FRC Blogged - One Day to Go, FIRST Choice Maintenance and Game Piece Availability, NA

[Wayne TenBrink]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

I hope that doesn't mean we have another 'limited quantity' game piece that is not feasible to make or buy outside FIRST channels *shudder*.

That sounds like a done-deal.

The question is, does "limited" mean 1 or 111? I guess it depends on the game!

[ehochstein]

Originally Posted by Wayne TenBrink

That sounds like a done-deal.

The question is, does "limited" mean 1 or 111? I guess it depends on the game!

It also might mean you can't get the game pieces anywhere else.

[Racer26]

Personally, I LIKE the game pieces that MUST be obtained through FIRST channels (such as 2012's balls, 2011's tubes, 2008's trackballs (kind of), 2007's tubes, 2004's balls) because FIRST is pretty good about getting an appropriate number for the season, including build.

When they use some obscure manufacturer who sells through big chains, who isn't prepared for the volume, the game pieces immediately become unobtainium. (See: 2009's Orbit Balls, 2010's official soccer balls, 2003's Sterilite Bins, 2006's Poof balls)

[Basel A]

I understand and will respect FIRST's decision to protect their IP, but I wonder why Frank didn't speak to the concerns that led to people hosting the documents. On Kickoff Day last year, it was near impossible to get the manual from the FIRST site (at least until later in the afternoon). Does FIRST think it won't be a problem this year or do they simply consider the IP concerns more important than utility for teams?

[BigJ]

Originally Posted by Basel A

I understand and will respect FIRST's decision to protect their IP, but I wonder why Frank didn't speak to the concerns that led to people hosting the documents. On Kickoff Day last year, it was near impossible to get the manual from the FIRST site (at least until later in the afternoon). Does FIRST think it won't be a problem this year or do they simply consider the IP concerns more important than utility for teams?

I think it is more likely that they assume that the encrypted documents which they have reminded teams about repeatedly over the last 3 days provide enough utility for the few hours that the site gets wrecked.

I'm guessing that controlling released versions of the rules is the real sticking point on this issue.

[MechEng83]

FIRST's reply regarding a comment about their website crashing and being unreliable on kickoff day:

2013
Submitted by rkue on Fri, 01/04/2013 - 14:54.
Sunny, you're absolutely right that there has been website congestion in the past, which is why we released encrypted versions ahead of time. Our awesome IT team also added additional capacity to the website, which should make web traffic less of a concern. That being said, content should not be re-hosted elsewhere, even if with the best intentions. Please watch this blog for updates and have a blast tomorrow!

We'll see. We'll see.

[gabrielau23]

Could you just download the encrypted version, stick it on a pendrive or something and then just type in the password when it comes up? Makes the whole website crashing thing kinda moot.

[bardd]

Originally Posted by gabrielau23

Could you just download the encrypted version, stick it on a pendrive or something and then just type in the password when it comes up? Makes the whole website crashing thing kinda moot.

You can, and you should. That's what FIRST wants yuo to do with the encrypted manual, and the reason they publish it ahead of Kickoff.

[MechEng83]

Originally Posted by gabrielau23

Could you just download the encrypted version, stick it on a pendrive or something and then just type in the password when it comes up? Makes the whole website crashing thing kinda moot.

I believe that is the intent. Download it now, so you're not clogging the servers on Saturday. The problem is with HOSTING the files where others can download it in an uncontrolled copy well into the future.

[gabrielau23]

Originally Posted by MechEng83

I believe that is the intent. Download it now, so you're not clogging the servers on Saturday. The problem is with HOSTING the files where others can download it in an uncontrolled copy well into the future.

Well, I know our school has a "Hand Out" folder that teachers use to hand out to kids. Our sponsor (a tech ed teacher) just downloads it and sticks it in there, ensuring any computer connected to the school network is able to reach the document.
Or a team could use the Google drive, Dropbox, Box.com, there's a lot of file sharing options.

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by gabrielau23

Well, I know our school has a "Hand Out" folder that teachers use to hand out to kids. Our sponsor (a tech ed teacher) just downloads it and sticks it in there, ensuring any computer connected to the school network is able to reach the document.
Or a team could use the Google drive, Dropbox, Box.com, there's a lot of file sharing options.

FIRST doesn't care how your team distributes the manual internally. They just care if you put it in a place that the general public can get at it. (A few solutions may overlap between internal distribution and public access, so be careful.)

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by gabrielau23

Could you just download the encrypted version, stick it on a pendrive or something and then just type in the password when it comes up? Makes the whole website crashing thing kinda moot.

Yes.

[Basel A]

Originally Posted by MechEng83

FIRST's reply regarding a comment about their website crashing and being unreliable on kickoff day

That's encouraging. I used the excrypted manual last year and am doing so again this year, but I'm not sure how wide usage is. I do know I had to pass around copies after Kickoff last year because many people didn't download it beforehand.

I do want to commend FIRST for their quick replying. It seems like ever since Frank took over we've seen prompt responses to comments on the blog.