Satoru Special (sometimes spelled as Satoro Special) was the name given to a series of robots built by James Straus for the original 1994-1997 US Robot Wars competitions.
The original incarnation debuted in 1994 as a lightweight entry, and is notable for being one of the very first robots to compete in any Robot Wars battle. Featuring an articulated cutting disc and a pyrotechnic-based 'rocket assist' function, it would end its first Lightweight Face-Off battle in a draw alongside Andy Roid. A drive failure resulted in Satoru Special losing its next fight against Zomo, and being eliminated from the Face-Off altogether.[3][4][5][6]
From the 1995 competition onwards, future incarnations of Satoru Special would be built for the middleweight class. Despite the size and weight increase, Satoru Special 2 fared worse than its predecessor, losing its first-round Face-Off battle to Al Kindle and Dawn Patrol. Satoru Special 2 also competed in the Middleweight Melee, which it lost outright to La Machine.[7][8]
Satoru Special 3 (alternatively formatted Satoru Special III[9]) again lost in the first round of the 1996 Middleweight Face-Off, this time to eventual class champion Agamemnon. Its unusual design also gained notoriety for its implementation of an entangling net, which snared Agamemnon's weaponry midway through the bout. Satoru Special 3 would again lose to Agamemnon in the Middleweight Melee, while its net 'launchers' contributed to a wholesale ban on "fiber weapons" for future Robot Wars events.[10][11][12] Satoru Special 3's Face-Off would be highlighted in the American Robot Wars 1996 and American Robot Wars Final 1996 VHS releases, which erroneously captioned it as Satoru Special 111 or Satoro Special III respectively.
Satoru Special IV, competing in the 1997 middleweight class, was again eliminated early from the Face-Off, despite receiving a bye from the first round.[13] In this instance, it would be defeated in the second round by Pokey, and eliminated in the Loser's Bracket by Vicious-1.[2][14][15][16][17] Satoru Special IV later redeemed itself by reaching the final of the concurrent Middleweight Melee, giving it the chance to fight both of its victorious Face-Off opponents a second time. Though surviving long enough to be considered for the audience vote, it lost the Melee tournament outright to Turtle Roadkiller.[18][19]
Versions of Satoru Special[]
Satoru Special (lightweight, 1994)[]
Satoru Special in the pits (1994)
Satoru Special, as originally built, was a compact robot with a very simplistic chassis construction and a large rotating turret. On the end of the turret was a horizontally-facing sawblade, itself mounted to the end of a modified Makita drill. The robot's drive system incorporated no fewer than eight powered wheels, all suspended beneath the top plate. The four largest wheels (white) were placed at each corner, and supported by their own shock absorbers.
To increase speed across the arena in short bursts, Satoru Special employed a 'rocket assist' system.[20] As implied, this highly unusual feature consisted of a set of model rockets placed at the back of the turret, which would ignite and aim to propel the robot forwards once activated. Satoru Special's use of pyrotechnics in this way prompted initial concerns from Robot Wars safety advisors, with the 1994 rules otherwise banning explosives at this early point in the US event's history. James Straus confirmed during the robot's safety check that the rockets had been tested prior to the competition, and were of a 'booster' kind which lacked an ejection charge.[3][4][21] Nevertheless, pyrotechnics as weapons would be banned under subsequent rulesets.[22]
Satoru Special 2 (middleweight, 1995)[]
The larger Satoru Special 2 maintained a virtually similar design concept to its 1994 predecessor, again featuring a turret-mounted saw and a suspended drivetrain. Major differences were the omission of 'rocket assist' and the switch to two-wheel drive, with one end using a pair of unpowered swivelling castors.
Satoru Special 3 (middleweight, 1996)[]
- "So this is the third in the series... of the Satoru Special robots, which as you can see, are highly... low budget. And it's an example of what someone with no previous engineering skills can accomplish."
