2014 Game

[evanperryg]

Originally Posted by AllieS4246

I'd like to start seeing mixes of past games.

The field has bumps like 2010, on the 2009 floor with the 2008 balls. Robots must put the balls on a rack held up by chains. The endgame is minibots climbing a pyramid that is balanced on a ramp that the robots must balance.

On the topic of hockey, I think it would be really cool (Canada would win it, of course). However, I seriously doubt that they would do 3 shooting games in a row and the ball/no ball pattern predicts that the next main game piece will be a ball. The 2009 floors, though everyone hates them(and for good reason) presented a very unique challenge that can't be matched by things like bumps in the floor. I agree, it was definitely not the best game they've come up with but I won't say that it did not present a very unique challenge.

I also would like to see a 1992 reboot

[evanperryg]

Originally Posted by bbradf44

I got my money on a water game. Think about it, the regular pushing, kicking, throwing, putting on pegs is getting old and older more experienced teams have a huge advantage. Granted they will always have somewhat of an advantage, but no frc team has done a water based game, in theory this could put more teams on the same playing field. And besides I think a water game is far overdue, were ready for a new element

If a watergame does happen, it won't be an entire field made of water. Sure, we have sealed electrical components but the task of trying to get a 120lb robot to both be able to float and move around would be ridiculous. The field itself would be expensive to produce, and would weigh a ton with all that water. If there is water, it will be something like a kiddie pool in the middle of the field that robots collect game pieces from.

[cad321]

Originally Posted by evanperryg

On the topic of hockey, I think it would be really cool (Canada would win it, of course). However, I seriously doubt that they would do 3 shooting games in a row and the ball/no ball pattern predicts that the next main game piece will be a ball.

Street Hockey. It follows the Ball/no ball pattern you have mentioned and is still hockey. They could even change the 30 second whistle to a guy yelling "CAR!!!" to make it that much more authentic .

[Orion.DeYoe]

Originally Posted by Boe

how about they bring back the lunacy trailers only they only have one peg in the center and during tele op you try to stack inner tubes in the opposing teams trailers.

That would be awesome. It was decently easy to pick up and hang a tube in 2011 but if that peg was moving around the field... Teams would have to come up with creative designs to be able to stack tubes while moving or quickly enough that the opposing robot can't get away.

[Orion.DeYoe]

Originally Posted by saikiranra

Unless the pucks are Frisbee sized, I doubt we will be playing a hockey game next year. The GDC wants the games to kind of be self-explanatory and easy to understand to the public. Although hockey is an easy to understand and fun to watch sport in real life, I doubt that it would translate well to robots.

I just thought of something. I have been really skeptical of people's "conclusions" based on the gift that was given to the Dean's List winners (they've come up with some pretty crazy stuff, mostly involving water... lol). I think that everyone's taking it too literally.
However I think it could shed some light (no pun intended) on a hockey game. What if the pucks glowed in the dark or had a decently bright light on them? This would help the viewers see the pucks as well as the robot operators. It could also be set up in a way that it glows in a color that the robots can track.

Also, I don't see any way that hockey could be played with only one puck. FIRST never makes sports games with the standard number of gamepieces. There would almost certainly be lots of pucks on the field.

[Orion.DeYoe]

Originally Posted by Johnnybukkel

What about a Capture the Flag style of game? I'm not sure how it could be executed but it's an idea at least.

I absolutely love this game. I've thought of turning it into a FIRST game myself.

[Jay Burnett]

Originally Posted by Johnnybukkel

What about a Capture the Flag style of game? I'm not sure how it could be executed but it's an idea at least.

I predict many stripped gears and broken claws going on with this. Brace yourselves, Mechanical team!

[kuraikou]

Originally Posted by Jay Burnett

I predict many stripped gears and broken claws going on with this. Brace yourselves, Mechanical team!

This would definitely be interesting, it would require some teams to make a robot that was very fast to gain points.

I was thinking like a game where if your robot is within a certain zone you get points, and some of the zones for more points would be in hard to get to places, like on top of a bump.

[c_roy]

Sorry everyone... but the regolith will not be coming back ever. Reason is that it was found out after champs that the dust kicked up from it is directly related to emphysema and other health problems.

