[karomata]

So I've been watching this thread and this is my first time posting on this particular thread...

A while back there was discussion of the appliance of zip codes through the means of the digits, however we were looking at the locations and what was at that area. After looking through some of those areas and thinking it out a bit, I think these zip codes aren't about what's there, but instead, what has happened there.

Specifically, when the USA has held the Olympics, the zip codes defined are areas that have hosted the passing of the Olympic torch. Additionally, this year there will be another winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The Olympics are often viewed as the ultimate sporting event, so it almost seems logical that FIRST would justify putting 2 years of effort into a game that identifies with the Olympics.

Putting this into a game, perhaps a large element of the game is based on passing field elements? However this doesn't seem likely because there is no guarantee that all teams will have the ability to pass the game object by competitions, and doing so would ruin the chances of alliances that they end up on. That is unless, the GDC found a way to do it that to be able to pass, it is so basic and teams are able to play around that element of the game if they wish, that it balances itself out.

This year the new sports added to the official Olympic sports list are:
Figure skating team event
Women's ski jumping
Mixed relay biathlon
Ski half-pipe
Team relay luge
Ski slopestyle
Snowboard slopestyle
Snowboard parallel special slalom

Perhaps the game pieces would stay on the ground, necessitating that robots only need to be able to move around to be able to pass, however teams may be able to develop aiming devices to improve their functionality. And then just to throw something way out there, maybe the endgame could be that you have to deliver a special game object to a giant cauldron to claim it for your alliance, similar to how the Olympic flame would ignite the cauldron.

I feel like I might be on to something or I've just finally lost my mind