Robot Combat (Yay!) on Syfy (uh...)

see317

So, wasn't sure where to put this, but I figured "It's fighting robots, sounds like Moe's".

So, a while ago I saw this trailer on TV, and seeing as how it was SyFy and the robots were humanoid I assumed it was another crappy made for TV movie with mediocre CGI based off of the Real Steel movie.
Seems a logical conclusion, no?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CtoVLZlhhs

Then I did some more research, and I found out that the robots are actually robots, not just CGI models dwelling on a server farm.
Not only that, they were built by Mark Setrakian, and I made a stupid mistake, I got my hopes up.
I loved watching his bots on Battlebots, and I'm willing to bet that everyone has seen his work without knowing it in some movie or other. Basically, if anyone can make boxing robots without it being terrible, he's got my vote.
Pictures and a brief description of all 12 the bots are up on SyFy, but here's two chosen more or less at random.


BRIMSTONE
Steel and leather are the materials of choice for Brimstone. The all-important brain/computer is housed inside a triple-thick hammer-finish dome that is three times tougher and heavier than the armor of any other robot. The gleaming gloves and thug boots are made of the same heavy steel alloy. For speed and agility, his arms and legs are protected by tough leather armor.

STRENGTHS: The smooth surfaces of the robot are made to deflect attacks by causing them to glide off the body armor.
WEAKNESSES: Its exposed mid-section allows opponents to open gaps and possibly damage internal mechanisms.


GAME OVER
The skin for Game Over is built using steel that has been "stitch"-welded together. In addition, Game Over features a 24" video monitor embedded in the upper torso. The screen is protected by a clear Lexan panel, and the roll bars are steel.
STRENGTHS: Heavy armor offers good protection and is designed to allow for an excellent range of motion and good mobility for attack.
WEAKNESSES: Opponents with high degrees of accuracy can attack open gaps and destroy internal mechanisms. "Stitch"-welding is not terribly strong and can be blown open.


So, talk about this, or other fighting robot shows, or just tell me I'm an idiot for getting my hopes up for anything on SyFy.

Unknown

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see317

Honestly, I'm more worried that SyFy's going to try and dress it up in Pro-Wrestling styled drama then I am over if they can make the robots.
I just want to see robots punching robots, I don't need mediocre actors standing behind the robots telling me why they're punching each other.

see317

So, for better or worse, the show is premiering tonight after FaceOff.
Looks like the first episode is already online: http://www.syfy.com/videos/Robot Combat League/Full Episodes . Unfortunately, I'm at work so I can't watch it.

Gaslight

Well after watching the first episode tonight I am almost 100% certain the whole thing is scripted. Which is not totally unexpected and hey, I've watched pro wrestling, but still a little disappointing.

I am amused by how Jericho and...other guy...are already establishing a face/heel commentary team dynamic.

MichaelLC

That was...odd.

Yeah, sure seemed like everything has been scripted from the get-go. Why wouldn't the teams be able to pick their robots? I mean, they're all pretty much the same, would have given the illusion of more investment in the whole thing.

Will see what this week's episode brings, but I really just want the return of BattleBots.

see317

MichaelLC wrote: »

That was...odd.
Yeah, sure seemed like everything has been scripted from the get-go. Why wouldn't the teams be able to pick their robots? I mean, they're all pretty much the same, would have given the illusion of more investment in the whole thing.
Will see what this week's episode brings, but I really just want the return of BattleBots.

I think that had the teams been allowed to choose their bots, it would have been worse. The last two or three teams to pick would already be feeling like they got shafted, even if all the bot designs were identical aside from cosmetics.

Personally, the worst thing about the show IMO (far worse then the scripting) was every person saying "I'm the first whatever to do this". Yeah, I get it, it's new. Get over it and make the robots break stuff.

It was nice that the robots actually looked like they were taking damage beyond cosmetic scrapes and pyrotechnics.
I'll probably give it another week or two before I remove it from my DVR. Really makes me miss BattleBots. Could fast forward through the annoying comic commentary and just watch the robots fight. Not so much here.

Foomy

I watched a little bit of it, but turned it off because it was shit.

Those things can barely be called robots, just a couple of hydraulic arms on a body, and all the movement seems to actually come from the long solid pole holding them up.

Plus all the scripting, and way it was edited just really turned me off.

MichaelLC

Foomy wrote: »

Those things can barely be called robots, just a couple of hydraulic arms on a body, and all the movement seems to actually come from the long solid pole holding them up.

They did a pretty good job of covering that up until there was a shot of the trainer bot with his foot sideways and off the ground; I was able to pretend it was actually walking until that moment.