robot wars webseries

[Vertigo]

We're always encouraging more variety but that's a hard thing to do. At the end of the day when people are spending thousands on heavies they're going to build what they want :P People want to win and so they build flippers.

[Camaro Kid]

I don't think it's boring, I just want more variety. Even some rammers would do.

At least there is some more variety in new bots poking up now Helloface from what I've heard and seen. Its slowly growing back (Vert could probably confirm this better than I can)

[Vertigo]

I don't think it's boring, I just want more variety. Even some rammers would do.

At least there is some more variety in new bots poking up now Helloface from what I've heard and seen. Its slowly growing back (Vert could probably confirm this better than I can)

Ummm.... Not as far as I know.

[helloface]

There was Rattler, wasn't there? Other than that, same teams. I still love swing the classics like Ripper, Thor, IA5/6, Explosion, etc.

[Vertigo]

Rattler's a flipper...

[helloface]

Rattler's a flipper...

I was replying to CK as in Rattler is a newer bot, and from the glimps I got of it, it looks like an oddly shaped one.

[Vertigo]

I suppose it is less conventional, but it's not that new. It was the Disturbed for a few years before it became Rattler.

[cephalopod]

If spinners will never happen, I vote for more axes. ^____^

[Camaro Kid]

Rattler's a flipper...

I was replying to CK as in Rattler is a newer bot, and from the glimps I got of it, it looks like an oddly shaped one.

Probably thinking more of the European Championships coming up.

[Vertigo]

If spinners will never happen, I vote for more axes. ^____^

Quite possibly, just wait and see... :P

[Impossible343]

Flippers were nice for awhile...

But now every time i go to RL or RW its always flipper v flipper. It just gets really boring especially as everyone gets thrown out the arena in the first 30 seconds. I would love to see more Axes about. Thor is the only decent axe-bot going about at the moment (i haven't seen terrorhurtz for awile but i know that it is pretty powerful). More crushers would be great, Tiberius is the only UK crusher going about, but even then Tiberius isn't seen at many events nowadays (at least i don't think so anyway).

I doubt that spinners will make a come back in the UK for a long while. as far as i know i don't think anybody has the money (or the motivation) to build an arena that can safely contain spinners in the UK(for heavyweights).

So to conclude...

Flippers are boring.

Impossible

[Vertigo]

...and yet shows are still selling out. The shows are still entertaining and Robot Wars in the UK is at it's hight of popularity since the TV show ended. The crowds don't find flippers boring at all so it doesn't really seem to be an issue.

Whilst everyone seems to think spinners are a great idea and are really entertaining, from a show point of view, there are three things to consider:

1. Spinners make for really short fights a lot of the time. When an audience has payed to see a show, they want to see three minute fights, not really short ones. Over here fight lengths have become much longer since the addition of cages and ropes.

2. They result in a lot of destruction of other robots which makes running a show difficult. Destruction is much more apt for a competition rather than entertainment.

3. They result in a lot of boxes being built. The major complaint in the UK is to do with featherweights, and the large abundance of weaponless boxes. If flippers are dull, boxes are REALLY dull. You've got to admit that fights such as Eruption vs Iron Awe or Ripper or any other flipper are more entertaining than Sewer Snake vs Original Sin.

As for crushers, they result in the same three things, except there is no entertainment at all. Razer was made to look exciting on TV by very clever production. Tiberius putting its claw into a robot causes a lot of damage, but there is no sparks, no noise, and it looks very boring from a crowds point of view. Axes are entertaining because they are fast and loud, whereas crushers tend to be too slow and 'boring' to be entertaining.

[playzooki]

by everyones logic, angle grinders rule

because sparks

[Impossible343]

...and yet shows are still selling out. The shows are still entertaining and Robot Wars in the UK is at it's hight of popularity since the TV show ended. The crowds don't find flippers boring at all so it doesn't really seem to be an issue.

Whilst everyone seems to think spinners are a great idea and are really entertaining, from a show point of view, there are three things to consider:

1. Spinners make for really short fights a lot of the time. When an audience has payed to see a show, they want to see three minute fights, not really short ones. Over here fight lengths have become much longer since the addition of cages and ropes.

