Possibility for 2016 Game

[ENIAC]

I remember during the 2011 lead-up I was very excited with all of the speculation involving trains. I had it in my head that the game was going to be one where there was no steering, all robots were on rails (think roller coaster track) and there would be heavy focus on object manipulation. Every year since, I have hoped for a game involving trains, if only for the sheer largely-impractical glory of it.

[Michael Hill]

Originally Posted by MaGiC_PiKaChU

I would be surprised... Did you notice how they break up so easily? Would make such a huge mess on the field, and they would have to replace them more often


Edit: I think Football would make a great game

Footballs are the new water game.

[MikLast]

Originally Posted by ENIAC

I remember during the 2011 lead-up I was very excited with all of the speculation involving trains. I had it in my head that the game was going to be one where there was no steering, all robots were on rails (think roller coaster track) and there would be heavy focus on object manipulation. Every year since, I have hoped for a game involving trains, if only for the sheer largely-impractical glory of it.

All my years of learning about model trains would be perfect for this.

[MoistRobot]

I'm still holding out for skee ball with bowling balls of different (hidden) weights with a ball balancing aspect for the end game.

[Daniel_LaFleur]

Originally Posted by MoistRobot

I'm still holding out for skee ball with bowling balls of different (hidden) weights with a ball balancing aspect for the end game.

I'm waiting for a hovercraft game with Ping-Pong balls as the game piece.

[Jacob Bendicksen]

Originally Posted by MDWay

Or require robots to display a KOP included target in all four directions in an unobstructed way. Make that worth more points than the robot frame itself. This could also encourage more vision tracking systems and first-person onboard cameras.

This challenge could also include points awarded for catching balls that hit you before they hit the floor, in true dodgeball form.

I find that idea intriguing if only because it turns the robots into the targets.

I really like this idea. Vaguely like Lunacy, but less stupid

This would also help with the lack of emphasis on good programming that's been discussed in other threads recently.

[E Dawg]

I speculate the game will have something to do with this game being the 25th anniversary. Maize Craze reboot with Roombas instead of corn?

But seriously, I think there will be references to some (or all!) past games.

[carpedav000]

I think ball game with 2007-esque end game.

[TheBoulderite]

Whatever the next game is, I think Dean should get the guys from BattleBots to do a show just before Einsteins.

[logank013]

The last 2 years reused similar game pieces

2nd yoga ball game in 2014
2nd tote game (totes were slightly different) in 2015
Can we see Frisbees or Soccer Balls in the next years?

[carpedav000]

Originally Posted by logank013

The last 2 years reused similar game pieces

2nd yoga ball game in 2014
2nd tote game (totes were slightly different) in 2015
Can we see Frisbees or Soccer Balls in the next years?

Hmm... 2014 uses game peices from 2008, 2015 uses game peices from 2003. If you continue the pattern, 2016 (IN THEORY will re-use game peices from 1998- Ladder Logic

[logank013]

Originally Posted by carpedav000

Hmm... 2014 uses game peices from 2008, 2015 uses game peices from 2003. If you continue the pattern, 2016 (IN THEORY will re-use game peices from 1998- Ladder Logic

Haha. What happens after 2017 where they use game peices from 1993. There was no game in 1988. I guess it would rebound and come back. lol

[toppestK3K]

Going back to the topic at hand, most of previous year's games that were interesting to watch were somewhat based off of real sports, such as basketball or soccer. The game has to be both feasible for rookie teams and a challenge for the heavyweights, and by basing it off a real life sport, which also have to be interesting on both a casual and professional level, seems like the most effective strategy for the GDC. When you go through the list of non-contact sports that are popular in the world, volleyball/tennis seems like the next contender for the robot game. It would also likely address some of the concerns about programming not being emphasized enough in FIRST, as many vision tracking robots are likely to be seen at comps if this happens.

[tindleroot]

For some reason, I have the odd feeling that FIRST will introduce a programming challenge that is new to FRC this year (i.e. not vision tracking but something equally challenging)

[Loose Screw]

Originally Posted by tindleroot

For some reason, I have the odd feeling that FIRST will introduce a programming challenge that is new to FRC this year (i.e. not vision tracking but something equally challenging)

I remember FTC's Bowled Over game had a thing with magnets in some of the rubber balls, and Ring-it-Up had weighted rings that would give a score multiplier if placed in a different location. Both of these scoring elements went largely unused. These are interesting ideas, but would have to be tested further in FTC to make it into FRC.

Some programming challenges that are common in FRC and FTC are reflective tape and IR beacons. Both of these are used every year now, some more useful than others (who used the reflective tape on the auto totes this year?).

I hope to see more programming challenges in FRC, as there is potential.