Baka RoboCup competition pits robotic comedians against each other

Although RoboCup 2007 provided a number of thrills, there's certainly more trash talking going on than chuckling during the heated competitions. Thankfully, a new contest reportedly rigged up by entertainment giant Yoshimoto Kogyo will look to give the comedians in the mechanical crowd a chance to compete, too. After judges whittle down the entries, the Baka RoboCup will apparently give eight robotic comedians the chance to make an audience laugh this November, with the winner (er, winner's creator) taking home a modest ¥500,000 ($4,433) grand prize. Of course, there's a number of stipulations involved in exactly what kind of creature can be entered, but if you think your homegrown bot has got what it takes, be sure and hit the read link for all the fine print.

[Via PinkTentacle]

[Mickey Jones @ Aug 18th 2007 1:21AM]

I, for one, welcome our Shecky Greene imitating overlords.

It this thing on? ba-dum-ba. Now I will destroy you.

[Bloobie @ Aug 18th 2007 10:31AM]

That didn't take long.

[Chuckles McGee @ Aug 18th 2007 1:42AM]

It's good, but will it get them off their tractors?

[Nipponese @ Aug 18th 2007 3:49AM]

Just for the info, Yoshimoto is the largest talent agency for comedians. And "Baka" is quite fitting as they would refer to their comedians, it translates as "stupid" or "dumb". So, I guess this is sort of a Dumb and Dumber for robots.

[bl0nde @ Aug 18th 2007 7:30AM]

Someone get Bender on stage NOW.

[Rob @ Aug 18th 2007 9:53AM]

Does anyone know, do computers have to write the comedy, or do "dumb" gizmos just delivery lines composed by humans?

[Ryan @ Aug 18th 2007 12:50PM]

So I said, Supercollider, I just met her! And then they built the Supercollider...

[Fenway Beer Man @ Aug 18th 2007 1:19PM]

wouldn't Jay Leno have an unfair edge in this competition?