Re: 2012 Game?
 

How about having the minibot release the scoring objects? It can be deployed during autonomous and releases 1/3 of the scoring objects for your alliance. If all three minibots are successful, all of your scoring objects are released. If it cannot be deployed during autonomous, it can be deployed during teleop. The advantage of the autonomous is that you have more time to score. Perhaps 1/2 way through teleop the remaining objects that, for whatever reason, were not released, are released. Small penalty for minibot failure, but not completely devestating. Just a thought.;)

Re: 2012 Game?
 

It's really interesting how everyone is suspecting a minibot portion in next years game. I know Dean is trying to bring together all 4 parts of FIRST, but as someone mentioned before, maybe only LEGO parts could be used this time. I think it would add an interesting competition if there's a minibot but only LEGO parts could be used since many FRC members have come out from FLL.

Re: 2012 Game?
 

Here's a thought: What if minibots WERE the scoring pieces, and the bots are responsible for moving themselves to a reloading position?

Re: 2012 Game?
 

I like the idea of having something (not necessarily minibots) deployed during autonomous, that could release some kind of game piece when pressed. It could be like a cycle, where when something like a minibot goes through this small tunnel, a few game pieces are released, and then the minibot-like object comes out to a spot where the hostbots can retrieve it, and restart to get more game pieces in auto mode. I can imagine a small tunnel the loops a bit out of the playing field, and releases game pieces when a minibot comes by, and then the minibot comes out, and the hostbot gets the minibot. I bet we'd see a lot of robots who would send out multiple minibots, then.

Re: 2012 Game?
 

I have an idea for a awesome endgame:

Giant arch made of 1.75" steel tubing (used for the towers of '10 and the minibot towers '11).

This giant arch spans the width of the playing field in the middle of the field reaching at least 12 ft high. robots get points for hanging off of the arch and not touching the ground. However, more points are awarded for being higher on the arch. One could go about it like the minibots this year with point values for being the highest to lowest or just have markings on the arch with "zones" which have certain hanging values.

Either way, it would be an amazing endgame to watch. Robots battling for the center position... 2004 but better?

Eh, thats all I've got for now, Bryan

Re: 2012 Game?
 

That would be fun for the prepared teams, and hilarious for the audience, especially when the unprepared teams don't have a hanger that can grip onto the arch. Watching those slippery, low fraction hangers hang those heavy robots, and having the robots slip down the slope would be hilarious! I bet we'd see teams who'd have wheels on their hangers so they could scoot towards the middle, and push other robots down the arc.

Re: 2012 Game?
 

I'd suspect those wheeled-slider teams of being 237, 1266, 868, and 330 (2004's "slider" class of robots--64 isn't around, except as a full-on rookie). I'd also suspect that 190 (another bar-blocker) would come up with another way of making sure that other teams don't stay up. If, of course, the payout was big enough.

Actually, I think it looks like some folks want some modifications to 2004!

For those that weren't there: knocking a pair of (10-point) balls off of stands at the side of the field in automode released a flood of 5-point balls from over the driver's station. The bar to hang on was 50 points, per robot. (Any remaining balls also flooded down at the 30-second mark of the match.)

So, let's have some fun with this. I'll just use 2004 as a base and add devilish twists:

Minibots have separate tracks on the outside of the field. They knock down the 10-point balls. The catch? Minibots must be deployed autonomously.

The bar is replaced by an arch. The catch? Top spot is not worth the most points; the spots next to it are. Oh, and you're judged by the lowest point value that you're in contact with. (I'd also say that the lowest spots are not worth the least. Just to keep life interesting.)

Stationary goals are replaced by mobile goals. Mobile goals remain as well (4 total, not assigned to either alliance). Possession of a goal at the end of a match gives 5 points plus whatever's inside that goal. (Possession can be dealt with later--I'm thinking something like the 2002 possession rules, maybe 1999.) The platform is replaced by a low ramp all across the field.

Robots are now allowed to fill the goals, but balls must be out of the robot's possession below the 4' mark. Humans may also fill the goals.

As for the doubler ball, it just got bigger--the trackballs from 2008 should work quite well (or throw in a tetra or bin just to be different).

Re: 2012 Game?
 

It was only a matter of time, at least this year the thread popped up after champs!:eek:

As for right now what I can guess on,

1. Ball time, as for what type, who knows? Anything from Ping Pongs to the Overdrive balls could be used. Now yes this could be the year this pattern is broken, but I wouldn't be shocked if it was some sort of ball.

As for what I want:

A form of king of the hill to return! I've been a big fan of Stack Attack being revived in one form or another, and preferably this aspect.

Besides that, it's really time to sit and wait until a hereing or hint gets thrown out.

Re: 2012 Game?
 

Since I'm new at this, does anyone know when the first hints are actually released? Is it sooner to kickoff, like November/December, or spread apart, like every few months?

Re: 2012 Game?
 

Well if I did this math right 2011 is the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. 2012 would be 26 years but with the recent nuclear crisis in Japan, perhaps the 2012 game would be removing "fuel rods" from a "reactor."

The game pieces could be PVC pipes as "fuel rods" and the "reactors" would look like the 2002 or 2004 goals or the 2009 trailers. The pipes would have to be dumped into a "cooling pool," essentially a bin.

I think it would be cool because robots do these jobs in real life.

Re: 2012 Game?
 

I like the idea of connecting all 4 parts of FIRST, but as was said, the minibus were too alike. There should be a size, weight, and supply battery, after that, there should be very limited rules. A game for next year should involve something as a capture and control game. Every 15 seconds or so, a game piece is released that an alliance must control. Each piece is worth different, and more as the game goes on, because there is less time to control it. The end would be great for a minibot. It could possibly climb a pole or do some small task and release random pieces, stored above the tower or such. The minibot that released the piece gets credit for the points. This would make a human player again important as an analyst. The autonomous mode would be a sort of race for 6 pieces around the field. Each piece would do like this years and double a score. It could possibly double the first shape the team controls. An alliance with 2 human players could have the chance to release a game piece early, putting it out for any team to get, such as the throwing of tubes this year. The pieces would randomly come out 4 or such places, giving the game a new strategy. This would be different for each match. There would be a small safe zone that other bots can't go in, and pieces would score, and an area around it where pieces could score and robots could go into. There would be designated spots around the field for each alliance. If anyone would like to support this idea, email FIRST to look at this thread and post, or just give me feedback on what you would think this kind of game would be like.

Re: 2012 Game?
 

Official hints typically show up in December. Unofficial hints, on the other hand, may show up at any time.

Re: 2012 Game?
 

With Dave no longer apart of the GDC, good luck getting unofficial hints.

Re: 2012 Game?
 

Bill Miller. Did you forget about that character?

Re: 2012 Game?
 

There's always Bill's Blog...anyone up for Haagen-Dazs?

Edit: Eric is sneaky. My Haagen-Dazs comment still stands.