Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

In 2006, I thought autonomous was worth too much. The outcome of matches could be determined a lot from it, especially if there was a great disparity between teams.
2007 was much better in being important, but not letting teams get blown away in the beginning.
2005 was worthless during autonomous mode in trying to get the vision tetras which very little no. of teams could do and had very little effect towards the outcome of matches. I went to a regional where I didnt see it scored at all for the entire weekend.

I'd bet that autonomous would be similar to that of 2007 last year. Just right.
I'd also bet that some kind of bonus scoring will happen at the end of matches which could affect outcomes of matches much like 2007 again.
Every year had a new twist. 2007 had robots stacking on each other (which was never done before). I hope to see one day where the human player has as much as an important role as the drivers of the robot. That would be a twist I think many have not considered.

And finally, I dont think the game hints in the past were of much use. Using 2006 and 07 as examples, it did very little to help teams get a headstart in brainstorming ideas ahead of build season leading to building a better robot. Thus I ask, "Should game hints be more easily solved and helpful for teams prior to build season?" Only time will tell this 2008 season.
We look at the clues as amusement purposes only. :D :D :D

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

I dont know if this has been established, but a tetra is also a fish. If you search "tetra" in google images you will find a bunch of pictures of fish

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

150 replies, and I'm surprised no one has come up with this. The Vet takes care of the gerbils between matches, of course.

Seriously, whoever noticed the wording "Games Hint" may be on to something. That corresponds with Dave's "For the two" signature.

Edit - where did "Games Hint" appear? On the FIRST site (which only has #2 up) it says "Game".

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

What, like a RED HERRING?

-brainstorm-

Given the rather obtuse nature of past hints (a shovel's show = Just Shoot Me = firing poof balls), and realizing words do have different meanings, the third hint could very easily be interpreted as "vet" (whatever that is) hurdling (or overcoming) FIRST tetra (or well-placed GDC red herrings). Cut through the garbage, look at the facts, and it's as plain as the nose on your knee.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

Steeple chase
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steeple_chase

:)
Pete

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

What does a Vet have that a Non-Vet doesn't have? I think it means "Experience".

Experience using 4 IR signals to race (boston marathon & hurdling references) to a specific location (latitude-longitude clue) and face a specific direction (bearing) in order to "fish for" (tetra, plus - stock up on enough fish and kite shaped fish references from Dave L.) a specific color or shaped game piece - then race & deposit it (score points) before recieving (via 4 code IR) the next color needed - start the process over again. The team with the most correct color/shaped fish wins.

Using magnetic fish (game pieces) is as close to involving water - without actually involving water, as you can get! Brilliant!

Sounds like alot of fun doesn't it?

Mike

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

I also am saying it is an anagram. I applied some filters to the anagram solver to remove words like FIRST, and tetra because assuming we are correct about it being an anagram in the first place those words won't be in it. I was able to cut the number of possible solutions down quite a bit but the one that jumped out at me was this....


Tilt Adverts Furthering


so basically they are saying that either there will be a tilting ramp on the field 2001ish or you should build your robots with a low cg because you will have to climb something and your robot tipping over will prevent you from doing wellBesides I can't be wrong ;-)

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

GO FISH! We will finally get a water game. The fish will be various sizes and colors of tetra with different point values. You will have various obstacles to get past or more adventagous places to fish from where only one robot can be at a time. In order to catch a fish you must first have bait, which will be supplied by the human player or you can stock up on during auton and/or get to the best fishing hole. Bait can be passed between alliance partners as well as the catch. You will probably have some kind of limit on the number of tetra you can catch before you can catch any more so that you would have to leave the fishing hole and unload. You will have two places to put your catch in order for it to be counted. One will be a safe place that is further away (home zone) where your catch can not be taken away by the other alliance and one that will be close where the other alliance can steal your catch. Maybe you will need to FIRST get a license to fish, which could count towards points and be done during auton so that you can start to fish right away during teleopperated instead of getting licensed. I you catch a low point tetra you would more than likely put in in the hopper where the other alliance could steal it, if you catch a high point value tetra, you would want to place it where it is safe. The hopper could also be on your robot, but will only count if you get back to your home zone. These are just ramblings and could have many other twist. My two cents...we are going fishing!

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

We're so close... Vet = Vetran, Hurdle = Jumps, Tetra is a kind of fish...

I think they're saying we jumped the shark...

In all seriousness though the number 4 is showing up with remarkable regularity. The IR board has 4 programmable outputs. The coordinates pointed to Copley Square. Tetra means 4 (as in four sided polyhedron.) DanDon also pointed out that they used the word gameS (plural) in the clues. I'm wondering if there will be different objectives and the IR board will let the teams know which one is the game at the time. The design of the IR board and the other references to 4 would imply there will be 4 different objectives.

Andy

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

It is not an IR camera, it gives back digital inputs - in other words it tells us that a signal is present not how strong or where.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

I'm going to have to agree with the only statement that has made sense this entire thread:

We are going to re-do the autonomous mode from Tripple Play.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

My brother looked up were the word vet came from. Looking on wikipedia he got:

1. As a noun:-
* An abbreviation for veterinarian or veterinary surgeon, that is, an animal doctor.
* An abbreviation for military veteran in the United States and Canada.
* A nickname for Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
* A variant of the Hebrew letter beth (ב).

2. As a verb:-

* to vet was originally a horse-racing term, referring to the requirement that a horse be checked for health and soundness by a veterinarian before being allowed to race. Thus, it has taken the general meaning "to check": "The attorney vetted the documents before using them to make his case"; "The presidential nominee vetted prospected vice-presidential candidates on his short list." See Vetting.

Looking at the vetting link gets:

Broadly, vetting is a process of examination and evaluation. Specifically, vetting often refers to performing a background check on someone before offering them employment. In addition, in intelligence gathering, assets are vetted to determine their usefulness.

Vetting is also a reference to software development. The process of vetting code refers to ensuring a build of software meets a set of very high level requirements before the build is passed to the quality assurance environment for further testing.

Maybe this means that we will have to do more with coding this year. Which could mean that they are changing the autonomous mode length, or making autonomous mode more complex.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

The most well known "veterinarian" was Dr. Doolittle. And Jimmy Doolittle was a famous veteran - a WWII bomber squadron leader who took off from a carrier (over water). A tetra is a tropical fish (once again the veterinarian reference).

We'll have to build flying robots that jump over hurdles to bomb mechanical fish!

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

what if on the field there are several scoring boxes with colored lights above them, and our robots have to throw a tetra into the correct box when the same colored light is on.

Re: **FIRST EMAIL**/FRC Game Hint #3
 

Mabye we are supposed to vet Dave and the GDC??:D