Ideal FRC Game

[Flimsor]

Originally Posted by JJackson

You could even use a roomba as the puck... as long as you don't have bridges.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3FzCCJaJi0

I remember something like that happening at a regional

[cmrnpizzo14]

Originally Posted by JJackson

that's where the tetras and rubber maid bins came in handy. FIRST could also just use the kop totes as a game piece

I was not on an FRC team in '05, were tetras easy to make out of PVC or something? And I think the KOP bins might be tough with the lids. Maybe something similar to FTC where it is an open-top bin that you load pieces into?

[Cuog]

Originally Posted by cmrnpizzo14

I was not on an FRC team in '05, were tetras easy to make out of PVC or something? And I think the KOP bins might be tough with the lids. Maybe something similar to FTC where it is an open-top bin that you load pieces into?

Yes, the kit came with very easy instructions and I don't remember there being any issues with places running out of PVC since the quantities most teams needed was pretty small compared to use in construction etc.

My ideal game: projectiles and exciting end game, that's really all I want

[CalTran]

Originally Posted by Cuog

My ideal game: projectiles and exciting end game, that's really all I want

I always thought basketball would make an interesting game...perhaps then an end game where the robots could flip either way. Teeter-totters would be an interesting challenge.

My ideal game would be something easy to explain to the audience, have short enough segments that a quick match segment would explain the game, but challenging enough that significant thought would have to be put in by the teams to compete at the top level. And even though it breaks the game, a hidden choke hold strategy would be nice. It makes for an interesting robot every now and then.

[Gregor]

Originally Posted by cmrnpizzo14

I was not on an FRC team in '05, were tetras easy to make out of PVC or something? And I think the KOP bins might be tough with the lids. Maybe something similar to FTC where it is an open-top bin that you load pieces into?

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?

[Walter Deitzler]

A lot of bot on bot action would be nice. An open field with few safe zones, and intense defensive possibilities.

[dellagd]

Originally Posted by LedLover96

A lot of bot on bot action would be nice. An open field with few safe zones, and intense defensive possibilities.

Agreed. I wish defense was more "allowed"

I'd like to see another game where teams can hold an infinite number of game pieces, but make it so that handling more than 1 is natural (ie it was awkward for most handling two tetras in 2005).

[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.

[Tristan Lall]

Originally Posted by dellagd

Agreed. I wish defense was more "allowed"

I'd be happy to see vigourous defence being allowed in the game again. That way we could at least get some use out of the bumpers.

An ideal implementation would include defensive opportunities with skill/capability required, and meaningful strategic tradeoffs. (For example, goaltending allowed if the defending robot is not making contact with anything inside a certain safe area, or if the defender is entirely supported by something precarious.)

[stundt1]

In my ideal game

I would not like:
Minibots
Kinect
anything having to do with 2009

I would like:
A game like 2004
A game which involves hanging
Coopertition like balancing
Scoring in the center of the field

[JJackson]

Originally Posted by Tristan Lall

FIRST probably should have used sheet polycarbonate connectors of a slightly different configuration 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.

We actually made our own connectors for the tetras, out of pvc ends and Lexan (cut with a bandsaw). I'm not sure if FIRST said to do this or I we just did it, but we didn't require any thing we couldn't get from our local hardware store

[Twest3259]

My Ideal game would be a mix of king of the hill (with the hill in the centre much like stackattack but steeper) mixed with capture some sort of game piece and get it back to your side of the field. no safe zones on the field. Just really let the Defensive strategies be a big part of it. also a tunnel on each side that goes through the hill. for quick bring backs but the loss of visibility of your bot. and the end game would be to drive onto the hill and stack your alliance partners ontop of you. for extra points.

[Justin Montois]

I feel like I posted something like this on here somewhere..but

I want a game with an Auto Mode that give you a significant bonus for completing, unlike 2009, 2010. Past two years have been perfect.

A teleop mode that presents teams with a wide variety of strategies and rules that don't limit creativity

And lastly, an end game that encourages strong Cooperation among the alliance, not just "Get robots behind a line"

We'll know in just a few days!

Originally Posted by Justin Montois

And lastly, an end game that encourages strong Cooperation among the alliance, not just "Get robots behind a line"

I want to echo this. It seemed this year's endgame, while fine in eliminations, was focused more upon cooperating with the opposing alliance during the qualifying rounds, and previous years were usually focused on one robot acting on itself to complete a task. I'd like to see an endgame that involves teamwork and strategy with your own alliance to complete a group task.