'Flash' discussion

[Grim Tuesday]

It would seem that a few threads have converged upon the word 'flash' as in Bill's recent 'Flash' updates as the second game hint. Since we have not received confirmation we will be receiving a second hint, I think it's time to start a thread to discuss this one.

From the other thread:

Possible options:


Game names with the word 'flash' in them
Flash as a concept to a game (speed)
The way that the term flash corresponds with the previous hint


A few new things to add:
Flash update (update is not capitalized; there is no roman numeral. This might mean that this whole flash theory is null, since it may not have been premeditated)
Flash Update II (update IS capitalized)
Flash update III (update is not capitalized)

The first is about the manual, the second about the apps, and the third about to KoP. The third does not have a period at the end of it. It also includes a hint about FRCKO, but not until kickoff. We should still be following it now, however.

Another area of interest: the first is salutated 'good evening', the second 'good morning' and the third 'good afternoon'. The only one left is 'good night', which would fit it's self well with a hint.

Regardless, what else do you see about these three blog updates, and/or the name Flash?

[Christopher149]

Perhaps the heights of the u's (uUu) means that there is a tall element in the middle, or a ramp like /\.

[Sean Raia]

Im again throwing my game name guess BoulderDash out there. As i feel like the name of the game will be one word twisted to mean something else.

Plus, from what ive gathered the game will involve speed and slopes

[Guppy294]

Personally, I like the ...Good night... idea. It would allude to a light show-type game, which I think would be pretty different. Lunacy was the last game that wowed me very much in terms of creativity. Also, I think Chris may be going somewhere with the uUu. Slopes seem pretty down to earth for game elements too.

[Ninja_Bait]

Maybe there will be four phases to the game instead of three?

Maybe there will be a flash mob at kickoff.

Maybe we're reading into the titles too much, and it just describes the nature of the updates themselves - fast and short.

[Hallry]

Possible options:


Game names with the word 'flash' in them



Flash? As in Flash Flood?
Water game :cool:

[Guppy294]

There is no such thing as reading too much into things. Such ideas are blasphemous in nature!

[om23]

In my opinion, the FRC staff is just messing with us again. We probably guessed one aspect of the game already but now we're saying random things again. FLASH could mean a lot of things, but how does it compare with Game Hint #1? And why are they saying Flash update/Update I,II, & III? Why use roman numerals? There is probably some complicated or extremely simple way to find out what the hints mean... just like last year.

[Sean Raia]

I totally missed the uUu thing! Yes, this is starting to fit together. In one of bills older posts he said "a peak behind the curtain" but the way he spelled peak is like a slope or mountain not like a sneak PEEK.

[mdiradoorian]

As much as I would love to have a water game I do not think that we are going to get one.

[EricH]

I totally missed the uUu thing! Yes, this is starting to fit together. In one of bills older posts he said "a peak behind the curtain" but the way he spelled peak is like a slope or mountain not like a sneak PEEK.
Actually, he accidentally misspelled it initially, and then knowing the CD community (and seeing their reaction), he intentionally played with the capitals today to make everyone think there was something there.

Flat field!

I have no inside knowledge of whether or not anything I said in this post is actually true.

[om23]

I totally missed the uUu thing! Yes, this is starting to fit together. In one of bills older posts he said "a peak behind the curtain" but the way he spelled peak is like a slope or mountain not like a sneak PEEK.

Whoa! Nice find!! hmm so there's a ramp this year?

[Guppy294]

We'll know for sure on Saturday. X.X but that'd be my best guess.

[Sean Raia]

Wow. This is im sure unintended but Hint #1 is half of a slope.

[mdiradoorian]

Definitely a nice find

[Christopher149]

Possibly senseless ideas:
- If you concatenate the post times (5:39 10:33 2:47), you get 5391033247, which is a Harshad number.
- If you rearrange the letters in #FRCKO, you can get frock, which is a type of clothing. (If it means anything, I think it is bag-and-tag)


More sensible idea:
- Like the above post, the u's go uUu, and the post times have a similar large-in-the-middle pattern.

