2011 Game Hint #1

[DarrinMunter]

Another big event this year - Kodak's Kodachrome film has come to an end after 75 years of the best color pictures ever taken.

Since this years clue is a picture.....

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by TomH

One thing I think we need to consider in ideas for game possibilities is the use of cameras. In the last 2 years, FIRST has tried to implement camera use into each game, like the targets for the goals in Breakaway and the top of the cart things in Lunacy. That is probably one of the most essential things that need to be considered in ideas, as how cameras can be used with the game. Look at modern day robots that are used by militaries, police, etc., most of them have cameras, and I think that FIRST is trying to get them well implemented into the games. Just something I thought that might need to be considered.

-Tom H

Cameras have been in use since at least 2005, but the importance and use varied by the game.

2005 - Vision Tetra (Don't really know the purpose of the vision tetra, auto bonus?)
2006 - Above the High Goal, most often used for auto targeting.
2007 - Above every other Column on the Rack - Used for autonomous scoring.
2008 - No specific Camera Objective, though some teams did attempt to differentiate blue and red trackballs from one another.
2009 - Targets above Trailers, used for auto targeting
2010 - Targets above Goals, used for auto targeting

Looking at past camera use, odds are that there will either be some sort of uniquely colored target or lit structure for the cameras to find and assist in scoring - Probably above, around, or inside of a goal or other scoring structure.

Seems like more often than not, Camera assist is usually written off as being unnecessary due to the amount of programming resources invested or because the task can be done just as easily with Dead Reckoning or a more simple sensor setup.

[Mike o.]

Originally Posted by thefro526

Cameras have been in use since at least 2005, but the importance and use varied by the game.

2005 - Vision Tetra (Don't really know the purpose of the vision tetra, auto bonus?)
2006 - Above the High Goal, most often used for auto targeting.
2007 - Above every other Column on the Rack - Used for autonomous scoring.
2008 - No specific Camera Objective, though some teams did attempt to differentiate blue and red trackballs from one another.
2009 - Targets above Trailers, used for auto targeting
2010 - Targets above Goals, used for auto targeting
........

Some further notes about camera use. There was in fact no camera use in 2008. This was the year they had the IR receivers/transmitters and had the RoboCoach that could aid in controlling the robot during Hybrid (that year's autonomous) Period. Also, 2009 is when they introduced the new Camera (Axis 206 Camera) that allowed for a little more complexity than the old camera (CMUcam). During the 2010 game, the primary purpose of the camera was to track the large targets over the corner goals, but teams were also able to get visual feedback at the DS and possibly could use it to help them navigate (e.g., through the tunnels). I think that we will see that continuation of multipurpose use of the camera during the game, not just for use in autonomous for tracking something.

With everything that has been mentioned and discussed, I think that it will be interesting this year to see how the GDC has integrated the use of the camera into the game. I truly can't wait.

[Chernicki]

I think we are all reading into this a little too far... I really think the hint has more to do with the fact that the image was REVERSED

Anyone with me on this??

[Robert Cawthon]

Perhaps. I really don't think it has anything to do with a train. The name of the song Loco-Motion really means crazy motion. (like when I try to drive our bot!) I do think, however, that the 'B' side of Loco-Motion (Back on Track) may have something to do with it. It is the 'flip side' (mirror side) of the main record. But, as memory serves me, this picture isn't even from the cover of Loco-Motion, but rather from a 'Best of' album by Little Eva. I could be wrong, though.

[cricket66]

Her name is Little EVA.

[Tetraman]

Dave Lavery is probably laughing at me...but here goes:


ON TRACK

Game Field:


Other Views of the Game Field:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...her/Field1.png
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...her/Field3.png

View of the Game Field with Robots in place:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...ieldRobots.png

These are the Boxcars:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2.../Elements1.png
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2.../Elements4.png

A Look at the "Crates" and the "Ore":
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2.../Elements2.png
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2.../Elements3.png

The object of the game is to collect Ore and put them onto the Boxcars. Using Crates, the alliance will be able to fill the Boxcars with more Ore.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...r/Scoring1.png

Game:
Each Alliance has one free Crate they are allowed to place on any of their three Boxcars at the beginning of the game.

