There were a couple of other similar threads about this type of thing. I tend to be of the mind that sharing strategies can do no harm, but not sharing strategies is perfectly within GP.

I doubt that any team will significantly change its strategy due to something it read on CD. And any little tweak that they do make might lower a single team's advantage, but it will raise the overall level of gameplay.

That is the coolest qute that I have ever seen!! lol

Anyways back to secrecy, I believe this year that there will be (or is it should be?) alot more secrecy than last year. The reason for this is the return of head to head competition. Last year you shared what you were doing cause it helped your alliance. No one was there to counter-act on what you were doing. This year I see more secrecy as you do not know who will be watching what you say or post for that matter.

I agree with my fellow team-mate OtakuRob that if your design is so inovative then it won't come up in conversation unless you bring it up..... Bad idea in my opinion!! :cool:

Also please people, don't copy what someone else is doing just cause you heard about it or read about it in a post, do it because you want to do it for the good of the game, and/or the good of your alliance.

<thinks to self> "can you copyright a robot idea and/or design????? hmmmm..??" </thinks to self>:cool:

A Semi-Historical Perspective
 

Hello All,

I have a few things to say about secrecy and FIRST and how it has evolved. When I started FIRST back in 1996 the competition was setup in a manner where every robot was for themselves. Competition in these days was very feirce then focus was on winning. There were no forums, no chats, teams were their own entity. You went to competitions and didn't talk to anyone, teams would sit in their own circles and talk amongst themsevles. Strategies and designs were gaurded extremely closely. To the point where very careful thought was given to letting other teams into our facility to use the practice field. At this point my FIRST friends were made up from those on my team.

Fast forward to about 2000/1. Basically there was on such thing as secrecy in 2001 teams were pretty liberal about sharing their designs, cordinating strategies, etc. Teams are always talking in the pit, helping each other out, I have numerous FIRST friends, the FIRST community is more connected and open than ever.

I think the shift to a 2v2 style game has brought the FIRST community together in a way...and we shouldn't for get that. But we should aslo remember that this year's game is not last year's game. Teams will have to use their own judgement with what they share and other teams will have to respect that.

-Justin

Mitchell
 

Elgin -

Mitch Hedberg is, IMHO, the funniest comedian that I've ever seen. His humor is a kind of stoner combination of Steven Wright and Jack Handey.

Check out his website: www.mitchhedberg.net

Beware! There are some RealAudio clips on the site that, while hilarious, might contain language unsuitable for someone who has never been to a PG-13 movie.

And remember, you should never tell someone that they have a nice dimple, because maybe they were shot in the face with a BB gun.

While you got it, share the wealth... (EGHADS THIS IS LONG!!!)
 

Well, I'm half and half. I think sharing of ideas can be good and bad. On one hand, it really brings out some of the ideals and values of FIRST. On the other hand, there's the chance of Super-Alliances to form if teams share info and collaborate ahead of time. For anyone who was there in 2000, there were a good handful of those. Whether or not they coordinated in advance, I dont know. But darn it, if they didnt whoop some serious robutt (eww... lame pun).

Then again, I have always been up for sharing info with other teams. When I was on 108, I was held back by the team, however. And friends on our sister team would usually get me to share my info, and I remember them sharing faulty info with me. Well, at least she claimed it was going to be implemented, but taken out of the design at the last moment... darn FIRST girls...

Anyone remember sharingFIRST? It's still going strong, as far as I know, but it hasn't been mentioned much. When it started in 2000, I applied and won in a tie with Gael Force. This is that site:

http://sharingfirst.mit.edu/users/os...n/FRC2000page/

If anyone who was on team 108 at that time and is reading this now, they remember the verbal abuse I got about that - even though I did ask and credited the engineers who designed it. What happened when we won that award? There was much rejoicing. Yay.

So in conclusion, I think sharing information in advance can be useful. But as we all saw with the Segway, it can also be quite the headache. Each team should make up thier own minds about what they want to do. Besides, for anyone who knows me, the Kickoff is my Mecca - I drove up from Florida this year. So that would make Nationals and Regionals like Christmas to me.

It always has been, and always will be the time I have the biggest grin on my face. Oh, that and when I'm standing next to Kamen, Flowers, or any other major FIRST-head. I know, I know, fanboy extreme. Dont worry, I havent finished my FIRST trading cards or Dean and Woody action figures yet....

-Robby O
FIRSTanimators Moderator
oshortwan@hotmail.com