[Hallry]

Wow. This is im sure unintended but Hint #1 is half of a slope.

What do you mean 'half of a slope'?

[om23]

Wow. This is im sure unintended but Hint #1 is half of a slope.

Nothing FIRST does is unintended.

[Ninja_Bait]

Whoa! Nice find!! hmm so there's a ramp this year?

Based on the example of Schrodinger's Cat, the field is both flat and bumpy... until it is measured at kickoff. ;)

[mdiradoorian]

Nothing FIRST does is unintended.

never know This one could be intended

[Ernst]

Game names with the word 'flash' in them

Flashlight?
A darkened field area, blocked from the operator's line of sight, where either a light and the regular camera or a Kinect can be used to navigate.

Flashpoint?
Robots that light stuff on fire.

Flashback?
A resurrection of a previous game.
The Titanic sinking.

[Sean Raia]

The name of the parts gets longer as you go down the list forming half of a slope. Although i could think of an unintentional explanation for this anomally.

Sorry for the poor spelling, im in a hurry

[Ninja_Bait]

The name of the parts gets longer as you go down the list forming half of a slope. Although i could think of an unintentional explanation for this anomally.

Sorry for the poor spelling, im in a hurry

Holy cow, really?! (not sarcasm)

EDIT: Wait, I just looked at the hint again. No, it doesn't.

[Sean Raia]

Sarcasm? Because this is starting to make sense to me
I just took a look at it again... Its less slope like then it originally appeared, but its still a possibility

[Guppy294]

Possibly senseless ideas:
- If you concatenate the post times (5:39 10:33 2:47), you get 5391033247, which is a Harshad number.
- If you rearrange the letters in #FRCKO, you can get frock, which is a type of clothing. (If it means anything, I think it is bag-and-tag)


More sensible idea:
- Like the above post, the u's go uUu, and the post times have a similar large-in-the-middle pattern.
Woah. Didn't notice that. Lol. I bet next year they wont tell us where the hints are and they'll expect us to find them within miscellaneous posts. We seem good at that.

[mdiradoorian]

Woah. Didn't notice that. Lol. I bet next year they wont tell us where the hints are and they'll expect us to find them within miscellaneous posts. We seem good at that.

True that

[Ernst]

Based on the example of Schrodinger's Cat, the field is both flat and bumpy... until it is measured at kickoff. ;)

How dare you drag Quantum Mechanics into Robotics!

[DonRotolo]

Flash is part of the name of the game. Lights on the field flash to indicate different segments of the game. For example, the base of the towers would flash near the end of the game.

In Hint 1 there were an awful lot of light-thingies that could be made to flash.

:rolleyes:

[EricH]

I've got it. Bill is actually making a prediction as to the winner of the Championship with all this talk about "flash" updates.

FRC1319, Golden Flash, from South Carolina. I remember they made Einstein a few years back, but I don't remember with whom or what year.

You may all go insane trying to figure out this new angle...



...but the only thing you're angling for is red herrings!

[Guppy294]

You may all go insane trying to figure out this new angle...
I got it! Golden Flash 1319 is secretly on the GDC, breaking all the FRC unspoken codes we know and love! We must find them and extract information. WE SHALL DISCOVER THIS GAME.after the game is posted on kickoff day....

[Andrew Lawrence]

I got it! Golden Flash 1319 is secretly on the GDC, breaking all the FRC unspoken codes we know and love! We must find them and extract information. WE SHALL DISCOVER THIS GAME.after the game is posted on kickoff day....

It all makes since! 1319 is on the GDC this year and knows about the game early, so they WILL win einstein! Plus, according to <g34> in the 2012 manual, "Only FRC team 1319 may win the 2012 water game". :)

On a completely unrelated note: This is my 1000th post on CHief Delphi! :D

[om23]

does this help: http://wordsmith.org/anagram/anagram.cgi?anagram=flashupdate&t=1000&a=n

there's a list of anagrams of "flashupdate"
trying a creative approach.

