[Al Skierkiewicz]

We get together the day after the game is announced, break into small groups and brainstorm. Everyone is involved, students, parents, teachers, business partners. No idea is thrown out. We spend the next few days looking at the way the game is played and work the ideas from our brainstorming sessions. Then we start some prototyping while eliminating some of the impractical ideas. The students really drive this part of the design based on strategy and game play on a board, all the while looking for what functions will suit the game both in the qualifying and finals. This slows the process of building but gives us a more refined design before we begin. After that, all systems are open for refinement (redesign) if they prove impractical in competition.
Good Luck, See You in FL.