· Since it was thought of less than a couple of weeks before the con and so far too late for any official status, it was either going to be done unofficially or disappear into the mists of "Ideas we had once but never quite got 'round to doing". The idea was "If we do it very roughly this year, we'll lay the ground for doing it properly next year or it will just sink without trace". Completely guerilla programming. Only publicised in the In-Con Newsletter by articles and cartoons put in by Sms and a completely unofficial event. A raised area by the main pool, in the massive greenhouse-like central piazza. Boundaries erected by Ewok, SMS and Tek from gaffa'd chairs. It was noted that there was a danger that the robots might wander into the nearby artificial stream and kill the fish. Hence: The M.A.D. Tech accord of 1996.
Rumours of the event led to an audience numbering ... ohhh, more
than twenty, a Newsletter review and being booked for the next con
(We said: "Result!"). After we'd told the (Very nice)
organisers of Evolution what we'd done, they were delighted.
· Presented in 'Mad Max Oral Tradition' style (Shamanic Storytelling) by SMS, the words themselves live only in our memory (Thank Ghod!).
A very big hall (Actually, more a set for a 'Generation Starship' type film) and no mike.
SMS wore out his voice!
As Ewok and SMS had only decided to hold Beyond Cyberdrome a fortnight before (And all 'Evolution' publications had gone to press months before) this gave the entrants less than a couple of weeks to produce their robots after being told of the event.
Without their enthusiasm (Building robots for an event they'd never heard of), we'd never have reached BC 2.
Thank these people!
The completists' guide to the Robot Entries to date.
(If we don't have photo's of your robot on this website,
it's because we can't get hold of one. Please remember,
whilst we're presenting the thing, taking photos is a bit of a
problem. If you have any, please send 'em in! Thanks)
So:
Exactly the sort of thing we were hoping for. A Heath Robinson construction of cardboard, kitchen implements (Including a mousetrap) and powered by an elastic band. Always a firm favourite with the spectators; it's never missed a match yet. In 1999, we may have named a match after it… Depends on your view of Morphic Resonance… By Brian Parsons.
Possibly the most seriously aggressive and 'built' of all BC robots to date. A motorcycle helmet armed with chains that knock over its opponents when it spins. Based upon parts of a remote controlled car. Quickly gained a Heavy Metal fan club and many plots to damage it. Undefeated by BC3. We wonder if it's years absence indicates an unprecedented weapons buildup. By Ewok.
A cunning fusion of cake, sweets and their packaging in a roughly Dalek-y shape.(Note to the estate of Terry Nation: Skaro Suprise bears no resemblance to any pepper-pot shaped cyborgs) Powered by a miniature Bimbleball. The sort of thing we feel Davros may have made to entertain the Special Unit war orphans at the Winter Victory Celebration. It cunningly sticks to things. Sadly missed. By Simon and Julia Barnsley.
Entered before Bimblebots were declared (Welcome) hazards rather than actual entrants. This bouncing mine-like black thing has consistently evaded all attempts to capture or damage it. All the personality of … a bouncing black mine-thing. Attempted to enter BC2 disguised in a Boddington Beer box. Disqualified. Now bears a grudge against Umpires. By Ewok.
An annoying, supercilious little lump of Dog-Shaped Tin… that everybody seems to want to win. An (Uncannily accurate) homage to Tom Bakers Best Friend at 1:2 scale. The Second Law of Cychotics meant that the blaster in his nose had to be replaced by a working drillbit. Remarkably like the original, powered by remote control. The homage even extends to failing to work at vital moments... Just like the original! K 4.5's finest hour must be when he ejected his own drillbit during a pitched battle. By Ewok.
A Promotional Entry for the Phlosque (Art) Award. Was hoped to be a sacrificial entry. A 'My Little Pony' Unicorn on a K-Nex trolley, powered by a piece of string. Cause of much tension and horror as it appeared that it would become the victor since bits of its string tangled up the gearing of both Road Worrier and K4.5. By Eira and SMS.
The damned Bimblebot! Thereby setting one of our first Addenda to the 'Rules': "Bimblebots aren't real robots".