[DonRotolo]

It all makes since! 1319 is on the GDC this year and knows about the game early, so they WILL win einstein! Plus, according to <g34> in the 2012 manual, "Only FRC team 1319 may win the 2012 water game". :)
:D
Well, as this older post (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1090985&postcount=7) stated, Billfred (from somewhere's around South Carolina...) IS in fact on the GDC, so maybe there's a connection?

[bearbot]

ok just my 2 cent the field the uUu is a peak and posible and iceberg in the ocean.Titanic is a ship that held many llights on it pershaps they are flashing inthe game and you have a senesor to keep the light on while the other alliance try and turn it off and lets going skiiing down a hill with a miniboat or miniboat race

[Ninja_Bait]

does this help: http://wordsmith.org/anagram/anagram.cgi?anagram=flashupdate&t=1000&a=n

there's a list of anagrams of "flashupdate"
trying a creative approach.

I like "heft up salad" and "Asphalt feud" as possible game themes.

(also a few have the word "elf" in them....)

[Christopher149]

hmm. "Asphalt Feud", so the robots fight to maintain territory on a hard surface?

[Andrew Lawrence]

ok just my 2 cent the field the uUu is a peak and posible and iceberg in the ocean.Titanic is a ship that held many llights on it pershaps they are flashing inthe game and you have a senesor to keep the light on while the other alliance try and turn it off and lets going skiiing down a hill with a miniboat or miniboat race

endgame is to send "flare lights" made by teams up a pole to save the ship, but it's a race. And the lights are minibots.

[Hallry]

does this help: http://wordsmith.org/anagram/anagram.cgi?anagram=flashupdate&t=1000&a=n

there's a list of anagrams of "flashupdate"
trying a creative approach.

"Adapt Self Uh"
Robots will have to be completely autonomous, and adjust to changing field conditions, leaving the audience completely flabbergasted, and left only to mutter an unbelievable "Uhhhhhh."

;)

[Ernst]

I've got it!
Flash Update II and Flash Update III each have I's at the end.
There are 5 total I's.
The I's represent pillars or poles.
The pillars are based on the center of the field, which is a lump. (uUu)
Minibots can climb the pillars to knock gamepieces down and into play. (II III)
The gamepieces (tennis balls) must then be scored in goals on either side of the field in goals full of high-speed counters. (see Game Hint 1)
For bonus points, minibots can wear frocks. (#FRCKO)

[Guppy294]

... "heft up salad" ...
AND BEHOLD! I give you, the 2012 FRC Game Title!
-cue dramatic theme music-

[Andrew Lawrence]

Well, as this older post (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1090985&postcount=7) stated, Billfred (from somewhere's around South Carolina...) IS in fact on the GDC, so maybe there's a connection?

Oh yeah! I forgot about that! Has he posted anything recently? Can we spam his PM box asking for hints? :) Not really. I'd never spam anyone's inbox! (Those who know me get the joke)

[Christopher149]

Interesting, there are 2603 anagrams of "flashupdate". 2603 is an FRC team in Ohio. Ohio is high in the middle, just like uUu.

[Ninja_Bait]

Interesting, there are 2603 anagrams of "flashupdate". 2603 is an FRC team in Ohio. Ohio is high in the middle, just like uUu.

That's actually kind of cool. And also an incredible stretch. :)

[Sean Raia]

I like "heft up salad" and "Asphalt feud" as possible game themes.

(also a few have the word "elf" in them....)

"feudal paths"? Interesting... I think we are down to three types of gameplay that are possible, and i expect two to be used.
Illumination.
Speed.
Slopes.

