2008 Game- Overdrive

[pacoliketaco]

first impression: in my opinion this game is just too simple. it will be nice for the rookie teams because all they need to do is drive, but what about the veteran/experienced teams? After inflating our trackball and moving it around, i think it will be VERY hard to pick it up at least 7 or 8 feet off the ground because of its size and weight. i am just not sure how a robot can manage to pick up the ball and lift it, considering i have a hard time myself trying to pick it up. I really dont like the fact that almost all defensive "plays" are now illegal and all that will happen during regionals is that you will see robots going in a circle, and not much beyond that. during the game video, i was almost expecting there to be more game pieces thrown onto the field to make this more interesting. i dont think that only 4 massive game pieces is enough to make an interesting game. in past years it was fun to see the robots either shooting balls into goals or getting a complete wrap-around on the rack, but what is the fun in going around in circles?

[finaldark]

What? I can't believe some of you think that the Defense last year was a bad idea. I personally thought lasts years game was awesome, it was more like a real sport. You got to see robots really going at each other, breaking some parts, which led to fun frustration in the Pits later

If you ask me, I like this years game, but i wanted to see something more "head-to-head". Maybe its because i play hockey.. Good ol' checks.

[Alex Dinsmoor]

I think this is a really fun game (from a programmers standpoint). The hybrid mode should also lead to some very interesting matches. The only problem is that there will be falling balls that could damage a robot.

When we were at the kickoff (in Flint, MI) they kept mentioning this website and chief delphi was sitting right in front of us. We had a good laugh.

[Ragnarokae]

Originally Posted by fredliu168

What prevents a team from throwing the opposition's ball out of the areana? Also, how do refs rule if your blocking the roadway.

<G29> POSSESSING Opponent’s TRACKBALLS - ROBOTS may not be in the POSSESSION of a TRACKBALL belonging to an opposing ALLIANCE. A PENALTY will be assigned for each violation. HERDING of an opponent’s TRACKBALL and removing an opponent’s TRACKBALL from the OVERPASS is permitted.

<G30> TRACKBALL Out of Bounds - TRACKBALLS that leave the arena will be placed back on the TRACK at the earliest safe opportunity. The TRACKBALL will be placed on the TRACK at the approximate location where it exited.


You can throw it out (it seems) but it will just be placed back in. And you will get a penalty for possessing an opponent's ball.

[LordTalps]

Originally Posted by pacoliketaco

first impression: in my opinion this game is just too simple. it will be nice for the rookie teams because all they need to do is drive, but what about the veteran/experienced teams? After inflating our trackball and moving it around, i think it will be VERY hard to pick it up at least 7 or 8 feet off the ground because of its size and weight. i am just not sure how a robot can manage to pick up the ball and lift it, considering i have a hard time myself trying to pick it up. I really dont like the fact that almost all defensive "plays" are now illegal and all that will happen during regionals is that you will see robots going in a circle, and not much beyond that. during the game video, i was almost expecting there to be more game pieces thrown onto the field to make this more interesting. i dont think that only 4 massive game pieces is enough to make an interesting game. in past years it was fun to see the robots either shooting balls into goals or getting a complete wrap-around on the rack, but what is the fun in going around in circles?

It's a simpler game as far as scoring and such, but a harder game for how to do it. Getting a ball over that overpass is going to be very interesting. How to get the second trackball over the opponents home stretch without incurring a penalty -- frustratingly difficult. I was happier with the previous game though.

[abeD]

It's not as easy as you guys think, a simple tank won't be able to take those corner's at high speed. Designing a robot that has steerable wheels is not necessarily such an easy task.


Also If you can't collapse your arm or are holding a ball high speed turns will definitely result in lots of flipping.

[Rafi Ahmed]

What happens if your Alliances ball is on your opponents overpass? How do you get your ball since you can't go over 6ft on your opponents home stretch?

[Billfred]

The more I look at the game, the more I enjoy it. The task is easy to understand (get your ball, get it over the overpass, swing around and do it again), and even someone who doesn't get the subtleties of the game can get the jist in about thirty seconds. Flying bricks can score for the alliance, but the ones you'll see on Saturday afternoon will do more faster.

Still, we'll see how it plays out on the field.

[Ragnarokae]

Originally Posted by raf4far

What happens if your Alliances ball is on your opponents overpass? How do you get your ball since you can't go over 6ft on your opponents home stretch?

There is already a thread about this subject here: http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=60686

[Koko Ed]

I cannot pass judgement of this game in therory so I will wait til I see it in practice (at least during the scrimmages) before I make a decision about how I truly feel about it.
At least it's different. I submitted a racing game design a few years ago.

[Pavan Dave]

I actually think this game is okay. *NOTE: I'm surprised that the concession stands will not be serving booze and hot dogs on a stick and having the regionals and robots perform outdoors* I think that teams like 25, 111, 148 and other prestigious teams in the community will have a robot designed to both "partner" and be able to grab from over the rails as well as being able to pick them up and move them themselves, giving them the advantage IF they are placed with an experienced team (Eliminations).... I think that the GDC must not have had cable while coming up with this game hint but at the same time I disappointed at the "lack" of autonomous. Because we are able to use "remote controls" it takes away from the Auton. I think you might as well have just had 10 seconds of auton, 10 extra auton/remote, regular round but instead its how it is.... Its all good though in the end I think I may be dizzy but it will be a good experience. Soon I will be contacting my lawyer so I can begin taking the rules apart line by line but I'll let him sleep right now ];-)> ... I am disappointed though with the fully offensive game and the fact that a kitbot with no manipulator can complete this task. In 2006 you at least had to be able to store balls or "plow" but the "plow" was a type of manipulator.. But in the end I guess this makes it fair for everyone, and the "race the the finish" type ending will be finally administered to some degree as I expect most teams to "crane" the robot and try and get it on top of the 'bridges'...... Thats how I explained the game to my parents --- Nascar with bridges and balls..... Its not the best game FIRST has come up with, but at least its not the worst.

GDC.... Come on. Counter-clockwise? ... I believe NASCAR might file a lawsuit!

Peace,
Pavan

EDIT: I'm disappointed that there is no 'green light'. Ever since my first year in FIRST in Atlanta when I saw the light up trick with the red blue and green lights I have been expecting multiple colored lights. Over the years though it seems that the Camera and the lights have lost their 'importance' in the world of FIRST... *sigh*

[Kyle Love]

The day has come, a bunch of little FIRST race cars will soon exist.

[Warren Boudreau]

NASCAR without the wrecks. Yawn......

It's not the worst game, but it doesn't move my WOW-meter.

[BlondeNerd]

I think it's really interesting. I was expecting direct robot dependancy, like the ramp-bots last year. Manipulating an object as large and heavy as a trackball is not easy and I am excited to see what everyone comes up with! I think that the game will be more exciting in actuality than it may seem right now.

[Jeminunzi]

I dunno, i'm not really a huge fan of it. I'm sure it will grow on me though, it seems like chaos to me right now. It seems like it's going to be difficult for the refs to keep track of too.