Robot Wars Arena/1994-1997

Robot Wars Arena (1994-1997)
Series Information
Filming Location(s)	Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
US 1994-1997 Events	1994-1997

Prior to the televised show, the original Robot Wars Arena was set up at the Fort Mason Center, San Francisco for the 1994-1997 US competitions. The 1996 iteration saw appearances in official media released for the original UK Series, notably the American Robot Wars 1996 and American Robot Wars Final 1996 VHSs, plus shorter highlights aired in Heat D of The First Wars.

General Description

Compared to later versions built for the televised show, the 1994-1997 arena had a more rudimentary approach for its construction, layout and hazards. A rectangular combat zone, making use of the venue's concrete floor, was surrounded by large walls on each side. The original 1994 arena is claimed by Patrick Campbell to measure 35ft by 70ft, with the wall segments being 4ft tall each.

From 1995 onwards, the wall was redesigned to include plywood bumpers on the left and right-hand sides, alongside a plywood 'curb' at the base of the outer perimeter. New upper wall layers, made from 4ft, 1/4-inch thick transparent Plexiglass, were also implemented to enhance audience safety, the wall standing at 6ft in total. Subsequent rulesets referred to these wall segments as being made from 'clear polycarbonate'.

According to the rules for the 1997 event, the arena measured 30ft by 54ft, with 8ft walls and a seating capacity of 'approximately 1000' spectators. An additional layer of 'protective netting', 2ft high, was placed directly on top of the polycarbonate layer, as a further measure to stop debris from entering the audience stands. On the upper-right corner, a set of inward-opening doors provided access for roboteers and event staff to enter and exit the combat zone in between battles.

Aesthetically, the arena was characterized by minimal markings and decorations, with predominantly gray wall panels and a completely unpainted floor. Black and gray hazard stripes with a red border were painted at the top of the entrance/exit doors, immediately beneath the polycarbonate panels. From 1995, the flipper and moving side wall hazards were each highlighted in yellow and black hazard stripes. Meanwhile, Robot Wars logos and sponsorship banners lined the base of the larger walls. Among the key sponsors was music label Sm:)e Communications, which provided financial support, music and professionally-recorded video footage of these events.

Hazards

Mousetraps

Zomo is snared by one of the Mousetraps (1995)

Two Mousetraps were the largest hazards competitors had to avoid, with one each being placed in the center of the the upper and lower walls. Each had the capability to move back and forth towards the center, and to swing down on robots driving nearby. A net was attached to the main frame, snaring any robot with tall or pointy design features (e.g. DooMore). However, this design element still proved fragile against robots armed with rotating cutters, such as The Master's circular saw, which sliced through the 1994 iteration's netting with ease.

Another Mousetrap in action (Pokey vs Scrappy, 1996)

Regardless, the Mousetraps were considered to be among the most hazardous obstacles, capable of trapping and even toppling robots with a high center of gravity over. The latter particularly occurred if they lifted an opponent beneath them (e.g. Namreko 3000). A further hazard was present in the space behind the moving mousetraps. Robots could be pinned between the exposed gaps - largely filled by the hazard's springs and mechanics - and eliminated, as exhibited in the 1996 Featherweight Face-Off Final between Red 2 and Wedge of Doom.

The Mousetraps were present from 1994 to 1996, after which they were replaced with the more compact and sturdier overhead spikes.

Arena Flippers

Gutrip falls foul of an arena Flipper

On each corner beside the mousetraps/spikes was an Arena Flipper, not to be confused with the Floor Flipper introduced in the televised UK Series. These "flippers" - similarly to their pinball namesakes - were long plastic paddles which swung out to hit any robots that drove near them. These proved especially hazardous in lighter weight classes as any direct hits could damage internal components, often leading to immobilization, or even push competitors at high speed into the walls or mousetrap sides. In heavyweight events, the flimsiness of the paddles became evident, with cases of them getting bent, cut into, or flexed out of position by competitors. It was not uncommon, however, for some robots (e.g. Gutrip) to end up becoming stranded on top of or under these hazards, leading to pins or immobilizations.

A total of eight undecorated Arena Flippers were in use at the original 1994 event, each six inches in length and featured across the entire outer perimeter. By 1995, the number of these pneumatically-powered hazards was reduced to six, all lined in yellow and black hazard stripes and better concealed within the wall. The 1996-1997 configuration reduced the amount of flippers further to four, all located in the upper and lower perimeters.

