Does anyone have a guess or idea on what the next game for Robotics will be. I don’t expect there to be an answer because of how there is no information.
Something with balls. Or something close. Vex seems to almost always switch back and forth between balls and some other wierd shape.
I’ve noticed that too Joseph W(182 C). Thanks for helping me to prove a point to my team.
I think they might try to switch it up this year, keep us on our toes.
There are a couple things that recent vex games have in common:
Two different types of objects for the robot to manipulate.
Endgame bonus.
And of course, this year is the water game, can’t forget that. #watergame2K17
Bridge Battle, Elevation, Clean Sweep, Nothing But Net, and Starstruck have all primarily used foam objects (5) while Round Up, Gateway, Toss Up, and Skyrise all primarily used plastic objects (4) and Sack Attack was an odd duck that used cloth (although Startstruck does too.
Bridge Battle, Clean Sweep, Gateway, Toss Up, and Nothing But Net all used balls (every other year), but Gateway and Toss Up mixed in Barrels and Bucky Balls.
Only Clean Sweep and Starstruck have been completely divided, with Gateway partially divided.
I would expect next season to be an open field again (i hope), and will probably have at least one ball type object. We are winding up a quantity focused throwing game, so i would also expect a more precision game. Maybe balancing balls on top of something? We have also had a pretty even distribution of scoring methods, be it troughs, stacks, or zones. Hanging (or elevating a robot in some fashion) has become pretty standard, so i would be surprised not to see that return.
Maybe another stacking or placement game. Two years in a row where game objecst don’t have to be precisely placed on other things; we might be due for that.
Also, I think we could be in for a game requiring a more formal intake. I base this on a bit of speculation, but it looks like the GDC tries to remove any advantage from starting with last year’s robot. That’s certainly what I would do if I were on the GDC. I would try to change the game in such a way that starting with the previous year’s robot did not convey an advantage.
If you don’t do that, then there is a significant barrier to entry for new teams. It’s bad enough now when new teams show up with a 4 to 6 motor standard VEX clawbot, almost no practice driving, and they’re in the pit beside an 18 inch cube of skeletonized aluminum girders strung with 12 motors and 6 sensors. It would be intimidating to be in their shoes.
Imagine if next year’s game could be played by just altering the claw on a back-dumping claw bot. Those teams would be off racking up skills scores at the early skills-only events in June, leaving the beginning teams to sweat over their pile of heavy steel c-channel, chassis plates, and pre-built claws.
So next year’s game has to undo the advantage of this year’s robots.
I’m still hoping for the barrel transport game described here:
I’ve put in time to do a geeky analysis of “what if.” And I kind of agree that we may see rigid game pieces next year. Balls have been used a lot in the past - so I’m thinking no balls next year (too easy to intake). Probably two game pieces of different shapes that are rigid but could not be taken in with the same intake (or it would be difficult). Could we also see a quarter field - kind of like Gateway? Definitely not another split field - so either a full field or some variation of the Gateway approach. Since we’ve had lifts two years in a row, I’m thinking no lift this year. I’m thinking tubes or troughs for scoring with floor goals. Maybe a bump or obstacle. And, finally, the robots will be able to go outside 18X18X18.
That’s just my geeky prognostication! We’ll see on April 22 who’s right!
Thank you so much for all the ideas. I didn’t expect this forum to get so much love in one day. I love the ideas for next years games.
WHAT ARE STARS MADE OF, HYDROGEN, WHATS HYDROGEN A KEY ELEMENT OF, WATER, WATER GAME CONFIRMED.
As this is speculation, I bet next years game will need major design changes and a completely new game object, not balls.
My guess is there will be a place to score as in a pole, trough, tube since this year is scored by zone. Also the bonus will not be elevation of a robot.
I am hoping that they bring back the parking bonus.
10,000 Ping pong balls.
The game would be called “Infinite Reset”.
Two games I would absolutely hate to see:
A sand game.
A game where half the field is covered in 4" PVC, free to roll.
Well, it will almost certainly be balls (talk about patterns):
Bridge Battle: Small balls
Elevation: Cubes
Clean Sweep: Balls
Round up: donuts
Gateway: balls
Sack Attack: bean bags
Toss Up: balls
Skyrise: cubes
Nothing but Net: balls
Star Struck: stars/cubes
???: balls
Come on, you could figure it out. How about a shop vac with the filter removed?
I like it. Though I think RIESS units are standard practice here.
That’s “Replaceable Interchangeable Elementary School Student” units.
As many have pointed out on multiple forum posts, ever other year, Vex has ball. This year, for example, Vex has no balls. Two years ago, Vex had no balls. Four years ago, Vex had no balls. The pattern continues back the beginning of Vex. If the pattern holds true, next year, Vex will have balls. Of course, it is possible that Vex will continue without balls but in order to continue long term, they will eventually need balls.
Ballin’ VEX