| Rev_TX_Torque |
21-09-2016 23:37 |
Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
This year's 2017 FIRST Steamworks has a similar look to last years 2016 Stronghold. There is a lot to look forward to for this year's game. I wanted to list a few of these things that we can look forward to, and speculate possible game elements that might appear for 2017. As we have already been informed, this year's game will have bumpers which tells us that there will defensive play. The fact that there will be defensive play tells us two things : 1 that there will be some form of precise scoring such as shooting into a target of some sort ( 2012,13,14,16 ), and 2 that the field will be undivided unlike 2015. Also something that the teaser has given us is a suspiciously detailed robot surrounded by a group of robotics students. While this robot may not be a reliable source for my future claims , I think that it can tell us a lot about what this years game will have because in comparison to last years game teaser (which I remind you was a very cartoon like, unrealistic depiction of a robot) this example of a robot or at least the drive base and frame are considerably realistic. One of the conclusions we can make from this is that the robots will have the option to be fed by a human player station ( Like 2013 Ultimate Ascent, and 2015 Recycle rush). The reason why I conclude this is because there is no section on the bumper that gives room for a for a floor intake. Of course there are teams that have proven their ability to have an intake without having a section of the bumpers cut off, however this is not typical. In this situation I believe that if this model depicted in the teaser is what we might see for 2017 then there will at least be a manual method of feeding the robot such as passing (2014 Aerial Assist) or feeding ( 2013, 2015 ). Also the fact that the drive train on the model depicted in the teaser is a west coast drive can signify that this year's game will not be an open field (2008,2009,2014) because if it were then the robots would most likely have a butterfly drive or swerve drive because in open field these drivetrains are optimal for maximum maneuverability (An Exception could be 2008 but these drivetrains were still present). On the topic of an open field in relation to 2008 and 2014, this year's game object will most likely not be a FIRST yoga ball as some may believe because the frame perimeter for the previous FRC games with the Yoga balls have had a square frame perimeter ( where in the depiction of the teaser there is a more rectangular frame). As for the game object goes, this year should be a new one. In reference to the 4 year cycle ( For example 2007 rack and roll, 2011 Logomotion, 2015 Recycle Rush all had to do with stacking/adding something) this next year's game should have the "strange" game object as reflected by the sequence: 2009 Lunacy ( MOON ROCKS ) to 2013 (FRISBEE DISKS), the next year up for the strange object is 2017 - this year. Because it is supposed to be the strange object this year it is hard to predict what the object will be. However, it should be known that this object most likely will be launched into a target or something around these lines. One last thing I would like to mention is that the teaser had a heavy emphasis on how we should "prepare to take flight". The question of what will be taking flight arises and after understanding that the model in the teaser has wheels it is evident that the robot itself will not be the object of flight ( As if the 120 pound robots could fly easily in the first place ). I believe I have the answer: the object of flight for the 2017 FIRST Steamworks will be an endgame with a minibot that will be required to fly to accomplish a task ( Much like 2011 Logomotion's endgame but with flight ). People have joked about an airgame for years now, however the focus has previously on the robot itself : people have not considered the possibility of a minibot that flies.
I would love to hear everyone's opinions and thoughts about my speculations , and would love to hear yours!
Best of luck to everyone this year for the 2017 FIRST Steamworks!
-Rev
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