One month to Kick-off
 

Yes girls and boys, only 30 days to kickoff. Are we getting excited???

For me these last 30 days take forever. I'm waiting on a game clue. Perhaps I'll get one for the holidays.

We want to wish all of our extended FIRST family a happy and safe holiday season. I am looking forward to spending this season with all of you.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Excited might be a little bit of an understatement. After taking a year off, and now being a part of a new team, I honestly cannot wait to be in NH on the 5th.

Happy Holidays to all, see you at the competition

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

"30 days hath September,
April, June and November
... "

All you excited guys and gals will have to wait an extra day for a total of 31, because December has 31 days in it!

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

how's "ONE MONTH TILL KICKOFF!!!!!!!" sound?

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I need to start sleeping now to make up for build season :)

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

How do you know we don't have one already? ;)

Maybe you want an official game clue?

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

yeah, i am waiting for an official game clue aswell :p

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

three things to be excited for:

1. Chirstmas
2. New Years....party
3. KICKOFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111!!!!11!1


can't wait!

have a good holiday everyone!!

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Excitement is rushing through my veins for the first kickoff that I can be apart of!

ps. I have seen past kickoffs before.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

you and a million

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I got a call from someone I'm doing work for this morning and, among many questions, was asked "How's robotics going?"

This translates as, "how much longer will you pay attention to what I give you to do instead of what they give you?"

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

hahaha no kidding! Luckily for me I only work at night (I teach kids Taekwondo) so I get ALL day to work/think on robotics. 30days 10hours and 18mins to go w000

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

For me, the excitement starts Sunday Dec. 23rd...that's when I drive 10 hours to visit my family for Christmas for a week and try to convince my old high school for a second year in a row to start at least an FTC team (new plan of attack this year). Then it's to Atlanta with old friends for New Year's, then I return to work for 2 days (3rd, 4th), then it's Kickoff the day after that.

I still don't know if I want to go to the event in Richmond to see the field or if I want to stay at home to write down the flood of ideas that always happens right after seeing the animation.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I saw the countdown on the top of a CD page a few days ago, when it said 33, and I nearly had a meltdown from the rush of excitement! I can't believe it's so close! *runs off to start on the list of schoolwork she needs to finish before January 5th*

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Israeli FLL kick off was today, and that's enough to symbolise to me that the FIRST season has started, now all the pressure of preperations and stuff start now.

30 days to go....


I WANT IT TO BE NOW!!!! :yikes:

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

"31 days til kickoff on the wall, 31 days until kickoff, take one down, dave's-having-a-heart-attack-because-the-animation's-not-done, 30 days til kickoff on the wall" -michelle celio.

i love my bff.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

eh... we have enough to worry about. stocking up on materials, tools, and freshmen. While I am excited for it I wouldn't say that I am anxious for it. :D

-vivek

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Getting all the sleep I'll need for a few months, already changed my availability at work last month for January 5th - March 22nd, still preparing the site, planning our first fundraiser soon.

It's the most, wonderful time, of the year!!! :D

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I have one month to:
-sleep a lot
-eat food that doesn't smeel grease
-say "good morning" to my parents everyday
-keep caffeine out of my blood.

just kidding.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Hrm... This thread hasn't been hit with Dave's usual red herring yet!

We usually spend the time doing a little in house competition, to teach the newbies basic problem solving and building ability, as well as training the subteams.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

30 days isn't enough time. The animation isn't going to be ready, and we haven't been able to stock up enough fish. I need to call Dean and Woodie tomorrow and ask if we can push things back two or three weeks. Do you guys mind if we postpone kick-off to around January 26 or so? We can still keep the ship date on February 20, if that isn't a problem.

-dave

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

:eek:

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I try not to think about it because it's a CHristmas Eve like situation. I'll get over excited and time will slow down to a crawl and I'll go insane. Thus I did the Season Long FF to occupy my hyperactive little brain with that insane activity.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

So where do you get yours? They are on backorder here.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Dear.Koko. Ed. - I'm asking nice.
Please don't get any brilliant ideas right before Christmas this year.
Jane.I.asked.nicely.Young

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I am pump cause my birthday is the same day as KICKOFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Actually it is pretty amazing what the middle schools throw out!! A little repainting and they are practically good as new.

