THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Today started like any other day, until robotics class. When I got to class my teacher decided to tell us this years hint. If you haven't heard it yet, here it is:

"Four is not enough, and the center is out"

When i asked if this was the official hint my teacher just answered that he knows people (it does seem true, he has some friends in the upper echelons of FIRST).
What i want from you good people is:
A) confirmation of this hint
B) All of the speculation you people can fling around




2005 is around the corner, forget Santa, I want Dean

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Four? WE GET MORE THAN 4 TEAMS ON THE FIELD?!?!

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

More like 3v3 instead of 2v2, but then the field could get really crowded. So they take the structures out of the center.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Well thats an unofficial hint for now. Maybe we'll have a donut field and an obstacle relay race with 3 robots per relay team. Or the revival of the hexagon field.

Best we can do now is go crazy with the speculation until FIRST gives some offical announcement- if any this year. January 8th is now only 22 days away.

_Alex

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Is this official?! Don't lead people on man! Your post title gave the impression that it was. How did he present this? Did he say "this is the hint: blah blah" or did he just insert it in conversation and you interpreted it as such. Need more info. Insufficient Data.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

?
Sounds like a hint first would give us. It's certainly cryptic enough.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

since i have not heard anything... i would not believe in anything but an official announcement from FIRST

hmm.... what is four?
4 robots on the field right now ... so more than 4 robots at a time?
4 fields at nationals that lead to the center (Einstein) .... more than 4 normal fields at nationals and no Einstein, the center.
4 people were on a team field crew in 2004 .....bigger field teams?
edit...
also the center of the old logo is filled up by the junction of the triangle and square of the new one.....
edit...

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Everything is unofficial until FIRST makes a claim for it.

But specualtion if fun, but there already if a whole 8 pages or so of guessing.

_Alex

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

It seemed true when Joe Ross cancelled Nationals a few years ago ...

Moving to rumor mill. ;)

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I note no on the hex field. While it was exceedingly cool, FIRST has a lot invested in the current rectangular field, and the hex field doesn't lend itself as well to play in arenas. Especially arenas with viewing from just one side like in Atlanta.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

C'mon guys - think about it.

Four is not enough.... of what? Corners perhaps? What has more than four corners? Hexagons, octagons, decagons, circles ...

... and the center is out -- Right out of the circle perhaps?

Hey! Maybe the field is donuts-shaped! ;)

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

i do agree First would be smart to keep the rectangles for financial reasons.


but the hint makes me think it effects the field as opposed to the robots


4 Sides of the field are not enough... and the center is out, a BAGEL (hehe) Shaped Field

maybe... makes asking each team for 1000 dollars more a lil more worth it now doesnt it

tho ive been wating for more then 4 robots on the field for a long time, anyone who thinks it be to crowded, just look at the 2001 game. games are more fun when theres less on the field (dont argue it, its just an opinion and preference)

-Osc-

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Maybe your robot needs to have more than 4 wheels. or sensors.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

My teacher started our class off with the hint. The thing that makes me think this is a real hint was the smug, cocky look on his face when he told us the hint :cool: . Another bit to add to his credibility was that last year he told us that Stairway to Heaven hint at about the same time of year (which, mind you, was not made official until nearly a week after people started spreading it). When we were speculating in class the smug grin only got larger and he didn't say anything :cool: . I know this is not official yet, but i have a feeling it might be the real hint.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Here's a Kyle guess. I am guessing an octagon field without a center where there are 3 alliances with 2 teams each...that's all I have to guess right now. My real guess will come on Jan. 8th. :p

-Kyle

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I dunno. I'd rather have the 1K back than a novel field shape. A circle's definitely out, though. I mean, are they gonna pay that much to roll all the pipe and bump plate and plexi into arcs?

I suppose a hex field could be a possibility, though. just an odd one.

Perhaps the field will just be bigger with more robots on it....

speaking of donut shaped fields, what about a square field with all the drivers and players in a box in the middle? that'd be a really big change.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

There were also four goals...could be more than four goals that don't have a center or you don't score if the scoring objects end up in the center. I don't think the center of the field will be missing, but in the baseball terms that have been flaoting around, it may have to do with getting out in baseball? Just some suggestions.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

The center is out could be referring to an out of bounds for the robots (like a score area that you can't cross without a penalty )...well, last year there were 4 goals. 2 stationary and 2 mobile goals. There could be a fifth goals of some kind...