And then there is the group touting the football theory.
Sheesh, if this years robot designs are anything like our hint analysis we will have some VERY diverse robots ;)

[Guppy294]

And also an incredible stretch... Of genius! So its not the Golden Flash!

[Sean Raia]

From what iv'e gathered the game will almost certainly involve slopes and speed.
As for the mysterious game piece... that elf hint may just help us there.
He had a hint tucked under his arm, now people have taken to the notion that footballs are not tucked under the arm. To change that notion, i present you with this!
http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/penywise/penywise0911/penywise091100125/5986293-model-ready-to-play-football-with-the-old-pigskin-tucked-under-his-arm--path-included.jpg
Haha i know its nothing big, but the ball is indeed under his arm.

So we will be playing football on slopes? Yikes.

[Christopher149]

If you look at Ramp 'n Roll (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramp_%27n_Roll), there are slopes, and football-like goal posts.

Last year was a lot like rack n roll, so will this year be like ramp n roll?

[om23]

concerning the overall history of FIRST games, such as most of them are sports related or at least each alternating one is, the possibility of a football or rugby based game is not far-fetched. But using a football shaped ball would be incredibly difficult to use during game play due to the shape and size of the ball.

using mini-bots is a given for this year's game since first wants frc and ftc teams to work together just like last year.

[Andrew Lawrence]

using mini-bots is a given for this year's game since first wants frc and ftc teams to work together just like last year.

While that was their intention, in the end, most teams didn't interact with FTC teams, and the ending minibots resembled little to no Tetrix parts that didn't resemble FTC robots. And from one team I talked to, the FTC team wasn't much help, since they were also as to how to approach the problem.

I'm sure that if FIRST does indeed want us to collaborate more with FTC teams, then it seems like they will have to alter the way we use the minibots into something more FTC-like.

[Tom Ore]

Storm (from earlier blogs) + flash = wind and artificial lightning

two robots try to race across the field with open umbrellas and the third waves a golf club in the air to attract the lightning.

[Karibou]

Thoughts:

Hot flash - aspects of the game change suddenly, but in an organized/fair fashion. Example: game would start out with one alliance scoring on each side, then halfway through the alliances would switch which side they scored on. If you want to throw peaks/uUu into there, imagine applying this to Aim High.

Muzzle flash - shooting game? Shooting at light?

[om23]

Remember this? It was on Bill's blog a while ago.

This is going to be a heavy field to set up when all is said and done. Our pallet jacks can handle up to 5,000lbs in a single load and the engineering staff tell me we’ve been pushing the jacks to their limit recently. At the moment we have an estimated 8,000lbs of polycarbonate sheets, four 1,000lb pallets of game specific steel elements, a pallet of aluminum, three 1,500lb pallets of a game specific item plus a fourth 1,000lb pallet of a different game specific item, two full pallets of gaffers tape, an entire pallet of carpet tape and multiple pallets of game pieces. None of which takes into account the existing field components we will be bolting, zip tying and otherwise attaching these items onto or the elements that have not been delivered yet.

[Andrew Lawrence]

Thoughts:

Hot flash - aspects of the game change suddenly, but in an organized/fair fashion. Example: game would start out with one alliance scoring on each side, then halfway through the alliances would switch which side they scored on. If you want to throw peaks/uUu into there, imagine applying this to Aim High.


Maybe it's a hint that the game will be similar to Aim High (I hope so! :D)! What you said both describes the hints and Aim high, so maybe it's something similar!

Got it!

AIM LOW! :p

[Sean Raia]

Storm (from earlier blogs) + flash = wind and artificial lightning

two robots try to race across the field with open umbrellas and the third waves a golf club in the air to attract the lightning.

HAHAHAHA! Just picturing this made me laugh, i love the idea.

[Christopher149]

Maybe it's a hint that the game will be similar to Aim High (I hope so! :D)! What you said both describes the hints and Aim high, so maybe it's something similar!

Looking at old pictures, Aim High looks to be one of the few games with a large amount of non-base field polycarb.

