Quote:
Originally Posted by FiMFanatic
Am I the only one that finds this way too comparable to the last season? The same bots will generally win....so it is almost like watching re-runs.
|
Despite what fiction trains me to hope for, studying physics tells us that there are relatively few efficient/effective ways to destroy a BattleBots opponent. So... absent rules that force contestants to build something exotic, plus more rules that would give an exotic bot a good chance to win, the tried-and-true designs from the experienced builders are very likely to dominate.
For a comparison, ask yourself how often in USA football an exotic/trick play is attempted and succeeds. Not very often. Also ask yourself how often a rookie coach or a team that did poorly in their previous season wins a division? Not very often.
But ... people still enjoy watching football and rooting for their favorite team, even if that team is a perennial also-ran.
Maybe robot battles would be more interesting if the robots operated for only 10 seconds out of every minute? During the 50 seconds the robot would be "still" in each minute, the drivers could react to their opponents previous moves, could activate/deactivate subsystems, etc.
- The matches would last longer.
- Armchair quaterbacks and backseat drivers would have many more opportunities to shout at their TVs.
- You could get a cold drink from the fridge without missing too much of the action.
- Commentators like Madden (or Dave Lavery
) could share their wisdom with us. - Sponsors would become more interested in covering the bots with NASCAR-style ads.
- Etc.
Without some sort of radical change, BattleBots is going to be much more like a boxing match that ends quickly than a soccer match that ebbs and flows for 90 minutes; and even with radical changes, construction experience, and driving experience will always be very valuable.
Blake