First Official 2012 Game Hint

[Jim Wilks]

Originally Posted by HumblePie

Building on this and others:

This year is the 20th anniversary of the first video game (Pong)

1972 to the present is a bit more than 20 years!

[CNettles11]

Originally Posted by jgw

1972 to the present is a bit more than 20 years!

You mean that 10 years ago doesn't mean early 90's?

[HumblePie]

Originally Posted by jgw

1972 to the present is a bit more than 20 years!

Wait........this can't be.....I was only a kid when Pong came out, and I'm how old now?.....oops. Proofreading is your friend folks. It's heck to get old.

[HumblePie]

On a slightly unrelated note, there has been a lot of speculation re: the return of minibots. Why not apply the "miniaturization" principle to the grown-up bot? The 38 x 28 footprint has been somewhat sacred lately, and it's possible that the GDC had issues with so many chassis designs being "recirculated" from Rack 'n Roll last year. The new CRio is smaller, why not the robots? A smaller footprint would force many teams to rethink their entire packaging scheme.

[Taylor]

Originally Posted by HumblePie

On a slightly unrelated note, there has been a lot of speculation re: the return of minibots. Why not apply the "miniaturization" principle to the grown-up bot? The 38 x 28 footprint has been somewhat sacred lately, and it's possible that the GDC had issues with so many chassis designs being "recirculated" from Rack 'n Roll last year. The new CRio is smaller, why not the robots? A smaller footprint would force many teams to rethink their entire packaging scheme.

That line of thinking is both awesome and evil. I like it yet I hate it. Good work.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by HumblePie

On a slightly unrelated note, there has been a lot of speculation re: the return of minibots. Why not apply the "miniaturization" principle to the grown-up bot? The 38 x 28 footprint has been somewhat sacred lately, and it's possible that the GDC had issues with so many chassis designs being "recirculated" from Rack 'n Roll last year. The new CRio is smaller, why not the robots? A smaller footprint would force many teams to rethink their entire packaging scheme.

I'd love for the GDC to throw us a chassis curve-ball. Make people rethink their chassis designs.

[ttldomination]

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

I'd love for the GDC to throw us a chassis curve-ball. Make people rethink their chassis designs.

The thing about a curveball is that it's going to be thrown to everyone.

If you throw Pujols a nasty curveball and he misses, chances are very good that the rookie who just came out of AAA will also tighten up and miss.

- Sunny G.

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by ttldomination

The thing about a curveball is that it's going to be thrown to everyone.

If you throw Pujols a nasty curveball and he misses, chances are very good that the rookie who just came out of AAA will also tighten up and miss.

- Sunny G.

I don't mean that they should make it extremely difficult to make a chassis, just something different than the current field, kind of like '09.

Originally Posted by notmattlythgoe

I'd love for the GDC to throw us a chassis curve-ball. Make people rethink their chassis designs.

I'd love for them NOT to. I've planning out many different chassis for our team to use for this year, if applicable, and I don't want to see a smaller chassis ruin it!

[notmattlythgoe]

Originally Posted by SuperNerd256

I'd love for them NOT to. I've planning out many different chassis for our team to use for this year, if applicable, and I don't want to see a smaller chassis ruin it!

Exactly why it would be good if they did it.

[Jon Stratis]

Originally Posted by HumblePie

On a slightly unrelated note, there has been a lot of speculation re: the return of minibots. Why not apply the "miniaturization" principle to the grown-up bot? The 38 x 28 footprint has been somewhat sacred lately, and it's possible that the GDC had issues with so many chassis designs being "recirculated" from Rack 'n Roll last year. The new CRio is smaller, why not the robots? A smaller footprint would force many teams to rethink their entire packaging scheme.

Keep in mind that Rack 'n Roll had different bumper rules than we enjoy today - specifically, you were not required to have bumpers around the entire robot. In fact, standard bumpers weren't even required at all - they were optional! As a result, many teams ended up with a chassis design that allowed a gap in the front which made tube mechanisms easier and more protected (as some of the mechanism would be recessed within the frame, with only the rollers sticking out).

The cRio is smaller, but the overall footprint required for the electronics is larger than it was with the old IFI system - Jaguars are larger than Victors, the PDB is larger than the distribution board we used to use, the cRio (even the new one) is significantly larger (in 3 dimensions) than the old robot controller - plus you have to have a digital sidecar attached, which increases the footprint even more.

With the KitBot chassis, I don't think the GDC is worried about recirculated chassis designs - We've used the exact same chassis (the KitBot) 4/5 years our team's been around!

[Mr B]

The Rockwell stuff is probably used for the field. Although ladder logic and such may not be cutting edge technology, it is very reliable and is used extensively in factory automation. The sensors do indicate that there will be some sort of flying object to be counted (I'm so happy). I wonder if they will finally use footballs. For years Dean has mentioned that FIRST is modeled after professional sports, and he sometimes references the NFL. A football throwing game would be both a challenge and a blast to play. Poof balls would be safe, but I do remember shredding several of them during Aim High. All of our practice balls ended up looking like asteroids.

Something to keep in mind though... the game design committee went through some pretty dramatic changes last year. This game could be like nothing we've seen. I just hope it can come close to the awesomeness we have seen in the past.

Originally Posted by Mr B

Something to keep in mind though... the game design committee went through some pretty dramatic changes last year. This game could be like nothing we've seen. I just hope it can come close to the awesomeness we have seen in the past.

True. While I do like the old GDC, I'd like to see what new innovations and ideas come up. Or, if you're not as optimistic, see what horrible things may occur. You know the horrible thoughts for game designs you've had before. People's minds can be scary places where lane violations are in every match, and all minibots look the same. *shiver

[DavisC]

Hmm... Extra thought, we've all been looking at this 1 way (how will each part be used?).
Anyone looking into What is NOT on the list? (what isn't on it that was in Aim High/Breakaway?)

[zaphodp.jensen]

Originally Posted by DavisC

Hmm... Extra thought, we've all been looking at this 1 way (how will each part be used?).
Anyone looking into What is NOT on the list? (what isn't on it that was in Aim High/Breakaway?)

One slight problem, but your suggestion is still workable. There are thousands of possible parts that could be used, and that's just coming from Rockwell...