Switch Theme:

Any Battlebots or Robot Wars fans out there?  [RSS] Share on facebook Share on Twitter Submit to Reddit
»
Author Message
Advert


Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
  • No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
  • Times and dates in your local timezone.
  • Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
  • Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
  • Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.




Made in us
[DCM]
Dankhold Troggoth






Shadeglass Maze

That's funny Ketara, I feel the same when trying to watch Robot Wars

I looooove the two "play by play" announcers in BB, but do sometimes skip through the other parts of the show to the fights. There's way less fluff than before, though - I almost wanted a little more background on some of the fighters.

That said, I think this was the best season ever - hopefully it worked commercially so they can do more! The only bummer was I read on reddit there was short notice for the competition, which could have contributed to some teams not really seeming ready, imo (and Bite Force, with their incredible readiness, being in prime position to steamroll folks).

Still my favorite tournament of theirs ever by far, though - the level of competition has gotten really high
   
Made in gb
[SWAP SHOP MOD]
Killer Klaivex







 RiTides wrote:
That's funny Ketara, I feel the same when trying to watch Robot Wars

I looooove the two "play by play" announcers in BB, but do sometimes skip through the other parts of the show to the fights. There's way less fluff than before, though - I almost wanted a little more background on some of the fighters.


The Robot Wars style (the new series at least, the old ones had a completely different format which hasn't aged well) is quite substantially different. I think the American series is much more WWF in format overall; whereas Robot Wars saves the sporting style approach solely for the matches themselves, where they have a football presenter doing it. I like the football style match commentary, but I get it might not be everyone's cup of tea. Both series share the 'Team Portfolio' bits too, though Robot Wars only does that for teams which pass the first round (I think Battle Bots tries to get as many in as possible, losers and winners both). I can understand both approaches though; one is nicer for the teams who sucked, the other is better for the viewer (who doesn't necessarily care about teams they'll never see again).


But that's where the similarities end, I think. Robot Wars spends the time between rounds going through the teams in the pits, focusing on the work behind inter-match repair jobs, interviewing them about the upcoming match, showing team squabbles, that sort of thing. You also get the 'Robotics Expert' talk once an episode; where they pull out Noel Sharkey or someone to discuss the finer points of the robotics industry itself. In a nutshell, I suppose the presenters in the UK version are there to enable other bits of telly to happen (asking leading questions, narrating set events, etc); whereas in Battle Bots, the presenters ARE the other bits of telly. They're reclining on the couch discussing imaginary stats, what they think will happen in the next round, etc. You get the odd dash of other stuff if something very exceptional happens, but the presenters themselves are the show. And that's not so much to my taste.

The implication elsewhere in this thread is that we get more other content in later series though, so I'm looking forward to that.


 
   
Made in us
The Conquerer






Waiting for my shill money from Spiral Arm Studios

Robot wars format is terrible mostly because of the announcers. It’s unwatchable for me.

Self-proclaimed evil Cat-person. Dues Ex Felines

Cato Sicarius, after force feeding Captain Ventris a copy of the Codex Astartes for having the audacity to play Deathwatch, chokes to death on his own D-baggery after finding Calgar assembling his new Eldar army.

MURICA!!! IN SPESS!!! 
   
Made in gb
[SWAP SHOP MOD]
Killer Klaivex







 Grey Templar wrote:
Robot wars format is terrible mostly because of the announcers. It’s unwatchable for me.


Since you used plural, I assume you're talking about Dara O' Brien and Angela Scanlon? I mean, they're the presenters. There's Jonathan Pearce, a profession football commentator who does the matches themselves; but there's only one of him.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/10/18 15:33:56



 
   
Made in us
The Conquerer






Waiting for my shill money from Spiral Arm Studios

 Ketara wrote:
 Grey Templar wrote:
Robot wars format is terrible mostly because of the announcers. It’s unwatchable for me.