2. They result in a lot of destruction of other robots which makes running a show difficult. Destruction is much more apt for a competition rather than entertainment.

3. They result in a lot of boxes being built. The major complaint in the UK is to do with featherweights, and the large abundance of weaponless boxes. If flippers are dull, boxes are REALLY dull. You've got to admit that fights such as Eruption vs Iron Awe or Ripper or any other flipper are more entertaining than Sewer Snake vs Original Sin.

As for crushers, they result in the same three things, except there is no entertainment at all. Razer was made to look exciting on TV by very clever production. Tiberius putting its claw into a robot causes a lot of damage, but there is no sparks, no noise, and it looks very boring from a crowds point of view. Axes are entertaining because they are fast and loud, whereas crushers tend to be too slow and 'boring' to be entertaining.

1. Even though we have cages and ropes, most heavyweight fights end in less than a minute (especially 1v1 or flipper v flipper). I suppose that 4 way-mellees tend to last a bit longer, but a lot of fights with flippers quite often end in under 3 minutes. But i will admit, plenty of them also do last the 3 minute limit.

2.Point taken

3.In my opinion flippers and boxes are both equally as boring

4. people who have watched the tv show will probably of seen razer and from entertainment's point of view, If  a robot like razer (a crusher bot) appears in a live show and puts its jaw into another robot people will enjoy the fight simply because that robot is doing what razer would done to it's oppenents (or at least try to do what razer did, even if it only made a couple of small holes). If people didn't watch the tv show then i suppose that your quite right.

I understand that event organizers are trying to create a entertaining show, but there wouldn't be much variety in robot design if there were only bots that had entertaining weapons(which is mainly flippers). then eventually, i would've thought that the show would become boring due to lack of variety(which is what i fear might start happening soon if no more new robots are created that don't involve flippers). If theres more variety the show would get much better from an entertainment standpoint. Sometimes i think the reason that no one is interested in producing robot wars episodes to be used on tv, is that there are too many flippers/not enough variety.

@playzooki: yeah angle grinders rule. and sparks for that matter.

Impossible

[helloface]

Yeah, I guess so. It would still be interesting to see saws vs flippers though.

[playzooki]

i didnt mean angle grinders a good lol

they just look cool.

but vertigo is right

[Vertigo]

by everyones logic, angle grinders rule

because sparks

Essentially, yes from a crowds point of view!

We're always trying to encourage variety, but when people are spending thousands on robots they're almost always going to build the most competitive design, and you can't really blame them for that.

As regards to our team, we have our two competitive robots, Explosion and Eruption. We have now contemplating building a few other robots of a different design. This year already saw the introduction of Combustion at the GSL (FW spinner), which didn't go so well so is currently being rebuilt. We are then looking to build a FW axe, and then do what we did with Explosion and scale it up to a heavyweight.

[Camaro Kid]

As regards to our team, we have our two competitive robots, Explosion and Eruption. We have now contemplating building a few other robots of a different design. This year already saw the introduction of Combustion at the GSL (FW spinner), which didn't go so well so is currently being rebuilt. We are then looking to build a FW axe, and then do what we did with Explosion and scale it up to a heavyweight.

Actually sounds like a good plan Vert. gives some variety in the future.

[Tweedy]

by everyones logic, angle grinders rule

because sparks

Essentially, yes from a crowds point of view!

We're always trying to encourage variety, but when people are spending thousands on robots they're almost always going to build the most competitive design, and you can't really blame them for that.

As regards to our team, we have our two competitive robots, Explosion and Eruption. We have now contemplating building a few other robots of a different design. This year already saw the introduction of Combustion at the GSL (FW spinner), which didn't go so well so is currently being rebuilt. We are then looking to build a FW axe, and then do what we did with Explosion and scale it up to a heavyweight.

Speaking of axes do you have any idea on where Grant is on building the brushless axe he posted on the fra? It sounds to be something to be reckoned with.

[HurricaneAndrew]

ITT: Vertigo admits that Robot Wars is not a competition, but a show, much like a traveling circus or professional wrestling.