Centerstage Game and Basic Rules
Centerstage was the FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) game for the 2023-2024 season. It was a high-energy competition that challenged teams to design, build, and program robots to perform various tasks on a themed stage.
Official centerstage introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e-5Uo1dRic
"Welcome to the FIRST Tech Challenge 2023 - 2024 Season Game CenterStage presented by RTX. A team consists of up to two driver operators, a human player, a coach, and a robot. Each match is played with four randomly selected teams, two per alliance. Each alliance is allowed one human player. Your opponent for one match may be your partner for another. Robots must be built from maQterials specified in the game manual and fit within an 18 inch sizing tool and may expand after the match begins. The primary scoring element is a plastic hexagonal shaped pixel three inches across by one half inch thick. There are 64 white pixels and ten each yellow, green and purple pixels. Teams may construct custom game and scoring elements, including paper drones and team props. The game is played on a 12 foot square playing field with a foam tile floor and one foot high walls. Two trusses are located mid-field. Between the trusses is the hinged stage door. In the back of the field are the backdrops, one for each alliance. Beneath the backdrops are taped off backstage areas. In the front corners are taped off wings. In each quadrant of the field are three separate spike marks. Just inside of the front wall are white pixel locations stripes and outside of the front wall there are three taped off landing zones. AprilTags are located in the field wall and both backdrops to aid navigation. Blue and Red Alliance stations are on the left and right sides of the field. And in front of those are the red and blue human player stations. Before each match, pixels are stacked next to each player station and on the inside of the front wall. Four pixels are placed on the spike marks. However, team props may be substituted for the spike mark pixels. Teams place their robots on the field, touching the sidewalls. Each team may pre-load one yellow and or one purple pixel onto their robot. Teams may also pre-load one drone onto their robot. The spike mark pixels and team props are then randomized. The field and players are now ready.
The match begins with a 30 second autonomous period. During this time, teams may attempt to score using pre programmed instructions and sensor inputs. A purple pixel placed on the spike mark tape earns ten points. However, if the spike mark tape has a team prop, placing a purple pixel will earn 20 points. Each pixel in the backstage earns three points and each pixel placed on the backdrop earns five points. If a yellow pixel is placed on the backdrop in the location indicated by the spike mark pixel, it earns ten bonus points or 20 points if a team prop was used as an indicator. Robots parked in the back stage earn five points. Pixels scored in the autonomous period will also earn points at the end of the driver controlled period.
Following the autonomous period is the two minute driver control period. During this time, human players may introduce new pixels into the wings. Each pixel that is placed backstage earns one point and each pixel on the backdrop earns three points. Each mosaic of three identical or three different pixels earns ten points. If an alliance can build pixels above the set lines, they earn a ten point bonus for each line they cross.
The last 30 seconds of the driver controlled period is the end game. Robots may continue scoring pixels and there are also ways to earn bonus points. Robots may launch drones over the truss or stage door and into the landing zones. Depending on where they're parked, they can earn 10, 20 or 30 points. Robots parked in the backstage area earn five points. And a robot suspended by the rigging earns 20 points. There are many ways to score in CenterStage, but there are also rules that, if not followed, will deduct points from your alliance. Robots may not limit the upward motion of the stage door. Robots may not descore pixels from the opposing alliance's backdrop. Intentionally damaging another robot is not allowed. A robot may not affect the flight of an opposing alliance's drone. A robot may not make contact with an opponent suspended from the truss."
This has been a summary of CenterStage presented by RTX.
For complete rules, please read both game manuals and check the Q&A forum and always remember the most important rule of FIRST Tech Challenge: Gracious Professionalism.