When does "build season" begin?

[Madison]

We all know kick-off is January 5. When, exactly, can we begin work on January 5? The start of the broadcast; the end? The game reveal? Midnight the evening before?

Just curious and (mostly) kidding.

[StephLee]

The "build" part of it begins the second our group that attended a local kickoff makes the 3 hour drive home with the kit; the brainstorming starts the second we have any idea what the game is (so yes, if we think we've got the clue figured out, brainstorming starts then).

[EricH]

Thinking of ideas: during the webcast. Officially (on my team): pretty much right after the webcast, we start strategy talks.

[aaeamdar]

I think it would be a little un-Kosher to start building the morning of - not trying to criticize anyone who does that, just my gut feeling. Personally, I think build season starts after the animation ends, just to pick a more-or-less arbitrary point.

-Paul

For us, the moment the field is unveiled, it all gets rolling. We immediately start scribbling down ideas, and thinking of the best strategy.

[Akash Rastogi]

We usually have a full day meeting right after the broadcast and basically go everyday from there.

[midway78224]

the min. we get home from the kickoff our buildseason starts

[aaeamdar]

I think what the OP meant was not "when does your team start work" but more technically, "when is it allowable in the rules to start building". Please correct if I'm wrong.

-P

[alex1699]

i would thing the second they release the code for the rule book...

[Billfred]

Well, the rules covering robot fabrication are historically in the Robot section of the manual. I imagine that having the full rules unlocked would be key (no pun intended) to success...so I suppose the answer is "1.618 seconds after they put the encryption key on the screen".

[alex1699]

Originally Posted by Billfred

Well, the rules covering robot fabrication are historically in the Robot section of the manual. I imagine that having the full rules unlocked would be key (no pun intended) to success...so I suppose the answer is "1.618 seconds after they put the encryption key on the screen".

well i would have to say how ever long it takes me to type 20 digits the right way... so more like a minute

[Mark McLeod]

The rules typically say "the period between the Kick-off and robot shipment deadline," so I'd say the moment the kickoff broadcast counts down and goes on the air.

But we're all pretty busy right about then, what with our favorite show on and all.

[synth3tk]

Well, I don't think I've ever seen anyone say they start the morning of. Strategy or ideas can always be thought up, but it's sort of hard to plan a build for the game you're on your way to see the game.

We plan on coming up with ideas after we get back, but because of our school's schedule, we won't start until Tuesday.

[skimoose]

Originally Posted by M. Krass

We all know kick-off is January 5. When, exactly, can we begin work on January 5? The start of the broadcast; the end? The game reveal? Midnight the evening before?

Just curious and (mostly) kidding.

From the "just kidding" stand point.

Does the season really ever end or start? Many of us are constantly thinking up new ideas and possibly building or designing off season projects, reflecting on other teams great performing robots, or mechanisms. In just a few days now, we'll all start "building" when the GDC drops the official game clue. We'll all try to imagine what the game will be like, what the scoring pieces are, start dreaming up mechanisms to win our imagined game. Doesn't that count too?

From the more serious side, I'd say the minute the Kickoff webcast begins. You're still taking a slight risk that something you're designing/building won't comply with a game rule. What if they change robot dimensions this year, and you're already milling a frame? So it's a somewhat risky start without having read the rules fully. During the Kickoff event we're always taking notes of key points, and tossing design ideas back and forth. When we attend the Manchester event in person (most years) it's a three hour car ride and non-stop discussion home. Fellow mentor, Bengineer, even had his girlfriend read the rules to him on the car ride home one year! (I'm sure that scored points with her )

Unfortunately, we won't be attending the Manchester Kickoff this year, but a local remote Kickoff. We'll be much too busy preparing for our Kickoff evening Pasta Dinner Fundraiser which will also be our 10th Anniversary Celebration. Lots of alumni, former parents, mentors, and faculty to impress with how far the team has come in ten short years. Any friends of GUS Team 228 are welcome to stop by and talk about the 2008 game.

[Dick Linn]

We watch the broadcast, usually over at VCU, then have a leisurely lunch. Then we meet at the school in the afternoon, where we chain up the best and brightest, and beat them thoroughly. They we leave them in the robot closet until Sunday or Monday. This makes it much easier to get all the ideas out in the open and secure agreement over the best strategy and design goals. It also prevents second-guessing later in the season.