- — James Straus on Satoru Special 3, American Robot Wars 1996
Satoru Special 3 with James Straus
Described by James Straus as another 'low budget' entry, Satoru Special 3 again adopted the suspended drive and overhead turret concept used by its predecessors. A primarily wooden construction incorporated a large base panel and a box-shaped weapon housing for the turret. The back of Satoru Special 3's turret incorporated a 'traditional' cutting disc on a curved pole, the disc powered by a weedwhacker motor. An improved drive system was augmented by the incorporation of grippier rubber wheels.[10]
Other distinctive features included hinged 'anti-wedge' plates on all corners. These triangular metal extensions were implemented to provide a lower ground clearance, in response to Satoru Special 2's Melee defeat against La Machine the year prior. At the last minute, a 'secret' second weapon was added to the turret assembly, in the form of two 'spring-loaded launchers' concealed within the back panel and a rear-hinged trapdoor. Once the trapdoor opened, the 'launchers' would fire a large net (claimed to be approximately 10ft by James Straus) which was intended to entangle and immobilize opponents completely. While also effective at disabling spinning weapons, Satoru Special 3's net could only be fired once every battle.[10]
Satoru Special IV (middleweight, 1997)[]
Satoru Special IV in the arena, minus its right pickaxe
Satoru Special IV, while again employing two-wheel drive and a wooden construction, marked a complete departure in featuring a large trapezoidal-shaped body and no turret. Each of the lawnmower wheels was powered by a system incorporating four Makita power drills and timing belts. In place of the turret, two smaller turntables were utilized for weaponry on both sides. Each turntable was fitted with a horizontally-swinging pickaxe, an idea later emulated by the Series 4 incarnation of Splinter. Both pickaxes were operated through their own servomotors and belt drives, though these proved to be fragile and severely underpowered.[2]
Etymology[]
The name "Satoru Special" is derived from James Straus' own middle name "Satoru".[23]
The Team[]
By profession, James Straus is an animator and special effects artist, chiefly working as an animation supervisor and director in film and television. Some of his notable credits include multiple projects under Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) - including Jurassic Park (1993), Jumanji (1995) and Dragonheart (1996) - as well as directing animator for the 2001 DreamWorks film Shrek. Dragonheart's use of ILM's then newly-developed 'Caricature' software enabled Straus to receive a nomination for 'Best Visual Effects' at the 1996 Academy Awards.[23][24][25]
Robot History[]
1994 US Championship[]
The original Satoru Special was among the sixteen competitor robots present for the inaugural US Robot Wars competition, taking place in San Francisco on August 20 1994. Entering in the lightweight category, it would also be involved in one of the very first Robot Wars battles to take place - an opening Face-Off round against Scott McNamara's Andy Roid.
- "In his first round, James [Straus] draws an opponent with no apparent offense... or brains... Andy Roid!"
- — Next Step, on Satoru Special's initial Face-Off clash[4]
Satoru Special (right) battles Andy Roid
Upon the official start of the match, Satoru Special rolled forwards towards the center of the arena, leaving behind narrow wheel marks in the concrete floor. Crawling to a stop, it deployed its 'rocket assist' system as Andy Roid approached from the other side. Smoke and sparks flew as Satoru Special picked up speed; the rockets propelling it forward exploded as both competitors passed each other. Satoru Special trundled to the other side of the arena, shuffling, but unable to line up an attack on the faster and larger Andy Roid.[3][4][5][6]
A head-on collision between both robots followed. Turning its saw into Andy Roid's front wheel, Satoru Special deployed its second pair of rockets, to no effect. Satoru Special rammed the left-hand side of Andy Roid in the next exchange, and survived a brush from the Ball of Doom while continuing to chase its opponent around. It attempted to attack the back of Andy Roid after the latter got stuck under one of the mousetraps, only for Andy Roid to bump into it as it reversed. Another tentative exchange saw Satoru Special be gently nudged by Andy Roid, while Andy Roid was whacked by one of the arena flippers. Satoru Special remained passive from this point on; with both robots lasting the full ten minutes, the match was declared a draw.[3][4][5][6]
- "The robots were completely ineffectual but hilarious to watch. They hardly touched each other and the crowd cheered anyway… the Satoru Special emitted bursts of sparks as it jetted across the arena, hitting nothing. Then the bowling ball swung across the floor and blasted AndyRoid in the head. The puppet’s red helmet flew off! The capacity crowd let out a great carnivorous roar of approval. And Marc Thorpe knew Robot Wars was going to work."
- — Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, on the Face-Off round between Satoru Special and Andy Roid[26]
In its next fight, Satoru Special fought Zomo.
As before, it proved sluggish and cumbersome against its cone-shaped opponent, while both robots rammed each other at various times. However, its saw tore a piece off of Zomo's shell at one point, which remained on the weapon teeth even after the match's conclusion. At one point, Satoru Special got stuck next to a mousetrap, leaving it vulnerable to another ram from Zomo. Later on, it pushed Zomo towards the same mousetrap in short bursts; the rockets again provided no thrust once they were activated. Zomo darted out of the way as Satoru Special surged, then coasted into the wall next to the mousetrap. At that point, Satoru Special became immobilized and was ultimately eliminated from the Lightweight Face-Off; Next Step simply reported that its drive system 'failed' at that moment. In the same program, James Straus confirmed that the original incarnation would be retired, suggesting that he would return with a new machine.[3][4][5][6]
1995 US Championship[]
True to Straus' words, the enlarged Satoru Special 2 appeared at the 1995 event, the first incarnation to compete in the middleweight class. In the Middleweight Face-Off, it was drawn to fight Dawn Patrol, a newcomer built by future BattleBots roboteer Al Kindle.
During the initial moments, Satoru Special 2 oversteered on its castors, causing its back end to face the approaching Dawn Patrol. Dawn Patrol sliced and pushed it back into the corner, though Satoru Special 2 broke free and circled around to initiate another ram. Satoru Special 2 was on the defensive from that point; being chased, then pinned under a mousetrap, which descended on both competitors. In attempting to follow Dawn Patrol away from the hazard, its saw made contact with the former's larger weaponry. Sparks flew as the two robots tried to grind each others' discs.[7]
More pushing and nudging followed. Satoru Special 2 took more cuts and grazes from Dawn Patrol, while being backed into the hazards. A tentative few moments were interrupted when Dawn Patrol rammed, then pushed Satoru Special 2 into the side of the mousetrap. Both robots were caught between the mousetrap and the arena flipper nearby, with neither seeming able to drive back out properly. Of the pair, Satoru Special 2 struggled more; Dawn Patrol proceeded to pin and grind away at its body, while pushing it in a circle into the flipper itself. The resulting pin was sustained long enough for a countdown to start. Unable to move in either direction, Satoru Special 2 was counted out and eliminated from the Middleweight Face-Off.[7]
Satoru Special 2 fought Dawn Patrol again in the Middleweight Melee. For overall honors, the pair faced Boy Howdy, Have a Nice Day and Scorpion, along with the respective 1995 Face-Off champion and runner-up: La Machine and The X-1.
Satoru Special 2 rams Dawn Patrol during the Middleweight Melee
La Machine flips Satoru Special 2 out of contention
Neither Satoru Special 2 nor Scorpion made much movement from their corner of the arena in the opening seconds. Both were soon rammed by La Machine, with Satoru Special 2 being bulldozed into the wall. Satoru Special 2 next gave Dawn Patrol a nudge from the side, only to be buffeted around further by the Impact Media entry. Upon spinning and sliding into La Machine, it was pushed into Dawn Patrol. The momentum of this push, combined with the robot's high ground clearance, toppled Satoru Special 2 over.[8]
- "La Machine took no time to single me out and flip me in the corner like a pancake..."
- — James Straus recollects Satoru Special 2's fate in the Middleweight Melee, American Robot Wars 1996
Laying in the corner and unable to self-right, Satoru Special 2 was eliminated, while La Machine proceeded to win the Melee outright. A brief clip of Satoru Special 2's demise was featured in American Robot Wars 1996, highlighting the purpose of the 'anti-wedge skirt' implemented by its successor.[8]
1996 US Championship[]
Satoru Special 3's 1996 campaign saw it competing in the main Middleweight Face-Off and Melee events. In the first round of the Face-Off, it fought newcomers Team Delta and their saw-wielding machine Agamemnon.
Agamemnon's saws are snagged by Satoru Special 3's net
During a very tentative start, Satoru Special 3 quickly proved the worth of its 'anti-wedge' plates, allowing it to weather grazing attacks from Agamemnon's twin cutters. After briefly stopping, it deployed its net from the front, amusing the audience in the process. This proved especially decisive a moment later, as the net snagged Agamemnon's saws, sparing Satoru Special 3 from a side-on attack.
- "The organizers have banned nets from future competitions, which'll make Agamemnon happy."
- — Paul Vallis, commenting on nets being outlawed in the wake of Satoru Special 3's first attack, American Robot Wars 1996
Satoru Special 3 loses its circular saw as Agamemnon prepares to pin it
Despite having incapacitated its opponent's weaponry, Satoru Special 3 could not avoid being shunted across the arena. In an attempt to damage Agamemnon, it swung its own circular saw into the back of Team Delta's machine. Having hooked onto Agamemnon's pneumatic spike, the saw itself detached, rendering Satoru Special 3 completely weaponless. Satoru Special 3 was ultimately rammed and pinned by Agamemnon, resulting in it being eliminated from the Middleweight Face-Off. In American Robot Wars 1996, its successful use of the net in this match was cited as a factor in these and other "fibre weapons" being outlawed.
