Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

They look like calipers to me.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

The number six may imply that there will still be 6 robots on the field at a time.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

No, there are going to be 6 alliances on the field at a time.:D

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Also this looks like a major game piece since it's in the logo and in the highres with the FIRST logo on it... But where would someone source a game piece like this?!?! :P When I saw it in the logo, I thought it looked like this probably will move... Maybe in the air??

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I personally think that that looks very much like a submarine.... and you know what that means.............

Mini bots like 2011?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

That's just a hint to say when we will be able to go home every night since this game will be so hard :yikes:

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I agree with ArthurA. Promoting art is very important, and as FIRST teams/STEM advocates we have to be careful to not disparage artists and those interested in pursuing it. STEAM is a useful acronym because it spells out a longer word than STEM there are plenty of cases where Art + STEM are in the spotlight together. Just not all the time.

Regarding the theme, I'm... not a big fan. I wish FIRST would return to classic sports themed games. Western culture has such an innate knowledge of sports ingrained in us that when someone says "basketball but with robots" there's plenty that can be extrapolated and assumed right away. Even Aerial Assist can be explained as "kinda like football, but with yoga balls and robots," which is fairly accurate. Recycle Rush was a complete 180 in this regard. You can't really just say "recycling but with robots." And it was a fairly simple game, so you could possibly excuse this one because it isn't too difficult to explain with just a sentence. Stronghold was more difficult to explain to complete newcomers. "It's a castle siege" doesn't tell you much about the game at all. I guess that with a game video they're all pretty easy, but that's just a small nitpick I have.

My real beef with themed games is the cultural aspect, if you can call it that. FIRST's mission is to inspire kids to pursue STEM careers. I think we get too caught up a certain group of kids - the kids that already like STEM. When you say "hey, it's robots, but Monty Python/Steampunk!" I'd wager you're not going to be getting a larger group of interested kids. You might get more interest from certain kids, sure. But if you're trying to make robotics appealing to a crowd that is skeptical of anything uncool, adding a medieval or steampunk label on top of that is not going to help you one bit. This is especially relevant in more underprivileged areas* - robotics isn't doing you any social favors in the first place. If a school has a graduation rate in the 50's or 60's, I don't think the culture is super encouraging of kids who wanna be nerdy steampunk kids. It's difficult enough to recruit kids for soccer with robots, I'm not a fan of making that more difficult by recruiting them to renaissance fair with robots.

*disclaimer: i come from a pretty privileged suburban background, so feel free to completely disregard my attempt at empathy

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

So along with the theme there was a so called dlc pack released. With many developers today moving twords a dlc model to obtain more money it makes sense for first to do the same. Now its just to determine where these dlc's will come into play within first. For team registration it could be that when you register now you only get labeled as an fr team and you have to get the c as a dlc. First could also very well include playoffs at events as a dlc, one you have to pay on spot. (This is a joke if you couldn't tell :))

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

So i watched the teaser on youtube and after it had finished, a second video started. It was the 2016 FIRST Championship Welcome Ceremony clip. And all of the performers in the video are wearing steampunk-esque clothing. They literally told us the theme at nationals.:ahh: :ahh: :ahh:

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Does anyone else feel like this house looks out of place? (bottom right corner of the high res wallpaper). Almost looks like it was cut and pasted it on top of the rest of the image, or is supposed to show an "overall" view and the rest of the image is a "close-up" or "inside" of sorts.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Could very well mean that. This whole thread is full of speculation. ;)

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser!
 

My words exactly!!

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Interesting fact, there is actually a board game that is called steamworks. Maybe it is a clue.
https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/143176/steam-works

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Kinda like this past year and StrongHold?? :)

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

The Spectrum students did a great job with the teaser breakdown. Loved a lot of their ideas.

I think they may have predicted part of the game years ago.

https://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/s...hreadid=116599

I see pipes in our future. Or footballs. Or insert your favorite odd shaped game piece here _____.