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Ary has spoken...

For once, i am agreeing with ted.

now here are my guesses, more than 4 fields at nationals. maybe more than 4 teams play during one match, 3 alliances (3 teams per team) play in one match. 2 robots go in at a time. what if the field is a triangle? 2 robots start off each corner? an obstacle sitting in the middle which is donut shaped (center is out). or the game pieces are donut shaped (replacing the balls), which the robots have to collect and keep in their goal zone. the center of the field is the points breaker, in another word justl ike back in 2003 we had the king of the hill, 2004 we had hanging robots, 2005... yet to come...


WAIT!!! the robot has to eat as many donuts as possible. :)

Edit- Just because a FIRST mentor asked to call them bagels.. fine ... the robot has to cut the bagels in half, put cream cheese on there and eat as many as possible... :)

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Stop Calling them Donuts Dang it!!!!!


There Bagels

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I'd say that it definitley is not more than 4 teams per match as getting even 4 teams on the field and off the field in a timely manner was a challenge.

Second, I doubt the hint would be talking about the number of fields at nationals, because, frankly, who cares?

Same goes for the number of people on the field.

I don't think it would be in reference to the number of goals last year because its not like people are actually expecting there to be 4 goals next year for any reason.

And finally, I think the cost of a new field (unless they are going to use the old hexagon field) is prohibitive, so it isn't referring to the shape of the field.

In conclusion, we can say, with reasonable certainty, that we know nothing.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Bagel or Donut ... sounds like a modified floppy from 1999 to me

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Well, Krispy Kreme is donuts, so maybe the field is a donut shape. Could have been Daves long passion to have a giant donut.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

WHoa! That's an awesome hint! Sounds like a good one directly from Kamen himself.

Hmmm 4 is not enough, the center is gone! What does that mean!?

I agree that there may be more teams involved on the field this year. Instead of 2 on 2....maybe something else?!

How about 5?! The 5th Robot somehow gains points from both competing teams?! eh eh eh?! Just a thought, I'm trying to think out of the triangle, circle, square!

The center is gone?! Hmmm for the past couple years, the center of the field has always been the high scoring area. Whether hanging on a bar, balancing a bridge, balls in a trouf.

I believe perhaps maybe there will be scoring points at opposite ends of the field! Then again, perhaps scoring points would involve placing items collected into a trailer that is towed by each robot! Sounds like a challenge to me!

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Oooo! Ooooo!
Maybe they took my game design!
How cool would that be? :D

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

hmm...maybe the middle being out means the speculated V shape.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

have anyof you noticed that there is generally more teams registered at each regonal? could it be that more teams can comptete eg.. 6 teams on the field?
just a thought
and "The center is out" could it be that they are going back to a 2002 field design where there is no center area like Stack Attack and FFrenzy?

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Oh man, I hope not.
I hated the 2002 game! :(

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

what an awful hint.....i like my hints in the form of a song, or waaaay more cryptic

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

It might make a record for the most expensive field FIRST has made.

_Alex

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Which is probably why it won't happen.
*wonders what is the most expensive fild FIRST ever made*

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

It's not like it hasn't been done before.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

It makes sense. 1000 extra dollars for no reason. There was no reason fro them to raise the entry fee. All it did was cause teams to fold this year. My only guess is that this game has to be more expensive and that the field will be a weird shape. A very costly weird shape.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I know hex fields have been done before, it's just that FIRST has had rectangular fields the past 6 years, since the advent of alliances. I think they have a lot invested in the rectangular setup. Plus, hex fields lend themselves more to multiples of 3

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Before we start:
- Inflation has risen since 2000 (last time they changed the price)
- First has grown in size, therefore, the network connecting FIRST has expanded.

I would like to see a change from the 2-team alliance format, and I'm hoping thats what "four is not enough" means. The 3 vs. 3 is possible and so is a 2 vs. 2 vs. 2.

The center is out: If there are any structures in the field, they might be put on the sides. That would be an interesting change.

