**IMPORTANT FIRST EMAIL BLAST**/Game Tip and 2004 Competition Manual Information!!

[Travis Hoffman]

Ryan Curry gets a cookie for picking both of these diamonds out of Dave's posts.

Speculate forth, o' anxious children of FIRST!

************************************************** ****

Greetings Teams:

Four days and counting!

First, we want to give the official hint to teams concerning this year's game, so here it is:

"Vmax = 10 ft/sec

Yes, there are two paths you can go by
But in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on."

This should be enough to get you all started!

Secondly, we have some important news for participants regarding the 2004 Robotics Competition Manual.

As a first step in moving to an online manual system for 2005, the 2004 manual will only be made available online in the form of '.pdf' files; which means there will not be a printed manual or CD in this year's Kit of Parts.

To accommodate timely distribution of the manual, here is our plan:

Encrypted copies of the first eight sections of the manual will be posted on the FIRST website at 5:00pm EST on Thursday, January 8th. Instructions for handling these files appear at the bottom of this message.

Anyone may download these files starting at that time. The decryption password, which will allow you to open these files, will be announced at Kickoff.

Teams are encouraged to download these encrypted versions ahead of time to help alleviate downloading delays on the 10th. The non-encrypted versions will be posted at noon on Saturday January 10th. There is no difference in the content of the encrypted and
non-encrypted versions.

Individuals traveling to a Kickoff site that wish to have a manual to read for their ride home are encouraged to bring a portable computer with these files saved on the hard-drive.

In order to be sure that you have the capability to decrypt the files at the appropriate time, a test file is currently posted on the FIRST website -- see the instructions below.

(Note that if you wish to get yourself a binder and/or tabs, there are a total of twelve sections to this years manual)

FYI, the method used to encrypt these files is secure. It is called 128-bit RC4 encoding, and is a current standard considered by the US Government as completely secure for short (weeks) periods of time.

================================================== ==========

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DOWNLOADING (and TESTING) ENCRYPTED MANUAL:

================================================== ==========

-- Users may download these files beginning at 5:00pm on January 8th. The files will not be readable until the decryption password is released at kickoff on Saturday.

-- Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 5 or 6 will be required to decrypt these files. If you do not have it, you may download it for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

-- Kickoff attendees who want a manual to read on the way home are encouraged to bring a computer with these 8 files and Acrobat Reader installed.

-- To ensure that you have everything necessary to decrypt these files, a test file is currently available at http://www2.usfirst.org/2004/comp/2004DecryptTest.pdf

You may download this file now and decrypt it with the following case-sensitive password (without the quotes): "2004DecryptTest" Acrobat will prompt you for the password when you try to open the file.

If you get to see the message "Congratulations! You have successfully decrypted the test file", then you have successfully decrypted the file and have everything you need for Saturday.

-- Non-encrypted copies of each section of the manual will be posted on the FIRST website at noon on Saturday January 10th.

Let the game begin!

[Mark Garver]

Well with a clue like that my guess is that there are stairs. The reason being isn't that clue from an old song? Maybe Led Zeppelin - Stairway to heven

Well i guess it is just an educated guess... Your thoughts?

[Rich Wong]

Greetings Teams:

Four days and counting!

First, we want to give the official hint to teams concerning this year's game, so here it is:

"Vmax = 10 ft/sec

Yes, there are two paths you can go by
But in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on."

This should be enough to get you all started!

Secondly, we have some important news for participants regarding the 2004 Robotics Competition Manual.

As a first step in moving to an online manual system for 2005, the 2004 manual will only be made available online in the form of '.pdf' files; which means there will not be a printed manual or CD in this year's Kit of Parts.

To accommodate timely distribution of the manual, here is our plan:

Encrypted copies of the first eight sections of the manual will be posted on the FIRST website at 5:00pm EST on Thursday, January 8th. Instructions for handling these files appear at the bottom of this message.

Anyone may download these files starting at that time. The decryption password, which will allow you to open these files, will be announced at Kickoff.

Teams are encouraged to download these encrypted versions ahead of time to help alleviate downloading delays on the 10th. The non-encrypted versions will be posted at noon on Saturday January 10th. There is no difference in the content of the encrypted and
non-encrypted versions.

Individuals traveling to a Kickoff site that wish to have a manual to read for their ride home are encouraged to bring a portable computer with these files saved on the hard-drive.

In order to be sure that you have the capability to decrypt the files at the appropriate time, a test file is currently posted on the FIRST website -- see the instructions below.

(Note that if you wish to get yourself a binder and/or tabs, there are a total of twelve sections to this years manual)

FYI, the method used to encrypt these files is secure. It is called 128-bit RC4 encoding, and is a current standard considered by the US Government as completely secure for short (weeks) periods of time.

================================================== ==========

INSTRUCTIONS FOR DOWNLOADING (and TESTING) ENCRYPTED MANUAL:

================================================== ==========

-- Users may download these files beginning at 5:00pm on January 8th. The files will not be readable until the decryption password is released at kickoff on Saturday.

-- Adobe Acrobat Reader Version 5 or 6 will be required to decrypt these files. If you do not have it, you may download it for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

-- Kickoff attendees who want a manual to read on the way home are encouraged to bring a computer with these 8 files and Acrobat Reader installed.

