The Difference Between Red Herring Clues And Official Game Hints

[JaneYoung]

Hi all,

As we begin to repeat ourselves in the 1st Official Game Hint thread for 2011, I thought it might be interesting for archival purposes and as a reference - to discuss the differences between the unofficial hints/clues and the Official Game Hints.

Would anyone like to give this one a try? First of all, when did we start receiving Official Game Hints directly from FRC? How far back do the official ones go and what were they? Before that, the hints/clues were unofficial and Dave Lavery was behind most of them, right? We also have had some FIRSTers/CD members who created their own hints/hoaxes/chaos, right? What were those and who were the pranksters?

This might be information that will help new members who try to make sense of the excitement and anticipation leading up to Kick off. It will also give us something to do.

I've enjoyed the hints as far back as I go which is not far enough and I sure don't know the history behind any of it.

Thanks for any input and help.

Jane

[EricH]

Official hints began for the 2003 season, Stack Attack, IIRC.

2003: the quadratic formula, used as the scoring formula. (not quite sure if that was official or unofficial via Dave's signature)
2004: Lines from the song, "Stairway to Heaven". (Same note as 2003)
2005: Riddle.
2006: Riddle.
2007: Picture of a scored game piece--up close, so only the inside edge of the game piece and the diamond-plate circle with the number 5 on it showed.
2008: 3 hints: IR receiver board, GPS coordinates of the Tortoise and Hare statue in Boston, and "Vets Hurdling First Tetras", which was an anagram of the password to the manual, minus punctuation.
2009: First a picture of an opah, or moonfish, then a riddle.
2010: 2 CAD models of field parts
2011: See hint thread; reversed album cover.

Fakes: Various rumors that turned out not to be true, but there is one classic one that was fairly close in some aspects: A leak was claimed before the 2001 game.
Greg Needel's hoaxes were the sort of "it's out! Ha, ha, fooled you"; 2009/2010.

Lavery red herrings: Numerous. Random sayings, faked pictures, comments about whack the Billfred being the game, you name it. Epic red herring was the morse-code signature spacing for the 2010 season. And yes, some herrings are red when Dave posts them. Typically 3-4 or more per season.

[Joe Ross]

The real question is has anybody ever learned anything actionable from a game hint or red herring.

[Rich Kressly]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

The real question is has anybody ever learned anything actionable from a game hint or red herring.

In my experience, no.

I always advise teams I'm associated with to ignore them and have a safe and restful holiday season. However, I also include the link to those hints and discussions in the same email because the sadistic side of my loves the fact that some people just can't help themselves. I get a kick out of seeing the self-torture despite having my best advice right in front of them.

Wrong to do, I know. But exceedingly amusing for me.

Enjoy the holiday herring, no matter what part of the RGB spectrum you observe this time of year.

[Jon Stratis]

There is one thing that occurred to me this morning... With such a huge history of "unofficial" hints and clues, and the amount of attention everyone here pays to Dave's posts and Bill's blog, it would be incredibly easy for them to drop something innocuous in their posts that would completely twist the way people look at the official game clues. For example, I've heard a lot of speculation around stairs after the official clue, linking the fact that the backup singers were standing on stairs to various statements/pictures made over the past few months. That could be a complete red herring, designed to keep us from figuring out what the clue really means.

[IndySam]

Originally Posted by Joe Ross

The real question is has anybody ever learned anything actionable from a game hint or red herring.

No.

Their just for fun. At best they give the game name or some part of the field that really tells you nothing about the game.

I love every year watching people try to figure out the game from them. The wild speculation is amazing and never correct.

I miss the riddles, they were always the most fun.

[JaneYoung]

Oh bah humbug, guys. It is a terrible thing to enjoy silliness, cleverness, and fun. Especially during the holidays. That's why I never ever think about, quote, or watch any Monty Python movies after the 21st.

Seriously.

Jane

P.S. Thanks, Eric. If anyone has any specifics to add, that would be awesome.

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by JaneYoung

That's why I never ever think about, quote, or watch any Monty Python movies after the 21st.

But it's not got much Spam in it...




.

[Basel A]

Originally Posted by dlavery

But it's not got much Spam in it...




.

That, sir, is a sketch. Not a movie.
Thus, the intended irony has gone awry.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by Basel A

That, sir, is a sketch. Not a movie.
Thus, the intended irony has gone awry.

That, sir, is the meaning of life.

Going awry.

[Bill_B]

Originally Posted by Basel A

...
Thus, the intended irony has gone awry.

I always thought songs from Steely Dan should have more irony in them. In FRC 'bots, we find mostly aluminy along with the going awry parts.

[dlavery]

Originally Posted by Basel A

That, sir, is a sketch. Not a movie.
Thus, the intended irony has gone awry.

Ahem. "Parrot Sketch Not Included"

(and before you go running off to gather the Spanish Inquisition with charges of falsehood and heresy, please note that IMDB.com and several other resources [including the VHS tape box that I am looking at right now] identify this piece as a "compilation movie" of MPFC work). Say no more.


.

[Alan Anderson]

[quote=dlavery;987729]Ahem. "Parrot Sketch Not Included"

(...a "compilation movie" of MPFS work)./QUOTE]

Monty Python's Flying Saywhatnow?

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by Alan Anderson

Monty Python's Flying Saywhatnow?

Monty Python's Flying SERCOS? [/machine control humor]

[Andy Grady]

The best prank that I ever saw, I think was before 2000. Dr. Joe Johnson of Chief Delphi made a post in the Rumor Mill in which he stated that he had received an e-mail that was intended to go to FIRST but instead ended up going to him. He then went on to show the contents of the letter in which it explained the game in pretty heavy detail. The amazing thing is that there was such chaos/outrage over the post, that tons of people were calling up FIRST HQ complaining. From what I heard, they had no idea it was coming, and Dr. Joe had to eventually go on the boards to apologize and explain to everyone that it was just a hoax to try to get people thinking. Its actually very possible that this was the very first hoax in FIRST history.