_Alex

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I dont think that would happen based on audience viewing. It would be hard to look at a game with obstacles on the side of the field. (Think UTC)

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Not only that-possible saftey issue as well, although theyd probably make something to prevent robots from flipping outside of the field.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

OK I'm going to bite.

I like alex469's deductive reasoning, I think we need to follow that line of thinking. Like 5 player stations just seems out, also a field change seems out.

I'm sticking with this game which can add up to this hint as well. Say if they won't let you on the center platform and you need to reach over to get the donuts. Also the fact that there's 5 posts in the center (more than 4).

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I haven't seen this one yet... but What if the clue is telling us 4 Human Players arent enough?

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Of course, it could be that no real hints have yet been released by FIRST, Aaron's teacher doesn't really know anything at all, and he is just having a little fun watching everyone run around trying to deduce information from a hint that isn't really a hint.

Nah, couldn't be. I don't believe that any such wierd, demented personality could exist in our society that would do such a sneaky, devious thing...

-dave

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

You really do like to mess with us Dave. Is it sarcasm, or is it sarcasm of sarcasm, or that upon sarcasm!?!?!? How do we ever know what you mean or if you say what you mean or mean what you say or what!?!? :ahh: :)

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Well back to the center gone idea, maybe the field has a bar or one long rectangular stationary position in the middle of the field, stretching from side to side, and maybe the only way through it is a missing spot in the center. Although this is just a rumor, i have nothing better to do then think of different ideas, wow i need something to do.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I always mean what I say. I just don't always say what I mean.

And who is to say what is the mean? Do I mean the mean? Or even the average? Or am I just being mean (or average, which could be my mean)?*

-dave

* those that have taken a semester of Statistics will find this very funny. The rest will be going "huh???"

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I hope that the game won't include more than 4 bots on the field at a time. It always took long enough for 4 bots to set up and exit the field and it will take even longer for 6 bots to set up and exit the field. This will not help keep FIRST events on schedule if they do this!

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

If you saw the news today you know that Sean O'Keefe, NASA Administrator, has made his resignation official. Who, pray tell, is capable of filling his shoes? Dave Lavery?! NO! He's too busy playing mind games on CD!! C'mon Dave, just a little clue? 22 days is the perfect amount of time for you to give us a hint and have us run around chasing our tails trying to figure it out!

I'm through guessing. Every time I speculate as to what the game will be I am WAAAAAAYYY off. I'll just be entertained by all the wild ideas that fly around here. I do like the donut idea. Just like Homer, "Mmmmmmmm. Donuts!"

Keep 'em guessing, Dave!

Sean

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Alright thats it. before i get more confuse.. here is the 2005 game clue...

Dave says "2005 game is PIMP"

GOOD LUCK... :)

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Definitely agree with Fin that we should just stop for now. I am game for anything and i know most of the teams know the game will be awesome. Until then kickback relax and enjoy the peace till January 8th. Then it's all over and the mayhem and fun begins. :D

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

maybe a 5-6 sided field with a funnel shape in the middle going along with the many sided field and the imfamous "V"

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Just wanted to point out that "the center is out" may not refer to a hole or pit of doom, despite how fun thatd be, that would make the field like a donut/bagel. It may be referring to the tasks not being centrally located like they have been recently. (This may be useful if there are more teams on the field)

four...
 

What if "four is not enough" is referring to the fourth dimension, time? Could we be given more than 2 minutes this year to play our game?

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

PIMP - Precisely Invented for Mechanical Perfection
- Pole, Incline, Manuevers, Pot

Whatever it is, PIMP is definitely an acronym of some sort.

Back to the other hint at hand:

Four is not enough, whether that be

4 goals
4 ways to score points
4 bots on the field
4 things to do to win (2004: corral, shoot, cap, hang; 2003: Topple, stack, place, and conquer[hill])
and 4 of anything else. Whatever it is, {x:x > 4}

...and the center is out, meaning

The center is not an issue OR
The center is home of a smaller mission OR
The center is just not there, but it doesn't make the field a donut, or a washer, or a floppy disk, or whatever else. BUT, like in 2004, where OUTside the field there was a ball on tee and if knocked over in auto mode balls were released, there could be an autonomous mode target in the center this time.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

“Four is not enough, and the center is out”

What? This makes no sense. & Dave you didn’t really add anything to the conversation.

