Here's another off the wall idea though...
In the FIRST email blast that was being referred to, (BTW, I don't remember seeing that one come across...
) Notice the "red and blue totes just waiting to be filled". That doesn't necessarily mean the kit totes...
I liked the bins in 2003 ok, but I couldn't see using them 2 years in a row...
Actually, as far as the drum idea goes, You can find some smaller, plastic drums (kinda like the ones used in racing) that aren't very heavy at all.
Another note about the Blast email in question, When was it sent?
The 5 game committees did not meet and present until 9/1/03, and I doubt that FIRST would blast info on the game too early...
BTW Dave... you wouldn't happen to be attempting to side track us with those nice, shiny looking military inflatables, would you?
Actually, from some very reliable sources within FIRST (names won't be mentioned) It sounds like we know this much:
-2v2
-Auto mode
-Same Size/Shape field
KOTH is still up in the air, but I think it's fairly likely that it might make...some form of return...
I think the playing field surface will probably remain carpet, from what I've heard.
As far as field obstacles go, if you read the forum feedback form, FIRST states that they would try to keep the Field obstacle designs simpler and smaller for team reproduction purposes. This may mean that field obstacles will be in the 2004 game...
I wish I had gotten a little more information on the game design process this year. I would guess that FIRST gave a set of base guidelines to each of the 5 game committees, like field size/shape, 2v2, auto included, maybe KOTH included... or 2 basic scoring methods, etc.
The list could go on...
I actually had a prediction list that I put up in another thread...can't find it at the moment. But it had percentages of game attributes that were likely. 90% of the information came from my sources....
I think just determining a scoring object can tell us a good deal about the game. But doing that's the difficult part.
Ok, to finish off this post, here are some links to different kinds of plastic drums!
http://www.bestcontainers.com/plasti...ead-drums.html
http://www.bestcontainers.com/plasti...in-colors.html
(Note the Red and Blue colored drums....drool...)
http://www.labsafety.com/store/produ...&parent_id=904
(More red + blue drums...)
http://www.maxicontainer.com/plastic...stic_drums.htm
Oh, and BTW, Plastic Drums aren't always in a roll-like shape either. You can find rectangular, cube, and a few other shaped drums...
Keep your eyes out guys...