First Choice

[Ninja_Bait]

I think some people have forgotten what the purpose of FIRST Choice is, not just here but on other threads. Before we start game speculation, we should remember that it's supposed to replace the costs and logistics of sending a lot of parts to teams by making most of those parts available but only if the team wants them. This allows them to put less stuff in the main KOP and make a greater variety of stuff freely available to teams.

That means that game-specific parts aren't really likely to appear on FIRST Choice, because everyone will need them; they'll instead be in the regular KOP. FIRST Choice is more like our run-of-the-mill KOP stuff that FIRST felt wasn't worth sending to everyone. They either wanted to add it to the KOP and decided it was too specialized, or they had been putting it in the KOP and seeing a general disuse of the item.

[Robert Cawthon]

Originally Posted by Ninja_Bait

I think some people have forgotten what the purpose of FIRST Choice is, not just here but on other threads. Before we start game speculation, we should remember that it's supposed to replace the costs and logistics of sending a lot of parts to teams by making most of those parts available but only if the team wants them. This allows them to put less stuff in the main KOP and make a greater variety of stuff freely available to teams.

That means that game-specific parts aren't really likely to appear on FIRST Choice, because everyone will need them; they'll instead be in the regular KOP. FIRST Choice is more like our run-of-the-mill KOP stuff that FIRST felt wasn't worth sending to everyone. They either wanted to add it to the KOP and decided it was too specialized, or they had been putting it in the KOP and seeing a general disuse of the item.

True, but, remember, the minibot parts kit (the extra parts) were in the FIRST choice and had to be hidden for obvious (now) reasons.

[Mark McLeod]

Originally Posted by Robert Cawthon

True, but, remember, the minibot parts kit (the extra parts) were in the FIRST choice and had to be hidden for obvious (now) reasons.

Last year the Tetrix offer on FIRST choice wasn't hidden before kickoff.
We could all see it by December 13 and speculate on why it was offered.

[ratdude747]

Originally Posted by Ninja_Bait

That means that game-specific parts aren't really likely to appear on FIRST Choice, because everyone will need them; they'll instead be in the regular KOP. FIRST Choice is more like our run-of-the-mill KOP stuff that FIRST felt wasn't worth sending to everyone. They either wanted to add it to the KOP and decided it was too specialized, or they had been putting it in the KOP and seeing a general disuse of the item.

i'd disagree somewhat... what if they are EXTRA game pices? kinda how the kit came with 3 tubes last year, they could have included in FC extra tubes and uber tubes...

[joe5joe7]

Does anyone have any ideas about why they're offering a control station box? Have they offered this in years past?

This could be a possible element for controlling a mini-bot, or to be used in autonomous like that one year that I can't remember off the top of my head...

[EricH]

Originally Posted by joe5joe7

Does anyone have any ideas about why they're offering a control station box? Have they offered this in years past?

This could be a possible element for controlling a mini-bot, or to be used in autonomous like that one year that I can't remember off the top of my head...

2008, when teams supplied their own IR remote and Game Hint #1 was the receiver.

No, it hasn't been offered previously. But, there are a number of possible uses, and many teams build a button box for their control station.

[Ernst]

Originally Posted by joe5joe7

Does anyone have any ideas about why they're offering a control station box? Have they offered this in years past?

This could be a possible element for controlling a mini-bot, or to be used in autonomous like that one year that I can't remember off the top of my head...

My idea: We have to mount them on our robots and members of the opposing alliance must use them to turn our robots off. Members of our alliance must then turn us back on.

Here's a link of a nearly identical (different colored buttons) button box:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/SCH...-Station-6HK27
Perhaps it's an alternative to the STOP button on the Driver Station that must be held by the Drive Coach? Who knows.

What I'm more worried about are the 11 different items that will be released later. 11 different items that would give away part of the game? 11 game pieces? 11 field elements? Does that seem like a lot to anyone else?

[Christopher149]

Originally Posted by ZehP

What I'm more worried about are the 11 different items that will be released later. 11 different items that would give away part of the game? 11 game pieces? 11 field elements? Does that seem like a lot to anyone else?

Does it make a difference that 9 are parts and 2 are products?

[alectronic]

Originally Posted by joe5joe7

Does anyone have any ideas about why they're offering a control station box? Have they offered this in years past?

Like Eric said, it has not been offered before. But I don't think it is worth reading into. I think this is simply a replacement as a more durable enable/disable switch or on/off for the robot status during testing purposes. But I could be wrong!