First Official 2012 Game Hint

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by IndySam

I love the tennis ball idea and I also agree that they are too small for a FRC robot.

I don't see why this would stop FIRST from using them... Any problems like that are just part of the challenge, yeah?

[gagnem09]

If you take a look at Bill's post on November 16th he said that there were over 8000lbs of polycarbonate sheets, and 5500lbs of game specific elements. I'm thinking small and heavy game pieces. My first guess was Golf Balls. Any thoughts?

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

I don't see why this would stop FIRST from using them... Any problems like that are just part of the challenge, yeah?

Very simple reason for not using standard tennis balls.

Watch how many teams in FTC struggle to drive on a field littered with racquetballs and you'll understand why a field littered with tennis balls could lead to the most boring matches ever.

(Also, what is the relation between this year and tennis balls? Last year was FIRST's 20th Season. Wouldn't Tennis balls have made more sense then?)

[jason701802]

It looks like this is a complete list of what RA is donating. Many of the small quantity items are either packages of 10, 50, or 100 or what is needed to make the 2 new fields.
For anyone interested, I've compiled and attached a spreadsheet of all the items with links to their item pages and the number of items in the package.

EDIT: I started this before Chris made his excellent post, but I'm leaving it because it has some information not in his post

[pandamonium]

Originally Posted by thefro526

Very simple reason for not using standard tennis balls.

Watch how many teams in FTC struggle to drive on a field littered with racquetballs and you'll understand why a field littered with tennis balls could lead to the most boring matches ever.

(Also, what is the relation between this year and tennis balls? Last year was FIRST's 20th Season. Wouldn't Tennis balls have made more sense then?)

This is the 20th FRC game

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by pandamonium

This is the 20th FRC game

No It's Not.

1992: Maize Craze (1)
1993: Rug Rage (2)
1994: Tower Power (3)
1995: Ramp n Roll (4)
1996: Hexagon Havoc (5)
1997: Toroid Terror (6)
1998: Ladder Logic (7)
1999: Double Trouble (8)
2000:Co-Operatition FIRST (9)
2001: Diabolical Dynamics (10)
2002: Zone Zeal (11)
2003: Stack Attack (12)
2004: Raising The Bar (13)
2005: Triple Play (14)
2006: Aim High (15)
2007: Rack n Roll (16)
2008: Overdrive (17)
2009: Lunacy (18)
2010: Breakaway (19)
2011: Logomotion (20)

This is the 21st game.

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by thefro526

No It's Not.

1992: Maize Craze (1)
1993: Rug Rage (2)
1994: Tower Power (3)
1995: Ramp n Roll (4)
1996: Hexagon Havoc (5)
1997: Toroid Terror (6)
1998: Ladder Logic (7)
1999: Double Trouble (8)
2000:Co-Operatition FIRST (9)
2001: Diabolical Dynamics (10)
2002: Zone Zeal (11)
2003: Stack Attack (12)
2004: Raising The Bar (13)
2005: Triple Play (14)
2006: Aim High (15)
2007: Rack n Roll (16)
2008: Overdrive (17)
2010: Breakaway (19)
2011: Logomotion (20)

This is the 21st game.

I don't count 2009. I like to pretend it didn't happen.

[Joe G.]

Double check your math...Logomotion was the 20th.

[WATERGAMESPECULATION] But it is the 20th anniversary of rug rage, the only "Water game" in FRC history . [/WATERGAMESPECULATION]

[Brandon Zalinsky]

Originally Posted by pfreivald

I don't see why this would stop FIRST from using them... Any problems like that are just part of the challenge, yeah?

Yes, but it also takes away from the spectator aspect, as seeing tennis balls from the stands would be just as much of a challenge.

[Ninja_Bait]

I was just thinking about how I would use this stuff if I was a GDC. Then I read this thread and my brains melted completely. I'm a game hint zombie now: "Urrrgh... Must read Bill's Bloooooogggghhh...."

Anyway, what if the infrared photosensors are just for checking boundary lines? I don't know what their range is, but if it's reasonably long they could certainly be used to check when robots go into alliance lanes or make laps around a track or are above a certain level, things we usually leave to refs, but could automate if the game demands more precision than is achieved by the human eye.

Most of this sounds like the usual stuff, though, so I'm guessing this is like the field entrance gate clue in 2010 - in addition to pinpointing the unusual items, we should consider the possibility of an unusual use for ordinary items.

Also, Rockwell like Norman Rockwell, the famed painter of the modern Santa Claus? Plus Elfbot? Plus "...to Grandma's house we go"? Plus "mull" like mulled cider? Sounds like a theme to me. WE'RE GIVING UP ON ROBOTS AND HAVING A MASSIVE HOLIDAY PARTY! Woot.

[lemiant]

On the other hand it is the 20th anniversary of Maize craize

[CNettles11]

My team is currently in the process of over-analyzing the game hint. We've sent 2 rookies and 2 veteran team members (One being myself,) on a mission to find out what each donated part is.

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by lemiant

On the other hand it is the 20th anniversary of Maize craize

Not according to FIRST?

FIRST® (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) announced today that it has selected St. Louis to host the worldwide robotics Championship beginning in 2011 and continuing through 2013, including the 20th Anniversary year of the organization’s inaugural competition.

Championship Documentation Referring to 2011 as the 20th Anniversary of FRC's inaugural competition. Didn't anyone see all of the 20th Anniversary stuff last year?

Anyway, at least now I know where everyone was getting tennis balls from.

[pfreivald]

Originally Posted by Flak-Bait

Yes, but it also takes away from the spectator aspect, as seeing tennis balls from the stands would be just as much of a challenge.

This is, at least, a solid counter-argument.

As far as driving issues, I figure FIRST would say, "make your robot so it's not a problem and it won't be a problem".

[the man]

I would never count out anything as a game piece... Especially tennis balls.