Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

I would have to agree I don't see them running a game with out already having their stockpile of game pieces built up.

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

possibility that blip discontinued them to keep up with the demand from FIRST?

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

Unfortunately, I could see them doing it.

My theory is that FIRST needed so many of these things that they just bought Blip outright. :D

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

Only 200 for a regional? 60 on the field at a time. I bet they need more than 200 to supply a regional.

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

120 on the field at a time

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

actually 136 would be used each match: 120 moon rocks, 8 empty cells, and 8 super cells. Only 128 would be on the field at any given time, but there are 136 in use per match

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

from the TBA pictures if one of these break it could be quite mean to your skin
well atleast for a toy

first should ask them to change the glue for there products that are being sold right to FIRST

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

Most of our team thought they were rubber upon first seeing them in the animation. That probably would have been better.

Sadly, yes, we have broken ours. Of course, we can't really blame it on anyone, as it was broken when some members of the team were playing soccer with it.

It actually still retains its shape with two bars broken. Although not nearly as nice, it is still mostly usable.

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

Curious to find out if FIRST got a deal with the company after they discontinued this product. May explain the 10$ price at the stores yet FIRST having so many. The company may just want to get rid of them. Discontinuation could be explained by the lack of robust production.

Even still....10 bucks per orbit ball....that's pretty nuts :p

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

Yeah really, I miss those cheapo poofballs...

Then again we have like 30 of them lying around...

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

When we got to walmart to buy them there were quite a few broken in the store. But most of them did not have boxes or price tags either. I was thinking they were probably returns. That just got thrown back out on the shelf. I agree I think we will be going through alot of game pieces this year.

Them being so hard to find is a typical problem with FIRST teams though. Unless the manufacturer is ready for the rush they will be out for a long time. I have heard that they are not making them anymore also. First most likely made the game before the manufacture stoped production.

But to be honest there is alot of first teams. it is hard for a manufacture to figure out hos much to make of an item. Because I do not think that other people really understand the quanitity that is needed.

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

All 3 balls we played with today broke in more ways than one. These things don't stand a chance.

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

Just a quick question; Are there going to be a total of 136 orbit balls in one round?

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

Total for the entire match, you're going to have a maximum of 136, yes, though not all 136 will be in play at one time.

Each team has 20 moon rocks total for the match (rule<G11>), so that's 6x20 moon rocks for a total of 120 moon rocks.

Furthermore, there are (a maximum of, providing there is no restriction due to previous matches) 4 empty cells in each outpost. 4 empty cells * 2 outposts, that's 128 empty cells. (rule <g12>)

Each of these empty cells can be exchanged for a super cell (2 located in each fueling station, rule <g13>), for a total maximum of 136 orbit balls.

Re: Orbit balls breaking
 

I forgot but don't all the robots start with 7 moon rocks also?

So I think the total is 178.

136+(7*6)=178