One man's trash is another man's treasure I guess... :rolleyes:

-vivek

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I'd like to see you try... :cool: Seriously, that would not only hurt our poor little feelings, but would drive tens of thousands of high schoolers mad, making it the largest protest in mankind!!! :eek:

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

AWESOME !! Just like real life - management sits on the paperwork until it is almost time to ship and then gives it up to the engineering staff to do in a week.

Now thats a real life challenge !!

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

OK, this must be a hint. Let's analyze.

"January 26" - Michigan is admitted to the Union as the 26th state.

"haven't been able to stock up enough fish" - Michigan is known for it's sport fishing. Brook trout, salmon, walleye, lake perch.

So obviously we will have some object with protruding "eyes" (walleye) that we will have to perch 26 feet into the air.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I for one, wouldn't mind delaying kick off.. oh for say.. six months or so? I have to miss the entire FIRST season this year for an exchange term in France. Although, for once, robotics may not end up on the plus side of the equation when I am comparing it to school. Nevertheless, its going to feel really weird not to be at the Science Centre for the first time in 5 years on a snowy January monrning!

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

And thus it begineth...

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Oh the excitement! I keep a running countdown in my daily planner, right next to my running countdown to finals week. :ahh: Since Cal Games, I've been writing Robotics limericks nonstop and resulting in some pretty good/bad/different ones. I've already written a limerick about the Off-Season and one about Kickoff, along with many others. Does anyone care to help me name the one about Kickoff?

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

ode to kickoff?

I did that last year but got lazy this year. hmm... i might start now...

-vivek

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Here are two that I've been working on for a while:

Needs retitling

Eight months a year the official off-season
Then for four months excitement beyond reason
Late hours we keep
The habit is no sleep
Exhilarating matches every region

Yet untitled

All the incredible fun without the fear
That in six weeks, soon the Ship Date will be near
Excitement in the air
Each brainwave is fair
Finally, finally the Kickoff is here!

Feel free to constructively criticize, slash viciously or comment graciously and professionally. Have fun!

Edit- Also feel free to name them. I suppose I will find perfect names for these limericks in time.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I really can't tear apart you poems, since A) They're better than anything I can come up with, and B) They provided some amusement and entertainment that catered to my huge anything robotics craving. Please do share more of them...

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Thank you... :)
That makes me happy.

I actually have a pretty big list. I've been writing them since the first week of October... This one is Tamara's favorite.

"Organized Chaos"

Deeper, deeper within The Closet we delve
Drive train parts, wrenches and pneumatics we shelve
Chaos truly reigns here
Dust we no longer fear
Now, where were the implements with which we weld?

Again, feel free to say whatever pops into your mind about them. Thank you! :D

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHEN THE OFFICIAL PICTURE CLUE IS RELEASED?

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Possibly never... You see, last year was the first time a picture was released as the hint. Usually it's a riddle. (The picture was figured out; the riddles are usually partially solved, but never fully.) Either way, expect the hint in a few weeks. Tradition places it between Christmas and New Year's, though it has come earlier on occasion.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

*taps fingers on table* ............ *looks at clock* ..... *sighs*....... *visits chiefdelphi.com*.......

Seriously, time was flying by until this nice little stretch of December rolled around. Anyone have any robotics timewasting tips/sites? Besides ChiefDelphi, of course! :D

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

gizmodo.com ( they have some nsfw stuff on there... but most of it is cool...)

you could occupy yourself with web comics: questionablecontent.net, xkcd.com, myextralife.com, redvsblue.com, penny-arcade.com, vgcats.com

-vivek

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

just wondering how some of the old school teams handle kick-off. do you still take the whole team? maybe just the new members and leave design team at shop to watch on tv and start designing right away? did you gain anything by doing it the second way?
went to novi last year and ended up watching it on tv screen becuase the main room was full. it was nice to see the rack to get ideas to build portable one.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

psssssssssssssssssst.
The joke is on you. Dave's not even on the GDC anymore. He is the red herring. In fact, the whole GDC has been replaced. The animation he's working on is for Woodie's anniversary ... honest. FIRST has finally decided to make efficiency a priority, and thus has retained a much more competent group for the job. Here they are working diligently toward kickoff. :)

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Oh great! Now we'll get the game via sock puppets!

