Serious Plea for Help from CD Community/Please Read

[Christian]

You can add me; my team never makes it to nationals

Christian Ortiz

[Morgan Gillespie]

I sign on behalf of the entire team 25 animation team
Students
Morgan Gillespie
Antoine Dorsey
Dhananjay Thanikella
Rishi Tirumala
Nick Ramos
Shawn Ahmad
Kiran Aravapalli
Srigag Babu
Chris Mclean
Mike Bauer
Tina Ciance

Mentors
Mike Ciance
Mr Ciance

[Koko Ed]

The letter has been mailed to FIRST.
Jane should be sending her copy to Autodesk.
Now we just have to wait and see.
We both thank you for your support of this effort.

[boy_scout72688]

please add my name

James Bowers

[Tottanka]

If the animation will be only for the Nationals then i will be really really sad...
This prize is guarnteed ours (our team), as i am the only Aniamtion Designer in the Israeli regional, wich makes the competition very very hard for us =]
I am trying to convince some other teams to make an Animation, hope it'll work...

BTW, do you all use 3D Studio Max for the animation, or anything else?

[AV_guy007]

Originally Posted by Tottanka

If the animation will be only for the Nationals then i will be really really sad...
This prize is guarnteed ours (our team), as i am the only Aniamtion Designer in the Israeli regional, wich makes the competition very very hard for us =]
I am trying to convince some other teams to make an Animation, hope it'll work...

BTW, do you all use 3D Studio Max for the animation, or anything else?

as far as i know 3d s max is the only software you are allowed to use because the contest is sponsored by autodesk

I Sam Hillyer give my support and add my name to the list

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by AV_guy007

and i know its a little late to ad my name to the list but you have my support

If you would like to add yourself, can you edit in your name?

Edit: Thank you.

[Barry Bonzack]

I have completely missed this thread until now. Team 1390/1604 together have had an animation every year since 2004. FIRST teams have been lucky to have Autodesk provide a competition for teams to animate and be motivated to compete as part of a team that has little to do with the actual robot. This is a skill that is able to be used in many areas, ranging from brining engineering ideas to life early in its conception, to recreating historical events digitally, to the advancing world of video game design. Here in Orlando, EA Games has recently moved their headquarters near the University of Central Florida and train students to hire right out of college. Having the ability to learn animation in high school is a wonderful opportunity for students aspiring to go to college and make a career with this skill. DeVry also has an animation track; learning this is college gives the students a jumpstart. However, not all teams have the ability to compete at the Championship in Atlanta. 1390 was able to make the trip last year, but has no plans to attend in the future due to budget issues. If there is no animation competition and award at the regional level, the teams that can not afford to attend in Atlanta will not be motivated to have an animation team. I hope this letter succeeds in its goal.

You have my signature
Barry Bohnsack, team 1390

[Tottanka]

I'd just like to say that i dont really think ANYONE is going to be against this petition...and FIRST and AutoDesk must understand it..
Does anyone know WHY they have decided to change it suddenly?

[JaneYoung]

Thanks for continuing to add your signatures.

It would help right now to continue to allow this thread to be for signatures. If you would like to continue discussion regarding changes, etc - this is the thread that was started and could be used:
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=50085

Please help us keep this thread open for signatures.

Thank you, Jane

[Jay H 237]

Sorry Jane I didn't get to this sooner, it's been a week and a half since I've been on here, but add me too.

Signed,
Jason Hartmann (Mentor, Team #237)

[jvaitkus]

You have my signature.

Janina Vaitkus, Team 1111

[Danny Diaz]

If it's a matter of reducing their overhead or attempting to lighten a burden (manpower or financially) on Autodesk, I can see why they're doing it. However, I agree with everyone here that removing the regional award does decrease the likelihood that inexperienced animators will attempt to compete "with the big boys". Team 418 is one of those teams - we recently lost all our experienced animators to graduation last year (without being able to train a new generation), and new animators that have joined the team this year are starting from scratch. I can see our animators playing with the software if they're given a copy of it - as they already have with last year's software - but I don't see them trying to push the limits in a competitive atmosphere if they know they are doing it just for their own benefit, especially since there's no chance to win any kind of award.

You have my support and my signature (Danny Diaz), FWIW.

-Danny

[Cjmovie]

As long as it isn't too late:

Signed,
Christopher Corsi of Team 1293.

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Danny Diaz

If it's a matter of reducing their overhead or attempting to lighten a burden (manpower or financially) on Autodesk, I can see why they're doing it. However, I agree with everyone here that removing the regional award does decrease the likelihood that inexperienced animators will attempt to compete "with the big boys". Team 418 is one of those teams - we recently lost all our experienced animators to graduation last year (without being able to train a new generation), and new animators that have joined the team this year are starting from scratch. I can see our animators playing with the software if they're given a copy of it - as they already have with last year's software - but I don't see them trying to push the limits in a competitive atmosphere if they know they are doing it just for their own benefit, especially since there's no chance to win any kind of award.

You have my support and my signature (Danny Diaz), FWIW.

-Danny

If it was just merely a question of manpower I would recommend that they turn over judging to the animation students. The kids worked long and hard on the animations. They are more than qualified to judge what is worthy.