BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
05-16-18, 11:29 PM
#201
DVD Talk Legend
05-17-18, 11:24 AM
#202
DVD Talk Legend
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
Okay, thanks. I missed the first one on Friday and recorded the one last night, but they made it sound like a totally different show in the Tivo guide... even different episode numbers.
05-17-18, 11:46 AM
#203
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
My DVR is showing two "Preliminary" episodes tomorrow morning that I wasn't aware of. Were there two previously-shown episodes leading up to last week's premiere , or is this another "mis-listing"?
05-17-18, 03:28 PM
#204
DVD Talk Legend
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
There seems to be more shows this happens with - particularly on Discovery and Science - where they do things like combine two previously aired episodes into a two-hour episode, then give it a new/current premier date which causes the DVR to think it is a new episode with new content, which it is not.
05-23-18, 10:15 PM
#205
DVD Talk Legend
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
The bonus content tonight was a segment they called "Botopsy" where they went behind the scenes to talk to the losing teams about the damage they suffered in their battles. I really wish they had more of this sort of thing in the regular episodes so I enjoyed it.
05-25-18, 10:41 PM
#207
DVD Talk Legend
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
That was pretty interesting, if innefective. Too bad it was fired point blank into the meat of the big bot. Would have been cool to see it blast one of those mini-bots.
05-26-18, 08:30 PM
#208
Suspended; also need updated email
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
So this season is just a heap of stand alone battles ?
I like the fact they are loosening the rules like allowing projectiles
I like the fact they are loosening the rules like allowing projectiles
05-26-18, 09:06 PM
#209
DVD Talk Legend
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
It's actually more of a league season rather than straight tournament. So each robot will fight multiple times, and then those with the top records will make the playoffs. They didn't give a lot of details, but that's the gist of it.
05-26-18, 11:01 PM
#210
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
I like that we're getting 5-6 matches an episode rather than the 3 or so of past seasons and losing alot of the fluff. That'll probably change once they get to the playoffs.
06-01-18, 10:38 PM
#211
DVD Talk Legend
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
This show always delivers. Even tonight, where a few fights weren't that great, they provided some spectacle such as seeing a giant hamburger fighting a giant spatula. But the main event had a true 
moment, punctuated by the commentator squealing as it played out. It wasn't quite to the level of the rake swatting a drone out of the sky before exploding it, but pretty funny just the same.
moment, punctuated by the commentator squealing as it played out. It wasn't quite to the level of the rake swatting a drone out of the sky before exploding it, but pretty funny just the same.
06-02-18, 07:36 AM
#212
Suspended; also need updated email
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
i wanted to see Tombstone take apart the shell less gigabyte
The announcer is starting to get on my tits. He thinks he's funny, he isn't. the odd pun here and there is ok, don't over do it dude
I like the fact it's mostly battles
Projectiles not powered by gunpowder or explosives should be allowed all the time. So air powered weapons, slingshots, bows etc would be cool
bottom line though , you need to spin it to win it
Can't see a bot with a non spinning weapon winning
The announcer is starting to get on my tits. He thinks he's funny, he isn't. the odd pun here and there is ok, don't over do it dude
I like the fact it's mostly battles
Projectiles not powered by gunpowder or explosives should be allowed all the time. So air powered weapons, slingshots, bows etc would be cool
bottom line though , you need to spin it to win it
Can't see a bot with a non spinning weapon winning
06-02-18, 10:58 AM
#213
DVD Talk Legend
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
Tombstone not destroying the Shellless GIgabyte isn’t a big surprise.
These groups all compete together all the time and interact in the garage area of the show and seem to all be friendly in spite of the histrionics.
That may have been devastating and an extremely expensive blow to Gig if Tomb completely destroyed the guts of Gig.
I suppose they get monetary imbursement from sponsors but the time and work to rebuild may have als been a devastating blow.
Also good sportsmanship
These groups all compete together all the time and interact in the garage area of the show and seem to all be friendly in spite of the histrionics.
That may have been devastating and an extremely expensive blow to Gig if Tomb completely destroyed the guts of Gig.
I suppose they get monetary imbursement from sponsors but the time and work to rebuild may have als been a devastating blow.
Also good sportsmanship
06-02-18, 11:20 AM
#214
Senior Member
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
Yes. TV wants to make everything about relationships and who's angry at who, and who's looking for revenge. But what makes this show so great to me is that you can have robots wreaking havoc and causing destruction (fueling my desire for that sort of thing) and have the people involved remain civilized and friendly to each other. I have no idea what really goes on behind the scenes with these people, but that's how I imagine it anyway.
07-28-18, 06:45 PM
#215
DVD Talk Legend
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
The next episode is Aug 3 after they take almost a month off?
08-09-18, 12:26 PM
#218
Senior Member
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
Anyone have any background on the actual tournament format? Was surprised that one of the entries in last week's group of 16 was only 1-0.
08-09-18, 12:48 PM
#219
DVD Talk Legend
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
Basically it is up to production to determine matchups and rankings based on the results. The 8 robot tourney last week was to determine an automatic birth into the final 16.
Battlebots 2018 Tournament Rules
Here's the relevant section:
Battlebots 2018 Tournament Rules
Here's the relevant section:
8.0 Tournament Format
This entire section has been revised for 2018
8.1 Contestants
The contestants in the Tournament are initially composed of:
a) 48 Entrant Teams
b) Multiple “Backup” Teams
8.2 Activity Types
The Tournament consists of the following types of activities:
1. Fight Card.
2. Championship Rounds.
3. Other possible formats.
Each is described below.