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

One month until build season begins. It's exciting for sure, but I hope everyone will take this last month to relax and recharge your batteries. The majority of schools I know come back from break right as build season begins. For our team's students and mentors, it means we hit the ground running the day we get back. Make sure you take time for yourself this month because when January hits, you won't have another opportunity until February.

And let's all hope the game is good too.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I have no doubt.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

30 days until Kickoff = 30 days to nail down the rest of the wedding vendors. ::faints::

I'm totally cool with waiting until the 26th, Dave. You can switch the NASA feed with some stuff floating in space, right?

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

So this year's game will be called Nyuck, Nyuck, Nyuck? :rolleyes:

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I was going to say, I guess Billfred finally made it onto the GDC officially...

*goes off to the Caption Contest threads to find hints*

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Re: One month to Kick-off
 

haha your robot must be outside the arena that is filled with water, the goal of the game is to catch live fish without harming them (if you puncture them on purpose you don't get the points).

1 fish 2 fish red fish blue fish :p

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

sounds like the end of the alaskan king crab season to me...:]

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Same here. It's like getting the best birthday present ever!!!! :D

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I honestly think I'm looking forward to Kick-off more than Christmas! lol:p

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Two days and 55 posts. Yep the season must be about to start.:D

-Sam

EDIT: Someone posted the same time I did making my number incorrect

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Fish = red herrings ==> lack of clues so far;
"Push things back" = return of the defensive period;
Threat of shortened build season = shorter game period this year with similar amount of work to accomplish.

(I'm not serious, I'm just polishing my overanalyzing for the real clue. :cool: )

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Does anyone know when the official hint/clue comes out, or are we just going to have to keep checking everyday?

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I would have to say FIRST spoils Christmas. We anticipate the kick-off so much that Christmas seems so pointless. LOL

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

This is my first year that I know about FIRST in time for the clue. from what I have heard: usually sometime between christmas and new years

-vivek

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

2 thoughts -
1. this is a great time to get acquainted or re-acquainted with the ChiefDelphi fora. Check out threads in your areas of interest. There's been some good discussions during the off-season.

2. Christmas will never be spoiled by FIRST. Christmas will always be enhanced by my anticipation of the New Year and the FIRST Kick-Off but, I like to keep my priorities straight during this season of celebration. If I work at it, then everything is special and my family can share this time with me.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Jane the problem with that is I haven't become unacquainted with the forums:D . Its been nonstop checking since i started.
I remember last christmas, I woke up and said "12 days till kickoff!" and then opened presents

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Yes, while kickoff is one of the high points in my year (possibly the highest), only two dates have more importance: Christmas. It helps to take my mind off of January 5th, at least for twelve hours. Also, seems that playing Battlefield 2, BF2 mods, and Trackmania ESCW have been playing their part this year.

I bet the game will be dry ice based.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

It varies. Here's the breakdown of the past few years:

2007: Dec. 21
2006: Dec. 23
2005: Dec. 30
2004: Jan. 6

Hmm, seems to be getting earlier every year. Who wants to try fitting a curve to predict the date for this year? :D

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

hmm... my graphing calculator ran out of batteries but it looks like it will be going more towards in the dec. 15-20 range.

I would say 20 but dave might not have been kidding.... I see how this can be painful and enjoyable (to dave) at the same time...

-vivek

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

So essentially, around the 10th or so it'll be time to start figuring out which teachers don't mind me dashing in to check the FIRST website in between classes, so that I'll have it down by the 15th or so. :)

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

lol... our school has a 9 minute passing time (4 floors, huge schoo, 3200 kids, you get the picture) so I can go between each class. and lunch... I already have it down from the NASA grants :D (I didnt know there was a specific time...)

-vivek

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

so, i want the clue now, okay? is it bad that i am more interested in this years game than i am in taking my finals next week? :rolleyes:

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Its good to know that since I'm already on the computer for at least half of my classes. I'll be able to keep my eyes in CD for almost all day (and night).

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

yeah probably... :D You college kids and your finals XD.

-vivek

p.s. you could always spend your time analyzing dave's posts

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

What posts? He barely has any, and those he has are a) obviously hint-less or b) obviously a joke. I don't think you could get anything meaningful from those

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

A little transparent, Eric. You'll have to bait a little more subtly to draw Dave out.