Wall Bumpers

La Machine slams DooMore over a moving wall bumper

From 1996 onwards, a set of moving bumpers was incorporated into both the left and right side walls. These comprised of a section of the plywood 'curb' mounted on outward-firing piston mechanisms, effectively making them an early ancestor to the Ramrigs seen in UK Series 2. Though their movements were generally slow - and their wooden construction vulnerable to spiked or spinning weapons - the bumpers were frequently used to push nearby robots away from the outer perimeter. When extended, the exposed gap behind these walls also allowed robots to be flipped over into the mechanism behind. Robots such as La Machine and Melvin were able to demonstrate this in heavyweight and featherweight competitions through brute force alone. Generally, these allowed early instances of robots throwing opponents out of the arena, though one robot (Punjar) is documented to have rejoined a battle after being thrust behind the moving wall.

For the 1997 event, both of the wall bumpers were redesigned, now fitted with large metal spikes to impale any robot pushed or driven into them.

Ball of Doom

The Ball of Doom

The Ball of Doom, alternately known as the Sphere of Doom, was an early interpretation of the swinging pendulum seen in the first two UK Series. Consisting of a 15lb bowling ball attached to one end of a long chain, it swung across the center of the arena, aiming to strike any robots driving across its path of travel. Though typically more effective against taller robots, it would also pose a major risk to competitors in lighter weight categories, as heavy collisions could damage or hinder the functionality of key internal components. The ball was decorated on one side with the Sm:)e logo. The hazard's function was particularly emphasized in American Robot Wars 1996, during TerMinal frenZy's unsuccessful attempt to self-right against BioHazard in their Heavyweight Face-Off round. The Ball of Doom was discontinued for the 1997 event, but not replaced.

"The ball you see is one of the arena hazards, and is in fact a 15lb bowling ball known as the Ball of Doom."

— Paul Vallis describing the Ball of Doom during TerMinal frenZy's unsuccessful self-righting attempt in American Robot Wars 1996

Spikes

The arena spikes smashing down on Prometheus II

For the 1997 event, both Mousetraps were replaced with overhead pneumatic spikes. While having a much narrower range, they were effective at trapping, piercing and even impaling competitors from above. A notable example of their use is the Heavyweight Face-Off battle between Vlad the Impaler and Prometheus II, where one spike damaged the latter's armor while also knocking its radio battery out of position.

Arena Perimeter

Michael Meehan announces the start of a battle (1996)

The arena perimeter from a spectator's point of view (1996)

Unlike most of its successors, the 1994-1997 arena was not fully enclosed, despite the later addition of Plexiglass walls to protect audience members, roboteers and event staff. Staff - including Marc Thorpe, the Judges and hosts such as Michael Meehan - were located at the upper perimeter, flanked by roboteers operating their machines from control stands on either side. Audience seating surrounded the main combat zone in a C-shape pattern.

The lack of a complete arena enclosure lead to major safety issues on occasions, wherein shrapnel from robots would be flung over or through the upper walls. Two instances of this occurred during Blendo's Face-Off battles against DooMore (1995) and Hercules (1997), both resulting in debris landing in the audience stands. Blendo was forced to forfeit its place in the 1995 and 1997 competitions as a direct consequence. However, it would not be until Series 4 of the UK television show that a full polycarbonate enclosure would be utilized at a Robot Wars competition.

The La Machine and South Bay Mauler teams in their control stands (1996)

Roboteers were situated in the aforementioned control stands, with one set of stands being directly opposite the main entrance/exit doors. The close spacing allowed for them to quickly access their machines at the end of each battle, allowing for inspection prior to returning to the pits. As shown in American Robot Wars 1996, it was possible for robots to be driven straight out of the arena through the doors into the pit complex, as demonstrated by Carlo Bertocchini with BioHazard following their victory over Vlad the Impaler. Robots with low heights - especially featherweights - were even able to drive under the doors mid-battle, due to a large gap between them and the concrete floor. P.A.T. was almost disqualified for doing so after immobilizing Draggon Waggin' in 1996, though roboteers were able to push it back into the combat zone and allow it to progress in the Featherweight Face-Off tournament.

Trivia

• The Ball of Doom was the only 1994-1997 arena hazard adopted for the UK Series, with the idea being evolved to become the Series 1-2 swinging pendulum/mace.
• Due to the live nature of the 1994-1997 events, which also included allowances to display prominent sponsors, the arena from this era was the only one to feature advertisements.