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Re: Next Year's Game?
I personally believe that the use of spherical objects in first comes out of necessity. They are readily available and rather easy to build an easily followable and captivating game around. Therefore I believe that the game for next year should include a spherical game piece; however, I believe it should also include another less comfortable game piece (cones? or cubes?) that will be introduced into the game in smaller quantities and be worth a premium in points.
As for the spherical game pieces they should come in three colors red, blue, and white. Each alliance has a set number of balls of their color, say 15, that as you score them they are recycled into play and each alliance can not score the other alliance's game pieces and are only allowed to hold such a piece for a short period of time to prevent an opposing robot from collecting and possessing all of the opposing alliance's game pieces for the entirety of the match. The white balls would be usable by both teams and introduced in a larger quantity, around 60 when they are scored they are not recycled back into play and they are worth fewer points. At each end of the field there are two stationary goals placed in the corners Each goal has a light above it that turns on randomly for an interval no shorter than 10 seconds yet the total duration that they are on totals 1 minute 30 seconds, both lights will be off for a period of 5 seconds when the light is changing. Game pieces can be scored through the lit goal for a greater number of points and through the other for a minimal number of points. There are also two small goals at the edge of the field that amount to a 2 foot wide slot 18" up on the lexan wall that may be scored in for a small number of points slightly greater than the raised goal whose light is off. Balls scored in these goals are not recycled into play.
Now for the unusual game pieces. There are five of these pieces on the field the number is designed to promote end game strategy. Four of them are placed in corners on hinged ledges beneath the lit goals. These pieces are worth a sizable number of points and each robot may only possess one at a time. They are designed to be unwieldy and to make other scoring difficult when in possession of them making the time at which they are obtained very important. The fifth piece is placed in the middle of the field on a slightly raised platform. These pieces are to be colored a striking purple.
In this game the autonomous period would be extended to 30 seconds and the teleoperated mode would be 2 minutes. Also the robot size limitations should shrink, but the robots would once again be allowed into an orientation not necessarily contained in the bumper zone.
A game like this, in my opinion, would be fun to watch and hopefully to compete in.
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