David

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

<image removed from quote>

There's already one in the air. Look to the right of the large building in the center of the image.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Not so fast on the drones -- note that the image of "prepare to take flight" showed an airship*, not a drone, not an aircraft, not a copter. 'nuff said.

* that is, a lighter-than-air vessel

Edits:

FTFY.

And the distinction is? Really?

That looks to me like a submarine with jet nacelles.

The front end is a WWII-era submarine with oversize dive planes, the middle has a post-WWII body (cylindrical), the jet nacelles and a slightly undersize conning tower, and the rear has a shrouded propeller and a horizontal stabilizer rather like an aeroplane (but shorter and longer). The porthole midway between the dive planes and the conning tower and the windows in the conning tower are rather amusing.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Anyone notice the 5-wheel drive schematic on the wall?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

What's the significance of 1989 and like 38ish PSI?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

1989 was the year FIRST was established. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_In...d_Tec hnology

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Huge thanks to the crew at GameSense for inviting us to join them tonight! We had a blast sharing all our speculation with y'all and the folks in the Twitch chat.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Not at all sure why folks are worked up about STEM --> STEAM. There is a strong art element to engineering.

And I like the use of themes. Makes things new and refreshing. Kind of artsy, too, isn't it?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

One thing to note on the logo: Based upon the sizing and capitalization, its clearly meant to look like "STEAMworks". To me it definitely hints at having the double meaning to fit the theme and the acronym. Now I'm just interested in the chicken and egg scenario here with the name selection.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

+1. There's also a paintbrush at the start of the word "STEAMworks".

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Any idea what Woodie's saying in WoodieFlowers_FIRSTPriority.mp3? The only words I can discern are "FIRST Priority."

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Game Piece Idea

Airship = Inflatable Oval Yoga Balls

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

If you look at the robot itself, you see that there is some pile of blocks or something above the middle wheel on one side. Because the diagrams show the final product, you only see 5 of the 6 wheels.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

The two quotes are:

"Woody say's this is FIRST Priority!"

"This is important stuff! Answer your phone!"

I love Dr. Flowers and all, but what in the world are these doing in this promotion pack and why were they created? They seem very out of place, and I couldn't ever see myself or anyone I know in FIRST using these.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Sorry, that isn't right... Steam is water in its gaseous form.

All vapors are gas, they just happen to be a gas that is below the critical temperature which means they can be condensed by pressure without lowering the temperature. This also means they can coexist with liquid water. (this depends on pressure)

Steam is always a gas.... it could also be a vapor in certain situations but not always.

:)

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Those look like so much fun. I want you to be right about this. :)

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Water vapor is actually invisible (you can't see it). We don't typically refer to water vapor as steam. Steam is the same as clouds: they are little water droplets condensed in the air. Steam is a liquid dispersed in little drops in the air.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Steampunk game confirmed.
Flying minibots confirmed.
Water game NOT confirmed.

Oh boy this is gunna be interesting.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

There's no way those are the game piece. Not nearly expensive enough.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

+10000. That would be awesome. :D What if they were filled with helium though, or at least part helium? Maybe nitrogen?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

A DLC pack with ringtones is like, ten or fifteen years too late. Couldn't tell you more than two people I know who use a non-default ringtone, certainly neither of them high schoolers. Oh well. Decent Woodie soundbites could be used for something else I'm sure.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Looks like an airplane... Either a flying game OR ... the paper airplanes from Einstein are coming back!!

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Not until now, but it occurs to me that a 5 wheel drive like that would be absolutely perfect for... NOTHING! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! (with apologies to VHF).

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

It's a pretty cool teaser and I can't wait for it! I hope we see an alternative to the Standards idea from last year. Maybe this years "standard" could be a big gear (like plastic or styrofoam) and each event gives you a mini gear patch similar to the history patches from stronghold.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

After hearing the shovel ringtone, I had this idea I proposed:

What if the game pieces are coal, and the whole idea is to bring coal to your machine, power the steam engine, and cause a blimp to "fly". The defense would come from fighting over the limited supply of coal.