Besides, Rich already spilled the beans -- Dave doesn't really know anything about this year's game.

[I heard there is at least one enormous, complicated field element. ;) ]

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

You really think I want my annual headache early? :p

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

So... our team is going to hold a contest to see who can guess the game the best. The reward is two dozen boxes of krispy kremes.

-vivek

*cough*jk*cough*

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I win!!!!

:)

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

So much for subtle baiting. :rolleyes:

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Are we hooked on the bad puns again? It's luring me in. Reel-y uncool.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

No, but you seem to be.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I was basing it off of this.

Apparently, Dave is in on it too.

Me: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...t=59891&page=6
Dave Lavery: looks like you were floundering
Libby Kamen: ....oy.
Dave Lavery: :D
Me: just trying to catch a line.
Dave Lavery: weight for it
Me: that one's a sinker.
Dave Lavery: just feeling a little crabby

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I don't know much about fishing, but that line was carp. Besides, this can't last nearly as long as the cow cracks here.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Oh, for the love of cod, can't you see that Dave is messing with us just for the halibut? When the actual clue comes out, I'm sure we'll all be singing a different tuna.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I just had an idea. Maybe Libby could sucker Dean into giving us a hint.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Just keep swimming.....

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

lol... I think that it would be bass if we stopped making fish puns. Just a trout but I am going to ask you guys to Perch stop.



:rolleyes:

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

I wonder if I can submit my Turtle Larry into the game to catch the flounders? He's got the best pickup mechanism of any water based reptile I have ever seen!

Hold on to your hats kiddies...its gonna be a wild ride.

Oh...and I will make the same prediction about the game that I have been making for the past 14 years...Its going to be footballs!

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

are there any clues yet?:confused:

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

nope. its been pretty boring.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

you know the season is near when everyone comes back to the forum, searching, and waiting for the clue...

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Now that I've had some time to mullet over, I think the GDC should pickerel-itively simple gamepiece this year. (I wouldn't carp if it were made of PVC.) Also, a hanging barracuda be an interesting endgame challenge.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

based on that timeline, i would say that the clue should show up between the 14th and the 19th.

between the '04 hint and the '05 hint, there were 7 days less for hte wait, then same decline for the '06 game, and only 2 days were dropped before last year's game.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

who thinks that the clues like the picture clues actually help (i.e. last years clue with the diamond plate and the number 5 written on it.)

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Last year, someone figured out the game. The year before, Dave's hints gave the game away, but were in so many pieces that nobody put them together--and the official hint was only solved partially by one person.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

YEEEESSSS!!!!!

In case you couldn't tell, I am SO ready. :D

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Or, we could assume that the pattern was accidental, and we have no idea when the clue will come out.

Perhaps the GDC will just release it the night before kickoff in order to truely drive us mad. No one would sleep that night...

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

So why hasn't anyone planned a break-in into FIRST HQ yet? Is it too un-GP? I couldn't imagine what the season would be like with a leaked game.

But to answer the question: HECK YEAH! Christmas gets boring after I open/play with my presents, so January couldn't come any sooner.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

Someone once leaked the game. I forget the year, but I remember hearing that people were still trying to figure out the differences between the leaked version and the real one.

I think FIRST is too smart. They probably don't do anything in game design on paper and shred what they do, plus the GDC is kind of scattered, so it's harder to find the game.

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

sshh!! I am working on that! Lets just say the will never sea it coming... :p

-vivek

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

honestly, forget the holidays, i'd like to skip ahead to jan. 5th...

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

True, but some people get some pretty awesome stuff during Christmas that helps with their team (laptops, camcorders, power tools, etc). Not that I've been one of those people.

Uhm...... *thinking of new time fillers* Mad that BF2 is not working on my laptop anymore...... *ponders actually finishing the team site* ...... nah! .... *plans individual trip for weeks 1-3 competitions* yes!

Re: One month to Kick-off
 

But doesn't that increase the chances of someone finding out by tapping/hacking/etc. if they need to communicate by long-range systems (telephone, email, etc.) more often? Not that they would, of course...:rolleyes: *seriously considers trying to find game plans on shreds of paper and putting them together like the worst puzzle in the world*