Monster Chess supersizes Lego robots for ultimate geek synergy

This is like an Andre 3000 song. What's cooler than robots? Lego robots. And what's even cooler than that? Supersized Lego robots playing chess. Composed of more than 100,000 Lego Mindstorms parts, the above chess set occupies a 156-square foot playing area and took a four-person team "about a year" to create. Total retail cost is tallied up at $30,000, though you won't be surprised to hear there are no plans to make it available for purchase -- presumably because of its priceless awesomeness. See a game played out on video after the break.

[Karnak Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:33AM]

Hmm.... and how are Knights supposed to move? Round the edge of the board, maybe... What if they're blocked in though...

Silly idea.

[Vlad Savov Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:37AM]

@Karnak Watch the video.

[ChronoDog Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:38AM]

@Karnak If you'd watched the video, you'd know how.

[O Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:41AM]

@Karnak Yeah, what Vlad said!

[Karnak Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:41AM]

@O My bad.

Would have been better if the horsie had acutually jumped over the other pieces but now I'm just being picky!

[JustAnotherDude Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:44AM]

@Karnak Watch the second clip, at about 30 seconds you'll see pieces realigning so a back piece can squeeze out.

So in between of moving pieces temporary out of the way, and squeezing through, they have probably covered all possibilities. Otherwise, it'd be a huge oversight.

[PlatinumSkeet Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:58AM]

@Karnak

First comment fail...

[trainwrecka Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:38AM]

The Apple Store won't let me pre-order it!!!... oh wait... this isn't Apple related...

[jgpuff Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:39AM]

Monster Chess? Quick, Noel Lee, ready the lawyers!

[GenericPoster Posted Jun 16th 2010 8:22AM]

@jgpuff

At least don't let them get sued until they make giant aquatic robots for outdoor pool games of Battleships.

[savagemike Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:40AM]

It's probably hella-cool - but that video seems to lack anything which would give scale.
So, for all I know watching the video it could be miniature lego chess.

So... to summarize.

Mega lego chess = win.
Vid of the game = fail.

[Karnak Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:44AM]

@savagemike I got told off for not watching the video, now it's your turn. Watch it all the way through.

[O Posted Jun 15th 2010 11:20AM]

@savagemike Nothing to indicate scale? There is a fireplace hearth right in the background with the words "Monster Chess" on it and windows to either side. Granted there is nothing right next to the chess pieces to give perspective but you can obviously see by the background room elements that this is not miniature.

[savagemike Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:38PM]

@O

Alas, I come from a land where fireplaces, signs, and even windows come in varying sizes.
With so much down voting of my comment I took another look to see what I had missed.
The only thing I see are some storage baskets on shelves. So if I assume they are a typical counter-toppish height then I suppose I get some idea.
But shelves, cabinets, and even those baskets come in a bunch of sizes.
Here's an idea. Just put a damned person or two in the video.
Have somebody stand next to one of the things or pick it and up.
Or is it too big to pick up?
I am not sure.
I could make some guesses and deductions but I didn't come into to watch a suspense film to try to figure out the central concept of how big 'monster chess' is.
Again... not to take away from the game setup itself. It was clearly a lot of work and turned out pretty cool.
But I stand by my point, through all the down votes that can be mustered, that this video is a basic fail at quite simply showing me some scale to judge the actual size of the pieces involved in 'monster chess' as presented.

[Ultracrepidation Posted Jun 16th 2010 1:17AM]

@savagemike I think people vary as much as average fireplaces... and less than power cords, surge-protectors, and other details in the video.

[B3astofthe3ast Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:41AM]

I want one. Can I have one, pretty please?

[SteveyAyo Posted Jun 15th 2010 1:04PM]

@B3astofthe3ast seriously who do i send all of my money to so i an have this in my house?

[Ninjakid4 Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:45AM]

Now if it was like the Harry Potter chess set where they would attack each other that would be awesome.
Lego pieces flying everywhere.
Although considering it took a year to build the whole thing I don't think the people who made it would be very happy.

[Wiggy Fuzz Posted Jun 15th 2010 9:47AM]

hmm... knight to my mates car *huge crush!*

AWESOME! :3

[Datacide Posted Jun 15th 2010 10:16AM]

Are these player vs player? player vs computer? or computer vs computer? Awesome still - may try to build this myself as well

[mattfro Posted Jun 15th 2010 10:32AM]

Looks like the King piece is riding a Hoveround.

[airbag888 Posted Jun 15th 2010 11:12AM]

Until on that final move your queen runs out of battery

[Michalis Posted Jun 15th 2010 12:56PM]

GaGa chess?? :D

[Eternal Density Posted Jun 15th 2010 8:25PM]

@Michalis
Bad Comment!

[KrazyCalvin Posted Jun 15th 2010 1:14PM]

I like that they used the fireplace to hold the monster chess sign. So much for the living room!

[bigcow05 Posted Jun 15th 2010 1:16PM]

Best dad ever!

[Deeksie Posted Jun 15th 2010 4:39PM]

"...Mum...I'm gonna need a whole lot more Lego Mindstorms..."

[Mic2000 Posted Jun 15th 2010 5:34PM]

Oh I wished there was some robowars violence in there!