[archiver]

Posted by Thomas A. Frank, Engineer on team #121, The Islanders/Rhode Warrior, from Middletown (RI) High School and Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

Posted on 5/4/99 2:11 PM MST


In Reply to: Some easy to understand games posted by Mike King on 5/2/99 8:03 AM MST:



Hello All;

Ramp and Roll - the best all around game FIRST has done, IMO.

Anyone can understand it (go over, grab the ball, put it through the goalposts).

Interesting strategies - how many other teams didn't realize that each break of the plane
counts for score (remember WPI's super scoring machine)?

The few that did shooters got my vote for most interesting, even if it was a handicap to winning.

Immediate feedback on scoring (the numbers were on ther screen in near real time).

Ramps are fun and an interesting technical challenge. And can be very exciting when machines fall
down them :-)

OK, so the need to fit in a cylinder was a bad idea (to difficult for teams to be assured of
compliance - it's harder to build than a box). And 70 pounds seems so light!


Now, I liked the alliance system this year. So maybe some sort of 2 on 2 (or 3 on 3) game, with
a simple objective and immediate scoring feedback (indeed, automate the scoring system, maybe with
transponders in the objects and goal). And the boxing arena layout previously discussed is an excellent
idea - that way we can all see what's going on.

I admit it, I'm looking forward to next year (did I really write that???)

Tom