This doesn't really look like one of FIRST's standard answers. It looks misleading and probably so far from the norm that it can't be considered. They usually put something out about score or how the score is going to be calculated. As far as I can remember they have not deviated from this cryptic plan. I would just like to square things off and get rid of all these negative ideas.

I’d like to sum things up by saying, all of the teams will know what they have in store for us in January. Let’s just sit tight, drink some eggnog, & take a look back on a great year.

Re: four...
 

Hypothetically...If this were an OFFICIAL hint... that would be my guess because it is SOOOO far out of the box. Nice one Barry :) .
Any-who time is money and there isn't a whole lot of money left for Christmas shopping (both ways) happy holidays everyone :D .

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

When I hear "the center is out," the only thing I can think of is the The Second Coming by W.B. Yeats

Matt

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

maybe if you go into the center of the field it will turn on autonomous mode... i.e you can't cross over under driver control

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I don't know what to make of this, but in John V Neun's name, the center is the V, but Dave intentionally left it out of that first post saying only John Neun.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Unless of course you're like my team and don't have time to speculate because we have plenty of work left to do before the season starts.

Getting back on topic though, I like the baseball analogy that has been used. It DOES coincide with criteria that FIRST established when it went to the community following the end of the 2004 season asking for input for the new game, involving the human player as a much more important role or so it would seem in that scenario. ;)

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...2&postcount=19
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...2&postcount=46
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...8&postcount=47

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I already knew about all that discussion, but I was just saying maybe that V in the name is the only center that is left out, maybe it is not at all related to the game or field. But instead, it is confirming our suspicion that the greater hint lies within John Neun.

It really is amazing how far we run with all of this stuff. LOL

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

There could be a target in the center of the field and it gets out of the center and moves around and you have to use the IR beacon to get to it. There are many ways it could be played with or used.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I LOVE that idea... That means if things go wrong, we have more of an excuse to blame it on the programmers! :yikes:

MrToast

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

-gasp-

-digs out notes-

The world will turn to chaos?
The future is unpredictable and unreliable?

,,, Maybe this is a warning :P Don't hang your hopes up too high for whatever you predict, because the future (or the game itself) is unpredictable? That.. or just don't bother until the offical hint comes out (or till January 8).

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Ya know, I actually believe Dave here. I don't think this is a real clue. Maybe this instructor was misunderstood, or just messing with his team. Either way it doesn't seem like a source. Unless this guy actually knows (saw) something and spilled some sacred beans, and Dave is getting flustered. In which case, if he we're giving real clues and Dave has not been. Then I could go along with the all the 5-6 team stuff and a funky field. But I'm siding with Dave :D

Me being Joe Schmo, I haven't heard anything from people close to kickoff coordinators and others that know stuff. So I think FIRST is doing a good job of guarding their secrets. Plus I really don't want to know, but honestly I can't help but feed the excitement of trying to figure it out, and wanting to get going with the season. This may be one of the most enduring factors of FIRST that makes it so addictive. This whole process has become my Christmas morning gift opening ceremony. Yep, I LOVE this stuff!

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

OK...this is another way out there theory...

I was wondering why the word "out" was used instead of "gone" or something. Which got me thinking of word games. What if it means that the game's name has the letters o u t in the center of it??? :ahh:

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Dictionary.com definition of out... (#7)
So Im going to say the center is used only for autonomous mode.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Hah! I thought the same thing. I don't think it relates to the game, though. =-]

Here's my guess. 4 is not enough does mean more than 4 'bots on the field. Each team will be required to build 2 robots this year, one large 'bot controlled by the normal FRC controller and one minibot controlled by the EDUbot controller. 4 big bots will have to deliver the 4 minibots to a center platform where they will run autonomously for the rest of the match.

The small bots will have to corral baseballs into soccer-style goals on the platform while the big bots place donuts on v-shaped goals that can multiply the minibots' scores.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I feel like that game would be really boring to watch. lol

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

As if there wasnt enough time to build one!

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

You mean like this http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...&postcount=35?

and this

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...8&postcount=26

Note:...Robovision was intended to be Robovation.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Hey Ted, you forgot one..

4 Ball tee's with IR beacons.

And this coincides with the comment about learning to use the IR sensors, for more sensors will be added in years to come.

