FIRST Frenzy Opinion Thread

[Ryan Dognaux]

Last year's game was great, but I can already tell that this game is going to top it. It's impossible to miss the elements taken from the 2000, 2001, and 2002 games, but the really cool thing are the balls above the player station... that is just so cool. I think it's great that the human player has so much importance this year too, it'll create a whole new level of competing and an unpredictible outcome almost everytime...

The FIRST peoples have really created a great game this year Now to strategize and mobilize ...

[seanwitte]

I think its a good balance and will be much more exciting to watch than last year. Games will be won by teams that can play the game well, not necessarily the fanciest robot. Better get those kids shooting free throws at lunchtime.

[Marygrace]

I LOVE the game, my whole team loves it. There are so many different ways you can solve the puzzle. I also love the twist that everyone gets the loser score, (They are really hammering the idea of Gracious Professionalism, don't ya think?) Right now we are still discussing strategy before we decide what robot design would accomplish that strategy. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!!

[Jake177]

I give the game two thumbs up. I liked the integration of previous games and thought that there were enough changes to prevent veterans from having too much of an advantage. One comparison that I haven't heard is that in the 1992 competition (the very first competition) teams had to grab tennis balls off of wooden pegs, much like we neet to take the 10pt. balls off of the tees.

Originally posted by 2000vfr800
I see MUCH less interaction between opposing robots. Can anybody tell me, since I can't seem to easily find it, do the starting position of the blue robots start on the red side, like last year, or do the blue robots start in the blue side, the red in the red??

My interpretation is that the red alliance starts in front of the red player stations. I agree that this means less interaction between the alliances, and I like this. Over the past years the competitions have been getting rougher. I think that this was FIRST's way of keeping the competition from becoming Battlebots.

As far as manipulating the goals, I think that taking the ball off of your mobile goal and being able to pull it closer to your human players will help in scoring more balls than if your human players just shot at the stationary goal.

[IronSlayTallica]

When I first saw the field at the beginning of the animation, my jaw dropped. I thought it looked so hard. And the rest of my team around me was in the same state of disbelief. Sure, we won SPBLI regional, but we weren't sure about this one. After they started talking about it, it didn't seem that bad.

I'm definately a fan of this year's game. Then again, 870 is only a 3rd year team and we weren't around when there were other hanging bar games. The games that I've played in have had one or two strategies or "roads" but this year, as they say, we can change that. There are so many different options with what can be done. Mechanical and Human cooperation is stressed and that's probably for the best. We can't just build our robot and say that it's done and can do anything. No matter what, it will need human help and that's the point. And anybody can get skill at foul shots with the rubber balls if they practice enough.

I can't wait to start building and am already writhing with excitement about the competitions.

[Pin Man]

I'm mad!!!! We went to kick off... Watched it all the way through(and it was very long this year but still good)... Right when it said FIRST Frenzy for the animation the satellite decided to move and we missed half of the game... This stinks cause it puts us behind... But other than that the game looks awesome and I can't wait!

[Ryan Dognaux]

Originally Posted by 2000vfr800

I see MUCH less interaction between opposing robots.

I'm going to have to partially disagree on that... there will be less interaction, but there's only so much room on that bar. I have a feelings we'll be seeing a few flying robots this year

[Don Wright]

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

I'm going to have to partially disagree on that... there will be less interaction, but there's only so much room on that bar.

Yea...I would have to agree on that.

[Koko Ed]

At least this year's game won't be dominated by short tank bot with powerful engines that can push everybody else around like they have the last couple of years. I think we'll se an interesting variety of robots this year.

[Jeff Waegelin]

I love it, personally. It sounds like a great game, and an exciting game, and I love the aspects of all the games from the last 5 years or so brought back to life. It should be a great season, and I'm very excited to see all the interesting ideas people will come up with to deal with this year's game.

[jedilearner]

this year sound real neat and exciting. i feel it should be somewhat easy.

[tribotec_ca88]

Hmmm I was a bit disappointed, mostly because of the power given to the human player (is this NBA? National Basketball-Bot Association?) but the other than that I was quite pleased...I thought the hanging-pole thing was great along with the steps. I'm sure once we get things up and going we'll be much more enthusiastic about the idea.

Oh, yes, I agree that the kickoff took too long...too much BLABLABLA pep talk and not enough of what we came to see!...oh yeah, besides, what's up with Britney Spears? (wink wink)!

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Visit www.tribotecteam.com ...home to the 3rd Brazilian team!!!

[Lil' Lavery]

I think this years game is to get people to think of what human/robot interaction can acheive not only on the playing field, but everywhere. And it does a good job at that. But it does favor larger teams somewhat because they have a higher chance of someone being good at basketball on the team, but if teams do a good job at outreach and find someone within the school to be there human player that shouldnt be a factor. Plus the small mobile goals allow people to pretty much dump ball into them for the teams with lesser human players. And the caps and bar can help balance the odds also. But for the teams that dont know ways to acheive these goals, they can consult veteran teams if there are any near them. And several veteran teams attempted those challenges in other ways so they might not even know the solutions to them. And many rookie members or 2nd year members dont know them anyway, so most teams only have a few who remember the solutions to those challenges. The solutions arnt as complex as you might think, remember, the answer could be right in front of your nose. For every good idea there are 99 bad ones. So keep brainstorming and you will come up with a solution.

[Arefin Bari]

the game is great... but it does relate to the game of 2000 and 2001. it would probalby be hard for some rookie teams (since i saw the actual field infront of me today) some teams might go for a narrower robot if they decide to go up the stairs. i know that i like the game, my teams like it... and we are going to have fun. i have a feeling that it will be a good year. (every years are but this one will be another one)... GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!

[nparikh]

Well, in response to this year's game, I think it is pretty cool, the only thing I'm pondering about is with the infrared system. They said that it is optional this year but will it be mandatory next year? I believe that they implied that....