Is It a Hint or Not?
 

'Water game' talk comes up every year. I even suggested it to FIRST years ago. For the most part now I just roll my eye's now when it gets mentioned because I know the cost of setting up, tearing down, and transporting such a field would be astronomical. Not to mention the liability should it leak.

However the November 18th Bill's blog and an interesting paragraph...
"Filming for the 2010 game reveal at Kickoff will begin at headquarters this coming Monday. No, I’m not going to tell you how long I expect it will take to fill the pool for filming. I’m not going to give you any hints at all. Ok, the Kickoff may look a little different this year, but that’s all I’m saying."

Why would a pool be used for filming kickoff video? They used one as a teaser to the 2007 game which used pool inner tubes as scoring elements. I'm curious to hear opinions/speculation from others. Is there a pool/fountain at headquarters that make a nice backdrop?

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

joke  /dʒoʊk/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [johk] Show IPA noun, verb, joked, jok⋅ing.
Use joke in a Sentence
See web results for joke
See images of joke
–noun 1. something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement, as a witticism, a short and amusing anecdote, or a prankish act: He tells very funny jokes. She played a joke on him.
2. something that is amusing or ridiculous, esp. because of being ludicrously inadequate or a sham; a thing, situation, or person laughed at rather than taken seriously; farce: Their pretense of generosity is a joke. An officer with no ability to command is a joke.
3. a matter that need not be taken very seriously; trifling matter: The loss was no joke.
4. something that does not present the expected challenge; something very easy: The test was a joke for the whole class.
5. practical joke.

–verb (used without object) 6. to speak or act in a playful or merry way: He was always joking with us.
7. to say something in fun or teasing rather than in earnest; be facetious: He didn't really mean it, he was only joking.

–verb (used with object) 8. to subject to jokes; make fun of; tease.
9. to obtain by joking: The comedian joked coins from the audience.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Have you seen the spotlight quote about how 3 of the GDC members are evil geniuses and the rest are evil too? That applies here, if it is a game hint we will know in 52 days, if it isn't we will know in 52 days, if we guess right we can start building our robots in 52 days and if we guess wrong we can start building our robot in 52 days. They are just messing with us. (I am prepared to eat my words on this theory should I be wrong provided someone gives me a spork)

Someone wake me up the day of Kickoff.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

I am not sure what they are filming, but if I am right, they are filming the teams introducing speakers at kick-off, like we had this year. The pool probably refers to the limited spots for teams to appear in the kick-off webcast.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

That settles it, no questions left. Water game.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Woo Hoo!


Seriously: It is surely a Joke. Perhaps the kickoff video will feature a segment like several years ago, with the 'boys' lounging in some water...

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

No, no, no, it's a fire game. The pool is there in case of accidents.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Can someone provide a description of HQ or perhaps, a link? Many of us have never been for a visit and don't know what it is like. I was there a couple of years ago but only saw one area of it and didn't spend any more time outside than necessary. It was a mite cold. If there was a pool or fountain, it was frozen. The waterfall on the way up to Dean's house was frozen. I'd never seen a frozen waterfall before. It matched my toes.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

The water game was announced a couple weeks ago, so it must be something else....

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

[quote]
"Filming for the 2010 game reveal at Kickoff will begin at headquarters this coming Monday. No, I’m not going to tell you how long I expect it will take to fill the pool for filming. I’m not going to give you any hints at all. Ok, the Kickoff may look a little different this year, but that’s all I’m saying."

[quote]


I am not interested in the pool part of this statement, I am interested in why they are filming so early. In the past they filmed the game segment part of the game the day before kickoff. And only the assembly videos far in advance. If they are filming now, this could mean a few different things.

1) they got the game done super early and are not worried about game/rule changes between now and kickoff

2) Coordination of SNHU and people make filming the day before not possible

3)the game is so complex that it requires weeks of filming/editing to describe it

4) something super cool is going on and nobody can even fathom what it is.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

There is no waterfall/water.

Guys these things are dumb they are just playing with us. ;)


Bill is now following in Dave's footsteps...great.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Oh, I wasn't thinking about the hint aspect, I was thinking about the building, setting, town. It is very very cool.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

OH wait there is the Merrimack river right behind the building. And a waterfall just up the river from that.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Oh! "Fathom" I get it! Nice! "Fathom!" A-hahahahahah!!


-dave




..

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Pool? Ok, I got this!