[om23]

Storm (from earlier blogs) + flash = wind and artificial lightning


Haha thanks for using my team's name (STORM)!

[Sean Raia]

Anyone up for calculating the similarity between ~210 lbs of steel (4,000 pounds / 19 fields) and however much Aim Highs fields had? :rolleyes:

[johnr]

The Three Flashes were a back-up group for Frank Sinatra, who was part of the Rat Pack and rats run thru mazes and ..... never mind.

[IndySam]

Flash Dance - Water Game!

[Steven Donow]

The Three Flashes were a back-up group for Frank Sinatra, who was part of the Rat Pack and rats run thru mazes and ..... never mind.

And rats drink water? Water game? Flash Flood?(I assume the flash flood joke has been made by now)

[Karibou]

Maybe it's a hint that the game will be similar to Aim High (I hope so! :D)! What you said both describes the hints and Aim high, so maybe it's something similar!

Got it!

AIM LOW! :p
That would also account for all of the game-specific steel. I can imagine that if there were ramps, they would be built from steel. From the blog post that was just referenced a few posts ago, there seem to be a lot of game-specific elements. Aim high on steroids?


And that may not be the best name... :rolleyes:

[om23]

this is probably nothing but it wont hurt (#FRCKO-hint?):

https://twitter.com/#!/j_boucher/status/154732380593209345/photo/1

[om23]

Another hint?
https://twitter.com/#!/j_boucher/status/154732380593209345/photo/1
https://twitter.com/#!/j_boucher/status/154732380593209345/photo/1

[Sean Raia]

Yes sir, yes sir it is.

Edit: Someone tell Jess to go in there and find that dang elf!!!!111!!eleven :rolleyes:

[Grim Tuesday]

Link is broken. Here's a re-upload. From Twitter:

"The building across the street from HQ's loading dock. Has game hint 2 been here all along?"

http://i.imgur.com/Z92Hr.jpg

[mdiradoorian]

I am definitely confused on this so called hint. Other than the FIRST logo colors I do not know what it could mean

[Sean Raia]

The colors are in improper order, however.

You could also look at the red and blue windows as the two alliances. the red alliance and blue alliance are in different windows... hmm.

Edit: Is that smoke coming from the red window?

[davidthefat]

Another point for "Flash back"

[om23]

I am definitely confused on this so called hint. Other than the FIRST logo colors I do not know what it could mean

It's not an actual hint. She was near by HQ's loading dock and saw this and is only joking around....at least I think she is.

[Guppy294]

Maybe.... I got it! Everything is backwards! The kinect plugs into the drivers and the robots control the drivers!

[om23]

it actually works out w/ the whole ramp or slope in the middle of the field since the two alliance colors (red vs. blue) are on the second floor and from what I can see in the pic- also in the middle of the building. :ahh:

[D.Allred]

I've got it. Bill is actually making a prediction as to the winner of the Championship with all this talk about "flash" updates.

FRC1319, Golden Flash, from South Carolina. I remember they made Einstein a few years back, but I don't remember with whom or what year.

You may all go insane trying to figure out this new angle...



...but the only thing you're angling for is red herrings!

I like the way you are thinking! Our Einstein year was 2007. Our robot that year had a huge ramp for the end game. Hmm....

(And no, we have no member on the GDC.)

1319 - GO FLASH!

[Ninja_Bait]

Something having to do with a light-up field, and the field has two neutral/mutual zones with two alliance zones (or maybe substitute goal for zone).

[Grim Tuesday]

Has anyone considered comic books?

The Flash is red, superman is blue.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/74/Flash_Rei.png

http://images.paraorkut.com/img/pics/images/s/superman-12268.gif

[Ninja_Bait]

I understand the reference to the Flash, but why Superman? Why not the Blue Beetle? Y everyone so mean to the Blue Beetle?

