29: episode29.mp3

May 17, 2018

Download MP3

Sam moves to America, Ryan might know what's wrong with Tombstone, and duck hands are creepy.

Followup
- Sam was inconsistent
- Ryan got more things wrong about Predator
  - Predator and Foxic, together in perfect harmony
- Robogames livestream
  - Accompanying Twitch VOD
- Upcoming livestream: 26th May 2018 at 7pm UK time (BST)
Ryan's ~~libellous~~ angry front matter
- Plagiarism
  - Firefox
  - WEdgE FlIppErS aRE AlL THe sAmE!!
    - 'Soaring Shell'
      - Visual comparison with similarities highlighted
      - Vulcan vs Terrorhurtz
- 'Carnage'
  - Volvo flywheel thing
    - Clarification: the reason the team's inability to give basic stats on the weapon concerns me is that - by my admittedly limited understanding - without that information they have no way of knowing how much energy the weapon can impart and, without that knowledge, they can't know if the safety measures they have put in place are sufficient. - Ryan
Battlebots
- All new format
  - Hand-picked matchups, leading into a final 16 bracket
    - Technically a form of swiss draw?
- Alternates
  - Since recording, we have learned that alternates are guaranteed at least one fight, in which they may fight non-alternates, with the potential to be 'promoted' to the main competition if they impress. It appears that the main difference between an alternate and non-alternate is largely administrative in that non-alternates are guaranteed more fights and may get different financial compensation.
- Rule changes
  - Tip speed nerf
  - New judging criteria
- Editing and presentation
  - Slightly rough camerawork
  - Slimmed-down presenting team
  - Significantly higher pace
  - More important role for Faruq
  - Slightly over-zealous sound effects
- Blacksmith vs Biteforce
  - Blacksmith
    - Industrial aesthetic
    - Low on power, but tenacious and spectacular
    - Deadblow
  - Biteforce
    - Still scarred from 2016?
    - Ineffective wedge?
- Mecha Rampage vs Free Shipping vs Duck!
  - Mecha Rampage
    - Too wide?
    - 50% of the mass is in the weapon section
  - Free Shipping
    - Original Sin
      - Not only reigning RoboGames champion, but on the podium almost every year
  - Duck!
    - Billet bot
      - Ti or Al? Al
        
        Sam wants more expensive robots
    - Whoops vs Last Rites
  - Facebook comments...
    - 'Just' a box?
  - An excellent choice of rumble - 3 incredibly experienced builders/drivers
  - How do you judge a rumble?
- SubZero vs HUGE
  - Subzero
    - Old SubZero vs new SubZero
    - Too much adaptation for the opponent?
  - Huge
    - How do you deal with HUGE?
    - Lack of traction
  - Sam finally realises the Hellraisers are a thing
    - Computer-controlled hazards
- Bombshell vs Lockjaw
  - Bombshell
    - No longer a swiss-army bot
  - Lockjaw
    - Now a vertical spinner
      - Although rumour has it the jaws are still an option
      - Is it a disc? No.
  - Commendable acts of sportsmanship
- Tombstone vs Minotaur
  - There are no words capable of doing this fight justice
  - A disappointing end?
  - Major damage to both machines: twisted/broken frame for Tombstone and huge armour damage for Minotaur
  - More than 30 hits
    - Extremely thick aluminium evidently works well
  - Severe arena damage