Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

See i do win.......I'm still for the robo-Golf thing it would be slightly different.

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

The field design would be cool if you had it digitally printed on the normal rectangle field. And I seriously doubt the game time will be extended because it already takes forever to get one match done, any longer would take too long. At a regional with 34 teams, 63 qualifying matches took a day and a half. with an added minute to the matches, you would add over an hour to the qualifying matches, which already end really late. Also, with a longer game we can expect a more complex game, which will probably result in a longer reset time, which could add 1+ more hours to the qualifiers time.

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

I just had an amazing idea: multi level laser tag. The robots would be armed with lasers of some sort, and sensors for the lasers. The GDC would have to design a field with a lot of hiding places and make sure everyone had a working camera, but with a little bit of work this would be a really fun game.

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

One thing I do want (If we have Maize Craze or not next year :P) is a 30 second Autonomous. FTC gets it, so why cant we. I feel that those extra 15 seconds could allow Autonomous to become even more important then it already is.

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

I would like to see this as well. Many teams this year had no autonomous, sadly :\

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

I agree, It was about the only main-stream job I had for the entire build season (I was constantly helping solve problems with other programmers) and many on the team never took it as sirusly as i wish they did (It was considered something to take care off when all else was said and done :( ) to go to regionals and too see whole teams just ignoring it made me pretty sad.

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

I third that. A longer autonomous mode makes it seem more like a robot and less like a giant radio controlled car.

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

Whatever the game is, it will have a semi-easy to build field (I don't want to be the one to cut out spirals) and the game pieces will be readily available to all teams. That has kinda been a theme the last two years... Walmart just sucks at holding up their end:p For next year I have a feeling we will see the return of robot to robot end game bonus. It was kinda there this year, and it was definatly there in 2007. Maybe a game piece that is in an area that two robots have to work together to get at for the end game bonus?
I agree about the auton, the past few years there really hasn't been any benefit to doing it.
I'd love to see the return of steps, or a pit that is impossible to cross other than by another robot turns into a ramp and you climb over.
Definatly the return of bigger robots and extending outside of the start configuration during the match.
No more games where if you control one postition on the field you control the whole game!!! please!!!

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

Ok, so, our team actually has had a few jokes about a laser-tag robot. Metal Mustangs did a few team bonding games of laser-tag and each time we come, we've always wanted to make a robot to play too. Maybe it's not such a bad off-season project after all...

And also, I really like the idea of a multi-leveled field. It would almost add a requirement of a camera, as well as a small athletic portion (running up and down to follow and get a good view of where your robot is).

Just a Frosh $0.02

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

we can't have lasertag robots...we dont want this competition to end up looking like this

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

That was my inspiration for the entire idea. jk

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

First ask ourselves what worked and didn't work with this years game, and build from that.

This years game had a great autonomous and end of game bonus. Splitting the field into three was interesting and it worked well with this game, but the game wouldn't have been much better or worse if the bumps were removed. In fact, I'd like to see the game with no humps and more robot movement around the field. I haven't seen a real soccer field with two big humps in it? Simplicity is a big virtue with the casual spectator that shows up just for the Saturday and doesn't know all the rules (sponsors!). There was a clear offense and defense to the game, and that's good because it fits with most peoples idea of what a competitive game is. The ball return dookickey was interesting, in that it ensured that returned balls were further away from the scorers goal and it was a kind of alliance equalizer.

Assessing the elevation/suspension bonus needed to take some time, and the added drama there wasn't necessarily a bad thing but it could maybe have been automated e.g. have the robots climb a pole and push a big red Bonus button.

The whole penalty situation has got to be fixed. Finding out two minutes after the match is over that a team lost 2 points for stepping out of bounds and changed from a win to a loss, that's pathetic. Either assess and score the penalty as it happens, or don't bother.

This years game gets a high grade from me. It was easy to understand. A good autonomous mode was a real advantage. The end of game bonus was just right, not enough points to negate the previous 2 minutes but it could make a difference. Visually the game was always moving and because "soccer" is low scoring, each goal scored had large significance.

Next years game - 3 on 3 basketball. NBA regulation ball, backboard and hoop (except scored balls get directed to the drivers station). 2 points for a basket. Each alliance has to position at least one robot in defense, one in offense. Balls enter the field overhead to the middle. Autonomous mode is shooting free throws. End of game bonus - slam dunk! (ha ha, not really, needs to be a bit easier). Or, no defense in the last 20 seconds and bonus score for hoops shot from a 3 point line. (maybe 5 points to make it worthwhile). The refs have handheld devices that instantly transmit penalties to the scoreboard.

I didn't think it all through, but there's a good basis there.

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

It's already been done......

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

though i would like to see robots doing this

Re: anyone have any ideas about next years game?
 

I'm not familiar with FRC games prior to 2007. Which one is like that?

2010: Breakaway
2009: Lunacy
2008: FIRST Overdrive
2007: Rack 'n Roll
2006: Aim High
2005: Triple Play
2004: FIRST Frenzy: Raising the Bar
2003: Stack Attack
2002: Zone Zeal
2001: Diabolical Dynamics
2000: Co-Opertition FIRST
1999: Double Trouble
1998: Ladder Logic
1997: Toroid Terror
1996: Hexagon Havoc
1995: Ramp 'n Roll
1994: Tower Power
1993: Rug Rage
1992: Maize Craze