[Tetraman]

From Game Hint #1:

Panel Mount Selectable Steady or Flashing LED. Black Housing. 12V AC/DC. 45mm. Amber Lens 22.5 mm Mounting Hole - 2500

Emphasis mine.

[Karibou]

From Game Hint #1:

Panel Mount Selectable Steady or Flashing LED. Black Housing. 12V AC/DC. 45mm. Amber Lens 22.5 mm Mounting Hole - 2500

Emphasis mine.

From http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1088139&postcount=55
855PB-012ME522
http://literature.rockwellautomation...g001_-en-p.pdf
This is the amber light in the kit of parts. It's required to be located on the robot and connected to the RL output on the digital side car. With QTY (2500) that means that BOM item was placed in the KOP. That's alot of lights over the past 3 years I remember using them! Can you imagine being a part supplier for FIRST? You would need to supply QTY (2500) of the parts...wow..

[FIRSTtm134]

Someone may yave previously said tyis but frankly im tooo lazy to read all this

I feel like i may have been the reason for this thread because i pointed out the flash in the will we ever get a second hint thread.

My idea was flash can be referred to as something quick. We have ahigh speed counter with photoelectric sensors so i think a high scoring fast game.

Or flash as in brief meaning a period of the match is shorter... oc or auto?

My idea for a game name is rapid fire

[Tetraman]

...

*falls over*

I hate missing the important CD posts. :o

[Marc S.]

Wow this thread has realy exploded. Also why are we still complaining about game hint 2? We allready got 49 game hints. (http://frcdirector.blogspot.com/2011/12/frc-game-hint-1.html#links)

WE WANT A HINT 50!

[om23]

look! another hint?!?!?! (unofficial of course)
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120104006615/en/Inventor-Dean-Kamen-Joined-National-Luminaries-FIRST

[om23]

So maybe this is another hint. It's talking about how Dean Kamen will be joined by National Luminaries for KICKOFF 2012.
NOT A HINT- JUST ANOTHER AWESOME THING FIRST DOES FOR US.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120104006615/en/Inventor-Dean-Kamen-Joined-National-Luminaries-FIRST

[zaphodp.jensen]

So maybe this is another hint. It's talking about how Dean Kamen will be joined by National Luminaries for KICKOFF 2012.

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120104006615/en/Inventor-Dean-Kamen-Joined-National-Luminaries-FIRST

They wouldn't post a game hint on another site, in fear of a leak, and because it would not be a logical choice to have the FRC students searching the internet for a game hint...

[adf0221]

these LED's might just be safety lights for us..
http://www.plccenter.com/Buy/ALLEN%20BRADLEY/855PBB12ME522

[bmlarson12]

ok just my 2 cent the field the uUu is a peak and posible and iceberg in the ocean.Titanic is a ship that held many llights on it pershaps they are flashing inthe game and you have a senesor to keep the light on while the other alliance try and turn it off and lets going skiiing down a hill with a miniboat or miniboat race

I know I am missing something. Where is the Titanic idea coming from? :confused:

[Karibou]

I know I am missing something. Where is the Titanic idea coming from? :confused:

2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's voyage and resulting sinking.

[sanddrag]

The game will be called Knock Out and will be somehow related to boxing or boxes. A "Total Knock Out" will result in a great deal of bonus points.

[Grim Tuesday]

The game will be called Knock Out and will be somehow related to boxing or boxes.

Can you smell what the rock is cooking?

[Andrew Lawrence]

Can you smell what the rock is cooking?

Best thing I've heard all day, and I have no idea what it means. :p

[zaphodp.jensen]

these LED's might just be safety lights for us..
http://www.plccenter.com/Buy/ALLEN%20BRADLEY/855PBB12ME522

afd0221: Those lights are the ones that attached to the digital sidecar, and used as the orange robot indicators. These always come in the KOP and are always the same model, I believe.

[Peter Matteson]

Nothing FIRST does is unintended.

