'Flash' discussion
 

It would seem that a few threads have converged upon the word 'flash' as in Bill's recent 'Flash' updates as the second game hint. Since we have not received confirmation we will be receiving a second hint, I think it's time to start a thread to discuss this one.

From the other thread:

Possible options:

• Game names with the word 'flash' in them
• Flash as a concept to a game (speed)
• The way that the term flash corresponds with the previous hint

A few new things to add:
Flash update (update is not capitalized; there is no roman numeral. This might mean that this whole flash theory is null, since it may not have been premeditated)
Flash Update II (update IS capitalized)
Flash update III (update is not capitalized)

The first is about the manual, the second about the apps, and the third about to KoP. The third does not have a period at the end of it. It also includes a hint about FRCKO, but not until kickoff. We should still be following it now, however.

Another area of interest: the first is salutated 'good evening', the second 'good morning' and the third 'good afternoon'. The only one left is 'good night', which would fit it's self well with a hint.

Regardless, what else do you see about these three blog updates, and/or the name Flash?

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Perhaps the heights of the u's (uUu) means that there is a tall element in the middle, or a ramp like /\.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Im again throwing my game name guess BoulderDash out there. As i feel like the name of the game will be one word twisted to mean something else.

Plus, from what ive gathered the game will involve speed and slopes

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Personally, I like the idea. It would allude to a light show-type game, which I think would be pretty different. Lunacy was the last game that wowed me very much in terms of creativity. Also, I think Chris may be going somewhere with the uUu. Slopes seem pretty down to earth for game elements too.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Maybe there will be four phases to the game instead of three?

Maybe there will be a flash mob at kickoff.

Maybe we're reading into the titles too much, and it just describes the nature of the updates themselves - fast and short.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Flash? As in Flash Flood?
Water game :cool:

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

There is no such thing as reading too much into things. Such ideas are blasphemous in nature!

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

In my opinion, the FRC staff is just messing with us again. We probably guessed one aspect of the game already but now we're saying random things again. FLASH could mean a lot of things, but how does it compare with Game Hint #1? And why are they saying Flash update/Update I,II, & III? Why use roman numerals? There is probably some complicated or extremely simple way to find out what the hints mean... just like last year.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

I totally missed the uUu thing! Yes, this is starting to fit together. In one of bills older posts he said "a peak behind the curtain" but the way he spelled peak is like a slope or mountain not like a sneak PEEK.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

As much as I would love to have a water game I do not think that we are going to get one.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Actually, he accidentally misspelled it initially, and then knowing the CD community (and seeing their reaction), he intentionally played with the capitals today to make everyone think there was something there.

Flat field!

I have no inside knowledge of whether or not anything I said in this post is actually true.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Whoa! Nice find!! hmm so there's a ramp this year?

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

We'll know for sure on Saturday. X.X but that'd be my best guess.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Wow. This is im sure unintended but Hint #1 is half of a slope.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Definitely a nice find

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Possibly senseless ideas:
- If you concatenate the post times (5:39 10:33 2:47), you get 5391033247, which is a Harshad number.
- If you rearrange the letters in #FRCKO, you can get frock, which is a type of clothing. (If it means anything, I think it is bag-and-tag)


More sensible idea:
- Like the above post, the u's go uUu, and the post times have a similar large-in-the-middle pattern.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

What do you mean 'half of a slope'?

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Nothing FIRST does is unintended.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Based on the example of Schrodinger's Cat, the field is both flat and bumpy... until it is measured at kickoff. ;)

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

never know This one could be intended

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Flashlight?
A darkened field area, blocked from the operator's line of sight, where either a light and the regular camera or a Kinect can be used to navigate.

Flashpoint?
Robots that light stuff on fire.

Flashback?
A resurrection of a previous game.
The Titanic sinking.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

The name of the parts gets longer as you go down the list forming half of a slope. Although i could think of an unintentional explanation for this anomally.