[Team3266Spencer]

I don't know what the actual game will be like, but since FIRST handed out the glow-in-the-dark merchandise I have had a very strong feeling that drivers will be driving with the visual help of an on-board camera. Perhaps the game will be made to work well with relying on sensor and other feedback from your robot.

[bbradf44]

Originally Posted by Team3266Spencer

I don't know what the actual game will be like, but since FIRST handed out the glow-in-the-dark merchandise I have had a very strong feeling that drivers will be driving with the visual help of an on-board camera. Perhaps the game will be made to work well with relying on sensor and other feedback from your robot.

I think it would be cool to have the driver station away from the field or set up in such a way where the drivers can't see the field and have to rely on their on board cameras and sensors to play the game

[Team3266Spencer]

Originally Posted by bbradf44

I think it would be cool to have the driver station away from the field or set up in such a way where the drivers can't see the field and have to rely on their on board cameras and sensors to play the game

Me too. I think if this is what FIRST is implying, the 2014 game could be a lot of fun to compete in.

[dellagd]

However, I seriously doubt that they would do 3 shooting games in a row and the ball/no ball pattern predicts that the next main game piece will be a ball.

Unfortunately, I'd have to disagree. Personally, as someone obsessed with FIRST, I am sick and tired or the shooting thing. I want something new, something complicated, and something with optional cooperation (note thats note coopertition). Just as a side note, I doubt FIRST limits themselves to a set pattern. These are people, not programs. They just like to mix it up every year, as would I. If they had some stellar idea for a non ball item for 2014, I think they'd use it...

2012 was alright, shooting was quite difficult, the cooperation on the bridges was nice, but the coopertition bridge? That threw a wrench into a lot of strategy (and scouting for that matter). It was SO important, and the way simply balancing with an opponent, which was not that hard, could double your take from the match was way to much credit for a tiny act. Regardless, I think it forced teams into a hostile position, where you could easily just screw another team on purpose to take a win, or if you honestly couldnt do it the opponent would suspect you of mal-intent...

But it was exciting, and I think FIRST liked that for once non robotics people could easily understand the game, follow it, and watch a obvious showdown between opponents on the edge of their seat. Face it, flying projectiles and buzzer shots from across the field is more exciting than hanging pool inner-tubes on a peg.

Fast Forward to 2013. The game is a shooting game again. Teleop and Auton are pretty much refurbished game modes from 2012. Hoops are vertical, large, and rectangular. Basketballs are now Frisbees. In Auton, have the robots start somewhere and give them more points if they make the shots. There are more game pieces somewhere accessible on the field, but you must drive to get them. Its the same. But it is much easier. In 2012, Teleop was hard and End Game was easy. Now, Teleop is easy (much easier than I think most of us initially thought) and the End Game was hard. Shooting discs? Still exciting and a crowd pleaser. End Game? Now even more exciting with robots ascending a large metal structure, so high and dangerously that they must be repelled down. But now direct cooperation is gone. People dont climb together or pass the game piece. Its a very separable game, and robots can pretty much go about their business on the field (of course there are exceptions, like how to handle a FCS...). I liked having to actually work out a team plan that didn't take place in que.

Now what will we see in 2014? Well, following the excitement trend, it has to be spectacular. And shooting is really cool. If they kept it twice now, they obviously dont mind repeating tactics year to year. Why would they stop at 2?

I don't know what the actual game will be like, but since FIRST handed out the glow-in-the-dark merchandise I have had a very strong feeling that drivers will be driving with the visual help of an on-board camera. Perhaps the game will be made to work well with relying on sensor and other feedback from your robot.

Now that would be cool. This wont happen, but it would be awesome if they instituted some kind of LPS (L for Local, instead of G for Global) . Get your coords on the field at anytime... Programmer heaven.

[Bryce2471]

I would love to see a game where there is no limit to how tall your robot can be. A little like the 2012 ftc game, but you don't score points just by being tall. Some how the taller your robot gets the more advantage you have for scoring.

[NanoCollins]

Originally Posted by cjl2625

Hmm... My random guess is hockey.

I think it would make sense to have a hockey game. They have had shooting games for the past couple of years and that would be a cool change up. Plus there is a great chance to make alliances work together well with a hockey theme.