From: D.den Otter (neosapient@geocities.com)
Date: Sat Mar 18 2000 - 18:32:11 MST
----------
> From: hal@finney.org
>
> I think the rules are primarily to protect the audience, and the venue,
> from destruction. Your idea of a no-rules contest is interesting,
Not really no-rules, just less and different rules. You'd
still have weight categories etc. to keep things reasonably
fair (but a no-rules free-for-all would certainly also be an
option). The main difference would be the use of projectiles
to disable opponents, and the generally greater realism of the
game.
> but I don't see how you could arrange to have an audience enjoy it.
> Maybe some remote cameras could be flown around, but that would be
> expensive for the organizers. And it wouldn't have the impact you get
> now, with the audience crowding into the arena and hearing the metal
> being cut and smelling the oil burning.
>
> I also had the impression that the robots are remote controlled, which
> could expose the operators to danger in a no-rules version, since they
> can't get all that far from their machines.
In the current (UK) show, the audience sits behind some sort
of flexible transparent shielding (plastic), as do the operators
(the latter are in some closed compartment that's elevated
above the arena). I don't think they can smell, or even see,
too much of the action, and they certainly aren't allowed to
come anywhere near the arena during a match because of
the possibility of flying bits etc. (and one of the house
robots has a flame thrower). Also, the (UK) audience is
relatively small, afaik, so getting rid of them altogether
wouldn't make much of a difference. The cameras are
the important bit, as most people watch the show on
tv (and not live). The operators could be put in a bullet
proof, elevated box or operate their robots form another
room (concrete walls etc) via on-board cameras and the
studio monitors. You could even use some old bunker
complex for the show, if you really want to play it safe
(and create the right atmosphere at the same time).
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