Sorry for the poor spelling, im in a hurry

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Holy cow, really?! (not sarcasm)

EDIT: Wait, I just looked at the hint again. No, it doesn't.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Sarcasm? Because this is starting to make sense to me
I just took a look at it again... Its less slope like then it originally appeared, but its still a possibility

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Woah. Didn't notice that. Lol. I bet next year they wont tell us where the hints are and they'll expect us to find them within miscellaneous posts. We seem good at that.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

True that

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

How dare you drag Quantum Mechanics into Robotics!

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Flash is part of the name of the game. Lights on the field flash to indicate different segments of the game. For example, the base of the towers would flash near the end of the game.

In Hint 1 there were an awful lot of light-thingies that could be made to flash.

:rolleyes:

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

I've got it. Bill is actually making a prediction as to the winner of the Championship with all this talk about "flash" updates.

FRC1319, Golden Flash, from South Carolina. I remember they made Einstein a few years back, but I don't remember with whom or what year.

You may all go insane trying to figure out this new angle...



...but the only thing you're angling for is red herrings!

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

I got it! Golden Flash 1319 is secretly on the GDC, breaking all the FRC unspoken codes we know and love! We must find them and extract information. WE SHALL DISCOVER THIS GAME.after the game is posted on kickoff day....

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

It all makes since! 1319 is on the GDC this year and knows about the game early, so they WILL win einstein! Plus, according to <g34> in the 2012 manual, "Only FRC team 1319 may win the 2012 water game". :)

On a completely unrelated note: This is my 1000th post on CHief Delphi! :D

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

does this help: http://wordsmith.org/anagram/anagram...ate&t=1000&a=n

there's a list of anagrams of "flashupdate"
trying a creative approach.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Well, as this older post stated, Billfred (from somewhere's around South Carolina...) IS in fact on the GDC, so maybe there's a connection?

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

ok just my 2 cent the field the uUu is a peak and posible and iceberg in the ocean.Titanic is a ship that held many llights on it pershaps they are flashing inthe game and you have a senesor to keep the light on while the other alliance try and turn it off and lets going skiiing down a hill with a miniboat or miniboat race

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

I like "heft up salad" and "Asphalt feud" as possible game themes.

(also a few have the word "elf" in them....)

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

endgame is to send "flare lights" made by teams up a pole to save the ship, but it's a race. And the lights are minibots.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

"Adapt Self Uh"
Robots will have to be completely autonomous, and adjust to changing field conditions, leaving the audience completely flabbergasted, and left only to mutter an unbelievable "Uhhhhhh."

;)

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

I've got it!
Flash Update II and Flash Update III each have I's at the end.
There are 5 total I's.
The I's represent pillars or poles.
The pillars are based on the center of the field, which is a lump. (uUu)
Minibots can climb the pillars to knock gamepieces down and into play. (II III)
The gamepieces (tennis balls) must then be scored in goals on either side of the field in goals full of high-speed counters. (see Game Hint 1)
For bonus points, minibots can wear frocks. (#FRCKO)

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

AND BEHOLD! I give you, the 2012 FRC Game Title!
-cue dramatic theme music-

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Oh yeah! I forgot about that! Has he posted anything recently? Can we spam his PM box asking for hints? :) Not really. I'd never spam anyone's inbox! (Those who know me get the joke)

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Interesting, there are 2603 anagrams of "flashupdate". 2603 is an FRC team in Ohio. Ohio is high in the middle, just like uUu.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

That's actually kind of cool. And also an incredible stretch. :)

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

"feudal paths"? Interesting... I think we are down to three types of gameplay that are possible, and i expect two to be used.
Illumination.
Speed.
Slopes.

And then there is the group touting the football theory.
Sheesh, if this years robot designs are anything like our hint analysis we will have some VERY diverse robots ;)

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Of genius! So its not the Golden Flash!

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

From what iv'e gathered the game will almost certainly involve slopes and speed.
As for the mysterious game piece... that elf hint may just help us there.
He had a hint tucked under his arm, now people have taken to the notion that footballs are not tucked under the arm. To change that notion, i present you with this!

Haha i know its nothing big, but the ball is indeed under his arm.

So we will be playing football on slopes? Yikes.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

If you look at Ramp 'n Roll, there are slopes, and football-like goal posts.

