[archiver]

Posted by Kyle Fenton at 04/19/2001 2:03 PM EST


Student on team #121, Islanders, from Middletown High School and NUWC.


In Reply to: PUSH to Simplify the Game for 2002 ***Attention FIRST ***
Posted by Andy Baker on 04/19/2001 11:31 AM EST:



The game next year should be all customizable.
This is my suggestions for a next year's game

1. Make it either 2v2 or all 4 working together. If it is
2v2 than your main objective would be to will be to
rack up the balls and head to the center to a fight
for the big points for the main objecting in the
center. If I is all 4 working together, you would have
a chance at higher score but have a harder time
getting a score. It should be integrated so that if
one robot doesn't perform its task than it will hung
the other robots, causing the whole alliance to
loose major points. This will cause the game to be
more exciting and will satisfy everybody (meaning if
they want 2v2 or all 4).

2. The game field next year will probably be the
same as this years and last years. Rectangular
shape with diamond plate stations. With also the
main objective in the middle with balls or floppies
at the human station and at the other side of the
field.

3. The game next year should be on multiple
terrain. Adds the excitement for the game instead
of just all carpet. Instead of just carpet FIRST can
add maybe metal surfaces, grit tape surfaces, dirt,
and maybe some water.

4. Hire DJ's that actually plays a variety of music.
This year it must have been just like 4 songs
repeated over and over again.

5. Have more team pictures stations. Remember
when you take your picture for your team where it
says FIRST in the background. Add about 1 or two
more. I remember waiting there for about an hour
in the hot sun.

6. Have a little something extra, like a lining or
something, so the floors, in very heavy rain don't
flood the pit area or the competition. This year that
was really annoying and dangerous (with the
electronics and all).

7. If you have a media pass for the indoor field in
the nationals, make it so that you have like you got
a clear view for the field. This year the indoor
"media station" was just another place where you
could sit down. I mean we could have use those
"special chairs" that no one else was using. Only
Einstein really had a good place to take video
shots. Another thing, only be up in the media booth
if your team is out there, or ready to compete. This
eliminates the crowding factor by only having about
5 people (4 teams + the guy who is taping it for
FIRST).

8. Make Epcot gives us more of the parking lot so
we can add two more divisions than last year's.
The side of the parking lot that said they had for
their "real customers" were no more than 10 cars
scattered. Believe me they can give us more room.

9. Have a separate screen maybe on the tents
outside or something for the
1.) Chairman's Award 2.) Animation
This will give teams more and better access to see
the other team's hard work. If it is a Chairman's
Award Paper submission than FIRST can scan it in
and on a big screen might be readable.

9. Split up the judges to a specific division. This
will give a more equal and better responses for
awards.

11. Practice should be a little more exciting.
Because you are waiting and do nothing that whole
day. Maybe that’s when speakers will come in and
demonstrate something for us or something.


There is many things I hated about this year but I
will explain that another time.

P.S. I hope that more teams next year will give out
awards. Nothing big, but just something to give to
other teams that recognizes their effort in helping
you out. It is almost like a team award can almost
be as satisfy as a FIRST award because someone
looked at your team and recognized your effort.