[archiver]

Posted by Keith.

Student on team #131, C.H.A.O.S., from Central High School and Osram Sylvania & Fleet.

Posted on 1/12/2000 6:52 PM MST


In Reply to: Declawed games posted by Marc DeSchamp on 1/12/2000 10:44 AM MST:



Well, I'm glad someone said this. It really neededto be said. These games are going from an exciting robot competition to a game of tiddly winks.
BRING BACK 'EVERY ROBOT FOR THEMSELVES' F.I.R.S.T.!!!!
How do they want us to go through the qualifying rounds if one of your alliances can't make it to the field to be your alliance?? Just because you win this competition doesn't mean that you are the best robot. Another robot better than you could have been put in a position similar to this one and unfairly got taken out of the runnings. This alliance stuff has to go.
Something off the subject... what happened to placebos??? Last year, the placebo wasn't even around. THe year before, the placebo was a wooden box. The year before however... the placebo, excuse me, placebos were awesome!! Does anyone remember the vacuum cleaner? Or the box that flipped??? That was cool.... ok.. I'll stop getting away from my point...
Anyway, I think that what FIRST is doing is wrong. No longer will a robot like UTC, Naval Undersea Warfare, or Delphi (all from 98) be able to win a competition because they are the best robot. IT's all about who has the best luck of who they are paired with. I understand that 'gracios professionalism' is best, but there is a limit for that. Yah, don't build a robot with a huge bashing arm that can break a robot apart made of steel... or don't build a robot that will unveil a huge tarp to put in front of your opponents playing station so they can't see... .... but when it comes to being best friends with your fellow robots and putting bumpers on so that robots don't chip a piece of wood, gracious professionalism has lost its meaning. I think first needs to reevaluate their goals.
But, like the reply to this message will say, yah, we need to stop putting negativity on the game and put our time into building a great robot. The only thing is, if we don't say something, FIRST will continue to make the games more and more 'soft' each year, because they think we like it this way. Alliances bring up more controversy than anything, scoring for your opponents brings up just as much controversy, basically, FIRST is telling us to have gracious professionalism, while at the same time promoting otherwise. Allright, I've said enough... Well, comment away on this, I would love to see some feedback.
Good luck everyone on your robots, and see ya at the game!