It’s Funny that I would make this post, considering I was probably the last one on these forums to see it. :D.
The game this year is called Hot Shot.
http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/ftc/content.aspx?id=962
My first impression is…wow.
I want to play…
I can’t say how much I want to play this game. Too bad, I guess… guess this is what college feels like 
If I had time, I’d dig in a manual and read all the technicalities, but I wanna see something done… a robot like 93 in 2004 that has a big net to catch all of the balls the autoloaders release, or an intake that camps along the bottom as it pushes the load lever in autonomous. A “dbot” that grabs the center lever and drives fast around the track (or even gets in the low goal) to make scoring in the goal impossible. An arm that reaches into the High Goal.
Look for more Aim High flywheel shooters! It’s the cool thing to do apparently.
I now regret suggesting to end the FTC venture to 100% pursue the VRC venture. It will indeed be “fun”
I change my statement above. I want to play this game with a Vex robot!
See, I don’t think VEX would have the advantage in this game. The powerful shooters will have the edge, and with this year, you have 8 DC motors allowed and the list of extra materials allowed is, in short, AMAZING.
Well, I’ve unofficially associated myself to a team…in Canada…over 3000 miles away from my location…You gotta love FIRST.
Well, I meant if everyone had Vex. I would like to play this if it were VRC, because I have little idea what I’m doing with the FTC kit, don’t have one, am not in high school, etc.
Actually, this is my very first robotics team’s last year in existence. I wonder if they’d like some help…
Looks like you guys are going to have some fun this year.
It seems like just the game to regain some interest in the FTC platform. That being said, all the PVC pipe has me worried. Someone is going to take down the center goal.
Once you get a look at the field bill of materials, you will find an iron pipe hidden inside the center PVC which has an iron flange bolted to the center plywood platform. I do agree that there will be serious game play and lots of action again this year.
So I am interested in hearing from teams what they think of the design of this year’s game. Scoring options, end game with shooting out of the field…
I’ve talked with a team leader, and we put our heads together and came out with 100% proven design, that we’ve seen perform, and we can get it to perform even better, and it all happened in about 30 minutes. 
One thing that I was thinking of during this “end game” was that teams will try to get ready and set, and then they will unload. The thing about launching balls is that it can be mest up easily. A defensive robot would simply have to ram the shooting robot and then that can easily mess up any shooting, especially if the other robot is sporting some omnis. Just a though.
Do you mean like…“literally” take it down or like … score a lot of points? And the robots’ extensions are limited this year, so I don’t think any robot can wage too much damage to it.
TO EVERYONE, involved and not involved, READ THE RULES!!! Compared to last year, the game is WAY different, and the robot rules are even more different.(Including the servo/motor numbers).
This is a coooool game.
So many game options and strategies… Plus the out-of-field goals and bonus balls are a freaky twist.
Some penalties will be hard to call… like goal blocking… Sounds like the “Interferance” penalty in Overdrive.
We’re a team that likes to show scoring prowess in Auto.
Touching the center goal’s spin-bar is a 5 point penalty in auto, but I wouldn’t put it past another team to hit it anyway to make scoring difficult for us in auto.
Seems like the penalty should be bigger… 5 point penalty vs 80 points in auto+regular play.
I meant literally until Andrew Schuetze informed us about the metal base and pole is rides on.
Should be awesome to watch.
This game will definitely be fun to watch. 
Not gonna lie. I can’t wait for this game. I can see some highly competitive robots going down on the field but the ones who will be the clearcut winners will be those who can multitask at 100% efficiency on all fronts IMO.
Kudos to the GDC and FIRST
this years game is cool and it will make the robots made interesting there is a down side to this years game thought. there are so many penalties and they deduct points for everything, a defnesive game is not really easy to do with out being penalized for it at every turn
That’s the whole point of penalties, to discourage behavior that would make the game worse. So I would suggest starting to plan defensive strategy around the penalty book right away.
As for my design ideas… yet again I find myself thinking “perhaps I should just do exactly what 1625 did one year…”
Very cool game… and the allowed parts list is pretty intense!
One question though on the allowed parts list
<R5.b.7> Any NXT compatible sensor from HiTechnic, including the NXT Touch Sensor Multiplexer, NXT Sensor Multiplexer <snip>
Does this exist anywhere? It’s not available from Hi Technic on their website?
http://parts.ftcrobots.com/store/default.aspx?CategoryID=163&by=9&c=1
You’ll find most of the parts are available on that website.
I find myself thinking that a lot but with a couple different team numbers. 
In another thread someone said there is a new chain-and-sprocket set available. I don’t see it on the LEGO/Pitsco/Tetrix/FTC Website. Can anyone point me to this?
Another rumor I heard is that there is a new version of the motor speed controller which includes current limiting to reduce the number of burned out motors (anyone want to buy a one-gallon Ziploc full of 12-volt paperweights?). Anyone have facts? I’m not all that thrilled about spending over $400 to replace all our controllers, but if that’s what it takes to reduce what we spend to replace burned out motors it might be worth it.
Thanks in advance.