Ideal FRC Game

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by Gregor

Games with readily accessible game peices since 2003, to the best of my knowledge.

03-totes
05-PVC tetras
10-soccer balls

Were the 04 dodge balls accessible?

The trouble isn't that soccer balls or playground balls aren't available, it's that those soccer balls or playground balls are hard to source. (People cared less in 2002, because the soccer balls frankly didn't matter much. 2010 was much different.)

Unless supply is an intentional game constraint (very bad idea), FIRST needs to ensure that there is a supply chain available for the actual game pieces, or demonstrate (with supporting analysis) that the actual game pieces differ insignificantly from alternatives more widely available.

For example, the tetras were a good idea in principle, except that the connectors were not widely available. FIRST probably should have used sheet polycarbonate connectors of a slightly different configuration (less stress concentration in the corners) instead of the moulded plastic ones. That would have solved production issues (any laser, waterjet or CNC router shop could make them, as could many teams), and would probably have been cheaper to mass-produce for the game. That's perhaps only obvious in hindsight, but now that they've had the experience, hopefully they're taking it to heart.<sup>1

1</sup> Maybe they did consider and reject these for some reason. It's entirely possible that these were somehow unacceptable as well.