Robot wars

[Carolyn Duncan]

Jessica's post made me think of this. Have any of you guys seen Robot wars? It's a British version of BB, shown on public TV, but I kinda like it. I don't really like BB. They still destroy the robots but there's more strategy,variation, and substance to the British version. They don't just have 2 robots fighting, the have house robots, and an obstacle course single robots compete for the highest score. Just wondering if you guys knew what I was talking about.

[Amadkow]

I have heard about it but I have never watched an episode of it

[Carolyn Duncan]

Well, Most of 'em are Brits and Aussies. They have one comp very simmilar to BB with "house robots" if you go into their area they come after you or if you get disabled they come after you. They also can go after a bot that has clearly won a match. That bot will still move on in the tourney but will be damaged. The other part is called pinball. Bots compete in a pinball type set up trying to get the most points before the house bots atack them. It's more entertaining to me than BB.

[David Kelly]

is it on a cable channel? if it is, which one?

[Carolyn Duncan]

It was aired on 2 channels. One was public tv. the other was abc.

[Amadkow]

hmm I will have to watch for it

[EddieMcD]

I saw the first 3 Robot Wars, and I agree, it rocks. The thing is, the newer episodes are, like, 3 years old.

[Carolyn Duncan]

Originally posted by EddieMcD
I saw the first 3 Robot Wars, and I agree, it rocks. The thing is, the newer episodes are, like, 3 years old.
S ok. There new to us. Do you like Robot wars better than BB? I do. There's more thought and strategy required for Robot wars. Especially pinball.

[Jessica Boucher]

Robot Wars is actually the thing that caused BB, from what I remember from that msnbc article about BB. There were 2 guys working to create Robot Wars in the UK, and then one guy split off & created BB...which is why there's so many legal issues and also why we're only seeing it on US tv now (when its been on for years, while other British imports sail on through).

[Carolyn Duncan]

In that case I tink the Brits got it right and the other guy lost it somewhere. BB is not better than robbot wars, imho.

[EddieMcD]

For the combat oriented people, BB is better. For the strategy oriented people, RW is better.

[BSMFIRST]

Robotic combat was started in '94 in the US by Marc Thorpe with the creation of Robot Wars. RW-UK started in '98 and RW-US '98 was canceled due to a very nasty company who sponsored it.
The competitors attempted to make their own event but were stopped by lawsuits just before the competition. RW-US attempted to start up again but they met strong (and well-funded) competition from the new event, BattleBots, which was/is run by two former competitors.
RW-US has been resurrected, the first season was filmed in London a few weeks ago by the same production company that does RW-UK (so it should be similar.) RW-US as well as RW-UK episodes will air on TNN starting next week.

For a more thorough history check out: http://www.robotcombat.com/history.html
Dan

[Andrew Rudolph]

BSM beat me too it, i know the whole story too and have that same link, o well at least u guys know the story.

[EddieMcD]

Finally, an up-to-date RW.

Say, does anyone know who won the fourth war?