[archiver]

Posted by Wayne Cokeley at 04/20/2001 12:50 AM EST


Coach on team #25, Raider Robotix, from North Brunswick Twp. H.S. and Bristol-Myers Squibb.


In Reply to: Re. General Suggitions for Next Year
Posted by Kyle Fenton on 04/19/2001 2:03 PM 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.


Hey Kyle- My old fogey suggestion about the music.
The songs were great, might use some variation but that's fine. My problem is the incredible noise level in both the pits and the arena. I would like to see less noise in the already noisy pits and save the loud stuff for out on the arena floor. The music THERE would be a welcome prelude to the entering of the arena.
Every year I go home hoarse and half deaf from the competition and it is nearly impossible to find a quiet place to talk to your team. This may be a generational thing but the constant ringing in my ears probably means something...