Last year was a lot like rack n roll, so will this year be like ramp n roll?

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

concerning the overall history of FIRST games, such as most of them are sports related or at least each alternating one is, the possibility of a football or rugby based game is not far-fetched. But using a football shaped ball would be incredibly difficult to use during game play due to the shape and size of the ball.

using mini-bots is a given for this year's game since first wants frc and ftc teams to work together just like last year.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

While that was their intention, in the end, most teams didn't interact with FTC teams, and the ending minibots resembled little to no Tetrix parts that didn't resemble FTC robots. And from one team I talked to, the FTC team wasn't much help, since they were also as to how to approach the problem.

I'm sure that if FIRST does indeed want us to collaborate more with FTC teams, then it seems like they will have to alter the way we use the minibots into something more FTC-like.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Storm (from earlier blogs) + flash = wind and artificial lightning

two robots try to race across the field with open umbrellas and the third waves a golf club in the air to attract the lightning.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Thoughts:

Hot flash - aspects of the game change suddenly, but in an organized/fair fashion. Example: game would start out with one alliance scoring on each side, then halfway through the alliances would switch which side they scored on. If you want to throw peaks/uUu into there, imagine applying this to Aim High.

Muzzle flash - shooting game? Shooting at light?

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Remember this? It was on Bill's blog a while ago.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Maybe it's a hint that the game will be similar to Aim High (I hope so! :D)! What you said both describes the hints and Aim high, so maybe it's something similar!

Got it!

AIM LOW! :p

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

HAHAHAHA! Just picturing this made me laugh, i love the idea.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Looking at old pictures, Aim High looks to be one of the few games with a large amount of non-base field polycarb.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Haha thanks for using my team's name (STORM)!

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Anyone up for calculating the similarity between ~210 lbs of steel (4,000 pounds / 19 fields) and however much Aim Highs fields had? :rolleyes:

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

The Three Flashes were a back-up group for Frank Sinatra, who was part of the Rat Pack and rats run thru mazes and ..... never mind.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Flash Dance - Water Game!

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

And rats drink water? Water game? Flash Flood?(I assume the flash flood joke has been made by now)

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

That would also account for all of the game-specific steel. I can imagine that if there were ramps, they would be built from steel. From the blog post that was just referenced a few posts ago, there seem to be a lot of game-specific elements. Aim high on steroids?


And that may not be the best name... :rolleyes:

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

this is probably nothing but it wont hurt (#FRCKO-hint?):

https://twitter.com/#!/j_boucher/sta...209345/photo/1

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Another hint?

https://twitter.com/#!/j_boucher/sta...209345/photo/1

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Yes sir, yes sir it is.

Edit: Someone tell Jess to go in there and find that dang elf!!!!111!!eleven :rolleyes:

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Link is broken. Here's a re-upload. From Twitter:

"The building across the street from HQ's loading dock. Has game hint 2 been here all along?"

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

I am definitely confused on this so called hint. Other than the FIRST logo colors I do not know what it could mean

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

The colors are in improper order, however.

You could also look at the red and blue windows as the two alliances. the red alliance and blue alliance are in different windows... hmm.

Edit: Is that smoke coming from the red window?

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Another point for "Flash back"

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

It's not an actual hint. She was near by HQ's loading dock and saw this and is only joking around....at least I think she is.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Maybe.... I got it! Everything is backwards! The kinect plugs into the drivers and the robots control the drivers!

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

it actually works out w/ the whole ramp or slope in the middle of the field since the two alliance colors (red vs. blue) are on the second floor and from what I can see in the pic- also in the middle of the building. :ahh:

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

I like the way you are thinking! Our Einstein year was 2007. Our robot that year had a huge ramp for the end game. Hmm....

(And no, we have no member on the GDC.)

1319 - GO FLASH!

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Something having to do with a light-up field, and the field has two neutral/mutual zones with two alliance zones (or maybe substitute goal for zone).

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Has anyone considered comic books?

The Flash is red, superman is blue.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

I understand the reference to the Flash, but why Superman? Why not the Blue Beetle? Y everyone so mean to the Blue Beetle?