- "So, the ultimate high-tech vs. low-tech battle ended with Agamemnon using its superior strength, to pin the "Satoru Special The Third" for the regulation 30 seconds."
- — Paul Vallis commentates on Satoru Special 3's Face-Off loss
Satoru Special 3 and Agamemnon met a second time in the Middleweight Melee, also featuring Pokey, Scrappy and Traxx.
The five robots scrambled to the center of the arena, at which point Satoru Special 3 was ganged up on by three of its opponents. Along with Agamemnon, it was swatted and pushed aside by a nearby mousetrap, becoming the center of a pile-up which saw it and Traxx pushed into the top-right corner. Both robots became immobilized, and were attacked by Pokey before it too lost mobility. Agamemnon ultimately emerged as the 1996 Middleweight Melee champion.[11][12]
In addition to the main competitions, Satoru Special 3 also fought a one-off 'Grudge Match' against Pokey.
As the battle got underway, it was the first of the two competitors to move; Pokey's lengthy immobility prompted the Judges to consider eliminating it. Once Pokey finally started moving, Satoru Special 3 was rammed into an arena corner, but survived attempts by Curt Meyers' machine to spear through its wooden armor. However, it was then lifted by Pokey's forks, the attack ultimately causing it to become beached on its own 'anti-wedge' plates. Satoru Special 3 was unable to move further, awarding Pokey the 'Grudge Match' win.[27]
1997 US Championship[]
Satoru Special IV competed in both the 1997 Middleweight Face-Off and Middleweight Melee competitions. In the Face-Off, it initially received a bye to the second round, where it fought a rematch against an updated Pokey.[13]
At the start, Satoru Special IV approached Pokey at a sluggish pace. Neither robot was able to properly assert themselves during these moments, ultimately resorting to ramming and nudging each other. The pickaxes on Satoru Special IV had very little effect on Pokey's aluminum armor; in response to these attacks, Pokey hoisted the whole robot up from the side before pushing it again. Satoru Special IV attempted to grab Pokey with its axes, but again without causing any damage. Neither could it capitalize on Pokey's control issues and excursions into the hazards, instead merely bumping it as it veered into each of the overhead spikes. More tentative nudges followed, during which Satoru Special IV appeared to become increasingly unresponsive.[14][15]
Pokey flicked Satoru Special IV again, pressuring it into the space between the upper-right perimeter and arena center. Satoru Special IV feebly swung its axes and kept crawling, as Pokey proceeded to flick, carry and push it against the side wall. It survived further attacks as Pokey kept tipping forwards with successive lifts, and got itself stuck on the plywood 'curb' in the process. The nearby arena flipper pushed both robots lengthways; Satoru Special IV, taking the brunt of its hits, kept struggling for drive as it eventually turned into and was flicked away by Pokey. Eventually, the match concluded, going to a Judges' decision. Despite continuing to show mobility throughout this late stage, Satoru Special IV was deemed to have lost.[14][15]
To try and stay in the competition, Satoru Special IV fought on in the Loser's Bracket. Appearing in the fourth and final set of matches within this bracket, it faced newcomer Vicious-1 for a chance to qualify for the overall Face-Off Final.
Satoru Special IV, equipped with only one pickaxe, started the faster of the two contenders. However, it was scooped up and pushed into the upper-left wall by Vicious-1. While being pinned, Satoru Special IV swung its axe into the gap between Vicious-1's spinning weapon and its right wheel. In turn, Vicious-1 pushed it into the nearby flipper, while chipping off part of its wooden armor. Satoru Special IV eventually escaped, only for Vicious-1 to start pushing it across the inner-left perimeter, then smash into its shell with its spinning pipe. One of these attacks tore open Satoru Special IV's axe mechanism; the weapon motor was left dangling as it turned around and bumped into Mike Regan's machine again.[16][17]
Further damage was inflicted to Satoru Special IV's wooden sides, though not without a weld in Vicious-1's spinning pipe breaking as well. During the closing moments, both robots kept bumping each other, and Satoru Special IV weathered a final blow from Vicious-1's half-folded weapon as time ran out. The subsequent Judges' decision ruled against Satoru Special IV, likely as a result of the damage it sustained. James Straus' machine was thus eliminated from the Middleweight Face-Off, while Vicious-1 would go on to be crowned champion.[16][17]
In the Middleweight Melee, Satoru Special IV fought four other robots in its opening round - Anubis, Satan's Revenge, The Bishop and Turtle Roadkiller.
