Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

[kallahar]

Well, some bad news. I've decided that I just don't have enough time or drive to make the defconbots contest work this year. So, it'll be on hold this year (or until someone wants to step up to run it.)

I've had a great time running the contest in the past, and it really is a fun event. But like all things it needs some fresh blood every few years to keep it exciting, and I'm just not the one to keep doing it.

So, someone needs to step up and volunteer! It's not that hard to run, and you get to make your own rules and such. I'd suggest a 3-year format where the first year you start out with something simpler, then the next year make it a bit harder, then a bit harder again. Then on the 4th year you have to think up something completely new. That's where I am now, and it's time to let someone else come up with a new contest.

And a big sorry to all the teams that have put work in already, I really appoligize that I took so long to decide this. I know I put in at least 20-30 hours working on the demo bot. I'm sure you'll all find secondary uses for the bot and code though :)

Kallahar

[russ]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

Thank you for all those years of hard work, Kallahar! You've made this contest what it is today and I hope that we can find someone equally motivated to take it to the next level.

-Russ

Well, some bad news. I've decided that I just don't have enough time or drive to make the defconbots contest work this year. So, it'll be on hold this year (or until someone wants to step up to run it.)

I've had a great time running the contest in the past, and it really is a fun event. But like all things it needs some fresh blood every few years to keep it exciting, and I'm just not the one to keep doing it.

So, someone needs to step up and volunteer! It's not that hard to run, and you get to make your own rules and such. I'd suggest a 3-year format where the first year you start out with something simpler, then the next year make it a bit harder, then a bit harder again. Then on the 4th year you have to think up something completely new. That's where I am now, and it's time to let someone else come up with a new contest.

And a big sorry to all the teams that have put work in already, I really appoligize that I took so long to decide this. I know I put in at least 20-30 hours working on the demo bot. I'm sure you'll all find secondary uses for the bot and code though :)

Kallahar

[Tacitus]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

Many thanks to Kallahar for the 4 years he put into running defconbots. It has been a job well done and a highlight of my Defcon experience.

[TheCotMan]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

Nice work in keeping this going as long as you and other volunteers have been running it.

Here is the bad news:
If nobody steps forward by the end of May, I'll be closing this forum, after posting a sticky about it not having a leader/organizer and no indication of happening.

Someone else can still step forward and try to talk to Russ about space and get permission to take it over, and I or one of the other admins can re-enable this forum. I'll check with Russ before disabling this forum, to see if anyone has stepped forward and made arrangements to be at Defcon 17.

So, there is a deadline from me for keeping a forum open for a presently inactive, leaderless contest, to provide a window for people to come forward to support it.

[astcell]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

Maybe command of the project should go to the winning team from last year?

[bob_ross]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

I've had brief discussions with Kallahar and Russ about hosting this event this year. Before I committed to anything I wanted to gauge interest in the event. The plan is for the event to be car-based so that those who have already started wouldn't have to throw it all away. The other option would be to do a guided egg-drop like challenge. Do either of these options sound appealing and are you guys still up for it?

bob_ross

[TheCotMan]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

I've had brief discussions with Kallahar and Russ about hosting this event this year. Before I committed to anything I wanted to gauge interest in the event. The plan is for the event to be car-based so that those who have already started wouldn't have to throw it all away. The other option would be to do a guided egg-drop like challenge. Do either of these options sound appealing and are you guys still up for it?

bob_ross

I checked with Russ and Kallahar, and the above is genuine. Bob_Ross could be running this contest soon, so if you plan to be involved, it would be wise to respond.

[microgramme]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

I checked with Russ and Kallahar, and the above is genuine. Bob_Ross could be running this contest soon, so if you plan to be involved, it would be wise to respond.

We have a couple cars and are willing to continue working on it, but need specs soonish, preferably.

[Dark Tangent]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

Speak up people if you want to see this contest continue.

I always really enjoyed watching the teams compete. I would stand there watching and think to myself "There are freaking robot guns doing battle at my convention. How cool is that?!?!"

[streaker69]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

Speak up people if you want to see this contest continue.

I always really enjoyed watching the teams compete. I would stand there watching and think to myself "There are freaking robot guns doing battle at my convention. How cool is that?!?!"

It would be even cooler if it were robotic sharks with frickin' lasers.

[Pyr0]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

bob_ross, are we moving forward with this?
Please let me know ASAP so that we can plan accordingly.
Thank you,
Pyr0

[LosT]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

Kallahar, You are the man.

Please people, don't let the bots competition die. Or I will assimilate it! ;)

1o57

[DJ Jackalope]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

Defcon Bots is a blast to watch! No dying.

[Pyr0]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

Defcon Bots is a blast to watch! No dying.

2nd'ed - I love it, especially when the guns go wild and attack the crowd.

[Nikita]

Re: Oh no! DefconBots cancelled/on hold

Please contact RUSS immediately if not already because we are finalizing the conference setup at this time. I think all of us were under the impression this was not being held. I'm looking out for your best interests here, however I'm not sure the space is there to assign. Please act ASAP because we need the info VERY soon finalized for the Defcon program.