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

From Game Hint #1:

Panel Mount Selectable Steady or Flashing LED. Black Housing. 12V AC/DC. 45mm. Amber Lens 22.5 mm Mounting Hole - 2500

Emphasis mine.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

From http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...9&postcount=55

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Someone may yave previously said tyis but frankly im tooo lazy to read all this

I feel like i may have been the reason for this thread because i pointed out the flash in the will we ever get a second hint thread.

My idea was flash can be referred to as something quick. We have ahigh speed counter with photoelectric sensors so i think a high scoring fast game.

Or flash as in brief meaning a period of the match is shorter... oc or auto?

My idea for a game name is rapid fire

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

*falls over*

I hate missing the important CD posts. :o

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Wow this thread has realy exploded. Also why are we still complaining about game hint 2? We allready got 49 game hints.

WE WANT A HINT 50!

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

look! another hint?!?!?! (unofficial of course)
http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...minaries-FIRST

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

So maybe this is another hint. It's talking about how Dean Kamen will be joined by National Luminaries for KICKOFF 2012.
NOT A HINT- JUST ANOTHER AWESOME THING FIRST DOES FOR US.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...minaries-FIRST

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

They wouldn't post a game hint on another site, in fear of a leak, and because it would not be a logical choice to have the FRC students searching the internet for a game hint...

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

these LED's might just be safety lights for us..
http://www.plccenter.com/Buy/ALLEN%2.../855PBB12ME522

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

I know I am missing something. Where is the Titanic idea coming from? :confused:

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's voyage and resulting sinking.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

The game will be called Knock Out and will be somehow related to boxing or boxes. A "Total Knock Out" will result in a great deal of bonus points.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Can you smell what the rock is cooking?

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Best thing I've heard all day, and I have no idea what it means. :p

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

afd0221: Those lights are the ones that attached to the digital sidecar, and used as the orange robot indicators. These always come in the KOP and are always the same model, I believe.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

You clearly haven't been in FIRSt long enough to see unitended rule change consequences in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2010...

They were Galileo champions in 2007 With RAGE (173) and Exploding Bacon.

I believe the game will be called "Flash Flood" because the field will be flooded with smaller spherical gaming objects (SGOs) in a flash flood/dump like in 2004.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

hm... this reference to "Flash" after I just read another CD thread about "Luminary". :ahh: A light will be a central theme to this game. Maybe a tower with a light (the "Luminary") in the middle of the field and it "flashes" different colors for a king-of-the-hill type game?

The link to GH#1: Maybe this central indicator is turned on by firing a ball through something sensed by "IR" and a "very high speed counter"?:D

Did anyone else see some text from FIRST anywhere involving references to light?:confused:

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

[quote=Did anyone else see some text from FIRST anywhere involving references to light?:confused:[/QUOTE]

in the first hint there's a lot amount of lights things compared to years in the past. then comparing that to "flash" we've been guessing LIGHTS LIGHTS LIGHTS..... we're all to excited and can't wait till kickoff!

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

On the other hand, Bill's post about the field indicated that it was not light at all... we know for a fact it is unusually heavy!

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

maybe the weight is in the mountings for the lights? or the uUu ramp?

I just realized that "flashpoint" would make a great game name.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Since I haven't posted my usual "wiseguy theory" for this years clues...

Flash, hmmm...,
The Flash is the favorite superhero of Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory...
Sheldon is a theoretical physist focusing on quantum mechanics and string theory...
String theory is just a smokescreen for string cheese which is Bill Miller's favorite snack.
Hmmm... snack makes someone my age think of the snack pack pudding containers we ate when we were kids.
I have it!

The game will be called Bazinga! and be played on a field of pudding. The goal will be to harvest string cheese from said pudding.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Know what you can make FLASH?

One of Dean's lightbulbs.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

good one. :)

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

Based on the number of control tower lights in amber compared to the other control tower lights, and the flashing reference, I have a strong hunch this game is a flashback to 2008.

Re: 'Flash' discussion
 

I hope the game includes lots of Queen song references. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNf9rEPoc8Q