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: