[FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Ken's Blog talks about game hints....

Why would we need a Penguin Mascot costume?

http://docostume.com/professional-fu...in_p14756.html

Hmmm..

Hope there's no Regolith involved ....

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I'm terrible at these clue guessing game hints so I focused on the request for teams to provide input for the GDC for work that begins this weekend on next years game.

Now's your chance to have all of your great ideas heard or read. I already posted my idea as a comment on the blog.
Ken's blog

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I was just going to say "REGOLITH, NOOOOOOOOO" :p

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I'm sure the penguin was meant to trigger the water game reflex. I'd ignore it and wait.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Ken has posted his next blog and the clues continue to perplex the mind.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Since I just finished "The New Cool" for the umpteenth time, seeing a penguin costume makes me think of two things: Penguins on ice, or regolith, or the famous team the book was written about: The D'Penguineers. Both were featured in 2009's Lunacy. My idea with the D'Pengineers continues with the learn spanish thing, since they come from Dos Pueblos High School, and Dos Pueblos is spanish.

Just connecting some dots that may/may not be there.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Melting.


The record appears as if it started to melt at one point. Also, penguins are commonly associated with ice, which melts.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I FOUND THE RECORD

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ld/projec...al/tunein.html

scroll half way down

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

New Hint just arrived! Another weird one that I cannot understand....



Apples?

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I dont believe its the apples. Apples can be in a tree, on the ground, or on a table. But a basket or a "bowl" (hint towards the record bowl) I belive this could be an action of putting objects into a bowl or the objects already being there.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Hmmm...What could a fancy penguin costume have to do with bowls or donuts?

EDIT:
Penguins can't fly, which could add to the concept of flying discs or donuts that you shoot into a basket...??

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I (jokingly) think it might be Tron. Why else would Jeff Bridges be mentioned?!?! And old school records? and Donuts?

Otherwise I think maybe we are looking at another shooting event. Regolith would be awesome not gonna lie but if they go the FTC way its gonna end up being 2-4 tiles of it nothing too exciting....

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

As long as we don't have regulated wheels ;) otherwise.... I think.... the game might end up being another lunacy.... :(

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

From the August 12 blog:
"...Tonight they're both on Piers Morgan's CNN show (9pm). I watched his show last night (screen shot above) - Jeff Bridges was his guest, believe it or not he's still getting asked about The Big Lebowski??? Good movie but wasn't that like 20 years ago?
We're also about a month away from the new game release..."

I can only think of one thing...
MAAAIZE CRAAAZE!!!!!!!

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I thought that when I saw apples (I forget why, but I did). I hope so!

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Just because:

8/12
Jeff Bridges - Tron
"20 years ago" - Maize Craze

8/15
N/A

8/18
Penguin
-Flight(less)
-Sliding - Lunacy regolith
"blank sheet of paper"
"the ideas will be flying"

8/22
Disc
-bowl
-melt
"that flew into Manchester"

8/24
Apples - tennis ball-sized
basket
"cider donuts"

8/27
Motorcycle
-Victory KingPIN
"soaking up"

8/29
Sunset
Traps
"bowling over"



I dunno - there's definitely something having to do with bowls or bowling.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I added a few nuggets to your list. Bowling seems to be the most consistent theme...

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

On the left side of the image is a bowling pin-shaped bouy. :yikes:
Also, the penguin is wearing a bowler hat.
I have no idea how the apples work in, however.

Either the game object is a plastic bowling pin, the game's name has to do with bowling, or the game itself is a derivative of bowling.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Since Game hints tend to be obscure, I don't think it is as simple as bowling. Maybe gutters? What else (numbers and shapes) are associated with bowling?

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Typically, with the actual game concept, the hints are pretty obvious. Remember last year with all the hints having to do with bridges? We had an idea, but no clear gameplay, and we were blown away when we found out about the rolling goals.
It will not be as simple as just bowling, I can tell you that, but it should be bowling-related.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

The only thing so far I'm definitely paying attention to was the doughnut references. They've done that before with FVC 07' I dunno. I've been in FIRST hibernation for 3 months. but I'm awake again!

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I'm leaning towards shooting disks (flat torroids), and ringing them on bowling pins.

Maybe the pins will stacked at different levels (like the crab traps).
King Pin has higest points.
Kinda like a sideshow game.

Possible game names:

King Pin.

Bowl me over.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Another clue posted on the blog
Mostly visual with little text.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Still feeling good about ring stacking.

Having an IR beacon would let you do it from a distance (maybe:)

The "Old and New" caption was interesting.....
Reference to an old game, or old tech?

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

http://www.johnwdefeo.com/interesting-places.html

scroll a bit down.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

note some awkward language in the posts:

The irony between the picture of a bird that can't fly and the use of flying... could be something to do with having to shoot something in order to score it?

There it is again...

When i think apple cider/apple products, I dont think of donuts first... odd...

the next one is weird but as Nate Knauss said, its a KingPIN motorcycle... could be a stretch but who knows...

could be strategy related... trapping again? rolling goals? trapping opponents in a special area? the way these fields have been going i wouldnt be surprised if there was some kind of lowering barrier....

... and finally beacons on some large objects. To me the pins might work, because you can put a donut on a pin but who knows... notice the use of the word "cooler"... who knows what that might mean?

just my thoughts... its all speculation though haha :)

EDIT: "Old and New" could mean a lot of things... Recycling game pieces ie hockey pucks from face off for a Regolith hockey game.... Atlas ball/softballs from hanging around for a "bowling" game... Many different choices there....

Also... Could the record point towards a new material? Vinyl perhaps? Idk it seems to be heat deformed so that could be showing off a property of a new material idk... Vinyl could also hold a pattern so maybe we could make our own tires to work better on Regolith???

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

8/12
Jeff Bridges - Tron, Big Lebowski
"20 years ago" - Maize Craze

8/15
N/A?

8/18
Penguin
-Flight(less)
-Sliding - Lunacy regolith
-Cold/cool habitat
-Bowling pins are penguin shaped
-Bowler Hat
"blank sheet of paper"
"cool (and talented) people"
"the ideas will be flying"

8/22
Vinyl Record
-Disc
-bowl(ing)
-melt (ice/cold)
"that flew into Manchester"

8/24
Apples
-tennis ball-sized
-basket
"cider donuts"

8/27
Motorcycle
-Victory KingPIN
-Lightcycle
"soaking up"

8/29
Sunset
Traps
buoy resembles bowling pin
"bowling over"
"ensure their safety" (guarding pins from opponents?)
"wet and windy"
"winds are light"

9/1
2 lighthouses
-IR beacons
-7-10 split
"a bit cooler this morning"


References:
bowling: about 7. Some of them are a stretch, so I didn't count them.
Flying: 5 (counting references to wind)
Cold/cool: about 4
Tron: 3
Disc/donut: 2
Maize Craze: 2. Barely. :p

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

7-10 split sounds good...

Maybe those 2 pins have beacons on them for autonomous placement of pins and teams have to arrange pins in the bowling arrangement and you can roll a ball to knock down the other teams pins? Or shoot a flying disc to knock them down?

So this game would be played like this...
- each team starts with pins #7 & 10 which each have a beacon
- teams have 8 pins they can try to put in the correct spots
- teams can shoot down other teams pins
- endgame- teams have large ball they can roll to knock down other teams pins
- doughnuts = multiplier? Could be used to multiply number of pins standing by certain amount, just as yellow ball in hot shot...

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Would the teams be scored by how many are left standing? It would be cool if the robots could reset their alliance's pins. That would make the game really crazy.

I wonder whether there will be a barrier between the alliances or not, like in VEX Clean Sweep, or whether the alliances will use the entire field. If it's the latter, the GDC will have to make rules against hoarding the other alliance's pins. And our team would find a loophole. And we would probably get in trouble for it.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Yeah i think the robots should reset their own pins and there probably should be some release mechanism for the bowling ball that could be blocked.

In terms of "hoarding" there are obviously going to be a few strategy options here.... Placing pins, knocking opponents pins down, and possibly hoarding the "knockdown" objects, whatever they may be....

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Sounds like stack attack to me.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I hope they use something small and inexpensive like this.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

In all honesty, would bowling really be all that exciting in a game?

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

If knocking down pins with robots is anything like knocking down bins with robots, yes.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

i think this game would add a different level of strategy that FTC games have not yet seen. as for if it would be exciting or not who knows? :) it may not even be bowling but it could be cool! we will just have to wait for saturday i guess!

Perhaps there is 1 set of pins, and red/blue pins and teams have to try and have the most of their color pins left standing at the end and teams can only shoot down opposing team pins with discs. Maybe end game = a rolling ball that knocks pins down and teams have 30 seconds to replace the pins. Idk just throwing some ideas out there....

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I'll get working on protoboarding laser sights then. :)

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Just a short week left in the educated guessing game with the release on September 10, 2011.

There are some really wild and interesting ideas being posted. I'd suggest that some of you post these ideas as well as any other that you may have in Ken's Blog post asking for input as they have already begun the process of designing next year's game.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Somebody mentioned donuts?

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Looks familiar

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Maybe our last hint before Kickoff was just posted on Ken's blog. http://firsttechchallenge.blogspot.com/

Good luck to all the teams and enjoy your kickoff events (if you are attending one).

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Team 2843 is honored that Ken has chosen to showcase our team colors in the hint posted today. (I admit the green isn't quite our shade, but the red, yellow and blue aren't too far off - we will take what we can get).

Can't wait for Saturday!

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I just finished the animation explaining the 2012 game rules. The Game Design Team did a great job coming up with a VERY challenging game this year!

Of course the rules are top secret until Saturday afternoon, but they let me release this image.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

...The game object is...BLANKETS?

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

:) ...:confused: ...:eek: ...:yikes: ! :cool: .

That is what my face is going to look like when they release the kraken game.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Wow. Not sure what to think. Looks like our rookie FTC year will be an good one.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Maybe its a yellow colored robot that will be the third alliance???? I really really hope so :)

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

In previous years' games, there have been rules about materials used as a color filter for a light sensor, but the games have never really necessitated their use.
For example, last year's rule R5.c.25 stated: "Any material strictly used as a color filter for a Light Sensor.".

Anyone else see a few similarities between that and the latest picture on Ken's blog? Perhaps different colored game pieces? ;)

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I am now doubting myself about the bowling thing. At this point, I'm just confused. I can't wait for saturday...

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

re the last hint, the colored spots and "whirlwind" make me think of a Twister game mat.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

http://www.artcathy.webs.com/

The painting is called Racquetball

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Hmmmmmmmmmm what do you think Bob bot is up to

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Hmmmm. Bob bot doesn't have eyelids this year... but what does it mean?

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

He was introduced to mountain dew.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Bob has a new attachment on his rear. Looks like a tow bar, or maybe a sensor on the end of a shiny bar that could swivel.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

These colors look very similar to the latest clue's colors.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Does anyone think the thing on the back looks like a hockey stick???????? Is it just me?????

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Okay... this might just be a diversion. Go to http://firsttechchallenge.blogspot.com for the real hints.

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

Emphasis on the word "might". Who's the say if it is a diversion or is not? The GDC knows... :)

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

I bet the game has to do something with bowling balls, baskets, and stacking....:D

Re: [FTC]: Game Hints???
 

You might be correct...