Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

I think a game could be designed to address the predictability factor. Ultimate Ascent is a good example of that. Some bots could score consistently from full court, but still had to climb to win, while the lower ability teams were still able to contribute in a meaningful way.

As a former coach, I've used football throwing machines numerous times over the years and I can tell you from experience that throwing a spiral is the easy part. Consistently throwing to a tight window is much harder. The machine "drifts" constantly due to the differences in how the wheels initially engage the ball and several other factors where a small difference in input can create a large difference in results.

A further complication would be the NERF balls. I assume they would be used instead of regulation footballs due to the safety factor. The COG of a regulation ball is very different from a NERF ball. The heavier outer rim of the regulation ball makes for a tighter, more controlled spiral and thus better accuracy. The COG of the NERF ( I'm assuming a solid foam ball) is near the center and thus it has to be spun much faster to maintain stability.

The variability is interesting enough IMO to create a worthwhile game. Especially with a few 'twists" thrown in.

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

I predict/hope for a (American) football game next year. I hope there will be an endgame next year.

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

Will point you all to...

This, this, this, this, and to some extent this

:deadhorse: :deadhorse:

I know Chief likes its rumors/predictions... But... Yeah. :rolleyes:

Close enough.

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

Next year I wan the game to be a cross between hungry hungry hippos and garbage.
The idea is you get a billion tennis balls on the ground and the goal is to have fewer on your side then the opposing side.

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

This is a game I'd like to see in 2016, or something as cool as it.

Endzone Endeavor:
Endzone Endeavor is played on a 27'x54' carpeted field.
The goal of Endzone endeavor is to kick their corresponding alliance's FOOTBALLS through one of the FIELD GOALS in the center of the field while your alliance has possession of it's corresponding ENDZONE. To possess an ENDZONE, an alliance must have more FOOTBALLS contained on top of the ENDZONE PLATFORM than the other alliance.

FOOTBALLS Scored while no alliance has possession of the ENDZONE: 2 Points
FOOTBALLS Scored while your alliance has possession on the ENDZONE: 3 Points
FOOTBALLS Scored while your opponent's alliance has possession of the platform.

Once the match finishes, Teams get bonuses for each ROBOT and FOOTBALL of their alliance's color completely contained on an ENDZONE PLATFORM.
In the last 20 seconds of the match, HUMAN PLAYERS are permitted to throw FOOTBALLS in an attempt to land them on the ENDZONE PLATFORMS for bonus points.

ROBOTS on an ENDZONE PLATFORM: 10 points/robot
FOOTBALLS on an ENDZONE PLATFORM: 1 pt/ball

--------------------------------------------

I'm still debating whether the robots would need to kick the balls through the FIELD GOAL, or whether they could just throw them.

I think FOOTBALLS would be re-introduced into play at midfield somehow.
I'm also not sure how to score this. I think if you limit the number of game pieces on the field like 2012, an automated scoring system could be used for real-time scoring, but referees and Scorekeepers would change the score after the match if, for example, a HUMAN PLAYER threw the ball through the FIELD GOAL (which would be obviously against the rules).

What do you guys think? I think this could be a really cool type of game if played right.

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

I already gave my version of what I think will happen next year
here.
The endgame will be signaled by playing Ride of the Valkyries.(I love the smell of Magic Smoke in the morning!)
To expand upon it. Firing balls into other robots goals is worth 10 points. Shooting a human player is worth 5. Shooting an operator is worth 15 points. Shooting a driver is worth 25 points and shooting a drive coach is worth 50 points. Knocking down a drone is worth 50 points.

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

FIRST Frenzy, the 2004 game, is regarded as the best game pre-3v3 era. I would love to see a modern take on that game. It looks super dated when you look at the game now, but some obvious changes that would take the scoring objectives and modernize it into a 3v3 game 12 years later could prove to be fun.

This is considered to be a pretty famous moment from that game.

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

There definitely needs to be an endgame next year. I'm rather scared of the number of people predicting football. I feel like it would be way too difficult to throw. There would have to be a forward throwing motion as well as spin on the ball. The spin wouldn't cause too much trouble, but having both mechanisms combined in the "throwing arm" would be essential. Hoping it isn't football.

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

Throwing arms are not required to throw footballs with a spiral.
http://jugssports.com/football/footb...ssing-machine/

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

Yes Please!!!

Please NO!!!!

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

The platform took up so much room they would have to shrink it down so six robots could fit on the field. The autonomous needs to be something more than just releasing the balls early.
The coolest moment I ever saw at a FIRST event happened that year during the elims at Buckeye when 378 was on the top platform and 279 was on the lower platform and was trying to get up on the bar. 378 parked on top of 279 so 279 decided to take them with them. 378 eventually fell off but still won the match.

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

I think the game will be played with real cheesecakes....

Might be a little messy... but field reset would be fun... and delicious

An off-balance ball with a weighted side? Actuated field elements? Traffic cones?

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

I see Hockey as a definite possibility! I really like the idea for multiple reasons.
I for one am not averse to Regolith. Besides, it gives the "Water Game" crowd a "Frozen Water Game".

This is my other favorite. A football based game has all the engineering challenge one could hope for.
Passing and receiving for bonus point!
"Line play" for the defense loving crowd.
Fumbles and recoveries! Oh man, the list goes on and on.

Strategy geeks will wet themselves with all the possibilities to design a play book.

Kicking a Field Goal from the opposite end of the field would be a blast!

Yeah, I think I just drooled down the front of my shirt just thinking of the possibilities a Football based game would provide.

Re: Not to jinx next year, but...
 

Yes to both suggestions. You probably would enter the option for robots to shoot balls into the goals (like in Autonomous) with humans getting <30 seconds to score. The platform equivalent would need to be downsized to fit the existence of two other robots, but having some kind of field obstacle should probably stay (my favorite field obstacle is the 2012 bump. Think about how different 2014 would have been with 2012 style bumps delineating zones or at midfield!)