[FRC Blog] Kickoff Broadcast and Game Hint Redux

[mrnoble]

Originally Posted by joelg236

Surprisingly, I'm actually inclined to go with you here. The title could be automatically generated though, so there's no reason to get excited yet. A quick glance at other blog posts reveals a trend of word titles "ie. Frank%20Answers%20Fridays.jpg". Hmmm...

In all the hubbub over figuring out the "assist" clue(s), we seem to have completely forgotten the multitude of "3's" that have shown up in odd places. I'm also inclined to agree that this may not be a random jpg title. Nice work.

On the other hand, I'm discouraged at the number of recent posts that show people don't read

[JCharlton]

It should be noted that a hockey match has three periods.

Maybe this year Canadian teams will have a leg up?

[MooreteP]

Originally Posted by Gaff_Tape

I know that I'm a little late to the party, but I noticed that the Doctor Who GIF

is titled "333.gif". A cursory reverse image search does not return GIFs with the same title, so one could argue that "333" is deliberate.

In regard to the "Doctor Who is not a hint" stuff: The subject of Doctor Who is not a hint, but the GIF(and/or its title) could be.

Perhaps 333 only refers to the 3 sets of numbers or the 3 associated sports, but it could also be a teaser or something else.


Anyway, this is something that I haven't seen mentioned in this thread yet.

Excellent post.

It wasn't mentioned in this thread, but in the original game hint thread there was a discussion of a game that could be 3 teams versus 3 versus 3, rather than the 3 v 3 we have become accustomed to.

Some consider it problematic to be cycling 9 robots per match, especially in a district competition with 40 teams. Maybe they will make the matches longer, or increase the time between matches. Logistics hell, IMHO.

We had hints about 3's for 2005's Triple Play, where we transitioned from the 2 v 2 to 3 v 3. Also the "tetras" as a game piece. This also contained the first vision acquisition autonomous period, that was less than successful. It was also the last year without bumpers. There were some awesome collisions during the endgame frenzy of taking goals and running to the end zone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ePwDtrthWE

Hence my thoughts: I like baseball (three bases), and hockey (three periods and three zones).

Baseball: Wiffle balls. Easy to collect and throw and purchase. No harm to spectators. Three bases on the field for an endgame battle of which alliance can control the bases.

Hockey: A goal at either end that can be defended by a goalie bot. You choose to defend the goal or pull the goalie to grab a base in the endgame that would allow the opposing alliance to easily score. Three periods, like in Aim High.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vuwjse90AA

For some reason, I am still expecting the weight reduction for the robots on the field, but an increase in the withholding allowance to encourage modularity and strategic decision making based upon alliance composition.
Noodle-bot!

This is a reach, but a pic of the game field that includes two alliance goals and three "bases".

[Calvin Hartley]

I like the thought of the numerous 3s showing up, however I am a little lenient as it could easily be nothing. Regardless, does anyone have a list of how many relevant 3s have come up in this year's hints?

For now, I need to pack for my last camp out of the year.

[JohnSchneider]

Originally Posted by MooreteP

Excellent post.

It wasn't mentioned in this thread, but in the original game hint thread there was a discussion of a game that could be 3 teams versus 3 versus 3, rather than the 3 v 3 we have become accustomed to.

Some consider it problematic to be cycling 9 robots per match, especially in a district competition with 40 teams. Maybe they will make the matches longer, or increase the time between matches. Logistics hell, IMHO.

We had hints about 3's for 2005's Triple Play, where we transitioned from the 2 v 2 to 3 v 3. Also the "tetras" as a game piece. This also contained the first vision acquisition autonomous period, that was less than successful. It was also the last year without bumpers. There were some awesome collisions during the endgame frenzy of taking goals and running to the end zone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ePwDtrthWE

Hence my thoughts: I like baseball (three bases), and hockey (three periods and three zones).

Baseball: Wiffle balls. Easy to collect and throw and purchase. No harm to spectators. Three bases on the field for an endgame battle of which alliance can control the bases.

Hockey: A goal at either end that can be defended by a goalie bot. You choose to defend the goal or pull the goalie to grab a base in the endgame that would allow the opposing alliance to easily score. Three periods, like in Aim High.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vuwjse90AA

For some reason, I am still expecting the weight reduction for the robots on the field, but an increase in the withholding allowance to encourage modularity and strategic decision making based upon alliance composition.
Noodle-bot!

This is a reach, but a pic of the game field that includes two alliance goals and three "bases".

FIRST has more recently attempted to create more accessible games where people outside of the FIRST-world are able to quickly pick up, understand, and enjoy the matches without having to explain complex scoring systems ("See you double the value of the tube the ubertube is under and then if you get the logo in the correct order you double the row and then there's these minibots").

With this basis in mind I don't think we'll see a game ran like aim high again. Its a little complex and doesn't keep a constant stream of offense occurring which seems to be part of the intent to bring in people from outside FIRST. As in all professional sports: Offense sells tickets.

This is why the thought of a hockey-esque game seems like a reasonable guess. Because its a mainstream and accessible sport and people in the media will understand "Our robot plays hockey".

The 3 probably stands for the number of years this season will take off your life

[Schnabel]

Has anyone watched the Dr. Who gif 333 times? What if there's a secret picture at frame 333?

[atucker4072]

Originally Posted by mrnoble

On the other hand, I'm discouraged at the number of recent posts that show people don't read

Got back on and saw this and was like there goes all the work.

[rsisk]

Originally Posted by Schnabel

Has anyone watched the Dr. Who gif 333 times? What if there's a secret picture at frame 333?

You are bad!

[atucker4072]

Originally Posted by Schnabel

Has anyone watched the Dr. Who gif 333 times? What if there's a secret picture at frame 333?

Maybe at 333 it shows the game animation! Time to waste more of my day!

[atucker4072]

I definitely don't see three different periods. I could see it better as having 3 different zones. Maybe there are only certain zones that you can score in? This might lead to robots passing an object more and getting assits. That way robots don't have to go all the way across the field to score and they also can't score by going scoring from across the court.

[dellagd]

While I don't want to jump on the "Dr. Who Pic really is a hint" bandwagon, I do know that in a few sports, there is an offsides penalty. With zones like say hockey or lacrosse, having an offsides for too many robots in a zone at once might be interesting.

[atucker4072]

Originally Posted by dellagd

While I don't want to jump on the "Dr. Who Pic really is a hint" bandwagon, I do know that in a few sports, there is an offsides penalty. With zones like say hockey or lacrosse, having an offsides for too many robots in a zone at once might be interesting.

This is what I am more leaning towards at this point. However the only thing I see that could be an issue is that one team is stuck playing defense and no one wants to play defense for an entire match. That's where I think it seems more logical that you can only score in certain zones. However those zones are protected from defense mayne? Then there is a middle half where teams are blocking each other frok getting into the scoring zone?

[Littleboy]

Autonomous. Teleop. End Game. Those will be the three periods.

[Kevin Leonard]

There is no #3 hint.
Last year everyone was hyped up on the number 3 and it turned out to be nothing.

Last year the threes were more prevalent too.

[Bob Steele]

I think the idea of "offsides" could be explored here

Perhaps if there were three zones, a robot could not score if the object was passed from zone one through zone two directly into zone three where the goal would be. No dumping the object into the scoring zone. "Icing"

Or perhaps robots could not proceed the object into the scoring zone. (With a one line pass).

Hockey offsides rules ....

Or modifications thereof which would hasten end to end play but not without other robots participating.

This would seem to require a single playing piece though or it might be too difficult for referees

Discuss