From the outset, it was pressured across the center by Anubis, while driving into the front of a weaponless Bishop. Satoru Special IV and The Bishop became subject to lifting attempts by both Turtle Roadkiller and Anubis, though neither opponent succeeded. After driving into the upper-left flipper, it struck the side of Anubis with its axe, then used the same weapon to jab under the latter's flipper. Satoru Special IV drove into the upper-left flipper before striking Anubis from the side with its axe. A tentative phase followed, during which Satoru Special IV drove into the side of both Anubis and The Bishop.[28][29]
While its opponents fought separate battles with Turtle Roadkiller and Satan's Revenge, Satoru Special IV careered into the wall in the background. It next drove into the back of, then was momentarily carried backwards by Turtle Roadkiller. Once released, Satoru Special IV engaged in a tentative pushing match with Satan's Revenge; Turtle Roadkiller separated the pair with another ram. During these exchanges, it again struggled to use its pickaxe effectively against Ken Swenson's machine. When Turtle Roadkiller rammed Satan's Revenge and The Bishop simultaneously, it re-engaged in battle with the trio.[28][29]
Satoru Special IV crept around the back of The Bishop, hooking it with the pickaxe. A few more tentative moments passed, in which it briefly caught itself behind the upper-left flipper. During the final thirty seconds, it teamed up with Satan's Revenge to attack The Bishop yet again, before locking horns with Anubis. Similarly to before, a push by Turtle Roadkiller separated Satoru Special IV from the Alexander Ko-built entry. All robots were still mobile at the end of the five minutes; of these, Satoru Special IV, Satan's Revenge, The Bishop and Turtle Roadkiller would all appear in the Melee Final.[28][29]
Alongside its fellow Round 1 survivors, Satoru Special IV challenged both of its Face-Off opponents - Pokey and Vicious-1 - for the overall Middleweight Melee title.
As the battle started, it, Vicious-1 and The Bishop all converged near the center, setting up an early duel between themselves. Satoru Special IV again took damage to its pickaxe and plywood side from Vicious-1, which embedded its 'spinning pike' into its side. It was then dragged across the arena by Mike Regan's machine, but broke free once Pokey blocked and flicked Vicious-1 sideways. More encounters with Pokey, Vicious-1 and The Bishop followed, once Satoru Special IV was pushed into them by Turtle Roadkiller. It briefly joined The Bishop and Turtle Roadkiller in attacking Satan's Revenge, before being subject to further rams and pushes from Turtle Roadkiller, Pokey and Vicious-1. Vicious-1 used Satoru Special IV as a buffer, to pin Pokey and Satan's Revenge against the wall simultaneously.[18][19]
Moments later, Satoru Special IV drove into Satan's Revenge, while it and Turtle Roadkiller were stuck on the lower side wall. The match was paused to allow the latter two robots to be separated and freed, but not before Vicious-1 and Pokey pushed Satoru Special IV again. Shortly after the match restarted, Satoru Special IV was involved in a five-robot pile-up, where it took further damage from Vicious-1's spinner. Once Pokey got involved as well, it and Satan's Revenge were pushed forwards by Curt Meyers' machine. Satoru Special IV was then rammed into the wall by Turtle Roadkiller, the attack appearing to leave it completely immobilized. Despite this, it would end up being included in the subsequent audience vote, to a mostly unfavorable response from the crowd. Through this vote, Satoru Special IV ultimately lost the 1997 Middleweight Melee championship to Turtle Roadkiller.[18][19]
Results[]
| SATORU SPECIAL - RESULTS | ||
| 1994 US Championship | ||
| Lightweight Face-Off Round 2 | ||
| Round 1 | vs. Andy Roid | Draw |
| Round 2 | vs. Zomo | Lost |
| SATORU SPECIAL 2 - RESULTS | ||
| 1995 US Championship | ||
| Middleweight Face-Off Round 1 | ||
| Round 1 | vs. Dawn Patrol | Lost |
| Middleweight Melee | ||
| Melee | vs. Boy Howdy, Dawn Patrol, Have a Nice Day, La Machine, Scorpion, The X-1 | Lost |
| SATORU SPECIAL 3 - RESULTS | ||
| 1996 US Championship | ||
| Middleweight Face-Off Round 1 | ||
| Round 1 | vs. Agamemnon | Lost |
| Middleweight Melee | ||
| Melee | vs. Agamemnon, Pokey, Scrappy, Traxx | Lost |
| Other Battles Grudge Matches | ||
| Grudge Match | vs. Pokey | Lost |
| SATORU SPECIAL IV - RESULTS | ||
| 1997 US Championship | ||
| Middleweight Face-Off Round 2; eliminated in Loser's Bracket, Round 4 | ||
| Round 1 | vs. No opponent | Bye |
| NOTE: Satoru Special IV received an automatic bye into the second round. | ||
| Round 2 | vs. Pokey | Lost |
| Loser's Bracket, Round 4 | vs. Vicious-1 | Lost |
| Middleweight Melee Final | ||
| Melee | vs. Anubis, Satan's Revenge, The Bishop, Turtle Roadkiller | Qualified |
| Melee Final | vs. Pokey, Satan's Revenge, The Bishop, Turtle Roadkiller, Vicious-1 | Lost |
Wins/Losses[]
- Wins: 1
- Losses: 9
- Draws: 1
NOTE: Satoru Special's 1994 draw and Satoru Special IV's Round 1 bye in 1997 are not included in the Wins tally.
