Finalizer: the Microsoft… BattleBot?

You know, kudos to Microsoft for breaking some new ground here and tapping in to the hot BattleBot market (exploding any day now, surely), because the Finalizer here bills itself as the first MS-powered deathbot of its ilk. It's controlled via WiFi by communication with an on-board PDA running a pre-release version of .NET Compact Framework 2.0. We're sure you all realize this is the most compelling reason yet for Apple to come out with a handheld (R.I.P., mighty Newton) — BattleBot deathmatch!

[Via PocketPC Thoughts]

[EricV @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Another Microsoft attempt to destroy the competition.

... and this is the first post.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Is that the blue light of death?

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Is that the blue light of death?

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Oh yeah FP!

[Asher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I thought Ballmer was the first MS powered Deathbot. "DEVELOPERS!"

[jc @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

It would be awesome if it had wi-fi... that way you wouldn't have to plug it in every other tuesday to get updates.

Mike, bugger off with the first post hype... are you really 12 years old (sorry, not trying to insult the decent 12 year old people out there).

[strider_mt2k @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

I am so there!

I hope a little upstart company crushes them (in the ring, in the ring)

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

jc, lol
I was just doing the first post thing, cause I think it's hilarious how bad the flamewar got yesterday about it. People who get upset about it need to get over themselves and get a life. Who does it hurt, and what does it change. Chill and get that "bugger" out of your @$$.

[Billfred @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Am I the only person that thinks that robot wouldn't be too hot in the BattleBox? I mean, those treads are toast with one good hit from a spinning weapon.

[M?n Dy'ner @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Well, this would be great competition to my idea for a Linux powered BattleBot. Although, the weapon on mine would grind right through this bot, abeit my design is for a much higher weight class. The big problem with my bot is it's unbuilt as I don't have the estimated $15,000 to build it. :)

[lupinstel @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Too bad Battlebots isn't on comedy Central anymore. They were just remote controlled machines and not really robots, but it was still fun.

[Nate MC @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

jc, RTFSummary, it has WiFi ;) Windows update on the fly!

[GunForHire @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

How long until armies of these things are rolling through the streets, cutting down MS software pirates and destroying peoples' iPods?

It's the future. It's coming.

[jg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

if there were more then 5 developers for Apple we may see their version of this.

[Real BSOD!!!! @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

RUNNNN!!!!! BSOD BSOD!
This time it will cause read Death! LOL

[Cullen @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

...
i love the intarweb. so many elite folx0rz.
why do people like jg even open their mouths?

[Jonathan N. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

"if there were more then 5 developers for Apple we may see their version of this."


Yah. I'm betting there is only 5 developers in this place....
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1+infinite+loop,+Cupertino,+ca&spn=0.004903,0.007510&t=k&hl=en

[Jonathan N. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

"if there were more then 5 developers for Apple we may see their version of this."


Yah. I'm betting there is only 5 developers in this place....
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=1+infinite+loop,+Cupertino,+ca&spn=0.004903,0.007510&t=k&hl=en

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

"... and this is the first post."

No, it doesn't count when you cheat. I was first.

[Finished.Law.School @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Apple's version will be white, round and girly looking, patented and ripe for imitation by chinese companies.

[Finished.Law.School @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Apple's version will be white, round and girly looking, patented and ripe for imitation by chinese companies.

[jc @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

thanks Finished...

I have a great idea to make a R/C bot out of the shell of my airport extreme...

[jg @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

#15 - today's word of the day is sarcasm.

[OK @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Mike, your dumb. The posts are numbered by when they are submitted, not when they are confirmed from the email. He posted first, but confirmed after you, making you look like a retard when you said you were first.

[rodents @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

i thought battelbots was cancelled

[Kaolin Fire @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

:: "My ax retracts automatically after striking, for example. That would have to be done manually in a conventional bot. I also have fail safes, so if I lose communication, I�m smart enough to shut myself down."

A "conventional" bot could do those two things just as easily without the dot net hype, nor the insane price tag.

[Adam @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

Every bot is already required to shut down after loosing contact. Also, I don't believe wi fi is an allowable frequency nowadays. I'm pretty sure you need to use PCM.

Also, he seems to think that the bots are using electro-mechanical control devices, which is false. All the modern robots use electronic speed controllers custom designed for figthing robots.

Battlebots is dead but fighting robots aren't,
http://www.botleague.com/

That bot would get torn to shreds in any competition. He may have a slightly advanced control system, but all his mechanical systems are total crap.

[benhc911 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:23AM]

yeah, a battlebot that will hang in the middle of a fight, have to be rebooted, which will take about 2 minutes, only to be completly mauled by the competition. It will have illegal operations and refuse to do things you ask it to and it will be extremely wasteful.