Since you''re reading this, you''ve probably heard of the show on Comedy Central. In it, people spend months building radio-control robots... then, the bots are put in an arena and they''re given about 3 minutes to destroy each other. I''ve been thinking about doing a game with a similar theme. Specifically, players will build a robot with the editor tool, then they''ll launch into one of various scenarios: deathmatch, capture the flag, racing, problem-solving tasks, etc. Robots will be controlled via keys/joystick. Also, I just wanna stress that the building process will be very flexible... the physics simulation I''ve planned will allow arbitary placement/connection of motors, axles, wheels, structural supports, etc. Anyway, to the point: As a lone designer/programmer, I cannot possibly create enough content (scenarios, opponents, etc.) for a commercial single-player game. How can I get the players to create their own content? Btw, I say "single-player" because I doubt my player base would ever be large enough to support ongoing online multiplayer matches. One possibility is to let players optionally write AI for their bots, a la MindRover. Players could then share their bots (via web, email, etc.) and have an endless supply of new opponents.

There is one out called RoboWar or some such as i recall. Basically you have to program your own robot But its only for the crapintosh, too bad.

-Ryan "Run_The_Shadows"
-Run_The_Shadows@excite.com
"Doubt Everything. Find your own light." -Dying words of Gautama

To a certain extent, that may be beyond some users...unless the game is specifically designed to cater to the "techno-geek" crowd. But here are a few links that may interest you:

http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Programming/Contests/

http://www.dmoz.org/Games/Video_Games/Genres/Simulation/Artificial_Intelligence/Robotics/

Somewhere under there you'll find RARS, the Robotic Auto Racing Simulator (also on SourceForge.net). They may give you an idea of what you're getting in to.

Also, try here: http://www.roboforge.net
I think their game is kind of like what you're talking about, but I'm not sure.
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Dan Upton
Lead Designer
WolfHeart Software


Edited by - draqza on March 5, 2001 9:31:18 AM

Watch Robot Wars on BBC, and then wonder how come this looks familiar to that...

Battle bots....isn''t that (c)opyright?

If you want, you could check out the game Robot Arena By Infogrames, although its Multi-player is extremely poorly done (as all of infogrames game are...)

dont bother, the REAL game is being released in a month or so

Don't forget about Roboforge.

And I see, after reading the thread, someone hasn't. heh heh

Edited by - buh on March 3, 2002 2:52:39 PM

I''ve already seen a PC version (I can''t remember the name, but I think its generic) and there''s a really bad one for Gameboy Advance (Controls are really bad, graphics are bad, robot configuration is useless) based on one of the two shows.

there is even one for the playstation 2 based on that tv program.

sorry... too late.

http://www.amiganr1.com

Hey, I also thought of the same thing while watching TNN''s Robot Wars and TLC''s Robotica.

I would want to see a game go beyond simply assembling a robot then battling it against an opponent in a LAN setting.

Remember Atari''s T-Mek from about ten years ago. This was a networked arcade game.

Think of other variations of this theme to keep it original. Also consider a license with an existing television program. Their involvement could help with artwork and tweaking the game.

I would wait for the release of the game in the post mentioned by black_mage_s and look at the other releases metioned in other posts. Look at them all and try to go several steps better. If you can not do that, then look at another endeavor.

Some food for thought.

ion

Is our existance a life-long virtual reality simulation from another realm?