[patrickrd]

Here is my official prediction for the 2004 game:

Scoring object: Footballs, worth 1 point each
Main Method of Scoring: Throw or lift footballs into your alliance's goal: an 8' elevated net of yet unknown diameter
Hazards: Along the middle of the field there will be car tires, possibly bolted to the ground, centers 3 feet apart. There will be an opening in the middle that is 5' to allow robots the possibility of passing through if they cannot climb over the tires. Robots must get to other side of field to access their goal (unless they throw the footballs)
Multipliers: There will be no multipliers in this year's game
Other:

• There will be two black footballs, each worth 5 points.
• Robots who finish the game without touching the ground (either by climbing on the tires, or hanging from an apparatus above the tires) will receive 5 extra points for the alliance.
• Robots will be able to remove balls from the enemy goal by pushing up on the net from underneath.
• Autonomous mode will be 15 seconds, followed by 2 minutes of normal play. Goals can be located from anywhere on the field via retroreflective tape.
• Elimination matches will return to the best-of-3 format

Hope to see some of you at Manchester kickoff on Saturday!

Good luck
- Patrick