2017 FTC Game

[s3529]

Hello everyone! The countdown to the FTC game reveal is now less than 7 days.

I'm sure that if you've been following @FTCTeams on Twitter, you've probably already seen their "Kickoff is Coming" video. If not, it's available here:
https://twitter.com/FTCTeams/status/771707695556616192


At first, this may seem like a funny little video with "Tyler" getting down with his bad self in celebration of kickoff. But, if you look closer, you will see some interesting details.


For example, on the right of the screen, you can see a recycling container filled with, what appears to be, soda bottles. This could be a reference to the Recycle Rush FRC season. During that year, both FRC, FLL, and Jr. FLL all were related to garbage and recycling, but not FTC, which competed in FIRST RES-Q.

Next, looking on the ground, we see our friend Plowie (or Dozer, depending upon who you ask) slowly creeping away from Tyler. Looking at the workbench, we can see the FTC logo along with a drill press and beacon from last year's game. As we now know, the beacons will be making a return this year.

However, look carefully at the image over Tyler's shoulder. It appears to be a squid or octopus themed robot. Each year, in the game animation, there is always a unique robot suited to play that year's game, such as the mountain goat in last year's FIRST RES-Q. Could this be a hint that we will need multiple manipulators? Or is it saying that we will need to multitask? Or to use jet propulsion underwater? (WATER GAME CONFIRMED)

The most interesting part of this video is the two pictures to the left of the drill press. First, what appears to be a picture of country-western superstar Dolly Parton. Specifically, from her latest album "Pure & Simple" which released earlier this August. Then, if you look at the calendar, you will see that September 10th is circled, indicating kickoff. More interestingly, we have a picture of famed physicist Richard Feynman sitting with his bongos.

What does it all mean? I haven't a clue. But, to sum it up, here is what we have so far:

• Recycling
• Soda Bottles
• An Octopus
• Dolly Parton
• and Richard Feynman Playing Bongos

Can you piece together a game using these hints?