-- To ensure that you have everything necessary to decrypt these files, a test file is currently available at http://www2.usfirst.org/2004/comp/2004DecryptTest.pdf

You may download this file now and decrypt it with the following case-sensitive password (without the quotes): "2004DecryptTest" Acrobat will prompt you for the password when you try to open the file.

If you get to see the message "Congratulations! You have successfully decrypted the test file", then you have successfully decrypted the file and have everything you need for Saturday.

-- Non-encrypted copies of each section of the manual will be posted on the FIRST website at noon on Saturday January 10th.

Let the game begin!

[Mark Garver]

Well with a clue like that my guess is that there are stairs. The reason being isn't that clue from an old song? Maybe Led Zeppelin - Stairway to heven

Well i guess it is just an educated guess... Your thoughts?

[IMDWalrus]

Originally Posted by Mark Garver

Well with a clue like that my guess is that there are stairs. The reason being isn't that clue from an old song? Maybe Led Zeppelin - Stairway to heven

Well i guess it is just an educated guess... Your thoughts?

How do we know the game won't involve zeppelins?

[greencelery115]

stairs, a way up on both sides (similar to past games..) ? i'm trying to figure out what has two roads...and how it is connected with a long run ...and changing the road...(something spinning? a change of direction? a moveable part of the field?...

something definitely happened to the time..

and with a max velocity? the top speed for what? the robot? the field parts?
*i'm going to look it up and see if there's any poems or something related to this...(what would first people create/ insinuate with this type of clue...)
i'm glad that i'm getting a headache over this. this rox.

"Vmax = 10 ft/sec

Yes, there are two paths you can go by
But in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on."

[IrisLab]

*Yes there are two paths you can go by
but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on
And it makes me wonder.

*lyric by LED ZEPPELIN from Stairway to Heaven

[greencelery115]

yes- got the same result here too

wonders what led zeppelin has to do with this...heaven? zeppelins? rock(s)?
rock and roll (i.e. the oil barrels)

still pondering

[greencelery115]

song lyrics...* just for interest (album Iv) *four?

Stairway To Heaven
There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven.

There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.

There's a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who standing looking.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on. And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

[gsensel]

Both have been discussed here. Because Dave leaked them before the blast was sent out.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=23371
My thoughts are similar to what many have said in the other thread but with 3 ways up 2 stairs or ramps and 1 stair or ramp depending on what the 2 are. This will be able to be rotated. Plus balls or something to roll down them will be on the platform above it

[Will Hanashiro]

OH MY GOSH!!!! "stairway to heaven" lyrics!!!!!! STAIRWAY... STAIRS.. there are gonna be stairs in this years game. completely have to redesign our drive train now... somehow first managed to shorten our six weeks once again! last year they shortened it with autonomous, this year stairs! amazing, i'm so excited now!

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by Will Hanashiro

OH MY GOSH!!!! "stairway to heaven" lyrics!!!!!! STAIRWAY... STAIRS.. there are gonna be stairs in this years game. completely have to redesign our drive train now... somehow first managed to shorten our six weeks once again! last year they shortened it with autonomous, this year stairs! amazing, i'm so excited now!

whoa!!!!!!!! hold your horses nothing is sure for now


but i am not sure if that 128 bit encryption is the best way to go about it...with pdf there are many holes and programs that can get rid of that easly

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally Posted by Mark Garver

Well with a clue like that my guess is that there are stairs. The reason being isn't that clue from an old song? Maybe Led Zeppelin - Stairway to heven

Well i guess it is just an educated guess... Your thoughts?

I think it's a great guess. I think that would be a pretty good chance that we have stairs in this game. There will probably be some form of alternate path other than the stairs, too, that will get you to the same place. However... there's always a chance that this is a bit of a red herring, and means something else entirely. Remember ax^2+bx+c? Don't get too hung up on stairs like people did with projectile motion. You never know what devious schemes FIRST has concocted for this year's game.

[IMDWalrus]

Originally Posted by Will Hanashiro

OH MY GOSH!!!! "stairway to heaven" lyrics!!!!!! STAIRWAY... STAIRS.. there are gonna be stairs in this years game. completely have to redesign our drive train now... somehow first managed to shorten our six weeks once again! last year they shortened it with autonomous, this year stairs! amazing, i'm so excited now!

For all we know, the line could just be referring to two different paths in the playing field...sure, the line is from "Stairway to Heaven," but that doesn't mean that stairs are guaranteed.

Hold on until Saturday - we'll know then...

[Will Hanashiro]

Originally Posted by Will Hanashiro

OH MY GOSH!!!! "stairway to heaven" lyrics!!!!!! STAIRWAY... STAIRS.. there are gonna be stairs in this years game. completely have to redesign our drive train now... somehow first managed to shorten our six weeks once again! last year they shortened it with autonomous, this year stairs! amazing, i'm so excited now!

hehehe... sry guys, maybe i jumped to conclusions a bit too early!!!!! its just that i was so excited at the posibility of stairs, it'd be so neat. anyways, i really hope that there are gonna be stairs.