Game Hint Solution [probably]

[Tomker]

My best bet is that the 25% weight reduction refers to the 30 lbs of spare parts that each team is allowed to bring to each event.
Since FIRST is trying to get all areas into the district format, more and more teams are going to atend multiple events, it means that more teams will be able to make big changes/upgrades between each event and they probably want to prevent it from being too big of a factor.

[D.Allred]

Originally Posted by yarden.saa

Hi CD,
...
The second numer refers to a sign "Security FIRST" and there is a US post office in front of it.
....

Hmm. It also gives you a dead end sign in Statesville, NC. Apropos.

[gyroscopeRaptor]

This is false.

Think about how they come up with these game hints. In all the encoded ones, they started from plaintext and worked backwards to get the clue. In the ones without a code, they came up with an idea for how something fit, like the Locomotion album cover and the logo.

If they wanted to say the weight was smaller, what makes you think they would find a random streetsign saying weight is smaller and find a random number string that happens to search that up?

[magnets]

I agree that this probably is not the solution and should be merged with the other game hint thread, where the rest of the (incorrect) "solutions" have been posted.

[nickmcski]

Originally Posted by gyroscopeRaptor

This is false.

Think about how they come up with these game hints. In all the encoded ones, they started from plaintext and worked backwards to get the clue. In the ones without a code, they came up with an idea for how something fit, like the Locomotion album cover and the logo.

If they wanted to say the weight was smaller, what makes you think they would find a random streetsign saying weight is smaller and find a random number string that happens to search that up?

it is unlikely, but it is the GDC, they do some crazy stuff. who knows that they thought up this year.

[Nuttyman54]

Originally Posted by gyroscopeRaptor

This is false.

Think about how they come up with these game hints. In all the encoded ones, they started from plaintext and worked backwards to get the clue. In the ones without a code, they came up with an idea for how something fit, like the Locomotion album cover and the logo.

If they wanted to say the weight was smaller, what makes you think they would find a random streetsign saying weight is smaller and find a random number string that happens to search that up?

a) These street signs are fairly common in the Midwest, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the GDC members said "hey, let's find one of these signs and give the coordinates as a game hint".

b) The GDC has given Google Maps coordinates as a game hint before - 2008, Boston's Copley Square as a reference to a race (Boston Marathon) and large balls (Globe Cafe)

c) I think the chances that they gave us random numbers which are NOT coordinates and all three of them just happen to point to very specific things in Google Maps which either mention FIRST or are directly related (eg. weight limits between January and May) is much much lower than the chances that they were able to find such signs/locations and give the coordinates.

[dellagd]

Originally Posted by Nuttyman54

a) These street signs are fairly common in the Midwest, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the GDC members said "hey, let's find one of these signs and give the coordinates as a game hint".

b) The GDC has given Google Maps coordinates as a game hint before - 2008, Boston's Copley Square as a reference to a race (Boston Marathon) and large balls (Globe Cafe)

c) I think the chances that they gave us random numbers which are NOT coordinates and all three of them just happen to point to very specific things in Google Maps which either mention FIRST or are directly related (eg. weight limits between January and May) is much much lower than the chances that they were able to find such signs/locations and give the coordinates.

But the weight reduction sign is so... perfect

Weight allowance has changed over the years in FRC and it just happens to outline the FRC season quite well? Seems pretty intentional... If its a red herring, its a darn good one.

[Nuttyman54]

Originally Posted by dellagd

But the weight reduction sign is so... perfect

Weight allowance has changed over the years in FRC and it just happens to outline the FRC season quite well? Seems pretty intentional... If its a red herring, its a darn good one.

That is my point: regardless of how the GDC got there, it's too hard for that sequence of numbers to point to that sign and NOT have that be the intended hint. I don't think it's a red herring. The signs are usually 25% for hard paved roads and 35% for flexible paved roads.

[Hallry]

Okay, I like the lead on the first numbers but...

Originally Posted by yarden.saa

Hi CD,
I searched the numbers in google earth:
The second number refers to a sign "Security FIRST" and there is a US post office in front of it.
The third number refers to the "FIRST Baptist church"

Okay, great....but how is this 'solved'? Anybody could have said this. What does it mean?

[themccannman]

This is by far the most plausible solution to the game hint. Even though it's supposed to be in the original thread, I'm kind of glad I didn't have to wade through pages of crap to find this.

[brrian27]

I don't think the entire robot would be under 90 lbs, but maybe the base portion.

Think about it. They're giving us a different KOP base so it is easier to attach superstructures. What if part of the game is attaching and detaching different structures (maybe by the human player) to do different things?

Then the 90 lbs would actually be plausible if it didn't include your main appendages or whatever.

I think that sign really is a good clue.

But what does the Baptist Church and post office represent??

[Nuttyman54]

Originally Posted by brrian27

But what does the Baptist Church and post office represent??

Delivery of an object to a post/steeple?

Also, several years ago (might've been 2008?) there was a lot of discussion about a mailbox as part of the game hint. I don't recall if it was an official part of the hint, or something someone dug up from one of the hint clues.

[brrian27]

Originally Posted by Nuttyman54

Delivery of an object to a post/steeple?

Maybe your 90-lb base has to deliver something standard that attaches to it!! Like how each team in Lunacy had a standard trailer, maybe there is something standard to deliver.

Also, maybe someone should look up that specific church and post office? There could be some historical significance in some way.

[themccannman]

62326 is the area code for argyle lake state park in IL. Confirmed water game.



/sarcasm

[Headphones]

I realize that this is unlikely, but I just want to throw it out there:

The sign says weight *limits* reduced 25% -- Could this not be interpreted to mean relaxing the limits, rather than tightening them?

(That was just the first thing that popped into my head upon reading the sign -- English is a strange, strange language, since it's the opposite of the sign's intended meaning....)