Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

How about if you got a bonus if at the end of the match, your robot was holding your goal full of the Bumble balls in the air?

However, one of the problems that I see with this is that an abundance of the Bumble balls in a goal may be too heavy for a robot to lift (also add in the weight of the goal itself). This can be seen as one of the hypothetical game's challenges that must be solved during the build process. Although, if each alliance only had one goal, then multiple robots could work together to try to attempt to raise the "chicken goal full of bumble balls" [doesn't that sound quirky?] into the air.

Also, if I recall correctly, don't those things run on batteries?

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

I'd worried about bumble balls being crushed. They are plastic.

I was worried about price at first, but a quick search reveals the mini bumble can be found for $5-$10, not too much worse than the poof balls this year.

FIRST would need alot of rechargable batteries at competitions for these. And alot of chargers. I like the idea though, the ball can run away!

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

Like FIRST couldn't get a big supplies of A batteries (or design something to supplant them).
ANd actually the ending bonus would be the red and blue end zones and if the Chicken goals are captured and dragged into the end zones you get big time bonus points (it's not going to be easy to catch a small mobile robot and drag it back across the field to your home zone).

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

I just like the comedy potential of watching numerous robots chasing around a bunch of manic balls freaking out all over the field.

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

That would be hilarious!

Imagine the drivers getting frustrated while chasing a ball like we were in Atlanta.

We were stuck in low gear so catching a free-rolling ball took a bit longer than it should.

Imagine that multiplied by however many teams there are next year.

I'm starting to like this Bumble Ball idea :D

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

If this isn't in next year's game then someone's designing one using it for an off season or Vex thing.

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

Don't forget the human player controlled goals. :D

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

Ed if I catch your drift with the opposign human player controlled goals - thatwould be really cool. The human player could have a really significant impact on the game. This could be used with a lot of different game designs

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

I agree that moving goals would be great. I think it would be cool to have set paths for them, kinda like a PAC-MAN field, with different turns over the field. As for the human player seeing where there goal and the other goals are, you could have a system of lights setup in front of the human players telling them where the paths are, or if its technically sound, a screen with the paths on them.

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

just FYI BEST robotics did a game called bumble rumble in 1994 http://www.bestinc.org/MVC/Game/Bumble_Rumble_1994

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

The thing I like about the bumble idea, is that some of the traditional methods of ball manipulation couldn't be used, at least as effectively. The roller intake system would likely jam and choke, if it was able to even get a grip on the bumbles in the first place. And they might be able to shake their way out of claws.
I like the chicken goal idea as well, but I don't think you can have such a hard to score goal with such a hard to manipulate object in the same game without it becoming very low scoring. I think mobile goals ala 2001, 2002, and 2004 would be elusive enough, especially if the opposing alliance grabs them and starts to move them around. Or how about "bumble goals" that shake around as well? :yikes:

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

Going to 3 teams per alliance was fun in 2005 because of the level of teamwork that was required. This year I felt that you didn't need as much teamwork because it took just one good shooter and 2 bots playing defense to win which is why I would like to see 2 teams per alliance again. It would also allow for more field features and obstacles and allow for a more difficult challenge.

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

Actually, I think it would force teams to work together. One robot would have to catch and hold the goal, while the other partners catch the balls and put them in the goal. Sure it may be a bit more low scoring than other games, but it has potential for great teamwork-based action.

To make it really interesting, allow robots to lift up goals, and even dump them out. Then teams would have to guard their goals from the opponent as the clock winds down.

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

Could there be a way to make the robots goals? Maybe have it required that each robot has "goal" on them, and then have teams trying to score objects by putting them on the other team's bot?

Re: [Official 2007 Game Design] Game Elements and Subtasks
 

Or if this was how the human players scored, by having them score points in their robot or bonus points for being in one of you alliance partners robot. It could be hand ball size or whiffle base and/or soft balls. The goal on the robots could be a simple basket supplied to the teams or like this year specifications would be given. There could also be bonus points for raising it above a certain height. [which seems to be a trend with me suggesting that]