[dtengineering]

I'm hesitant to be critical of the GDC, as they have done a pretty good job of most things in the past. Well, certain ranking and match scoring algorithms haven't been that well thought out, and it was almost easier to get actual moon rocks than the game pieces, but as far as the game goes... they've done a pretty good job of it.

I am a bit disappointed, however, to see tubes on a Rack again.... I'm not quite sure why using 1/2" plywood cut and painted to form the logo pieces wouldn't have done the trick... they would have presented a slightly different grasping/manipulation challenge from what we've seen in the past, and teams would have had easy access to an essentially unlimited number of them.

Oh, yeah... they wouldn't pop, either.

The minibot is a neat idea. I think if I had to build one, however, I would look at how I could build it without the RCX... you are allowed two light switches, and I don't see where the rules say you cant hook the minibot motors up to them directly. For that matter, I don't see anything saying that the minibot motors can't be running at the start of the match. Last time I looked, lighter objects tend to go "up" faster. No sense packing an RCX up that pole if you don't have to.

Mind you, I've only had a cursory look at the rules this year as (for the first time in eight years) I'm not playing the game... but I don't think I'm missing out. I played Rack'n'Roll and had fun with it, and get the mini-bot experience and more through volunteering with VEX and teaching about mini-sumo robotics. The teams will make this a fun and interesting game, but I don't think it is the GDC's strongest effort. As far as game design goes, I'd have to say that both the VEX and FTC games this year are more "interesting" games to me.

Jason

P.S. When will we see used car tires as a game piece? Cheap, ubiquitous, easy to grasp in many different ways... and a delightful challenge to lift up in the air!