You clearly haven't been in FIRSt long enough to see unitended rule change consequences in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2010...

I've got it. Bill is actually making a prediction as to the winner of the Championship with all this talk about "flash" updates.

FRC1319, Golden Flash, from South Carolina. I remember they made Einstein a few years back, but I don't remember with whom or what year.

They were Galileo champions in 2007 With RAGE (173) and Exploding Bacon.

I believe the game will be called "Flash Flood" because the field will be flooded with smaller spherical gaming objects (SGOs) in a flash flood/dump like in 2004.

[bhaidet]

hm... this reference to "Flash" after I just read another CD thread about "Luminary". :ahh: A light will be a central theme to this game. Maybe a tower with a light (the "Luminary") in the middle of the field and it "flashes" different colors for a king-of-the-hill type game?

The link to GH#1: Maybe this central indicator is turned on by firing a ball through something sensed by "IR" and a "very high speed counter"?:D

Did anyone else see some text from FIRST anywhere involving references to light?:confused:

[om23]

[QUOTE=Did anyone else see some text from FIRST anywhere involving references to light?:confused:[/QUOTE]

in the first hint there's a lot amount of lights things compared to years in the past. then comparing that to "flash" we've been guessing LIGHTS LIGHTS LIGHTS..... we're all to excited and can't wait till kickoff!

[Ninja_Bait]

On the other hand, Bill's post about the field indicated that it was not light at all... we know for a fact it is unusually heavy!

[bhaidet]

maybe the weight is in the mountings for the lights? or the uUu ramp?

I just realized that "flashpoint" would make a great game name.

[Peter Matteson]

Since I haven't posted my usual "wiseguy theory" for this years clues...

Flash, hmmm...,
The Flash is the favorite superhero of Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory...
Sheldon is a theoretical physist focusing on quantum mechanics and string theory...
String theory is just a smokescreen for string cheese which is Bill Miller's favorite snack.
Hmmm... snack makes someone my age think of the snack pack pudding containers we ate when we were kids.
I have it!

The game will be called Bazinga! and be played on a field of pudding. The goal will be to harvest string cheese from said pudding.

[Jared Russell]

Know what you can make FLASH?

One of Dean's lightbulbs.

[mdiradoorian]

Know what you can make FLASH?

One of Dean's lightbulbs.

good one. :)

[Steven Sigley]

Based on the number of control tower lights in amber compared to the other control tower lights, and the flashing reference, I have a strong hunch this game is a flashback to 2008.

http://rc-images.s3.amazonaws.com/ab9ba5fe-726d-4894-ab00-de5614c20406/media/127806/original/127806.jpg

[RoboMom]

I hope the game includes lots of Queen song references. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNf9rEPoc8Q

[Ninja_Bait]

Based on the number of control tower lights in amber compared to the other control tower lights, and the flashing reference, I have a strong hunch this game is a flashback to 2008.

Game name, anyone? Maybe a mash-up of a few different classic FRC games?

[Bjenks548]

Lots of light references, combined with a heavy field, the new kinects to play with and the lack of a rack since 2006 on the field (not counting the 2010 bumps). I think the end game will be a kick of the hill thing like 2002 with a twist. In the last ~30seconds the divers view is blocked out by a curtain or similar (loss of light to the drivers). The human players in control of the kinects are still able to see the field and must drive there robots to the top of the ramps. No idea what were doing for the other 1:45 but this would be a very interesting end game.

[Grim Tuesday]

Based on the number of control tower lights in amber compared to the other control tower lights, and the flashing reference, I have a strong hunch this game is a flashback to 2008.

http://rc-images.s3.amazonaws.com/ab9ba5fe-726d-4894-ab00-de5614c20406/media/127806/original/127806.jpg

Thats an interesting idea. I doubt they would do a throwback, especially since they passed it over for their 20th anniversary. However, something with speed and a racing starting sign, the style you had, could be very interesting and highly probable. Only problem is it breaks the 'balls/no balls' pattern, as well as the heavy gamepieces hint.