This could tie in the flying idea without any actual flying.

I dunno, just a thought.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Either that, or the pits and competitions will be in GIANT BLIMPS.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Maybe you activate a part of the field that throws paper airplanes?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I just hope that the theme does not cause the quality of the game to diminish. I for one was hoping that there would be no theme this year and instead have a good game with fewer distractions. Just my two cents.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I am sorry again but I am not sure who you are referring to as "we" but I have worked at Electric Power Generation facilities and WE refer to all of it as steam. In fact it is a major problem because we have had steam line breaks and it is impossible to see the "steam" and it can cause major problems. and injuries.

The term vapor is how I defined it above. It has to do with being lower than the critical temperature. It is still in the gas phase.

If you are referring to common usage I can't speak to that.

Little water droplets are not steam or vapor... they are liquid water.

When a substance in lower than the critical temperature it can exist in several states.

The term steam is probably ill-defined in common usage. But when we discuss it in my Thermo section we use the definitions I have outlined above.

thanks

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

All I know is that 4531 and 3966 (along with a couple of others) better live it up like it's 1999! Have fun with this year's theme!

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Our team freaked out when we saw it. We couldn't hear it the first time (with our speakers at full volume), because everyone in the room was so excited. Our products team (shirts, costumes, pit) is already having a field day thinking of things to do this year. It's gonna be super important that we stand out from the scores of other teams that will get dressed up this year, too.

Seriously. Our team is pumped.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

You mean brass, copper, and leather?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Our team came up with the same thing!

We were thinking Hockey Pucks could be the "Coal" and you score them in a "Hopper"

I think this is on the right track. Someone mentioned Pipes too, Steam Pipes might play as well. Maybe a year of 2 truly different game pieces.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I would also like to add that the wheels on the bot are gears... Curious might I say.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

What an opportunity for your team - I am a slight bit jealous (I was really hoping for a Star Wars theme - we would make hay!). Good luck this season and please keep CD posted on how your team markets itself! Really, I am excited for you and 4531 - even though we may not be going to Duluth this season, I may have to go just to see what STEMPunk is going to do! Can't wait to play this game in the land of 10000 Lakes :) !

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I honestly thought they were just cheesy enough to use. I need to set these up eventually.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Yes, kick off is 1/07 so the clock may be indicating the kick off date.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I think you on to something here...

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

May I be the first to guess that the whole flying thing they keep trying to drop is a little too obvious...

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

ITS ALL A COVER UP!! STEAM=WATER!! WATER GAME CONFIRMED!!

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Did anyone notice that the narration was mostly a ripoff of the narration in the Stronghold teaser? Could this game just be Stronghold 2?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I think we all noticed. It is a ripoff of Stronghold

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

So many responses, I may be repeating stuff. From the main wallpaper (FIRST STEAMWORKS Scene 1 (High Res).jpg):

(1) The only human in the scene has a telescope/viewer. The line of site is just below the horizontal vent, and can be viewing the two towers beyond. Human player guides robot around an obstruction?
(2) There is the Escher-esque floating walkway with stairways leading nowhere.
(3) The four smokestacks at the top center remind me of the now demolished "seven sisters" smoke stacks at a Detroit Edison power plant. Although there are banks of anywhere from one to five smokestacks/steam vents.
(4) the pressure gauge is shown twice and each says "single arm". Need two robots, each with a single manipulator" to complete a task?
(5) Nestled below the blimp in the upper left is a citadel that appears incomplete. Some assembly to go with the arm requirement?
(6) There are several repeated images that appear in the main illustration as well as in the margins and below the main floor.
(7) Several images could be derived from scenes in museums such as the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Michigan and other locales.