On the field are 15 balls, about half the size of the track balls, 7 red numbered 1-7 and 7 blue numbered 1-7, and one solid black ball. Surrounding the field are six scoring "holes", one on each corner and two on the sides raised up on a ledge. At the beginning of the game, three of the holes are randomly selected as "red scoreing zones" and three as "blue scoring zones". Each alliance gets at least one of the middle raised goals. The object of the game is to score all the numbered balls in order of 1-7. If a ball is scored out of order, it will be returned to the field. If the black ball is scored, all balls that enter the goal the black ball is in will be returned to the field, basically voiding that goal for 20 seconds, where at the end of 20 seconds, the black ball is returned to the field. Once all the balls are scored, the robots may return to a partular starting zone and turn off their robots for a time bonus.

You know...like the game of pool.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Ok here is the deal.

Every year everyone says 'water game' and then of course there is no water game!

And then the next year it happens again, and then again the following year, and again and again.

By now of course everyone says "oh no, it isn't a water game, it never is because it never has been".

And that is why it will be the ultimate surprise this year because everyone has convinced themselves that it couldn't possibly happen because it never has.

see !

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Man your good, and that sounds like a ton of fun too. Let me get started on the CAD over Thanksgiving break.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

cool!

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

ROBOT POOL! Great idea!

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Ahaha, I get it..."Fathom"

$!&#*@ not more water game hints!

Actually, the Wikipeida article is really interesting. 6 feet. What can the GDC do with six feet? Also..."The name derives from the Old English word fæðm meaning embracing arms or a pair of outstretched arms."

Overdrive part 2?

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

He meant "pool" as in "betting pool." Until the pool is "filled" with enough money, they can't announce the new game. I'm in --> $2 on "something to do with water."

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Perhaps it's a gene pool. Get ready to do some splicing!

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

maybe its a pool full of students and mentor excited for the game after a set of clues over the holidays, lol, maybe thats why it may take a while to fill. :rolleyes:

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Does ice count as a water game? :cool:

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

ok, so we [think] the game has to do with sorting, and we know pool (the table game) has six pockets

what if, there are multiple objects (or only two-one per alliance) and we need to get them into buckets in the corners/centers of the field, maybe they are up high, hence why another one of bills posts mentioned hitting his head.....idea?

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

or, to cut costs, all matches will be held at local frozen pools. robots that dont wall through the ice at the end of the day win

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Well, the bumpers ARE made out of pool noodles.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

That sounds the most legit for a FRC game, and actually sounds pretty $@#$@#$@#$@# cool!!

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

That's my bet. "A little different" is the key IMHO
No. That'd be Lunacy.
And three drivers, each wearing pants, combined have six pockets. Maybe? <Drat, no. My Levi's have 5 pockets per pair...>
...and in what kind of place do we use Pool Noodles? Anyone??

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Err...as opposed to what? (though I guess some female operators do wear skirts sometimes, but still...)

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Kilts? Tights? Chainmail?

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

We actually did have our drive team wear kilts at Pittsburgh two years ago. We were on an alliance with the Mech Warroirs for elims, and we borrowed some of their kilts. It was pretty amazing.

Chainmail? I need to get me some of that stuff...

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Atlanta, 2004 ......

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Frozen waterfalls are quite common up here in the frigid north (well, not in Delaware, but I grew up in Pittsburgh).

If you are asking about the building where FIRST is located, I do have pictures somewhere that I can send you. It is in an old mill building along the river, which have all been converted to commercial purposes now. The building that FIRST is in also houses a children's science museum and a museum of the textile industry (I visited the textile museum - it was fascinating). I've attached a picture. The first floor holds FIRST Place, the public area where they hold events such as summer camps and training sessions. The offices are on the second floor and are smaller than you probably think. The Engineering area, where they design and prototype the game, is in a super secret secure area in the basement.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Aha! The basement! Super secret rocks. That's like super soakers only better.

I'll have to go back sometime when it isn't cold and I can look around. It is so beautiful. Thank you for the photo and the information, Carol!

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

why do the bots need to be in the water?
what if it is a dry arena floor, but there is a pool in the center.
the bots might need to fish something out, or get something in to a target in the pool.

Think out side to but while following the rules--- not to mention how bad it would be if the bots got wet

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

If there was water in the game (which there isn't), I'd want it t be the game element, where you had to score water and get a certain water level or whatever.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Or maybe game pieces filled with water? Imagine a sealed container 1/2 filled with water that is the game piece. That would present some interesting challenges.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Who said anything about it only being half full? It might be 1/4 or 3/4, and you don't know how full it really is... (This idea has already been presented, so it's not my fault if it comes up in a game.)

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

As a veteran volunteer on field setup...

