2006 Official Game Hint Discussion

[Ryan F.]

People seem to be glossing over the possibility of 1v.1v.1v.1v.1 (Every bot for itself). There are definetly some advantages to this configuaration.

Strange clue.

[Alex Burman]

Originally Posted by Ryan F.

People seem to be glossing over the possibility of 1v.1v.1v.1v.1 (Every bot for itself). There are definetly some advantages to this configuaration.

Strange clue.

first is all about team work so they wouldn't get rid of the teams

the competitions can't run 2v2 again with the number of teams that participate, it would require less playing time, less matches, or a longer competition. It seems we have overpopulated FRC to a point where we can't to 2v2

[Jon Jack]

Originally Posted by Ryan F.

People seem to be glossing over the possibility of 1v.1v.1v.1v.1 (Every bot for itself). There are definetly some advantages to this configuaration.

Strange clue.

The good thing about alliances is it forces teams to work together. With alliances if you don't help another team, they could be allied with you in a future match, and if they aren't performing well your alliance isn't going to be as strong. So Alliances force teams to work together. If it is 1v1v1v1v1 then a team could just go battle bots on an opposing team and none of us would want that, right?

[Cory]

Originally Posted by raf4far

Comeback Kid, thats pretty interesting saying that there has been a lot of talk about a comeback of an old first game. 4v0 game in peticular so i think it will be 5v0

Trivia question time--What's worse than 4v0?

5v0, of course

[Mme.Miscellania]

It's interesting that the clue is in the form of an extended haiku (8-10-8).
Now, haiku are normally 5-7-5 patterns, so maybe this year's competition has an alternating number of robots on the field - maybe one robot out of six is chosen to sit out a round, and get put in the next round.

[JoeXIII'007]

five 'bots tangling with pasta
a game piece obsessed with a shovel's show
and seeing Montana's green heights

Thoughts:

1a. 5 'bots = 4 bots, has to. Primarily to to the explanation earlier of Joe Montana's 1984 season => 1984 novel => the infamous problem in that book of 2+2=5. I mean, FIRST wouldn't put 5 robots on the field really, or have 6 robots with 5 on field, 2 swapping half-way through the match; or would they???

1b. (added after #3) There could be 5 bots in this fashion: the old 2 vs. 2 format with 1 'house' robot to add to the challenge of the game. Perhaps it will have a shovel as its main tool to 'show.'

2. Tangling with pasta => rope, wire, pool noodles, whatever. FIRST has finally gotten off of using basic 3D figures and gone to a 4th dimension: flex. Congrats FIRST for making that leap. Or will this 'pasta be an obstacle as well???

3. a game obsessed with a shovel's show => definition from www.ask.com says that show in noun form is a display; a manifestation (or indication of its presence, existence; or one of its forms is revealed) It is very tough to get a good clue on what exactly will go on besides the use of a shovel. The show part, whether its uses will be obsessively exploited, or something along that line; OR whether there will be a shovel obstacle.

4. and seeing Montana's green heights => It would be odd if this portion of the clue DID NOT refer to the CMUcam or other optical device. Other than that: Montana => mountain state => elevated field platform (green ramps lead to this multi-level 'mountain' or green lines lead to the top somehow).

So, in short:

*4-5 robots possible. If 5, there might be a house robot.
*Flexible game pieces and/or obstacles tangle up robots in some way which is not known.
*something to do with a shovel
*some area of unknown elevation with green to follow.

Sorry if this is redundant in any way, just had to post on this.

-Joe

[Elgin Clock]

Wow.. just wow.

You all found some reference I would have never been able to find in the 4 hours I have been researching this clue. Where did the time go?
I only have a full page full of notes after all. This mystery of this year's clue and the research behind it is, dare I say, worse than studying for finals.
The reward will not be greater per say in 2 weeks, but definitely a lot more fun.

I have found some you all haven't though, but it is 1:30 am and I need some sleep, and some time to mull things over.

Hopefully someone hits on all the issues in the clue that are meant to be uncovered.

As for me, I'm off to bed, and after some more research, and a few days away from the computer, but definitely not the clue I will be back with so much information, you're head will spin.

Good luck to all in deciphering this clue, and also in the 2006 competition.

[robot180]

What if the fifth 'bot is not a mechanical robot, but more like one of those "chatting aim bots", a computer program that provides information, moderates something, or assists in doing something.

[David Guzman]

I found Ravioli Makers when searching for pasta.

http://www.creativecookware.com/ravioli_makers.htm

[Nuttyman54]

Originally Posted by David Guzman

I found Ravioli Makers when searching for pasta.

Ravioli eh...beanbags maybe?

[Revolverx7]

Thinkin about 2v2 with a nuetral robot, or 2v3 with a defense/offense type gameplay coud be cool.

[Alex Burman]

I think if there was a neutral robot that wasn't controlled by one of the FRC teams, spectators would start associating it with battle bots and such more because of there "house robots"

[looneylin]

i think by 5 they mean 433 n by pasta they mean *give them money!!!***
shovel's show = hug fest! *free hugs for everybody!!!
n seeing montana's green heights means a big pile of money!!! *to give to the 433 firebirds!!!!***

lol jk

[MikeDubreuil]

"five 'bots tangling with pasta"
I think of pasta as meatballs and spaghetti. I think a great game would involve the human players having balls (like 2000)
and the spaghetti being a new game object similar to a pool noodle. The pool noodles would be randomly placed around the field.

"a game piece obsessed with a shovel's show"
I think this refers to the balls that the human player will have. A shovel's show is that you can throw objects with it.
The human player will be throwing the balls at a scoring goal.

"and seeing Montana's green heights"
I liked how it was suggested that Joe Montana played for Notre Dame. Take a look at this picture of Notre Dame Cathedral. I think the main scoring goal will look similar to Notre Dame Cathedral. I wouldn't be suprised if we saw a hanging bar this year.

This game sounds very similar to 2000, just add pool noodles.

[Bill Moore]

Originally Posted by MikeDubreuil

"five 'bots tangling with pasta"
I think of pasta as meatballs and spaghetti. I think a great game would involve the human players having balls (like 2000)
and the spaghetti being a new game object similar to a pool noodle. The pool noodles would be randomly placed around the field.

Interesting thought. The pool noodles are not used for scoring, but are impediments to picking up balls, or for some robots moving about the field.

If that's so, then it really doesn't matter how much the noodles get destroyed at a regional, because they would get recycled (hopefully) after it is over. You'd have a constant consumable cost for each regional. Probably replacing the noodles periodically during quals and moreso during playoffs.

If the game is designed properly, these obstacles could put the kibosh on high speed ramming. Thereby, eliminating one of the rants people have about the referee's "judgement calls" concerning intent.

(I know, I know, build a better game, and the world isn't going to beat a path to your door, someone will just build a better "bash bot".)