And from the workshop scene. . . . . RAMPS !

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

There may be an endgame involving minidrones.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Or minibots

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Let's go further and say that in order to keep your robot powered you must keep placing coal in the furnace. This could promote power management (turn off nonessential things when running low on coal.) The power doesn't actually run out the FMS just terminates the connection between the DS and the robot. A team member can help another robot by placing coal in their furnace for them.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

If we are preparing to take flight, unless there are blimps or hot air balloons, I think this is the only feasible way to incorporate flying robots into the game.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I hope this doesn't happen, there are few things as disappointing as watching a robot or an entire alliance not move or preform poorly, why combine them?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Also, it seems like a HUGE distraction from the main gameplay, unless it was a human player thing.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

This is only the beginning, and chances are that none of these will come true, but I will continue to hope!

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Stirring the pot:

Remember how scarce large(ish), soft(ish) wheel became last season.

Good luck to everyone who needs (Steam) Railroad-style wheels for their mini-bot this season. ;) ;) ;)

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

So, to incorporate the pipes, there's a wall with a machine in the bottom that the "coal" goes into to produce power, you need a certain amount of coal to get it to work. Then, there are pipes you have to line up/ place on the wall to connect the machine to a blimp that needs power. Longer pipes more points etc. If you connect the pieces, the blimp floats and you get extra points.

This would allow rookies to be successful in pushing the "coal" (not too difficult just have to drive) and the teams obviously would work together. This also incorporates "taking flight" without having drones.

***EDIT***
Maybe the coal is pushed up a ramp incorporating ramps? (I forgot about the ramps when writing this)

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

YES!! I might finally get to use the 1/8 scale train wheels that I designed in SolidWorks! I really do hope something in this years game has rails.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Items from the FRC STRONGHOLD Trailer that were irrelevant to the game itself:
-Tents - only pits, which weren't a part of the game play
-Handing off a wrench - game did not relate to co-opertition
-Schematics/sketches: Really, they were random scribbles. Just relates to robot plans, once again not relating to game play.
-Sword in tower: Not relevant object.
-Dragon and hex pattern on field: Could argue standards, but not a field element.

The only really relevant pieces related to the THEME, and the nature of possible game elements aesthetics - not GAME PLAY.
Many of the phrases like "rally your kingdom" related to the general idea of FIRST - working together, alliances - nothing game specific. Some took phrases like "face the challenge ahead together" as larger alliances facing some sort of AI item - it simply was relating to alliances, once again, nothing game specific.

One can over analyze as much as you'd like, but in reality, the teasers are likely just to show case the theme of the game - thus, a teaser, not a hint. Sure, some parts of the teaser are related to the game, but they aren't necessarily game specific.

For FIRST STEAMworks:
Numbers are easy elements to over manipulate - you can find lots of them: clocks, number of items, fingers - you can really warp them however you like. Similar to politics, it's easy for politicians to warp the statistics into something that supports their cause, just like an individual may warp them to devise a theoretical game.

Over-analyze all you want, but with all these ideas it's highly unlikely that:
A. The teaser reflects game elements.
B. You will all agree on a theory - even if one person gets SOMETHING right, it will likely get buried along the other obtuse guesses.

The safest take away is that this game is related to a steam punk nature - the top hat, googles, hairdo, airships.

What would be useful discussion would be to discuss how this theme effects FIRST goals - it would be purposeful, helpful to FIRST for feedback, and be used to still make this game attractive to incoming high school students, regardless of its apparent cheesy and childish nature.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Wasn't going to get into this thread but...
"prepare to take flight"!
I see people taking off shoes and waiting in long lines.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Wow. Let's not let our imagination run away. Steam is hot, water is a conductor, coal is hot and dirty, drones may be unsafe, minibot would have to be hardwired as they would be controlled by the RoboRio.

Based on the safety inspections in the previous years, FRC would not ask us to play with fire, steam, coal or anything that could cause physical harm to anyone.