Oh boy, and I hated listening to those darn air pumps inflating tubes and balls. :mad:

I just cringe at the thought of standing around with a garden hose filling game pieces with water. :eek:

Now Jello on the other hand... :rolleyes:

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Or rice, pinto beans, sand, etc. ::safety::

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Yes Yes Yes! I've thought of this before too! Because it would be heavy and awkward to handle, since the sloshing of the water inside would change the center of gravity and give odd momentum when stopping or trying to turn. Of course they would make them waterproof and fill them with stuff that isn't conductive (although, that might be expensive).

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Jane, look up the address on Google maps, it'll give you a feel for the neighborhood. They even have the street-level view, you can "drive" by the place and see the front door. Looks like a nice place.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Definition of Pool: an organization of people or resources that can be shared; "a car pool"; "a secretarial pool"; "when he was first hired he was assigned to the pool"

It seems that this could also suggest some sort of game element that is shared among teams on the field. This is pretty much the definition of a game element, so perhaps they're more shared? As in: "All game elements are shared, but some game elements are more shared than others"

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Actually, I suspect that the game pieces this year are going to be 10 pound cubes of ice. :)

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

It seems he is talking about the pool/group of possible companies to choose to film the Kickoff. That's also why Kickoff "might look different this year." However, it is interesting that he would be hinting to us if he told us who it is. It seems that this is just keeping the company secret for general reasons, but maybe he means more and is talking about the game? There seems to be no way to know.... as always....

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

pooling thoughts drain brains
watered down ideas form
collisions result

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Hmm. Wouldn't it be awesome if they managed to involve Cirque Du Soleil with this? Kickoff would look mighty interesting.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Where? :)

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

"Ideas" is one of several words that get an extra syllable, when used by those of a certain geographic persuasion.

In my own hometown, the word for a small metallic disc used as legal tender is usually pronounced "Cohen". :)

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Well,
there seems to be a good argument for 2 or 3 syllables when using ideas.

How about:

pooling thoughts drain brains
watered down predictions bloat
confusion results

--
Kara, I did some research and there are conflicting decisions regarding how many syllables are in idea. I'll check my trusty dusty dictionary that actually has pages in it tomorrow. Interesting, isn't it? :)

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

I should require our drive team to wear chainmail...

I don't think it will be a water game because of how much it would screw up systems. About half the bots would get fried, and we'd have to change drive/movement systems completely.

Eh, I can wait 34 days...

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Yeah they would have to come out with an entirly new system, which is NOT going to happen.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

OK I need an Official Game Hint now!

Please.


Pretty please.


Common.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Heh, I don't know if I'll make it...

Seconded.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Thirded

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

What would be the cat's whiskers would be to make a simple but polite request for a game hint using cryptic (and PG rated) images for making such a request. ::safety::

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Are you saying we should make lolcats asking for a game hint?

Im in a room designing ur game.

I kan haz game hint nao? kthxbai


I want it noted, writing those caused me physical discomfort.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

You know, the funny thing was when I saw Janes post the first thing I thought of was lolcats :p

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Well, it's an idiom for one thing, but I was having just a little more fun with it. Just being silly, but if you guys like the lolcats, that's cool, too.

Andrew, sometimes there's nothing sweeter than karma.

Edit: response to Andrew's post below -

bee's knees and cat's whiskers = height of excellence. Probably at that time, the crystal radio and use of the cat's whisker was innovative and new, thus - a standard or height of excellence. If you think about it, innovation is not necessarily permanent - that's why so much value is placed on innovation. It drives change, exploration, and development.
cat's pajamas = daring and new (Apparently, around the 1920s, they were daring and new.)

I could have said:
eel's ankles - but that would open another can of worms in the water game department
elephant's instep - would probably fall flat here in CD
and then we have -
snake's hip - I have nooooo idea... that one is a little hard to grasp.

I rather thought cat's whiskers was a great pun in a couple of areas. :)

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Oh, shiny. I think that was a much cooler read than any lolcat.

I've heard "the cat's meow" before but never "cat's whiskers". According to freedictionary.com it means "to be better than everyone else." Well, color me confused.

Jane, I am now way over my 'things learned today' quota.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

you mean ....









/

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

be careful what you wish for

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Ohhh, Ohhh ... a hint, a hint.

The game must have something to do with ceiling cat :yikes:


or not

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

No I think that is just a basket with a cat's head in it...
So a guillotine game....
eh?

