Re: an unusual observation
 

Red and Blue Jax. Think similar to Triple Play (one of my favorite games). Two loader stations. 1 people loader for the human player (disables the robot), and 1 Autoloader that the robot can get a game piece from the side of the field.

Re: an unusual observation
 

If we are talking about Jacks, isnt there a ball involved in that game? Bring back the track balls and make us use them. Have a single trackball on the field, the field split into two halves. Only allow teams to score while the trackball is on their opponents half the field. Except for the last 30 seconds. If there is a rule about not being able to HOLD the ball (only bump) we wouldnt see teams shutting everyone out.

The benefit would be having two radically different pieces would mean students would learn that specialization is important. Also, it allow teams who can just make a box on wheels valuable in that they could control the ball.

Re: an unusual observation
 

so what do you do when the ball's off the ground, say, being thrown over to the other side?

Re: an unusual observation
 

Same thing you did in 06, defend, but in this case you try to get the ball on the other side.

Re: an unusual observation
 

Ohhhh ... robotic Vollyball anyone?

Re: an unusual observation
 

That sounds pretty cool, but not all the bots can play the game, they've got to have other ways to score also. That would be awesome!

Re: an unusual observation
 

How about robotic frisbee golf?

(I think Ultimate Frisbee would be a little unreasonable and could lead to a LOT of damaged 'bots)

Re: an unusual observation
 

rock'em sock'em robots, every robot has a bumper that can recognize contact. the robots run around trying to hit when you get hit you are disabled, last man standing wins

Re: an unusual observation
 

slight problem: it's too much like battlebots. Where's the quiet strategy?

Re: an unusual observation
 

I think of it almost as a dance: the combination of design strategy, game strategy, alliance strategy - all of it working towards the goal of playing the game well and executing beautifully, bringing out the ooohs and aaahs from everyone, including the teams involved. Very cool.

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Ball's in the air? Flew out of the arena? Free for all in scoring! Thinking back to the 2006 game, how about one robot being allowed to cross over to the other side for defense?

Re: an unusual observation
 

Well, I suppose you could play a sort of musical chairs with the robots during that period

Re: an unusual observation
 

so what will the auton consist of in these games?

Re: an unusual observation
 

Arranging the chairs. Points for certain mathematical formations.
Wait, that would also be better as teleop. (and I wasn't originally thinking actual chairs)

Well, say you have a track around these "chairs", with jumps and hoops and targets along the way. It'd only be roughly related, but doable.
Alternately, you could use a cloverleaf track, and have the robots place traffic cones for guiding the robots during teleop. (In this case auto mode would be purely strategy).

Other than that, I'm not really sure. It wouldn't be very fun without an auto mode.

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Whatever they do this season, I really hope it's more fun for the audience to watch. Overdrive was nascar, but with less noise and wow. Rack and Roll was cool to watch, but hard to tell who was winning. Aim High: Now THAT wad golden. A blast to play, and a blast to watch. I hope we get something along those lines this season.