[DampRobot]

Usually I don't post on this type of thread, but, well, here goes nothing.

Three is the recurring number. No one denies that. (I especially like the 12/21/12 release date clue.) I think we can safely say that there will not be three alliances, as indicated from the bumper material,the difficulty setting up the field and creating eliminations, etc.

Aren't we missing something huge? I haven't read every single post on this thread, but I don't thing anyone's mentioned yet the possibility that we could be doing a replay of Triple Play.

Here's why it makes sense.

One, the hints consistently point to three. Tetras, three by three scoring grid, three robots per alliance for the first time, etc were all features of 2005. 'Nuff said.

Two, we haven't had an "arm game" (or what most people would consider an "arm game") in a year. The GDC likes to mix it up, and since 2005 (what many would consider the beginning of the modern FRC era) arm games have frequently followed shooter games, like 2007 and 2006, or 2011 and 2012. I guess they don't want us to be able to refine one design for too many years in a row (at least in terms of the manipulator). 2005 was an arm game, and the time is ripe for an arm game in 2013.

Three, it follows the much-debated recent pattern of "going one year back." 2011 "copied" 2007, and 2012 copied 2006, which leads me to suspect that the 2013 game will be similar to the 2005 game.

Other ideas, like changing match length, schedule, or frame size seem a little too speculative for me to comment on. I'll only venture that the GDC has a tenancy to stick to what works.

So, here's what I'm thinking for the 2013 game: the return of 2005. Probably a 3x3 scoring grid, possibly tetras and certainly a 3 robot alliance (although that shouldn't surprise anyone).