The Giant Robot Challenge: US throws down the gauntlet, Japan accepts

I've mellowed as I've aged.  Now all I want is a quiet evening, reasonably priced cocktails, sleepy dogs and robot fights.

I am not talking about your little BattleBots or whatever...  If I wanted to see remote controlled cars running over each other, I'd hang out in a hobby shop on Saturdays.

People, we live in age of unparalleled wonders, and as I progress through my 40th year, I am now satisfied to know that, before I slip off the mortal coil, it is looking increasingly likely that I will see two multi-ton robots beat the scrap out of each other.

Cry havoc and let slip loose the bots of war!

As you've no doubt now heard, some upstarts from the US (MegaBots) have challenged renowned Japanese robot manufacturer, Suidobashi, to a duel.  But, let's be correct about this... both "robots" are more Mecha than robots as, I believe, both are actually pilotable rigs.  There will be a squishy human inside the armored, maneuverable, fight-bot.

Here's the American challenge:



Suidobashi has been around a while, and the video for their functional Kuratas Mecha has been around for a while.




Japan's contenders seem like they'd have experience on their side, but the US has never been slouches when it comes to practical engineering, so... I dunno.

Here's what I'm most excited about:  this could be a thing.

The Japanese aren't impressed by our cannons and want a melee battle, and I can't blame them.  It'd be way cooler than two somewhat mobile tanks shooting at each other from a few yards away.

I don't think I care about seeing two machines controlled by some sweaty technicians from the safety of a control room bang and rattle off each other.  But with humans inside?  The whole engineering challenge grows and changes.

And these are just the first go at it.

The natural evolution required to stay on top could produce some really amazing Mecha.

You want to see it.  I want to see it.  We all want to see it.

Now I'm waiting for Russia to show up with a walking tank with 6" armor plating to take us all on.

Thanks to Randy for reminding me to post on this.