By the way:

Four
Is
Not
Enough

Center
Is
Out

Not to mention, FIRST's most recent partnership with Robonexus leads to the knowledge that a Robonexus partner, International Data Group, has a publication called CIO, which also did a feature on FIRST itself mentioning the game in 2000 in which their were only 4 teams competing, and the ramp in the center of the field was "in" scoring position.


But.. That's all I'm gonna speculate for now, since this is not an "official" FIRST Media Blast hint yet.

I was already burned on guessing what the game was all about last year.
Don't want that to happen this year, by just guessing at non-official hints again.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

i've been mulling over this for a while, the most sensible reason for the first part of 4 is not enough that i can think of is that the teams will be five people each. With 2 human player. It seems resonable. now to figure out the center is out part...

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I think someone at kickoff last year mentioned something about increasing the level of human player activity from 2003-2004, perhaps this is the next step of increasing the Human Player's interaction with the Game/Robots in FIRST.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Ed, I would guess the 1998 hexagon field, with all the pipes all over the field, was the most expensive to set up, or at least the most complex to build.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I dunno....i remember that grating from 2003 to be pretty darn expensive....along with that huge slab of HDPE

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Along with the welded aluminum structure underneath.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

My guess is that there will be more than 4 teams at a time (4 is not enough) playing some type of ring toss game using hula hoops (the center is out)

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

First could easily modify their current field. The expensive part is the players stations. They could cut them in half and used them as sides of an octagon. The rest of the field is cheaper railing the can be cut up and welded back together. All that is remaining is carpet that is replaced every year anyway.

Look how much some teams change their robot between rounds, FIRST can certainly modify a field cheaply in 6 months.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I've been debating heavily on posting in this thread....

Its kind of disheartening to sit here and read peoples comments and thoughts. I see January 8th as like Christmas....you've waited all year, now you get to see what your getting... I can't stand people who always ask me what i got them for christmas, its utterly rude, and annoying. I feel the same thing is happening in FIRST.

Now please, dont think I am just trying to be a buzzkill, but I do believe i have a point....Just wait until January, and have it be a real SURPRISE

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I really like your analogy. The kick-off is your opportunity to finally open the REALLY BIG box that has been sitting under the tree. All the guessing, speculation and rumors leading up to kick-off are analogous to shaking the box to try to figure out what might be inside, even though you don't really want to know until you get to unwrap it. The official FIRST hint (when it comes out) is like that little tear in the wrapping paper that almost lets you make out part of the UPC code on the side of the box.

You are right in that the best part is finally being able to "unwrap the box" and see the surprise inside on January 8. But still, I don't think that there is one amoung us that, as a kid, didn't shake the box occasionally! :)

-dave

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Aren't we always told by FIRST to THINK OUTSIDE the BOX ?

( PS- hey Dave- Big Mike has a shirt for you in the latest colors....)

WC

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I think your headed in the right direction. But may be intertubes instead of hula hoops. As I said before: it's certainly cryptic enough to be a FIRST hint. I also think "4 is not enough" refers to the number of robots on the field. :cool:

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

gackht!! :ahh: :eek:
one robot is enough! nooooooooo............
*dies*

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

All I can think of is that there is going to be more than 4 robots on the field and that this isn't going to be a center piece in the middle. I wonder if they are going to use IR sensors this year. That'll be interesting.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Or the center is out could mean that there is a a center platform or something and if your on it at the end of the game, you automatically lose or lose points.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

That would be too cool.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

The center is out could always refer to the center being out of bounds, as in the robot cant enter the center (ooh a rhyme!) without getting some sort of penalty. An object could be in the center that the robot would have to get with some sort of extend-able hook type mechanism.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I dunno guys, I've alreaady been having nightmares about this :-) , I "THINK" that when they are saying that "4 is not enough" , they are talking about wheels. Maybe four wheels this year won't be enough..... I know that 99.99% of robots have/had four wheels, I've seen very few trax robots...

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I could imagine it meaning 4 goals isn't enough. While games in the past prove that idea wrong, 1 goal would not have been enough in 2002 and possibly, likewise, 4 is not enough in this year's game.

The center out...I tried the dictionary - means to single out - not too helpful and probably the wrong direction. Seems likely that if they are referring to goals as speculated here, they are probably talking about the fact that FIRST games general revolve around an object in the center of the field (only exception i can think of is 2002, but that's not exactly an exception since they start in the center).

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Valid point. Most teams choose 4 wheel drive. I have found that teams go with 6-wheel drive or tracks when the game involves climbing or a need for a lot of traction. So maybe the game will involve climbing a step that is bigger than six inches. Or maybe the floor of the feild might be made if something else other than carpet which might mean that four wheel drive might not have enough traction.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I'm thinking that "the center is out" might mean we get some weird scoring object (kinda like the donut from 1999).

Just my quick thought.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

ah, in the "four is not enough" part, i inferred that it would be like playoffs all the way along, you have 3 teams participate in each alliance, but only 2 would be on the field at a time.

just my $.02

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

We are investigating this matter further as of now, but.. Fred, our fearless leader, seems to think that it is the work of none other than Red Herring and the clue is fake.

If any of you spot this person, be wary of the information they give you, and call me.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Wow, this sure sounds interesting, i am not giving out any of the hundreds of ideas i have. I will dream about it tonight and see what else i come up with ;) . After reading through all, yes i said all, the posts in this thread, i have to say there are some pretty good ideas out there. I can't wait until the kickoff.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

I still don't understand why there is all this discussion in this thread. Something that some team's mentor told them isn't very viable. This is just like everything that happens, every single year. Just like the time that kid claimed to have "accidentally" found the game layout image on FIRST's website.

Why is this so difficult to understand? IT'S NOT REAL.

FIRST makes the decision to tell students hints. They do it in the form of an email blast, like they did last year. The "stairway to heaven" hint, rememeber?

If someone who "knows people at FIRST" decided to tell your team a "hint" ahead of time, then shame on them. If you are just making stuff up, then shame on you. If the hint is real, then shame on you for posting it. Think about what this could do the person that "knows people at FIRST"

I still don't think it's real. This thread has been driving me crazy.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

"Four is not enough"

People - you have already forgotten: Five is something that we have previously discussed. And Dave said that it would be easy to have a 1-on-1-on-1-on-1-on-1 game.

Andy B.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

While I agree that if people actually believed that this was an official FIRST 2005 hint, he shouldn't be posting it and the mentor shouldn't have told etc, I don't however believe it is such and doubt many people here take this thread as seriously as you might think. This is all just adding to the hype and excitement involved with waiting for the kickoff. Nothing involved in this will probably get anywhere close to the actual answer and no harm is done. Like dave lavery said, this is like shaking the box and trying to figure out what it is...this is far from official so feel free to sit back and enjoy the "calm before the storm" or join in the speculation. :)

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Useless posting does not make sense to me. I can see two threads, almost identical, with over 20 pages of the "hype" that you speak of. What is the point of this? Shouldn't it be classified as "useless posting" which is looked down upon by many people on CD? Why isn't this in the "chit-chat" section?

I understand that people are excited, but this type of discussion is not productive. Speculation is never going to help you in the real competition. If you really have nothing better to do that speculate, why not talk about it over AIM or something like that? Why fill the portal with this garbage?

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Did you look at the forum that you are posting in? If people on chiefdelphi didn't like speculation, why would there be a forum devoted to rumors?

Did you realize that you can hid the rumor mill from the portal? Go to user cp->Recent Posts Config. While you're at it, you should probably add the curmudgeon forum.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Well, the rumour mill forum by definition of what it is meant to be used to discuss, rumours, will as a result be used to discuss such. Because rumours are rarely ever based off fact, this particular forum will inherently produce mostly non-productive conversations. The kid who posted this thread did exactly what the forum called for, "hear a juicy rumour? Let the world know!" For that reason I think i should stay in this forum. However, it would have been nice if this had been posted under the pre-existing thread meant to discuss this topic. I would agree with you on that.

Re: THE 2005 HINT!!!!!!!!!
 

Excellent suggestion. I just wish it was set up this way as default. My students were the ones who were confused and misled. It is frustrating to constantly be explaining to them the difference between a fact and speculation as pertaining to something like this.

I had one of them email me, concerned about how we were going to afford being able to build a hexagonal field.

I don't mean to step on anyone's shoes, it's just frustrating to me.

-axe