Outside of the Box

Motorama 2024 Preview with Jon Durand

It is getting very close to mid-February, which means it is time to get hyped for Motorama, which Jon Durand describes as a Super Bowl type of event for combat robotics. We talked about everything you need to know as both a competitor and a spectator including tips for getting to the event as well as things like food and what else you can see there. I also had Jon take a trip down memory lane and recall some of his favorite and most memorable robots/fights that have come to Motorama.
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NHRL January New Bots Recap with Kevin & Matt of BattleTots

As someone whose bots are inspired by designs from BattleBots, I was a huge fan of Team Pandamonium's 12lb entry BattleTots at NHRL's January event. We talked about the event overall and how things went in all weight classes, plus why multibots work so much better in the beetleweight division and Kevin & Matt teased the addition of more BattleTot friends in the future!

2024 Backwoods Combat Robotics Season Preview on Outside of the Box

If you are interested in the antweight scene, you definitely will want to check out my chat with the folks from Backwoods Combat Robotics - Jason, Jenna, Kyle and Toby. We talked about how the league has grown since the beginning of the pandemic and become an extremely competitive league for ants, seeing competitors show up from 18 different states. We talked about some of the events they have planned for this year as well as potential plans for growth into other weight classes including 12lb and 30lb. Learn more about the league and the exciting things they have coming!

Remy & Rachel DeGuzman on Bot Buddies | Monkfish, EVA | NHRL MRCA | Outside of the Box

Join me for a much anticipated episode featuring one of the best couples in combat robotics - Remy & Rachel DeGuzman whose robots have caused much destruction and entertainment, most recently with shuffler robot Monkfish. We talked about everything from their robots including how they both got started to MRCA and plans for an event in June. This is a fantastic episode that you won't want to miss.

2024 MRCA Season Preview on Outside of the Box

For this next episode in my series of league previews, I sat down with Casey of MRCA (Midwest Robot Combat Association) to talk about their growing antweight league, which also saw the addition of beetleweights in 2023. We talked about the amazing growth the league has seen with event registrations filling up in less than 30 minutes as well as plans to try and add additional events in areas that have not had any to try and get more people involved. Check out this shorter, but very informational discussion and give MRCA some love!

Tim Bouwens of Ominous on Bot Buddies | BattleBots | Outside of the Box

It is finally time that I got to sit down with Tim Bouwens whose robot Ominous was nominated for a Boxy Award due to its sleek and vibrant design. We went all the way back to talk about his original BattleBots experience with Reality and where the journey has taken him since then. We also chatted about the next iteration of Ominous and how he has differentiated himself as a competitor and bot designer.

2024 GSCRL Season Preview on Outside of the Box

We're kicking off a series of combat robotics league previews with GSCRL (Garden State Combat Robotics League) where I sat down with members of their board to talk about what they have planned for this year. We talk about the growth of the league as they have already had events with waitlists, some cool events and workshops and the importance of volunteering and getting involved to help growing leagues like GSCRL. (An event was held on January 13, however due to unforeseen circumstances this episode released later than planned.)

NHRL Breakdown: January New Bots Event 2024 Preview

If you're as psyched as I am for NHRL's New Bots event, then you will want to check out this episode where Ashley and I highlight some of the robots who will be attending the event. This episode also features a mini interview with J Lee who will be bringing Game On - a mech walker in the 3lb division and possibly a highly esteemed pig-themed robot. Make sure you watch until the end of the video as we share information on how to enter to win a very cool Giant Nut winner Sawblaze part from BattleBots World Championship VII in their fight versus Minotaur. Check it out!

Outside of the Box Presents The Boxy Award Winners Reveal!!

It is finally time for Ashley and I to reveal the winners of the 1st Annual Boxy Awards! We talk a little about each of the winners who we hope to get acceptance speeches from and these will be posted in a separate video. You'll definitely want to watch until the end for a couple special awards that were not voted on as well as a BIG giveaway announcement. Congratulations again to all of the nominees and winners!

BattleBots Breakdown w/Ashley Beckman | Vengeance in Vegas ll | Dino Might

For the final BattleBots Breakdown of the season, Ashley and I talked about all of the fights from Vengeance in Vegas II which is on the BattleBots YouTube Channel. These were unaired "freestyle" matches that were not part of the main season. We talked about poor Rusty trying so hard against Hydra, why Terrortops is the robot to watch for World Championship VIII, my campaign to make Gruff a permanent hammer flamethrower bot and so much more. Plus catch our mini discussion at the end about things potentially to come for WCVIII as Ashley is a member of Team Magnitude which is hoping to be one of the bots competing for the Giant Nut next season!