R

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Well, the cat is in a basket. That's the main object of the picture (besides the lolcat, but that's obvious). So I'm guessing that's significant. We'll be placing, and therefore scoring, game pieces into "baskets" that can be picked up and moved. So like a movable scoring area (sort of like last year, only more manual transportation). Placing these baskets on a high area will receive bonus points (the lolcat is on top of a shelf). That's my guess. But this isn't really an official hint, and the real hints aren't much help anyways :p

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

What you really need to ask yourself when you look at this "hint" is "Why am I in this basket? And where are you taking me?" because that's what you get with so called clues like this...

Heidi

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

I swear there's a watermark behind that lolcat. Somebody with better software than me care to do some in-depth analysis?

Basketcat = Redherring of the new decade

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

I'm thinking that Dave needs a nap and if he is placed somewhere out of reach, the world is a safer and saner place.

Is saner a word?

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Dave is subtlely announcing that there is a new requirement to post a lolcatz photo on our robots somewhere. The next part is the annoucement of a new award: the red herring award.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

So...back to the pool. Who say's it has to be filled with water? It could be filled with game pieces - of different shapes maybe. And maybe it has high walls. And maybe we need to use our new caemras from last year that can actually see things to see over the wall, and send back to our new operator station netbooks....?

Other than nabdwidth requirements, it might be feasible.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

I'm thinking motor pool.

What if, each alliance has a pile of AndyMark equipment in front of them. They then have 2:00 minutes to assemble said equipment, and build a working robot that will race to the other side and grab the other alliance's flag.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Heidi, the transportation game was LAST year...

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

You're all missing some very critical points:

1. Cat's don't like water -- therefore it's not a water game.
Second: Networking is involved (as in Cat-5 cable)
C> It's often been said that managing engineers is like herding cats. My guess is that need to pick up and deliver felines to certain locations

Quite obvious when you look at all the facts.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Based on this hint would it also be safe to assume that Gerbils (or any rodent except for a Capybara) are not a valid power source again this year? When is the GDC going to let me use my Alvin powered robot?

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Now, now, you forget one thing. There are a lot of engineers who would probably love to get a ride somewhere. Therefore, it's the engineers who get delivered... (And tracking Dave's Hawaiian shirts gives a 20 point bonus!)

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

LabVEIW VI-FIND DAVES SHIRT (it's the colorful thing)

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Hey, we don't need PETA on our case now, do we? [:

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Don't we have DHS watching us already?

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

People Eating Tasty Animals? No one said anything about eating the cats. Just stuffing them into baskets.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Yeah, Obama did say there would have to be someone to keep an eye on those robots in case they try something. That still doesn't explain the Cats in basket idea.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

:p Ah, you beat me to it!

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

I've got it! The katz name is, 'Heck' and he appears to be in a handbasket. Hmmm... :p

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

nobody noticed the cat is either asleep or dead.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

No No No, the cat is both alive and dead. This game will have to do with radioactive particles.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

The conversation that happened after I showed that comment to our programmer and our strategy leader:
"So the game is going to involve radioactive particles"
"Radioactive particles...so water game?"
"Heavy water!" *continues to mutter to himself about neutrons and transporting things*

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Schrödinger?

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Can't be his cat, because you can see it.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

You can see part of the cat but I would bet you that you cannot prove that this cat is indeed alive nor can I prove that it is dead so the principle should still apply.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

What's that fine print on the bottom? ICANHASCHEEZBURGER.COM ? Maybe we need to carry cheesburgers! Or, cook cheesburgers! Or... :eek:

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

How many of the electronic parts are water proof?

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Funniest thing would be if there is no official game hint released by the GDC. I'd love to see the faces on those of you who really care, haha. :D

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

None, cats hate water. And I will also assume that cheeseburgers submerged in water would not taste very good. (No, I don't like you guys enough to try this)

This "hint" is definitive proof that we will not have a water game.

Now, excuse me, I am going for a swim* in the 2012 FRC Field. ::safety:: (Oh yeah, goggles!)


Can anyone tell I am having too much fun with this?

*And by swim I mean ice skate because it is 13 degrees here today. :(

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Or maybe the hint will appear on icanhazcheezburger?

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Cats hate water, but they'll swim and survive the ordeal just fine.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Hm...after further investigation of this "icanhazcheeseburger.com" website...

I have found some....remarkable....discoveries!

It would appear there is a whole society dedicated to the worship of cute kittens! However, it also appears that these kittens can be...evil! :eek:

Maybe we should investigate these so-called "lolcats"...


Yes, I already know about lolcats. And goggies! :D

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

I'm still laughing over this one.

Re: Is It a Hint or Not?
 

I don't know what's worse. Someone actually spending time making that spoiler, or me reading it in entirety. :P