I like the idea of gathering enough fake coal in a boiler like target and when enough coal is gathered, the balloon takes flight.

Maybe the football shape is important. Throwing a spherical ball is somewhat easy. Throwing a football straight requires a spin on it's long axis that is perpendicular to the direction thrown. That would be a nice challenge... ;)

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Most teams can't even have a robot that drives half the time, having something in the area that could lose control and cause damage to people probably won't happen. That's just my opinion but I just think a flying game won't happen for another couple years maybe, I could be wrong though. And what if this year you have to almost dig for coal, like there is a big area and you have to scoop it out and the more power. The endgame could be to reach a certain amount to be able to get your blimp going. Ramps could be included for the coal to sit, so 2 ramps, low part facing each other to keep the coal in place. Just an idea :D

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I personally doubt the blimp will be a game piece because of the trouble FIRST went through last year to remove game elements from the logo. Coal is the most likely of any prediction so far to be a game piece.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Is there anything at Disney that relates to this? I thought I read an old blog post that said the GDC goes to Disney early on for inspiration.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I think it will be about collecting coal and water(game pieces) and depositing them into an engine(Coal below and water way up above). Though it's a wild guess, I think it would be neat if there were two piles of water and coal along with buckets filled with game pieces with a rule saying you can only move and score game pieces using the buckets. Thinking the endgame has something to do with minibots and a blimp.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Here is my thought on the teaser: the Stronghold teaser last year was pretty vague (as was this year's), and the biggest thing that carried over from the teaser to the game was the image of the flag on top of the tower and that flag changing. In the game this was manifested as a simple, visual scorekeeping device mostly for the audience's benefit. FIRST is trying to reach out to the general public with these teasers, so they are going to use the most visual element of the game in the teaser so people recognize it when they go to events.

What was the most visual and central part of the teaser? The blimp. My best theory right now for the blimp is that it will play a similar role as the flag did last year: a visual representation of a goal completed (aka a field element and not a gamepiece or robot). This representation might be a blimp on the field "flying" after being fueled or something like that.

With that said, I do have another theory about the blimp for you conspiring guessmakers out there. I noticed in the image attached below that the main blimp wasn't the only flying machine. In fact, there are five: two different blimps, a Da Vinci looking plane, and two of the same sub-looking plane (yellow circles). I therefore determined that the flying machines must be, yes, minibots. And no, minibots will not be flying around crashing into stuff. I imagine it would be more of "attach your minibot to this zipline" or something that would IMITATE flying.

I still mostly think that the blimp will be a field element used to mark an accomplished goal, but there is still the minibot possibility. The only thing wrong with "flying"/zipline minibots is that the assumed minibot in the workshop scene clearly has tank tracks meant for the ground. Also I just thought it was kind of interesting that FIRST used the same exact image twice in the picture, except flipped (purple circles).

This was a lot longer than I thought it would be, I apologize for my spewing of fanatical guessmaking.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I have made statements in the past that I expect this year's game to be similar to logomotion or rack and roll and I still stand by that statement, I also agree with CurlyFries on how the Blimp will act like the flag from last year, however the idea currently bouncing around seems to be that you will "power" the blimp by playing "coal" in a scoring area, I disagree, while the teaser is most likely still missing some crucial information (e.g. the tower and boulders from last year) I think gears will be the game pieces, large foam ones, scoring would be done by putting them on pegs, and those would either A. act as the counterweight to raise the blimp, or B. robots would have to precisely place them so that gears could interact with each other and a robot could turn one gear to turn another on the opposite end and raise the blimp. But these are just my thoughts, Like I said, the teaser is probably missing something

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

The tower was actually pretty prominent in last years teaser. It's just that it was overshadowed by the flag.

If the FRC community had queued in better to the tower (rather than say the flag or phrase about "kingdom"), I think boulders could have become a reasonable game piece, as that is a common visual for tower defending.

