Re: 2009 here we come!
 

truly, honestly, there is no way to guess what the game is going to be. After Rack n' Roll, Overdrive was something completely random. No one on our team was even thinking relatively close.

So, we can guess all we want, but i doubt that we will be able to guess it.

As far as I can guess, the field will remain the same, i doubt FIRST will dip into ice, the maintence of an Ice field, not to men a zamboni. :D .

My thought, next years game is going to be where teams have to carry items/objects and place them in various areas, the harder the area, the more points you get.

I dunno, my guess. :D.

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

Just a little food for thought.
Random is a popular word that is used often and in lots of different ways.

In this description though, think about one of the definitions of random:

'lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern' - from Webster's.

Random can stress a lack of definite aim, fixed goal, or set purpose.
That is my take/interpretation when the word, random, is used.

What I'd like you to think about is that the GDC is made up of/comprised of brilliant members of the FIRST community who have clear objectives/goals in mind when they create the game challenge. I don't think we ever know fully what their objectives/goals are and that's ok, they probably enjoy watching us collectively scratch our heads at times. Overdrive surprised a lot of us in that it was a race and required some different ways of thinking in how to work within the rules, deal with offense/defense, score, and compete well/successfully. I don't think it was random at all, I think it was purposefully created to make folks, including our valued engineers, problem solve a little differently. There certainly were a lot of lively discussions here in CD after the challenge was revealed.

I do agree that Overdrive's surprise will make anticipation for 2009 all the more exciting. (I really don't want to get caught up/pulled into Dave's clues. They make me crazy.)

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

By random, i mean to the community. No one was expecting it. This is a good random.

:D

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

Yup, I hear you. There were some pretty priceless expressions at Kick Off. I didn't have the heart to take any photos of jaws dropping but I will always remember.

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

What about a robot rally race around a venue? Using the new WI-FI control system you could have a camera hooked up to the control board to help you navigate around obstacles.

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

But now I wonder if they'll give us an easier (mechanical wise) game because of the new control system. That thing is supposed to heavy...

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

It will be a total surprise what next year's competition will be, part to the new control system.

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

I'm expecting the pattern to hold true.

2002- Soccer Balls
2003- Bins
2004- Kick Balls and Multiplier balls
2005- Tetras
2006- Poof Balls
2007- Ringers
2008- Trackballs

I'm expecting the 2009 game to be an odd object. But I've been wrong before.

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

It's probably going to be underwater :p

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

I heard that they are combining the desperate need for a water game with a space theme (due to the support from the aerospace community). The obvious combination of the two leads to a game based on NASA's "Water On Mars" exploration theme.

Unfortunately, it seems that someone has already solved that problem....



-dave



.

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

Could it be that the gamepiece will actually be water that in the 'space' environment will form balls? :eek:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZgYUEJNjuU

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

I wouldn't even start on that topic... [:<

Yes, a water game would be fun...and as we should always expect the unexpected, it could be a possibility in say, 5 or 6 years? I doubt this year will have anything to do with water, especially with a fancy new controls system. :(

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

Haha. Nothing they give us will ever be easier. Its all a matter of if you can manage to find the most effective way to score or whatever you choose to do. Anyway, the new control system actually doesn't add that much weight because electronics like breakers and stuff will be removed.

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

OMG You win at Chief Delphi. :D

Re: 2009 here we come!
 

Peter, Welcome to CD.
And welcome to the humor of Dave Lavery who is also a member of the GDC - the Game Design Committee of FRC. I think if you do a search for 2008 game hint or 2007 game hint, you will come up with some threads that have provided CD with hours of guessing and Dave with hours of gleeful enjoyment and entertainment.

Glad to see folks posting from New Zealand - woo!