How do you make design decisions as a "team"?

[Peggy Painter]

[quote=Grim Tuesday;1065666]During this time, we would like people to be thinking of how the game works, but in invariable breaks down into "this would be a cool robot" discussions. We would like to, this year, play a "practice game" in which each person assumes the role of a robot, and the team observes, to see how the game is played, though our team has never done this before.........Lastly, a few tips. I try to come up with the worst ideas possible the break the ice in the design discussion. It lightens the mood and gives students more courage to present thier ideas since they can not do worse than their mentor

QUOTE]

Excellent suggestions about team design organization. I think I want to get them to play a practice game during the first few days of the competition. I think the kids & the mentors understand now, how important it is to fully understand the game by the first Tuesday or Wednesday of the competition. BTW...I totally understand about lightening the mood with unusual design ideas. Thanks for your help, Peggy