(Click for larger image!)
"U-NA" STANDALONE CLASS by Fawkes Allen
is one of 47 entries in the Museum of Robots Build-a-Robot competition
now on display in Kubrick Sim. Says the designer (Autogenic Alchemy),
"I've always enjoyed robots and find them to open a plethora of choices
about design and style." The purpose of the competition was to invite SL
residents to explore how a robot can be expressed in Second Life, and to
encourage creativity, originality, style, and efficient building and
scripting techniques.
PHOTO BY SITEARM MADONNA
(Click for larger image!)
WEARABLE CLASS ROBOTS entered in the
Build-a-Robot competition include "GYNOID" by ScaryMary Spitz and
"GEARGRIM" by Seyfert Slade. Says Spitz, "I was inspired to work on a
robot avatar after seeing the movies 'I-Robot' and 'AI'. I have been
building in SL since spring of 2007, but had never made an avatar until
this robot." Seyfert adds, "I am Japanese SF/Anime Fan and collect/enjoy
many items. In recent years. I discovered I enjoy to build original
robot/mecha."
PHOTO BY SITEARM MADONNA
ROBOTS IN SECOND LIFE ON DISPLAY!
BY SITEARM MADONNA, STAFF WRITER
There's something about robots... hot robots, sexy robots, scary robots, cute robots, friendly robots, funny robots, intelligent robots, snooty robots, war robots: you name it, there's a robot for it. Nanobots, organibots, half-humanbots, tinybots, monsterbots... and the NAmes?!: "Bot", "Robbie", "Maria", "Tiny", "Gort", "Glop", "ZX29"!
So what IS it with robots ANYway? The Museum of Robots in Second Life wants to find out and it continues to come up with fun ways for residents to help. The museum's current campaign is a Build-a-Robot Competition in Second Life that's been running for a month and a half now, with another month to go.
Entries are IN... all forty-seven of them ("An overwhelming response!" enthuses contest manager and museum co-owner, Bibi Bayliss) and are ON display for judging and viewing this week. A big awards ceremony is scheduled for July 19 but entries will remain on view through end-August, and some will even be offered for sale in the museum gift shop.
"We invited SL residents to explore what a robot is, how it can be expressed within the parameters of Second Life, and to encourage creativity, originality, style and efficient building and scripting techniques," says Bayliss. In the spirit of creativity, the official Detailed Entry Rules state, "Interpretation of the word 'robot' is up to the contestant. Any design that you think could fall into the category is good with us."
The competition timeline gave entrants six weeks (May 15 to June 25) to build and submit entries received from a full cross-section of SL designers including amateurs and professionals. Final entrants included both designers who HAVE made robots before and designers who have not.
To help promote the spirit of innovation, exploration and FUN about "what's up with robots anyway?!" the museum invited sponsors (see LIST) to support the competition and help spread the word. Nine prize sponsors donated robot-themed merchandise for participation awards to be given to all entrants. Fenrir Reitveld, owner and proprietor of MechMind, is a prize sponsor. He states, "I wanted to help the Museum of Robots because I've loved robots since I was a kid. I've been building robots for most of my life, starting with Lego creations up to virtual robotics in Second Life. I'm glad to be a part of this contest as it encourages more people to experience the wonders of robotics." An additional 21 information sponsors provided copies of detailed entry rules to all interested SL residents and media interest peaked with three articles a week coming out in both Second and Real Life media.
PRIZE SPONSORS
1. Abstract Avatars (Joshua Nightshade)
2. Cortech Enterprises (Beezle Warburton)
3. Cosmic Boutique (Th30th3rm3 Zinner)
4. Creative Kaoz (Dana Archer)
5. Fine Clocks (Yrrek Gran)
6. JX Designs (Xander Kappler)
7. MechMind (Fenrir Reitveld)
8. Ookami Ningen (Zorena Deckard)
9. Trinity Steamworks (Almia Thaler)
INFORMATION SPONSORS
1. Akibe Inari (Akibe Sixgallery)
2. Artificial Isle (Zatzai Asturias)
3. Art-systems (Artefax Jericho)
4. Atlantis Modelling Agency (Valerie McDunnough)
5. Avalon Square (Yrrek Gran)
6. Cosmic Boutique (Th30th3rm3 Zinner)
7. Creative Kaoz (Dana Archer)
8. Dublin in SL (Ham Rambler)
9. Fine Clocks (Yrrek Gran)
10. JX Designs (Xander Kappler)
11. [KMprod] (Kristal Mielziner)
12. Lightwave's Avatars (Lightwave Valkyrie)
13. MechMind Industries (Fenrir Reitveld)
14. Mirage Industries (Nicki Petrichor)
15. New Media Consortium (Larry Pixel)
16. Ookami Ningen (Zorena Deckard)
17. Oralune (Mealune Arad)
18. Robot Link (Meandyou Akina)
19. Science Fiction Museum (Chosen Few)
20. Sci-Fi Convenience (Seyfert Slade)
21. Zurich City (Ligeia Westwick)
The competition has now entered the judging phase. Entries are on display at the Museum of Robots in Second Life (Kubrick and Hitchcock Sims). SL residents may vote for a People's Choice Award. All entries will receive Participation Prize folders containing robot-themed merchandise and a commemorative plaque. In addition there will be Top Ten Judge's and People's Choice Cash Awards. A video introducing some of the entries can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZHuA2tuO6g.
Judging criteria include Best Use of SL Tools, Best Design Using a Theme, and Most Striking Overall. All Second Life residents are eligible to vote for the People's Choice Award (pick up a ballot at Kubrick Sim). Entry classes included Homage to Classic Robots (interpretive work) and Standalone and Wearable (original work). Entries for Homage (18 in all) include Robbie the Robot from "Forbidden Planet", Marvin the Paranoid Android from "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", and Robot B9 from "Lost in Space".
Entries for Standalone (20) and Wearable (9) feature original work in a stunning display of talent, skill, and inspiration of SL designers. Works vary in size from the miniature "Robot Fly" (requiring a magnifying glass or Extreme Close Zoom to view) to the gigantic "Helping Hand" robot standing 10m tall holding a gently rotating Earth in its hand. There is a standalone, scripted Shelob-Garden-Spider busily planting flowers around a pool, and a wearable Misplaced-Hand avatar bot strutting around on two fingers puffing away merrily from a steam-punk engine smokestack. For a full list of entrants visit Kubrick Sim or see the website.
Walking among and viewing the entries is amazing whether you vote or not. More amazing is the fact that all entries were constructed using 100 prims or less. "We wanted to invite people to create within the feasible limits of the SL environment," says Bayliss. "We are absolutely knocked out at the entries - the imagination and creativity on display is more than we dreamed of, and we can dream big! It has inspired us to make this competition an annual event, which wasn't our original plan, but we're so excited at the prospect of seeing more extraordinary work that we'd like to do it again next year."
So don't miss it! You can vote for People's Choice until midnight, July 12, and hear the winners announced July 19. You can see pictures, videos, entrants, and sponsors lists at www.MuseumOfRobots.com website.