Fustrated at the time to order equipment from overseas I spent part of the last break 'perfecting' a NZ developed version of the resuce tiles in association with a local print/design company. These are individually cut tiles printed on to 6mm coreflute (the stuff estate agents signs are made from). Compared to what normally is on offer I think the following is a fair assessment of the outcomes.
Advantages:-
1) Lightweight, full set just a couple of kg.
2) Can order individual tiles for extras/replacement.
3) 'Ready to go stes', no gluing or making other bits (bridge, speed bumps, silver foil etc), huge TIME saving. Only exception being that a block may need making for the premier end tile and it assumed you can provide a drinks bottle and a drinks can!
4) No need to mount on to another surface, eg cardboard or custom wood.
5) No cutting up etc.
6) 16 tiles are provided as in the rules, includes the 'start' tile not supplied on some versions.
7) Currently 7-10 days delivery.
8) Designed to allow better/easier detection between green/black (a lighter shade of green is used which gives a midway result between the white and black areas)
9) Successfully trialed at a Robocup Junior training event.
10) NZ Developed, helps NZ economy!
11) Initial cost of $325 (plus GST and Deelivery) is more than the single roll mat version, but much cheaper when considering having to also provide glue, timber etc plus the time needed to make the working version.
Disadvantages:-
Perhaps not as robust as mounted on 12mm custom wood and you perhaps need some sticky tape to prevent adjacent tiles from moving around too easily.