Each alliance starts with the control of 8 Ore. They are allowed to give each of their alliance robots two of them. (During the rest of the game, Robots are allowed to control/handle any number of Ore. (Ore are made of 16" diameter balls.)

During Automous Mode, robots are allowed to attempt to score Ore on their boxcars.

For the first minute and a half of the game, robots are allowed to remove Crates from opposing alliance's Boxcars. In the last 30 seconds of the game, no Crates may be removed. All though the game, Human Players may toss the remaining Ore the alliance is given to enter the Ore into the Field.

Points:
Alliances gain 1 point for each Ore scored inside on ontop of a Boxcar. (If a Boxcar has no crates on it, any Ore that happens to balance on the boxcar will count.)

Any Ore scored during Automous mode are worth 2 points.

Alliances gain no points from the crates they stack on their boxcars.

At the end of the game, Alliances should attempt to combine together their Boxcars. If after the end of the game, the three Boxcars are touching each other (anywhere on the track) the Alliance gains 6 points. Thats the same as 6 scored Ore.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...r/Scoring4.png

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Mike o.

Some further notes about camera use. There was in fact no camera use in 2008. This was the year they had the IR receivers/transmitters and had the RoboCoach that could aid in controlling the robot during Hybrid (that year's autonomous) Period.

Not exactly true, a few teams used the camera to show the robot where the random ball was instead of using the IR.

[Cactus_Robotics]

Tetraman I really like the concept of that game. I think it has alot of the elements FIRST looks for in game design. Quick question should the ore be able to leave the field via a shoot for human players after the fact or just for the beginning ore given?

[chemipanda]

Tetraman i wouldnt be surprised if you are mostly correct.

And you did this all in google sketchup?

[dodar]

@tetraman, like the concept but idk, i just dont see that being a WOW game. And it doesnt look to have a good auto or end game.

[Tetraman]

Originally Posted by chemipanda

Tetraman i wouldnt be surprised if you are mostly correct.

And you did this all in google sketchup?

I had help. The main outside of the field was already created by someone else. I found Breakaway on the 3D warehouse, so I took the outside player stations and reformatted it. Everything else I made, but if I didn't have a player station to work with I would have made it myself.

Originally Posted by Cactus_Robotics

Tetraman I really like the concept of that game. I think it has alot of the elements FIRST looks for in game design. Quick question should the ore be able to leave the field via a shoot for human players after the fact or just for the beginning ore given?

Not sure. Good thing to think about.

Originally Posted by dodar

@tetraman, like the concept but idk, i just dont see that being a WOW game. And it doesnt look to have a good auto or end game.

True. The auto's power comes from the bonus of getting 2 points for 1 score, and the ending would be a terrible thing to miss, especially if an opponent's robot ends up in the middle or a ball of Ore is between the mine carts.

But I'm done designing this one. I'll work on a different angle of locomotion, hopefully if/when a second hint comes out. Another thing I was thinking of is that if the CD was her "Greatest hits" and she is hugging a pole, maybe the object of the game is to "hit" a "pole" or something like that.

[gvarndell]

Originally Posted by Robert Cawthon

the 'B' side of Loco-Motion (Back on Track) may have something to do with it. It is the 'flip side' (mirror side) of the main record.

As far as I can tell, 'Back on Track' was an album name, not a song name.
See here -- http://www.spectropop.com/remembers/LEobit.htm

It seems the B side of Eva's original single was entitled "He is the boy".
Citing this -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Loco-Motion

I do find the fact that Grand Funk Railroad also covered Loco-motion interesting...

[C_Helm]

Little Eva -- LocoMotion. That's who it is.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...:3&tx=79&ty=68

If the link up top doesnt work, then just go to Google and type in Little Eva Locomotion.

The picture looks very similar, just flipped or "mirrored" from the hint picture. Also, the Google picture has her name and record company on it.

The hint picture was probably edited.

Locomotion - game name for 2011? It is also a type of propulsion.

[gvarndell]

Originally Posted by Chernicki

I think we are all reading into this a little too far... I really think the hint has more to do with the fact that the image was REVERSED

Anyone with me on this??

I don't think this conjecture is any more of a stretch than any others I've read.
But I'm not clicking with it myself.
Unless, maybe, has anybody tried playing Loco-Motion backwards?
Might be something there.