2011 Game Hint #1
 

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr....aspx?id=18713

Go crazy.

Re: 2011 Game hint #1
 

*darn* you're fast!

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Okay, first question:

Who is that? When was this picture taken? Where is it used?

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First thing that comes to my mind is having to climb that pole. Can someone indentify what kind of pole it is? I think the greeks had three kinds.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

forgive my ignorance, so who is it?

WOOOO first 5 posts

I believe that the poles are classified by the decorations at the tops and bottoms, not as much by the bottoms

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

A search on TinEye (reverse image search) did not turn up a single result for the picture. It doesn't mean too much other than that the photo isn't likely a picture of a notable person, or widely distributed.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I am drawing a blank on this, I have no idea who she is. I will google african american girls, in what looks to be from her clothes, between the 20's and 50's some time...

There is no way to tell what type it is. Doric, Ionic and Corinthian are the 3 types but you need to see the top or bottom to decypher.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I think I'm more excited that the game hint is out than I care what it means. I'm thinking the material of the pole could be important, and it would be helpful to know if the person in the picture can be identified, because she might be part of the clue too.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

From this site (http://www.realtor.org/rmoprint.nsf/pages/arch35) the poll looks like it is a Doric column.
Edit: I want to say it is a Doric because of the lines in the column.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Classically, Doric columns have 20 flutes - Ionic and Corinthian 24. Since I can count ~15 flutes on that column (and I can see at most half of the column), it doesn't belong to any of the classical orders.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I think it's aretha franklin.

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if you'll check the properties of the image, you can see that the name of the picture file is "2011_Assets". could that mean anything?

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All greek columns have lines like that. I was looking through pictures with columns. Something stuck out. Dance studios have columns and a few had columns silimar to the one in the hint

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Could be a yearbook photo and I am thinking it may have been from early 90's some schools still use black and white for yearbook photos. Bill earlier recognized a few teams from being around since the very first year can anyone from those teams see if they ever had this lady on their team?

I think the game is a combo from years past so i am kind of trying to make this clue fit that idea which is probably not good...

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Could be ionic or Aeolic. I say this because it appears to be a slender column and a lot of the column differences are in the base and cornice.

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Not sure - but think it could be Florence Ballard, who was one of the Supremes of '60s Motown fame.

EDIT:
If it is - one of their hits was. "You keep me hangin' on."

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Try to notice details in the picture... The hair do, the 5 buttons, lines on the shirt and lines on the column?

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This is what we get for hoping the hint would be something that we could possibly make some form of half connection to...

I'm really interested to see how this connects to the game now...

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

[quote=Kimmeh;987071]This is what we get for hoping the hint would be something that we could possibly make some form of half connection to...[quote]
FIRST fooled us on this one... it is a very hard hint...

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I think this could fit well with the 20th anniversary theme... interesting idea

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Judging by the hair stile, I would say that this picture is from the '60s. Hard to say, though.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

BALL game Florence Ballard

http://hwof.com/star/recording/the-supremes/77

not the same pic but similar column?

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...w=1152&bih=625

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I would also agree with yearbook photo. Note the ring on the ring finger right hand, typically where that would be placed.

I also think this is a scanned image. 1st, the image reverse searches are coming up with nothing, and 2nd there is an obvious white border on the top and the left. There may be something on the right, but the bottom does not have this border - someone scanned and cropped this.

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One thing is certain. The fact is...this is a water game, folks! :rolleyes:

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Hard to tell from the pics I'm finding of her on Google Images. I'd be inclined to say it isn't her, but I'm not professional picture-comparerer.

My mom was thinking late 50s/early 60s.

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Hmmm... Can we rule out a water game yet? :D

Has anyone tried Google Goggles yet on a physical picture? I don't think it works well on people, but it might be worth a try.

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Image is 252x281 and 18KBs. Not sure if that means anything.

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I would say, for practical considerations totally unrelated to the hint, the answer to this question is always "Yes". :)

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It looks a lot like Dihann Carroll to me.

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Florence Ballard started her movie career in 1964. I found some technological history for that year.

Computer Mouse

Bubble Wrap

Ford Mustang

BASIC code is introduced

VCR Home Video Recorder

IBM's System/360

Bubble wrap sounds important :D

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Hmm... Well, it's tough to tell. But, that looks like Wilma Rudolph. She was an Olympic sprinter and relay runner for the US at the 1960 Rome games. That explains the Greek column. So, climbing? Sprinting? Handing off batons in a relay? The possibilities are almost endless.

HTH,

Mike

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Can we DDOS a site yet?

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In a more serious thought I think the importance is on the column being there and not necessarily what type of a column it is. I also think there might be more cryptographic meta data info we need to dig up. I'm just really glad they didn't give us some random new field part rendering...

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

David wins! (no, didn't figure out the game. just the image.)

http://www.tineye.com/search/c5af289...dbdc335dcdc66/

(Future note: This link expires 72 hours from posting.)

EDIT: Thanks to all who hinted that the image was reversed. A little GIMPing and re-Tineye-ing produced this.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I've used multiple reverse image search tools, looked through everything Florence Ballard along with a multitude of her peers and groupmates, and can't find anything even close to this picture.

We could just focus on the pole and say... hey, that pole looks a lot like FIRST's ubiquitous pole goals from 1996, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2009...

edit: Ooh, nice find David. Here's Wikipedia on her: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Eva

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Reverse the image before searching in TinEye

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/414EV8CQ2VL.jpg

It's Little Eva

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

don't have time somebody analyze this, locomotion?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Eva

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

OK, if that's Little Eva as David found in his reverse image search, then her big hit was "Locomotion". Another cart/trailer game?

Mike

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

It's obvious!

Recording star means albums. Column means the goal.

We will be stacking discs on various columns while sloshing around in 3 feet of water. It's a water game!

:)

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known by the stage name of Little Eva (after a character from Uncle Tom's Cabin)

Maybe the game has to do with a history reference.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Perhaps look at important events from 1943 (when she was born) and 2003 (when she died). First one I noticed from 1943: first ejection seat for an aircraft was used. :eek:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1943

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I feel like "The Loco-Motion" is the bigger picture to this.

Then again, the hint comes from the GDC. Anything goes.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Most FRC games have some type of historical reference to them.

Lunacy for the lunar landings, Breakaway for the world cup, etc...

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The image is reversed, kind of like a mirror. What kind of game can we play with mirrors?

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"Locomotion" sounds like a wonderful possible name to the 2011 game...

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Whats obvious to me is locomotion. That has got to be the hint we we're supposed to get.
I wonder if the game has to do with robots being required to follow each other like a train. Or having to hall large "cars" of game pieces and deliver them somewhere on the field.
Hmm wonder if there is anything else i'm missing...

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

OK, maybe this is not a game hint. Maybe it is a hint about the music they will be playing at the competition

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Little EVA - Locomotion - walking robots

from Wikipedia

Robot locomotion is the study of how to design robot appendages and control mechanisms to allow robots to move fluidly and efficiently. Although wheeled robots are typically quite energy efficient and simple to control, other forms of locomotion may be more appropriate for a number of reasons (e.g. traversing rough terrain, moving and interacting in human environments). Furthermore, studying biped and insect-like robots may impact biomechanics.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

EVA = Wallie

Locomotion along with game piece retrieval and crushing

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Now that you can do it
Let's make a chain now
(C'mon baby do the loco-motion)
Chug-a chug-a motion like a railway train now
(C'mon baby do the loco-motion)
Do it nice and easy now don't lose control
A little bit of rhythm and a lot of soul

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Stairs!!

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actually, if you look at the top of the column, there isnt a top on it.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Back On Track following Locomotion might be something.

What about Magilla Gorilla? Hanging? Are gorillas defensive or offensive?

--
Her story is sad.

Jane

P.S. Thank you for the Game Hint!

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

quick google language detection says eva is a sweedish for of the sweedish verb eve, which means home/to home/indoors.

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A reverse image & locomotion?

Perhaps we will be pushing instead of pulling...

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Well, the Loco-motion was released in 1962. Other notable happenings in 1962:
- An extremely rare grand conjunction occurred during the new moon and solar eclipse, including the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Earth.
- John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth
- the debut of the Hulk and of Spider-man
- The AT&T Telstar, the first commercial communications satellite, was launched
- JFK's speech at Rice (oddly, this is the 4th time that speech has come up for me in the past few months...)
- the first James Bond film
- Cuban Missile Crisis

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I definitely think you have something here. The column could be in reference to actually climbing something or "traversing rough terrain".

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

That's an interesting way of looking at it. They had to go through some effort to reverse the image, unless they happened to have found/received the image in that state.

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I agree that her story is sad, they really used to abuse performers in those days! Can you imagine having a hit song and earning peanuts these days?

I am already working on ways to climb a column

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

This is FIRST. I wouldn't spend a significant amount of time on it just yet. ;)

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"let's make a chain now"

Hints in the past have rarely given away the main focus of the game, but sometimes allude to autonomous/bonus features. How about forming a train (locomotion) of 2 or 3 robots as the bonus?

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I went to youtube and found the song "Locomotion" by Little Eva. I noticed that the singers at the back were on stairs. :S Robots climbing stairs seems awkward but a possibility?

Here is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5OoQadZTPk

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Hey Look http://www.tineye.com/search/c5af289...dbdc335dcdc66/
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IPleWqe4J7...Pic_1%2529.png

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

That'd be a fun one!

"Name's Robot, FIRST Robot"
"<gamepiece> shaken, not stirred."

It'd be a neat game mechanic to have to shake something, but I'm not sure how you'd work it in. At any rate, we're pretty far in left field here. :rolleyes:

(You guys are fast!) :ahh:

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

It was an image reversed... So basically what we saw was not reality.

> Things are not always what they seem

Game in which something mid match changes? More than autonomous to oc and oc to finale... something in the oc that changes and you have to account for, field piece transformation? defense offense switches?

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I believe her first single was used on an episode of HBO's "Curb you Enthusiasm", which would of course mean we have a curb on the field. So there will be a perimeter around the field that you need to climb a 2004 style step to get up. For those of us who have been doing this for quite some time, you'll remember the official game hint for 2004 was the song "Stairway to Heaven". Sometimes the hints are extremely straight forward, so much so that you don't believe they'd be that obvious.

/edit
Roy on the British show "The IT Crowd" also sung her song "The Locomotion" in one episode while wearing red lipstick
/edit

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I don't have anything else to work on, except oh no! I just realized we might be carrying columns! (or putting them in a pool of water)

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

The robots have to dance?

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Here's thought for food:

People keep hinting at stairs, correct? This is a special year in FIRST, correct? Stairs have been used in a previous game, correct?

What other previous game elements/features can you extract from this game hint? It's possible we're seeing a combination of games from years past.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Does anyone else think it is interesting that this image came from something called the complete Dimension recordings? It would have again probably taken effort to remove that from the image...

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I don't think the image being reversed is part of the clue. I think they were just making it harder for people to reverse image search it.

I like the idea of Robot locomotion and definitely something with stairs. It would be nice to see FIRST getting away from "simple" wheeled robots and move into more challenging terrain that requires something other than simple AWD and traction control.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Bill's Facebook post says "the first FRC game hint (that we're admitting to)" tells me that there are other hints out there. In his previous posts we have seen:
* stair picture
* "hang in there"
* "stand by"
* Two steps forward, one step back
* View from 30,000 feet

I would think one or more of those could be additional hints, as it may relate to this picture - its setting, the artist, orientation, songs, etc.

My $0.02
* reversed train tracks - above the field, not on the field.
* bots that have to climb up or attach to tracks
* move on tracks
* hang on tracks
* vertical movement
* field elements above the playing field

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Yes, but they have never been a particularly important feature. In 2004 many teams elected to just climb straight to the top of the platform via the shear edge since the goal was hard to get around if you climbed the stairs. Extra smart teams just hung from the floor (i.e. 71).

The column reminds me of the tall PVC tube goals FIRST used frequently prior to 2005. We saw them as trailers in 2009, but they used to show up almost every year in the 1990s and first part of this decade.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

This happened in 'Aim High' when the first half of driver controll allowed one team to overload the offense and the second half allowed the other team to overload the offense.

Not out of the question.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

like 2006? where one robot coundnt cross midfeild during part of the game..

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

things from bill's blogs:

picture of design committee on stairs for bill's birthday

Title: The view from 3000 feet - discussing dean flying - plains use a technique known as stepping, when they lose fuel they get lighter and need to maintain a new optimal altitude.

Title: Two steps forward one step back.

he made bold STAND by in the last entry

Now we add locomotion

Conclusion: Either we are not allowed to use wheels this year and or their are stairs we need to climb

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I loved the 2004 game where it had stairs and the 2010 game where we had to climb... I love hanging games and staircase games, i think it is unique and a challenge. I would love to see another one!

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Must be something in the WNY water -- I came to the same conclusion... ("Conclusion", in this case, meaning "near-baseless speculation".)

...of course, there's the possibility that the "or" in your statement should be an "and"...

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Certainly more interesting to watch than driving around in circles on a flat field. Sorry, 2008.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Or driving around a field playing bumper bots. Sorry, 2009.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

with the idea of combining games, the idea of the game name being "loco-motion", and the reversed picture, possibly something like overdrive except alliances go opposite ways?

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Dear god. If i have to play another game where i go around in a circle i will lost all faith in the GDC!

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Feeling like I should listen to all the songs from the Supremes......

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

LOL That would be absolute madness. The 2008 game wasn't terrible, but I think they need to leave that game type alone for awhile.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Along with the idea of Loco-motion being the name of the game, could it be possible that they are going to mess with our motion, kind of like they did in 2009 with the 1/6th gravity effect.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

The term 'Loco' is Spanish for 'crazy' indicating a crazy motion as part of the dance. What does this mean for our 'bots? :ahh:

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Given how much effort gets put into figuring out the game hint by all of these smart robotics-enthusiasts, I doubt the GDC would think for a moment that reversing the image would trip us up. The source of the image was figured out within the first two hours of being released!

I think the mirror imaging means something. ...Or they anticipated this string of logic and mirrored it to throw us off. :)

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Of course my favorite Little Eva song is;
"What I gotta do (to make you jealous)".
This may not be important, but there is a line in that song;
"When are you gonna start acting like you really care"

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I was just about to say that.. maybe cargo moving? Moving other robots? This game could be a blast just from those thoughts :ahh:

I sent the picture to all my team mates of 2057.. my parents remember that picture and have indeed confirmed Little Eva.. Stairs sound like a plausible thing.. whatever it is.. I can't wait :D

Now all we need is for Dave to come in and change our thoughts :rolleyes:

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

nah i meant it like one or the other or both

I think Jason from 340 posted the stuff about stepping a week or so ago
so yeah definitely something in our water

I think they will keep the third gate from last year so where do the stairs go?

can't go along the outside because of safety and no one seeing anything. could divide the field in three sections like last year and have 6 sets or divide it in half and have 2 sets. Could also be up against the wall like in 06. The point being there aren't that many field arrangements they can do with stairs, it limits them a bit.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Another possible implication in this clue - Little "EVA" - referring to Extra-vehicular activity - a space walk. Maybe we have to locomote in 3 "Dimension" (the agency label on the picture).

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I bet they mirrored it just to prevent the first post on CD saying "Game hint #1: Little Eva" I mean seriously... they need to at least make us work a little for it!

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Perhaps there is also a link to the lyrics in the locomotion song:

You gotta swing your hips, now.
Come on, baby, jump up, jump back.
Well, now, I think you've got the knack.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

How about a cheap little remote control vehicle carried by the bot which is released sometime during the game to perform a given task, perhaps controlled by what was the human player?

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Ok my first thought when i saw stand by was the pressure pads used in 2005 for tetra loading.
And my thought on the stairs and his 30,000ft comment was maybe you have to climb stairs to a 2nd level of the competition field.
Something is also just telling me that the vertical lines in both the beam and her shirt have some significance along with that shirt having 5 buttons also in a vertical pattern.
And a hint towards climbing is also present because she is wrapping her arms around the beam.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

great thought robert! that would be insane! Did you notice in FIRST Choice we could choose a ftc extras kit? That makes this sound twice as plausible! programming 2 robots.. 1 to carry the other?

at the same time.. this sounds like a lot to do in near 2 minutes.. :eek:

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I wonder if there is anything here. One of Dave Lavery's heroes is John Glenn.

Grand conjunction sounds interesting...

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

I initially thought that this clue tells us something about the end game. Perhaps the robots must push/pull other robots up a pole or something like that?

At this point I can't decide whether or not to take the lyrics of Loco-motion more seriously than the column in the picture.

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

Conjunction is a word associated with trains. I am reminded of the "Conjunction junction" video all of our elementary grammar teachers showed us!

Re: 2011 Game Hint #1
 

interesting as well.. but at the same time we had a space thing 2 years ago and we know USFirst isn't going to repeat that soon, are they? Let's all start researching that list a little more.. ::rtm::