[Ninja_Bait]

I don't understand the obsession with the ball-no-ball rule. 2008-2009-2010 were all ball games, so the pattern has already been broken.

[Grim Tuesday]

2009 wasn't an inflatable ball, and didn't really have the same properties as most balls.

[Peter Matteson]

I hope the game includes lots of Queen song references. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNf9rEPoc8Q

I like the way you think.

[Ninja_Bait]

2009 wasn't an inflatable ball, and didn't really have the same properties as most balls.

2006's nerf ball wasn't inflatable either. Footballs are unlike any other ball, but are still balls. My case stands.

[Sean Raia]

The ball no ball pattern was broken with lunacy, like it or not. The sports related/non sports related pattern still stands however.

[Brandon Zalinsky]

The ball no ball pattern was broken with lunacy, like it or not. The sports related/non sports related pattern still stands however.


actually, by definition, no. the definition of a ball is "a spherical or approximately spherical body or shape; sphere" (dictionary.com). The definition of a sphere is "a SOLID geometric figure..." The moon rocks weren't solid. I know it probably is a ball by looks and behavior, but I think if you want to be really technical, it's not a ball.

[Sean Raia]

I fail to see how lunacy balls would not fall into the ball category. Soccer balls are not SOLID, they are filled with air... Just like the orbit balls :cool:

And you cant say solid on the outside because wiffle balls have holes all over them.

[Ninja_Bait]

actually, by definition, no. the definition of a ball is "a spherical or approximately spherical body or shape; sphere" (dictionary.com). The definition of a sphere is "a SOLID geometric figure..." The moon rocks weren't solid. I know it probably is a ball by looks and behavior, but I think if you want to be really technical, it's not a ball.

Then neither are tennis balls, basketballs, soccer balls, footballs or volleyballs.

I'll end this discussion with a prediction:
http://ru.memegenerator.net/cache/instances/400x/12/12640/12943957.jpg

[Brandon Zalinsky]

also! the live test broadcast is showing a summer camp run by Matt Light (left tackle for the New England Patriots football team). It's a football game.

[JB987]

Why not "Flash Forward" with autonomous opportunity to activate a gate (shooting object at target in Aim High type situation but in center of field) that activates a tiered light like last year's end game (first object through gets higher bonus, second next highest, etc...) and signaling successful activation allowing the robot to advance forward through a barrier for a bonus and some advantage for first alliance through gate? Just my 2.5 cents...

[MikeReilly]

Dark game with no field lights, footballs, use the Kinect to use hands to pick up the balls. Some type of "flashlight" on the bots.

[Ninja_Bait]

Has anyone considered the safety implications of a dark game with tunnels or curtains or anything of the sort? I think it may not be safe enough for field reset crew, drive teams, and robots for there to be an obscured field.

[PAR_WIG1350]

Has anyone considered the safety implications of a dark game with tunnels or curtains or anything of the sort? I think it may not be safe enough for field reset crew, drive teams, and robots for there to be an obscured field.

Also, it would be far from audience friendly.

[Karibou]

Has anyone considered the safety implications of a dark game with tunnels or curtains or anything of the sort? I think it may not be safe enough for field reset crew, drive teams, and robots for there to be an obscured field.

I've brought that point up many times. It's valid, and the reason why we probably won't see a game like that. Even if it was just a curtain over the driver stations, drivers not being able to see their robots could result in a serious safety hazard if two robots were to become entangled, or if, say, a drivetrain exploded on the field.

[Grim Tuesday]

I would just like to note that our uUu conclusion was actually pretty correct. Go team!

[Ernst]

I would just like to note that our uUu conclusion was actually pretty correct. Go team!

In retrospect, the source for our uUu ramp was completely wrong... even though it was kinda right. When you take the 4th Flash update into account, we'd have a uUuu ramp.