[alectronic]

OK, so this is my first post on CD, because I really wanted to comment on the first hint of 09. I don't know if anyone else has suggested this, but it appears to me that the image in the background of the fish is a shark, pointed the other direction. As for the prominent fish in the picture, it is clearly an Opah. This is a bit out there, but the record for weight of an opah caught in open water is 162.9 pounds. Perhaps the weight limit this year? Seems about right. As for size, they are roughly 1 meter wide, again, a possible size hint. I also saw the posts that went up a while back saying that the FIRST regional directors were looking for pools. I think anyone that has been in the program for a build season or two knows that FIRST is more clever then to send a game hint about a fish, and then have all the directors look for pools. The game is not a water game. The question that is really being posed is why would they pick this fish? As far as I have found, other then the characteristics I mentioned, the only other valuable information is that it is common in Hawaii and does not travel in schools. New Alliance format perhaps? But even that appears worthless. As for the writing in the background of the image, I have been unsuccessful in lighting it in photo shop. One last note about the sharks possibly being the thing in the background... Assuming they are sharks, maybe they are hinting to sonar. I have no idea if this is correct, but from the pictures I have seen of the new control system, there is a very prominent camera. More then ever, a challenge that is some sort of maze or obstacle course style game is likely. That would not be extremely difficult in terms of transition to a new controller, but would also not be a walk in the park. As always, FIRST has confused us all. Maybe this can at least get you thinking of some other possibilities.