8.3 Fight Card
The Fight Card is used to determine new rankings for the BattleBots. It works as follows:
a) Entrant and Backup Teams will each compete in up to four Matches.
b) Matches can be in One-on-One or Rumble format.
c) The Producer determines the match-ups, based on the existing rankings
d) The results of the Matches will be used to calculate new rankings, described farther below.
8.4 Championship Rounds
The Championship Rounds use a standard single-elimination, 4-round format with One-on-One Matches. Selection criteria for participating Teams are described below in paragraph 8.7.
8.4.1 Round 1 (“Sweet 16”)
This first round will consist of 8 Matches between 16 Teams.
8.4.2 Round 2 Quarter Finals (“Great 8”)
The 8 winners of Round 1 will compete in 4 Matches.
8.4.3 Round 3 Semi-Finals (“Final Four”)
The 4 winners of Round 2 will compete in 2 Matches.
8.4.4 Tournament Finals “Championship Match”
The 2 winners of the Semi-Finals will compete for the Tournament Championship.
8.5 Other Possible Formats
At Producer’s discretion, other types of competition formats may be included in the Tournament. Some format possibilities are:
1. Bounty One-on-One.
2. Tag-Team.
3. Round-Robin.
4. Grudge Match
5. Exhibition
8.6 BattleBot New Rankings
New rankings for each BattleBot at the Tournament will be computed based on performance in the Fight Card Matches.
8.6.1 Ranking Factors
Multiple factors are used to compute the new rankings. Some of these are:
a. Average number of wins
b. Average Knock-Outs
c. Average time to Knock-Out
d. Highest “Knock-Out Against” time
e. Judge’s scores
8.7 Championship Rounds Selection
The Producers will select the 16 Teams for the Championship Rounds.
8.7.1 Selection Criteria
The selection criteria include, but are not limited to:
a. New Robot rankings
b. Safety considerations
c. Team/Robot History
d. Robot design and capabilities
e. Robot appearance and/or originality
f. Robot functionality
g. Entertainment value of the Robot
h. Entertainment value of potential Matches
All decisions in regards to selections will be final and not subject to challenge or appeal.
This entire section has been revised for 2018
8.1 Contestants
The contestants in the Tournament are initially composed of:
a) 48 Entrant Teams
b) Multiple “Backup” Teams
8.2 Activity Types
The Tournament consists of the following types of activities:
1. Fight Card.
2. Championship Rounds.
3. Other possible formats.
Each is described below.
8.3 Fight Card
The Fight Card is used to determine new rankings for the BattleBots. It works as follows:
a) Entrant and Backup Teams will each compete in up to four Matches.
b) Matches can be in One-on-One or Rumble format.
c) The Producer determines the match-ups, based on the existing rankings
d) The results of the Matches will be used to calculate new rankings, described farther below.
8.4 Championship Rounds
The Championship Rounds use a standard single-elimination, 4-round format with One-on-One Matches. Selection criteria for participating Teams are described below in paragraph 8.7.
8.4.1 Round 1 (“Sweet 16”)
This first round will consist of 8 Matches between 16 Teams.
8.4.2 Round 2 Quarter Finals (“Great 8”)
The 8 winners of Round 1 will compete in 4 Matches.
8.4.3 Round 3 Semi-Finals (“Final Four”)
The 4 winners of Round 2 will compete in 2 Matches.
8.4.4 Tournament Finals “Championship Match”
The 2 winners of the Semi-Finals will compete for the Tournament Championship.
8.5 Other Possible Formats
At Producer’s discretion, other types of competition formats may be included in the Tournament. Some format possibilities are:
1. Bounty One-on-One.
2. Tag-Team.
3. Round-Robin.
4. Grudge Match
5. Exhibition
8.6 BattleBot New Rankings
New rankings for each BattleBot at the Tournament will be computed based on performance in the Fight Card Matches.
8.6.1 Ranking Factors
Multiple factors are used to compute the new rankings. Some of these are:
a. Average number of wins
b. Average Knock-Outs
c. Average time to Knock-Out
d. Highest “Knock-Out Against” time
e. Judge’s scores
8.7 Championship Rounds Selection
The Producers will select the 16 Teams for the Championship Rounds.
8.7.1 Selection Criteria
The selection criteria include, but are not limited to:
a. New Robot rankings
b. Safety considerations
c. Team/Robot History
d. Robot design and capabilities
e. Robot appearance and/or originality
f. Robot functionality
g. Entertainment value of the Robot
h. Entertainment value of potential Matches
All decisions in regards to selections will be final and not subject to challenge or appeal.
08-12-18, 11:45 AM
#221
DVD Talk Legend
08-12-18, 01:18 PM
#222
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
My DVR wasn't picking up Friday's Episode, and it turns out it's listed (on my DVR, at least) as a "Battlebots on Science Channel".
08-12-18, 06:36 PM
#223
DVD Talk Legend
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread
The Science channel airing on Wednesday is the same as the previous Friday Discovery version with about 5 minutes of bonus content added in.
08-12-18, 10:11 PM
#225
DVD Talk Legend
Re: BattleBots -- Series Discussion Thread