Update #20
 

So, Who's seen Rule Update #20?
The GDC met in an emergency teleconference meeting last night. They would like to remind teams of the original intent of Breakaway. Breakaway is a game designed with the idea of high mobility and interaction. For this reason, blocking the tunnel is now considered a form of pinning, as it restricts some teams to only one zone. A team may not block a tunnel for more than five seconds during regular gameplay. This rule does not apply during the finale.
And remember, teams, this update was published April 1, April Fools Day.
[the MC announced this during opening ceremonies at the Michigan State Championship today. It was an April Fools joke, obviously in direct response to 469's robot, possibly the best in the world.]

Re: Update #20
 

So... The fact that it is April 1st and the fact that you have no link attached to this post... Makes me think this isn't true. :P

EDIT: Sorry to burst your fun. A quick check, no team update today. I get the feeling that they didn't do one today for this very reason.

Re: Update #20
 

Oh wow I forgot to say what actually happened at the end. Yes it was an April Fools joke. The MC at the Michigan State Championship announced it this afternoon during opening ceremonies.

Re: Update #20
 

That is awesome! :D My math teacher assigned a whole bunch of homework today and said it was due by the end of the hour. About 10 minutes later he goes "Oh, have I said April Fools yet? It's all due on Monday" Here we thought he was going to lighten our work load... :yikes:

Re: Update #20
 

Ummm... don't know about you, but in Canada Monday is a holiday.

So's Friday, for that matter.

Maybe you're still "being had"?

Jason

Re: Update #20
 

I was sent a text today saying "Blocking a tunnel is now illegal! No 469!" I actually believed it for a few seconds :P (then a little bell went off in my mind of "wait, I'd have hundreds of astonished tweets in my inbox about this...no way." The fact that it's April Fools day didn't even register in my mind o.O)

Re: Update #20
 

We tricked our mechanical leader and two of our mentors by telling them that we blew out our cRIO this morning. They were very mad when they arrived this afternoon.

Re: Update #20
 

When I heard this, I was spazzing out right next to the field. Had half the stadium laughing at me....

Next time, I'll make sure to remember it was April Fools Day ;).

Re: Update #20
 

Maybe so... But I do know that I have school tomorrow... If only I had a calender....

Re: Update #20
 

See, we have no school tomarrow. Or Monday. Or Tuesday. Or Wednesday. Or Thursday. Or Friday.
Spring Break.

Re: Update #20
 

I was talking to a team that walked out of opening ceremonies after that announcement was made and was now much less nervous about their match against 469...I had to tell them it was an April Fool's joke...

Re: Update #20
 

Maybe this is just a grumpy old person speaking but I felt that even joking about this was inappropriate. 469 is putting up with a lot of flak this year. They have been called unfair, cheaters, and un-gp. They have endured constant discussion of how FIRST should make their 6 weeks of hard work illegal. They have been pretty good sports about it. You know what, they've been better than I would be. And better than most people I see on here would probably handle it.

It needs to stop.

469 took a risk. Just like in business, you can't profit unless you risk something. 469 is being rewarded for taking a tremendous risk.

In short, I am NOT amused by this joke at all. I think it is in bad taste and just generally disrespectful to a team that has wowed me ever since my first year in FRC.

Re: Update #20
 

Maybe it is just me, but I find this very humorous. Yes, 469 made an AMAZING robot this year; I personally applaud them! I love the fact that they took the risk to make such an amazing robot. I know that if I was them, I would at the same way they have. Heck, I would just sit back and let people yell about me. What do I care? It's not like what they think really matters all that much.

Why can we not joke about that which is serious? I do, it always helps to lighten the mood. :D

Re: Update #20
 

Simple, because EVERY year whatever teams that do well are belittled and insulted because they are successful. Personally I don't want my students getting the impression that being great means you will be picked on and insulted. Every year, lately it has been bashing 217 or 1114 or 67 or [team du jour] All these teams did was do well. Should we really be insulting them for it? I don't CARE how they react, I think by insulting them and hoping FIRST makes rules against them you are celebrating mediocrity and that is WRONG.

I know this was a joke, I know that FIRST hasn't bowed to public pressure. I am more concerned by the thought that we as a community have put these robots and this stupid little competition so high that we have forgotten what FIRST is about. It isn't about winning and losing, it is about showing students that STEM can be fun. Or, to say it as someone I know says about American FRC, "It is to make America play 20 years of catch up with the rest of the world" We do that by out of the box thinking, 469 EXEMPLIFIED that this year. Instead of being praised they are being called cheaters. That disgusts me.

Re: Update #20
 

When I heard about this, I also felt it was a little bit in bad taste and a bit disrespectful to 469. As Andrew said, they've had to endure a lot of unwarranted criticism this season, they could have done without this "joke." Also, I'm pretty sure Andrew and I are thinking of the same person from 469 when we say that people on the team were insulted by this.

I too realize it was a joke, but 469 has been through enough this season. Cut them some slack.

+0.02

Edit: I commend 469 for being rock solid throughout this season by not caving into criticism. You guys rock.