GERONIMO!

[robotwars]

HI Guys,

Been asked to put this on here, A new programme for bbc2.

Problem is the short notice it has given.


THE CHALLENGES

We will be filming in two locations during the October half term and there will be four Challenges to solve:


Location 1:

Blackpool beach - next to the North Pier.
22nd 23rd and 24th October
These are the two challenges for location 1
Challenge 1:The Amphibious Sand Mud and Sea Racing Machine
Build a machine that can travel across hard sand soft sand and water.

Challenge 2: The Great British Beach Digging Machine
A sand digging machine - Build a machine that can shift the most amount of wet sand in a limited time.



Location 2:

Weston-super-Mare beach lawns- on the beach lawns by the sea front
29th, 30th and 31st October
These are the two challenges for location 2
Challenge 3: The perfect penalty Shoot-out machine
Build a machine that can score penalties into a football goal. Are you better than Beckham?
Challenge 4: The Triple Jumping Machine Olympics
Build a machine that jump the furthest and the highest.

For further details drop us a line at geronimo@bbc.co.uk or alternatively ring the office on 0117 9742424, or contact jonno.

They are mainly short of triple jumping machines, hence asking me to post this on here, to see if there are any old technogames machines lying around.

Jonno

[terryc]

GERONIMO!

Considering the work being done by other people to promote engineering this just looks like a half baked attempt to copy Scrap Heap Challenge.
What a shame they are trying to rush somthing out.

[ewan]

GERONIMO!

Firstly how do they expect people to enter if people like us dont know anything about it untill weeks before the event.

And secondly, it does sound like a cross between the BBC series focusing on War Machines, and a scrapheap challenge rip-off for the BBC, but even now we arent told much so I cant say much there either

[terryc]

GERONIMO!

Probably just the usual bunch of Arts and Media Studies grads who have no idea about timescales for building.

[bugs]

GERONIMO!

The problem is, somebody WILL probably waste all his spare time to build something for them. Either they will cancel the recordings 1 day before tapeing strarts. Or they use the contraption as commic releif. If all your hard work actually gives you a good result they probably wont care as long as it make good TV, if it fails it probably makes better TV. And if the episode actually makes it to the screen, the producers wil pat them selves on the back because THEY are brilliant.
Somehow Im not verry fond of TV people.

[anukhet]

GERONIMO!

I share your cynicism on this. As far as Im concerned its just another makeover programme crossed with Its a Knockout crossed with jolly British seaside humour.
No doubt itll be hosted by Paul OGrady dressed in stripy blazer with deck shoes.

[ewan]

GERONIMO!

Background-

The BBC is throwing down the gauntlet to industry, schools, universities and anyone who has ever fancied themselves as an inventor or designer. Can you build a machine to beat our challenges and all the other competitors?

We will be staging four challenges spread over two large events to be filmed during the October half term, and that will form part of a major series to be shown on BBC Two in January 2005.

Anyone is welcome to enter, or just come and watch.

The competition is backed by the Royal Academy of Engineering, and will be a family day out. The emphasis is very much on hands-on engineering and fun.

The presenters are Fearne Cotton (CBBC and Top Of The Pops) and Dick Strawbridge. Dick is a past champion of Scrapheap Challenge and presented the BBC Two series Crafty Tricks of War.

You are invited to take part and form a team who can design, build and race a machine that can beat the professionals.

The races will take place on the Saturday and Sunday with the grand finals on the Sunday. Even if you don€™t want to take part in the races, come and see the fun.

Once we receive your completed form well send you an entry pack to confirm your place in the races.

Therell be a separate category for under 18s.

(I just got this off the BBC website, I agree, its a shame program makers cannot see their programs from a different perspective. This event does sound promising on the outline, if only they could make more of it! Even the website for it is rather tiny.)

[ewan]

GERONIMO!

After having read the rules, the BBC seems to not care at-all for the people that they are expecting to enter. It looks like they just want people to turn up to a beach with a strange machine which they tell you to make. They dont seem to mention accomodation, costs, and they even disallow sponsorship for a machine. Seems loopy to me, they should be shot. (*insert smilie with halo here*)

[woody]

GERONIMO!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/programmes/geronimo/pdf/geronimo_rules.pdfhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/tvradio/prog...nimo_rules.pdf

4: To enter you are expected to meet all your own costs.
This includes travel and transport to and from the event, accommodation while at the event and all build costs to make your machine.

[ewan]

GERONIMO!

Precisely

they expect far too much

Jonno, can you pass our thoughts onto them?

[terryc]

GERONIMO!

Anybody fancy taking their bots out for a stroll on the beach?

[blazerbotics]

GERONIMO!

have i missed something? whys everybody moaning? at least the BBC still have an interest in this sort of stuff. How can you moan about money? we spend alot more on our bots without getting anything back. remember, they could just not do it!

[bugs]

GERONIMO!

And if no one could just do it they wouldnt have a programm. Thats the problem. They sort of expect you to make sacrifices. No questions asked, not even accomodations offered. Thats just rude.
Maybe im just being a soure pouce(spelling?). But Im trying to be realistic. I didnt even need to read the rules to expect this sort of treatment (I admit, its sort of short sighted on this subject. Im not even planning to enter the competition, but hey.)

[woody]

GERONIMO!

sour puss .... and its joined into one word sourpuss

[robotwars]

GERONIMO!

Well not the responce i thought it would get.


I think the problem is that you´ve all been spoilt. Hotels, appearance money left right and centre.

Whats happened to the lets do something for fun why are you so sinical ????

This thread sums up the community in some respects, i wont go on.

Anyway back to my pool side for more sun, sea and BEER !!!

Jonno - pondering life in Gran Canaria