Why do we care about the game hints?

[thefro526]

Originally Posted by Mr_I

Has anyone anywhere EVER managed to figure anything out substantial from any of the clues?

This is second hand information, but:

In 2002, apparently teams were given a BOM for one of the mobile goals, but no instructions as to how to build it as a hint. Teams who competed in 2001 were familiar to some extent with FRC style mobile goals. Some teams were able to build a relatively accurate mobile goal and began prototyping grabbing mechanisms around the parts.

[George A.]

Originally Posted by Mr_I

Has anyone anywhere EVER managed to figure anything out substantial from any of the clues?

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...&postcount=116

Mr Needel Was pretty close in 2007

[dag0620]

For me its just the fun of it.

Games hints most of the time are hard to interpret and honestly don't give you a leg up, but it helps get you in the spirit of things and excited, for whats coming up.

[O'Sancheski]

The best part about figuring out the game hints are after the game is released and played you get to look back at the crazy responses that people post. Then you get to see who was the closest or furthest away from the actual hint.

[Mr_I]

Originally Posted by George A.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...&postcount=116

Mr Needel Was pretty close in 2007

Ah, good, someone linked to what the clue was!
Some time after kick-off (may have been a year later, for all my mind can remember), I was chatting with Woodie about this clue. He said that, at the time, they were tempted to release a series of clues, spaced out every few days:
- The number 5
- The number 4
- The number 3
- And to really throw everyone off, the number 7!

Can you imagine how many ways the brain trust of this audience would have gone with those numbers?

[vic burg]

I follow them and participate because it's gives my brain a change to stretch and think about something different after/around finals time. Also, it gives me something FIRST related to do between FLL qualifiers (just emcee'd today, actually!) and kick-off for FRC. I think it also helps to keep up the momentum during the holidays time and well, FIRST is like a gigantor family to me so it brings us together just in time for the holidays!

[MichaelBick]

Personally, I care about them because I am just so exited for the season to start. Obiously there is the fun factor, but also the fact that it allows me to think about a completely theoretical game, and decide the best way to solve that problem. If we are right, or even close, then we are better prepared for season. If not, we may have an idea for another game, and are already in " season" mode.

[Siri]

Originally Posted by Mr_I

Has anyone anywhere EVER managed to figure anything out substantial from any of the clues?

Not as good as 2002, but in 2008 people managed to link the GPS coordinates with the tortoise and hare statue and figured out we were NASCAR-ishing. This actually provided some insight into drive train requirements. And of course, that year also have the December Gift, that really did get everyone thinking about infrared. We never got ours to work, but I wonder if the lead time didn't help some teams. I think FIRST really did do this on purpose in that case.

People also managed to figure out the extra gate in 2010, and someone determined there would be some unsafe-to-carry-robot-over obstacles dividing the field in 3. This could have provided drivetrain insight, though I don't know of anyone that pursued it (e.g. looking at the best ways to get over bumps or stairs). We also figured out soccer balls from the ball return segment. This has value in the 'how do I move soccer balls (over unsafe-to-carry-robot-over obstacles)?' angle.

[SenorZ]

It gives a rookie or second-year team a possibly misplaced focus on a generic game strategy.
We can then look up how other teams solved the problem, and figure how we could solve it using the tools at our disposal.

Then we pray we didn't waste a month.

[IndySam]

Because it's fun.

Originally Posted by IndySam

Because it's fun.

I think that's the only answer you'll need. It's fun.

[Robert Cawthon]

Originally Posted by SuperNerd256

I think that's the only answer you'll need. It's fun.

Yes, it is fun. Its fun to watch the students expand their thinking and look outside the "normal" and watch their thoughts explode! Its also fun to watch the mentor's minds fry trying to out think the students.

[Peter Matteson]

Originally Posted by Mr_I

Has anyone anywhere EVER managed to figure anything out substantial from any of the clues?

Yes, in 2004 we all knew we had to climb stairs because of the Stairway to Heaven lyrics.

1n 2005 the hint revealled that we were going to 3 vs 3 for the first time and the name of the game Triple Play.

In 2006 Jess Grady (nee Boucher) pretty much nailed the riddle figuring out the line: "A game object obsessed with a shovel's show" actually meant Just Shoot Me. Hinting at the fact we would be shooting a game object for the first time. This was also probably the most interesting hint we've seen, because it contained a lot of info and we actually had all the parts but didn't quite put it together.

In general the hints are fun to read and think about for a few minutes then just stop so you don't get brain lock.

[JaneYoung]

Game hint threads have provided a lot of giggles and downright belly laughs for me. I've loved those silly silly moments.

Jane

[Robert Cawthon]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

Game hint threads have provided a lot of giggles and downright belly laughs for me. I've loved those silly silly moments.

Jane

Yeah, that, too.