2013 Game Hint!

[SteveGPage]

Some initial thoughts myself. Some seem to have been discussed in this thread, maybe some not. Catching up at 35K feet, crossing the Rookies, I may have bounced over something!

1. The picture, as best I can tell, according to the video I found online, is actually at almost 3:01. So not sure if the "3" exactly is what they were going for. At the moment of the screen cap, he is mouthing the word "Up" in the song. I think we are going to be seeing a lifting aspect of the game, both of game pieces and prob other robots - including opp alliance robots. Elements of Rack 'n Roll and Coopertition like last year's bridge, and maybe Overdrive.
2. The video, if the three minute mark isn't the primary driver of the screen cap, has several locations. In this segment, Rick is singing on an elevated stage, with two women next to him - so three participants. I'm guessing we're staying with the 3 v 3 standard, but perhaps need to finish with the alliance members on an elevated area. Elements of Aim High with the ramp.
3. The dining room where this is happening, has a number of empty tables, with chairs stacked on top of them. So I would lean towards a stacking game. Elements of Triple Play.
4. For the push pins, since I see parts of other games in this, let me go a different direction from the rest of the discussion. Taking the push pins in the order in which they are placed. Starting at 12 oclock and moving clockwise, perhaps they are indicative of the periods of the game. Yellow being AM or some kind of hybrid mode. Based on the outcome of that, let's say "Red" wins AM, "Blue" is now on offense first, while "Red" is on defense for the second period, or first period of TeleOp. Next, Red is on offense, while Blue is on defense. Lastly, because Red won AM, they get some benefit of being in control of the End Game. Elements of Aim High.
5. Since the hint, its self, is a picture. Expect a emphasis on cameras, and image capture capabilities, probably for AM, and for distant aiming. Certainly the push over the last several years.
6. Lastly, I'm not convinced we are driving on cork, or that cork has anything to do with playing pieces or surfaces. I can't see theme returning to something like Lunacy in terms of playing surfaces. So why the corkboard? I think it has to do with the function of a corkboard, a place where you share information with the public. As with Rack N' Roll (and to some degree Breakaway), and the lifting requirement, there was a need to share design ideas so there was some kind of standard designs for the lifter and the liftee. I expect that to be a greater push, forcing teams to come to some kind of design standard for those kind of activities.

Okay, my $0.02 (or 0.0154 Euros)

Forgive any typos - balancing laptop on a small tray, bouncing my way East!

Steve