Ideas about the new game

[KenWittlief]

Submarines!

[sanddrag]

Originally posted by KenWittlief
Submarines!

Ohhh, here it goes.

Now, seriously, I don't think they will lengthen the autonomous time for a few reasons. Last year, about the last half the autonomous time did not contain movement of anything in the majority of most matches. The other reason is that for robots that do have programs which take advantage of the whole 15 seconds, they sometimes would get stuck against something early on and be stalling motors for the remainder of the time; very bad for the motors and electronics and it kills your battery too. For teams that don't stall out, they spin the tires for a long period of time, still bad for the tires anyway.

So, I think the autonomous mode will remian at 15 seconds. One part of FIRST is not having enough time to do everything you want; e.g. the 6 week build.

I also think that more points will be scored for tasked performed in autonomous mode than in user mode.

[Pin Man]

Originally posted by KenWittlief
Submarines!

High School students + electronics + water = the most devestating accidents in the U.S.

[Sachiel7]

Hmm.
Well, I just found out that this year there are, or were, 5 game committees around the US. Each one was assigned with the task of creating their own game to present it on September 1st, and one would be chosen. So, the game is done. The trick is figuring it out. Here's a "list of likeliness"(this is just my prediction):

Auto Mode - 80%
KOTH - 75%
Basic Scoring by pushing - 100%
2 or more advanced scoring methods - 80%
Same field Size/Shape - 100% (I have had this verified)
Different Driver Positioning - 25% (as in across the wide side of the field)
Balls - 50%
Goals - 50%
Scoring Areas (KOTH included) - 75%
Bins - 25%
Blocks - 50%
Climbing - 40%
Going Under Things - 60%
Ramp (small or large) - 25%
Plateau - 50%
Gates/Fences/Doors - 60%

Anyway, this isn't my full list, but it's a good idea, I guess. Anyway, I still like my "Sumo Circle" idea. A Circle for KOTH points in the center, you have to be touching inside the circle to get the points. Think of the pushing battles....
The only problem is too many bots would block off the whole area in some way...

[Erin Rapacki]

By attending the Manchester FIRST Forum back last June, it seemed that Autonomous and 2 v 2 were definatley sticking around. Also, more selection and variability in the kit of parts was something they wanted to work on.

As for the 5 regional groups, don't even try to get a word out of them about their suggested game... they won't say anything. And most likely, 2004's game would be some kind of mix of all of them (picking the best aspects of each game and combining them).

I'm not even going to bother seriously trying to guess 2004's game. I'm just going to keep preparing my team for the unpredictable.

[WakeZero]

My take on the new autonomous mode will be this:

Teams have the option of having an autonomous mode, and how long that autonomous mode will last.

How long your robot runs in autonomous mode is what determines your multiplier. So if you don't run any autonomous, you get a multiplier of 1, but say you do a 15 second autonomous mode, you get a multiplier of 2. 30 seconds could be 3, and 60 seconds could be 4. I wouldn't go higher than that however =)

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally posted by WakeZero
My take on the new autonomous mode will be this:

Teams have the option of having an autonomous mode, and how long that autonomous mode will last.

How long your robot runs in autonomous mode is what determines your multiplier. So if you don't run any autonomous, you get a multiplier of 1, but say you do a 15 second autonomous mode, you get a multiplier of 2. 30 seconds could be 3, and 60 seconds could be 4. I wouldn't go higher than that however =)

Yuck... I hear "multiplier" and I get reminded of the confusing scoring from 2001. While your idea is a great way to encourage autonomous action, it would be very, very confusing to score, to follow from the stands, and to strategize.

[Amanda Morrison]

As far as the regional groups' presentations of their games go, I don't think we'll be finding anything out very soon.

I think it's clear that autonomous will stick around. When the 2003 game was announced, programmers around the US rejoiced. It was a fun (and unpredictible) way to toss the game around a bit.

