FOLDING TEAMS!!

[gniticxe]

Originally posted by Mike Norton
Just to add my two cents:
....
So after they announced how this year is going to work [nats qualification], we went out and saw how we can teach robotic and do everything FIRST is trying to do by going to battlebot.

Not all team leave because of funding.

Some leave just to go somewhere better.

IMHO, if you think you can capture the whole FIRST experience with BattleBots, more power to you. It is hard for me to believe though. Sure, BattleBots might be well known throughout our age group, and I am sure the participants there have a lot of fun but, FIRST has provided me, and so many other people over the years, with an experience designed to be both energetic and educational.
Money is an issue for every team. No one is alone in that respect. The concept of qualifying for Nationals, I think, will make everyone try to build a better bot! No longer will that part just 'do,' it will be the part that will work, because it is the best concept that the team can think of. Best of wishes with BattleBots, but don't forget FIRST.