It makes me wonder which thing that isn't so prominent that we're missing. What could the blimp be intended to distract us from?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Gears, sorry if this sounds like I'm beating a dead horse

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

We have the same idea, but mine has pipes instead. I like the idea of gears, but putting them on properly so that they mesh well seems to be too precise for a FIRST game. And just using them as a counterweight would make me question why use gears at all? Just for the symbolism? That doesn't make very much sense...

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Like a giant ball pit but instead of colorful balls, there are brown(dirt/rocks), black(coal)? The teams would sort through the balls and then deliver the black ones?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

It's possible to see something like that, however can get the most resources wins, maybe some items are worth more but then that just seems too easy. Some teams would just make a very tall robot and get all the coal in one trip

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I am speculating as to if there will be water involved. Maybe transportation of water?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser!
 

Get Hyped
Get Shocked

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

My team has been wondering a whole lot about this. We had a member come up with an idea that there was water on the ground, and minibots had to "fly" above it. Seems kind of unlikely due to electronics and water not mixing too well, but it's fun to think about it. :p

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I would have to disagree, simply because there is usually some level of imagination and creativity involved in discovery. You use the objective to verify and validate the subjective. They do go hand in hand.

No one can tell me that the works of da Vinci were nothing less then a near-perfect marriage of the subjective and objective. I would gather any and every Disney Imagineer would scoff at the idea there is no art in STEM.

Most great inventions start out as rough subjective ideas and thoughts and to realize it you go through the process of objectifying the idea.

Funny story: A high school teacher I know wanted to discuss STREAM (R = reading) on facebook. I told her adding the "R" was going too far and reduced the push for science and engineering into simply the three "R's (Reading, wRiting, aRythmetics). I told her why not complete the scholastic experience and add Physical Education. Then you get:

PeSTREAM

Matt

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

FIRST could prevent this with a low-bar or a tunnel, but I sure hope that that is not the plan.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I like this....
or perhaps Math Engineering Art Technology History Economics Dance and Science......?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Sounds like... Education?

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

One of the coaches I know had a thought. Looking back on the Stronghold teaser now that we all know the challenge, she pointed out key words that helped describe the rules of the game. Students and adults are going to fry their brains hypothesizing what 'take flight' means for our upcoming competition.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

The challenge turned out to be a crucial part of gameplay, being an actual action on the field, not just the game challenge. "Prepare to take flight" may be a similar thing where it's not just rising above and tackling the challenge, but also a part of gameplay, such as an endgame thing.

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

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

They could, make a similar field to BreakAway I think it was, make it almost impossible to carry over, and then have a short passage to go under also.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

I was thinking about it and what if take flight was metaphorical? What did something like 2012 and have you balance, or lift up? Take flight could be a metaphor for like lift. This would also be able to include the possible ramps I've heard people talk about.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Hmmm? A tie in from Disney?
The Disney Gallery Presents Mechanical Kingdoms-look it up.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Steampunks.....this theme nails it (from my perspective)!!!

And now for the challenge to Team 4490 - TechRaiders....Dive in folks, learn it, feel it, investigate it, and become it::rtm::

This is cool!!!:cool:

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Has anyone found an explanation for the weird mention of the pickle chips and pizza and wings? I feel like I haven't seen any mention of that since the teaser was released considering the blog posts seemed to emphasize them.

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

IBM started sponsoring FIRST at a larger level last year:

http://www.firstchampionship.org/ibm-0

IBM predicted Steampunk would be a big fashion trend using Watson in 2013:

https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/p...ease/40120.wss
https://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/photo/40122.wss

Coincidence? I THINK NOT!

Source: Used to work for Big Blue and find their corporate antics amusing. I do love that they are sponsoring FIRST now though!

Re: Official FIRST STEAMWORKS Teaser and DLC Pack 1!
 

Nice!