2001 - balls
2002 - soccer balls
2003 - bins

So I think it's safe to say that we'll have some kind of variable that begins with a 'b'. Bats? Bubbles? Teddy Bears? The world may never know.

All seriousness, I think this needs to be said. The five regional groups that worked on this year's game (another thing to be noted... what if FIRST doesn't pick ANY of their games?) worked hard on what they presented to FIRST. I am sure that this year's game will be a challenge, one more mind boggling and brain testing than the last couple years.

Prepare to be swept away.

[Jon Reese]

we all know that the auto mode will stick. i dont think it will affect points and not be manditory. like last year there where many teams with out an auto mode. on 231 we had to make an auto mode for another team. (thanks to the worlds best programmer brandon halgengens!!!!!!!!!!!). i also think a king of the hill will be around to!!!!!!! it will be a physical game. lots of pushing oh yeah. i also like the idea about gates. but what am i to say........im a lowly d/o and team caiptan..........

[Sachiel7]

Heh, I didn't notice the "B" thing until now...
Here's my "B" idea:

Bean Bags!!!

I'm sure each of the 5 groups worked hard, and did a great job. I'm sure this coming year's game will be a great challenge. I don't really want to know what it is exactly, but I like little hints and guesses that get you thinking. It would be pretty neat if they did show us some of the unused ideas though...
Maybe after they reveal the game, they can post all 5 groups' presentations on the site or something. Or, they might be saving some of the ideas for another year... you never know...

[WakeZero]

Originally posted by Jeff Waegelin
Yuck... I hear "multiplier" and I get reminded of the confusing scoring from 2001. While your idea is a great way to encourage autonomous action, it would be very, very confusing to score, to follow from the stands, and to strategize.

Last year there was a multiplier and it wasn't so bad... its just that 2001 had many other problems as well

[dlavery]

Originally posted by Amanda Morrison

So I think it's safe to say that we'll have some kind of variable that begins with a 'b'. Bats? Bubbles? Teddy Bears? The world may never know.

Balloons (ssshhhhh!!)

[WakeZero]

Originally posted by dlavery
Balloons (ssshhhhh!!)

POP...

POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP,POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP,POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP, POP

[Jnadke]

I think that a 1vs1vs1vs1 game would be interesting. Teams could put negative objects in your goal, or positive ones.

For qualification, the winner gets the sum of the points of the three other teams. The individual teams take their own scores. Of course, there would be a rule that no team takes home negative scores (if you get negative, goes to zero).

For eliminations, the top 8 teams would pick three teams each. It would be a double-round elimination. Each team on every alliance would be required to play at least one round. The game is played exactly like qualification, in that each team gets their own points, and the winner gets the sum of the other three. The winning alliance for the match is the alliance with the highest sum after 2 rounds. This is interesting because after a match Alliance A could have scores of 20 and 30, while alliance B would have -10 and 40. Alliance A would leave with 50 points while alliance B would leave with 40 points. Even though you won, you lost because you didn't watch out for your teammate (could have gotten ganged-up on). The key is to win while helping your teammate and helping/hurting your opponents.

As for field layout. A simple octagon could work. Teams would be layed out in a square arrangement (so there would be 4 player stations). In the center would be a rectangular, or circular (better), KoTH ramp that can hold, at most, 3 full-size robots. The goals would be located in front of each driver. The objective? Ball-pit balls (the one's that kids play in). Each robot would start on a raised platform to the right of the driver station, with a ramp. Your team's balls would be located on the opposite side of the field on the floor, but would be contained by a simple ramp-like "boundary" so that the balls can't get out unintentionally but your robot can traverse the field (these could easily be made from those rubber mats you put over hoses/wiring so people don't trip over them).

As for scoring, every ball of your color in your goal is 3 points, and every ball of another color is -1 points. If your robot is on top of the ramp, you get 30 points.

[Rich Wong]

Rumor said that the new game components will be 50 colored hamster balls will be placed on the playing field (with hamsters) and the robots must collect them as fast as they can.
If a hamster is injured- DQ!