why I don't like this year's game

[s_forbes]

I think the lack of defense in this year's game is awesome; it will allow teams to focus more on amazing mechanisms rather than a beefy drivetrain.

[Sam N.]

Originally Posted by s_forbes

I think the lack of defense in this year's game is awesome; it will allow teams to focus more on amazing mechanisms rather than a beefy drivetrain.

Also, the lack of defense solidifies that this game is a RACE - the object is to go faster than the other guy to score more - not slow down and block to make the other guy score less.

THIS is why i think this year will be very fun and competitive.

Sam N.

[Joe Matt]

I don't like this game because it didn't capture my imagination, make me look at things differently, and most importantly, make my brain hurt.

[Justin Montois]

Originally Posted by Joe Matt

I don't like this game because it didn't capture my imagination, make me look at things differently, and most importantly, make my brain hurt.

I'm not trying to sound mean but maybe your just not thinking hard enough.

I had some early reservations but I think this game will be really exciting in some matches and really really bad in others depending on the robots but this is the same EVERY YEAR. The only game I've seen in my four years in FIRST that's made me totally psyched the second I saw it was Aim High. Now, Rack and Roll is among my favorites and we'll just have to wait before we place this game on the shelf with the elite, or in the trash...

[Zyik]

Last year I was adamant about not liking the game, right up until the regional when I came to my senses, realized FIRST is always going to be fun and throughly enjoyed it. I almost had the same reaction I did last year at kickoff, but then I realized that it's still going to be a lot of fun because its still going to be FIRST.

Also, everyone says there will be no defense, but I disagree. Isn't it still defense if you knock the opposing alliances balls off the overpass? Or how about "nudging" as the manual calls it, a robot trying to get into place to hurdle? Think about it, what happens if you get behind them and push them over the line? They're not allowed to turn around and go back and try again like Rack-and-Roll, if you do it right they have to go all the way around the track to try again, or at least close to that. If you really play your cards right you might even manage to get their herding points reduced. Do it suddenly so that they don't manage to get rid of the ball, if it stays in contact with the robot as it crosses the line. There will still be defense in the game, just not quite the same it has been in years past.

Hope that made sense, I really need some sleep, my winter break ends today, school in the morning.

[GaryVoshol]

Originally Posted by Joe Matt

I don't like this game because it didn't capture my imagination, make me look at things differently, and most importantly, make my brain hurt.

Drop a trackball on your head, that'll make your brain hurt.

My initial reaction was being underwhelmed, to say the least. Then we got the ball out. Geez, we gotta pick up that thing?! I thought making the bot would be easy this year.

Maybe there's not as much strategy in point manipulation as there was in Rack n Roll or Triple Play. It's more like racking up points in Aim High. But there still will be strategy. The simple fact that your team of 3 only has 2 game pieces leads to all sorts of strategic decisions.

I'm willing to let things simmer a while to see what kind of soup we get in the end.

[Joe Matt]

Originally Posted by GaryVoshol

Drop a trackball on your head, that'll make your brain hurt.

My initial reaction was being underwhelmed, to say the least. Then we got the ball out. Geez, we gotta pick up that thing?! I thought making the bot would be easy this year.

Maybe there's not as much strategy in point manipulation as there was in Rack n Roll or Triple Play. It's more like racking up points in Aim High. But there still will be strategy. The simple fact that your team of 3 only has 2 game pieces leads to all sorts of strategic decisions.

I'm willing to let things simmer a while to see what kind of soup we get in the end.

I want to come up with some witty response, but eh I won't. When I can imagine seeing at the VCU regional again teams just racing in a circle, gently nudging eachother to pass, to score, then I'm falling asleep. We're talking about a regional where many matches were 20 vs. 10 in 2005 (with those scores being the robots getting to the end zone). How about we stop having this great big gap between what teams can do (either easy tasks that make boiling water look hard) or things only Wildstang can accomplish (10lb 40" ball anyone?)

Give me 2006 any day, I wish I had waited a year to go out on a bag with that game. Anyone with a wheel and a hopper could shoot balls or dump 'em, that was a game that always left me in awe...

[Arefin Bari]

Originally Posted by Joe Matt

...things only Wildstang can accomplish (10lb 40" ball anyone?)

Joe... not to start an argument here; but do you honestly think it is that hard to control the 40" ball (if yes, you need to sit down and think about this challenge a bit more)? Do you honestly think that there won't be many teams who will attempt and accomplish to control the 40" ball? Come on bro, it's a game, let's make it exciting. If you sit there and you have your mind set on the game being boring; it won't be nothing but boring for you.

[Travis Hoffman]

Also, the lack of defense solidifies that this game is a RACE - the object is to go faster than the other guy to score more - not slow down and block to make the other guy score less.

Visions of 2005 dancing in my head.

If I were an alliance containing 2-3 extremely successful and dominant bots representing some of the "Hendrick Motorsports" teams of FIRST, I'd certainly love for the relative Dave Blaneys of the robot world to believe in the all-encompassing mantra expressed above. It would make Hendrick teams' domination that much easier.

It is the responsibility of each alliance to evaluate their offensive capabilities relative to that of their opponent before each match. If an alliance of Blaneys determines they do not have the mix of offensive skills needed to overcome the skills of the Hendrick teams in a straight-up race, then they have an obligation not only to themselves but to the AUDIENCE to investigate appropriate, creative, and legal means of slowing down the scoring of the opposing alliance. Effectively employing at least one of your bots toward interrupting the best-laid plans of the zippy and efficient opposition may just let you balance the scoring enough to where luck and other factors may swing the result into your alliance's favor.

Blind faith in the perseverance of "the little alliance that could" in 2008 will often result in the blind waking up at the end of the journey and finding that the high-speed bullet train lapped you 20 times and arrived two hours previous to you, precisely because they were left to travel on a different track with absolutely no unexpected delays.

Sometimes you gotta throw a cow onto the tracks to slow 'em down. I do recognize and appreciate the much wider selection of cows offered by the GDC to teams this year than in recent seasons.

Defense isn't dead....it's just been reincarnated....as a cow of a different color.....