Since you used plural, I assume you're talking about Dara O' Brien and Angela Scanlon? I mean, they're the presenters. There's Jonathan Pearce, a profession football commentator who does the matches themselves; but there's only one of him.


That guy is the worst. It’s precisely because he’s like a soccer announcer.

Self-proclaimed evil Cat-person. Dues Ex Felines

Cato Sicarius, after force feeding Captain Ventris a copy of the Codex Astartes for having the audacity to play Deathwatch, chokes to death on his own D-baggery after finding Calgar assembling his new Eldar army.

MURICA!!! IN SPESS!!! 
   
Made in us
[DCM]
Dankhold Troggoth






Shadeglass Maze

Those are some interesting points, Ketara! I did think they were a little too rigid on the structure this season, but I'm mostly there for the matches, which imo were better and more destructive than ever.

For example, Bite Force, who formerly won as an "outlast" bot, won all but his first match by knockout (7 knockouts total!). Combined with new ideas like Huge, and the large number of upsets in the final 16 team tournament (showing parity in the field) I was thrilled with this season.

Anyway, enough fanboy'ing from me but seriously, we need another season!
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





Denison, Iowa

The upsets were amazing. When I originally saw Huge I thought it was a joke that wouldn't be rebuildable after two rounds of fighting. While still not a champion, it did way better than expected, much to my amusement.

The previous season there were three fights per episode, this season they averaged 4 or 5. Not to mention they had more episodes.
   
Made in us
The Conquerer






Waiting for my shill money from Spiral Arm Studios

The really impressive thing with Huge was being able to rebuild after being torn in half. Twice!

Self-proclaimed evil Cat-person. Dues Ex Felines

Cato Sicarius, after force feeding Captain Ventris a copy of the Codex Astartes for having the audacity to play Deathwatch, chokes to death on his own D-baggery after finding Calgar assembling his new Eldar army.

MURICA!!! IN SPESS!!! 
   
Made in gb
[SWAP SHOP MOD]
Killer Klaivex







 Grey Templar wrote:

That guy is the worst. It’s precisely because he’s like a soccer announcer.


You know, when I first watched RW; I completely agreed with you. Couldn't stand him. But he's grown on me over time. He gets such genuine childish glee from the whole thing that it actually transmits itself through his enthusiasm. It wouldn't feel the same without him now.

But yeah, I totally get why he might turn some people off; being the same initially.


 
   
Made in us
5th God of Chaos! (Yea'rly!)




The Great State of Texas

GC and I are big fans. Whenever she visits from university, we sit and watch an episode. Father daughter bonding over robot Carnage!

-"Wait a minute.....who is that Frazz is talking to in the gallery? Hmmm something is going on here.....Oh.... it seems there is some dispute over video taping of some sort......Frazz is really upset now..........wait a minute......whats he go there.......is it? Can it be?....Frazz has just unleashed his hidden weiner dog from his mini bag, while quoting shakespeares "Let slip the dogs the war!!" GG
-"Don't mind Frazzled. He's just Dakka's crazy old dude locked in the attic. He's harmless. Mostly."
-TBone the Magnificent 1999-2014, Long Live the King!
 
   
Made in ca
Fresh-Faced New User




the forest

2019 Battlebots season has been great.

Some epic fights and new robots entering.

Cobalt VS Duck was a memorable fight, so much flipping in the air, and a crazy ending.

Newcomer Hydra looks like the deadliest flipper right now. Wanna see how he'll do in the later stages.
   
Made in ie
Norn Queen






Dublin, Ireland

Used to be obsessed with RWs back around 1999 when it was on BBC2.
Caught the 2017(?) remake of it and enjoyed it.
Is it still going this year?

Never seen the US versions - are they worth a watch?

Dman137 wrote:
goobs is all you guys will ever be

By 1-irt: Still as long as Hissy keeps showing up this is one of the most entertaining threads ever.

"Feelin' goods, good enough". 
   
 
Forum Index » Geek Media
Go to: