...?

Crackerjacks have a special 'prize' buried inside the bag of caramel popcorn. Maybe we have to sort out a 'prize' from the 'popcorn'?

Just some random thoughts.

I find the games themselves aren't that is difficult, but determining a good playing strategy is.

Norman J

02-01-2010, 17:55

I think that some of the lists are missing letters, because Dave posts all over the place.

Looking at multiple different lists, something close to this shows up most of the time.

Nothing is what it appears to be, what is may not be.

Not entirely sure what it means, but some of the stuff about restricted driver visibility makes some sense.

phoenix_fire

03-01-2010, 18:41

I am new to solving hints, but after trolling CD and realizing that hints in the past were anagrams, I entered in the letters into an anagram solver and got back a lot of results with the word station in them. Could this be further proof of tracks?:confused:

I also saw quite a few cities in Minnesota as a result.

EricH

03-01-2010, 18:44

Nah, the proof of tracks was in the official game hint, which just so happens to be a CAD render. (Nobody knows orientation of said tracks--or what they're tracks for.)

eaglecat

08-01-2010, 15:36

Looking at the official hint #2 on the FRC webpage.
http://usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=16119
It would appear the yellow squares are tripped targets, having been tipped over.

Combined with the 2010 Winter Olympics this year. My personal guess is that we shall have a BIATHLON Competition. This would be most unique compared to previous years, and a bit of a pain to setup for the hosts, as far as space required. Nonetheless. It would be cool. Also the rail-road track and snow speculation fits right in. I searched for "biathlon" before posting. No one had made a post with the word. So hopefully this is not redundant.

http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-biathlon/additional-information/about-the-sport_144492xG.html

- eaglecat

MFennig8

08-01-2010, 16:10

So, not to be a buzz kill and sorry for the last minute post. But my team delivered the materials for them to build a mock of all the layouts on the field. We delivered plywood, and peg board.

Now I have my ideas, but what do you guys have?

EricH

09-01-2010, 00:44

Looking at the official hint #2 on the FRC webpage.http://usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/content.aspx?id=16119It would appear the yellow squares are tripped targets, having been tipped over.

I've said this before, but seeing as you're a rookie, I'll say it again: What you are actually looking at is a computer model of a portion of the playing field. Specifically, the field border. The yellow rectangles (they aren't square) are trip guards that are placed over tripping hazards, namely, field outriggers that keep the wall from falling outwards.

As for the materials for a mock build: Says nothing about anything. Plywood is used every year, and pegboard could easily be used for stuff you don't need plywood's strength for.