Series Record[]
| Events | Satoru Special Event Record |
|---|---|
| 1994 | Lightweight Face-Off, Round 2 |
| 1995 | Middleweight Face-Off, Round 1 as Satoru Special 2 Middleweight Melee as Satoru Special 2 |
| 1996 | Middleweight Face-Off, Round 1 as Satoru Special 3 Middleweight Melee as Satoru Special 3 |
| 1997 | Middleweight Face-Off, Loser's Bracket, Round 4 as Satoru Special IV Middleweight Melee, Final as Satoru Special IV |
References[]
- ↑ 'Contestants: Middleweight Class', 4th Annual Robot Wars (1997) souvenir programme, p.3
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 'SATORO SPECIAL IV', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 'Robot Wars 1994 Official Promo', ASilva528 (YouTube), uploaded February 18 2015
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 'next step', compilation of Next Step segments on the 1994 US Robot Wars event uploaded by garth knight (YouTube), March 1 2009
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 'Robot Wars 1994 Highlights Part 1', ASilva528 (YouTube), uploaded February 18 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 'Tournament Tree - Robot Wars 1994', Team Run Amok website
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 'Robot Wars 1995 - Dawn Patrol vs Satoru Special 2', diabolicalmachine (YouTube), uploaded August 6 2008
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 'Robot Wars 1995 - Middleweight Melee', diabolicalmachine (YouTube), uploaded September 21 2008
- ↑ 'ROBOT WARS ® Photos', US Robot Wars entry on Satoru Special 3 (archived May 2 1997)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 'SATORO SPECIAL III', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 'SCRAPPY', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 'Robot Wars 1996: Middleweight Melee', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded January 13 2019
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 'Tournament Tree - Robot Wars 1997 - Heavyweights', Team Run Amok website
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 'Robot Wars 1997 Middleweight match: Pokey versus Satoro Special 4, Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded April 21 2021
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 'MATCH: POKEY VS SATORO SPECIAL IV', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 'Robot Wars 1997 Middleweight match: Vicious-1 versus Saturo Special 4', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded May 6 2021
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 'MATCH: VICIOUS 1 VS SATORO SPECIAL IV', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 'Robot Wars 1997 Final Middleweight Melee', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded May 11 2021
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 'MIDDLEWEIGHT MELEE ROUND 3', Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ Brad Stone (2003), Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, p.43
- ↑ 'RW94 Rules', Marc Thorpe/Robot Wars, reproduced on the Team Minus Zero website (archived)
- ↑ 'ROBOT WARS® 1995 RULES AND GUIDELINES', reproduced on the Team Run Amok website'
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 'James Straus – IMDb', Internet Movie Database (IMDb), accessed July 17 2024
- ↑ 'ILM's Dragonheart Crew Looks Back', Lucasfilm.com, accessed July 17 2024
- ↑ 'James Satoru Straus Animation Show Reel', james straus (Vimeo), uploaded August 12 2015
- ↑ Gearheads: The Turbulent Rise of Robotic Sports, p.43
- ↑ 'POKEY' [1996], Team Spike website (archived)
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 'Robot Wars 1997 Middleweight Melee 2', Andrew Lindsey (YouTube), uploaded May 11 2021
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 'MIDDLEWEIGHT MELEE ROUND 2', Team Spike website (archived)
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