Difference between revisions of "Radio F Software"

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[[Image:Rfs ra2wiki.JPG|right|350px|thumb|Radio F Software, 2008]] '''Justin Bardin''', more commonly known online and offline under the moniker '''Radio F Software''' (frequently abbreviated as '''RFS'''), was one of the most influential personalities in the Robot Arena 2 community. He is perhaps most well known as being the first (and last) [[AceUplink]] staff member to be fired. He is also the owner of [[RFSHQ]], a website community which outlived nearly every other Robot Arena 2 community on the Internet.
+
{{MemberInfo
 +
| membername = Radio F Software (RFS)
 +
| forumname = RadioFSoftware
 +
| fear = 30
 +
| respect = 70
 +
| rank = Old World Veteran
 +
| stance = [[Innovationalist]], [[Informationalist]], [[Forum Master]], [[Manipulator]]
 +
| trivia = > Author of the website BattleBots Update.
 +
| quote = "Post thumperized."
 +
}}
 +
'''Radio F Software''', frequently abbreviated as '''RFS''', is a member of the Robot Arena 2 community and one of the most influential personalities in the game's aftermarket AI development. He is credited with the eponymous [[RFS AI Pack]], a mod which expanded upon stock AI limitations and allowed for AI teams of six robots.
  
−
==Timeline==
+
Additionally, RFS is also known for his work and affiliation with [[AceUplink]], [[Technex's Forums]], and [[TrackMill]]. More notably, he was the webmaster of [[RFSHQ]] from 2004-2008, a former Robot Arena 2 community website whose four year run outlived nearly every other fansite on the Internet with the exception of [[GameTechMods]]. He is also the author of [[BattleBots Update]], a popular robot combat fansite that has been featured numerous times by BattleBots on their social media feeds.
−
===AceUplink Era===
 
−
During his time spent on AceUplink, RFS quickly adopted knowledge of the [[Python]] programming language as he played the game. RFS created all of his game modifications during this time period, including the [[RFS AI Pack]] and [[personalized components]]. He was also well known for writing tutorials on how to code AI, edit components, and how to beat AI robots; his efforts gave him the custom rank "The Tutorial Man". In December 2003, [[JFranco]], the webmaster of AceUplink, appointed RFS to work on the [[AceUplink Robot Database]], an online encyclopedia of robotics information. With the stiff request of 1,000 articles, RFS attempted to resign from his position and when permission was denied, he simply stopped working and filled the database with entries of his own robotic creations until his FTP permissions were stripped.
 
  
−
===Post-AceUplink/Pre-RFSHQ Era===
+
RFS is one of the few community members who were on the beta testing team behind [[Robot Arena 3]].
−
RFS was unceremoniously fired from AceUplink staff in January 2004. To this day his account, now in the "Pending Validation" group, is the only validating account to have several thousand forum posts and be listed with the "Super Heavyweight" post rank. For several months after being banned RFS remained the top poster on the forums.
 
  
−
===Early RFSHQ Era===
+
==History==
−
The first incarnation of RFSHQ opened on February 12th, 2004. February 12th was the day that AceUplink's domain was purchased/expired, and the intent of the site was to "beat out" AceUplink. The first version of RFSHQ was used as an outlet to host all of RFS' creations for Robot Arena 2; and while partnered with [[TheDisturbedOne]] his mods were featured and other modifications were announced but never completed. Their joint-effort production name was Radio F Disturbedware and their only credit lies in The [[RFS AI Pack V1.5]].
+
===AceUplink===
 +
[[Image:RFS2003.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Radio F Software, 2003]]RFS joined the AceUplink community in March 2003 and over the course of the year self-taught himself the basics of the [[Python]] programming language in order to create the [[RFS AI Pack]], a game add-on that would eventually go on to become the most downloaded AI pack of all time for several years. RFS also produced a number of tutorials for new members and modders which earned him the vanity rank "The Tutorial Man". He beta tested the [[AceUplink BattleBots AI pack]], however his name was removed from the download's readme credits due to ongoing conflicts with the staff.
  
−
===Post-Robot Arena 2 RFSHQ Era===
+
In December 2003 [[JFranco]], webmaster of AceUplink, appointed RFS to work on the [[AceUplink Robot Database]], a comprehensive online encyclopedia of robotics information. RFS and JFranco had a disagreement over the direction and content of the project which resulted in a public dispute. RFS was removed from the moderation team and banned from the forums a few days later, marking his departure from the wider Robot Arena 2 community.
−
With the waining Robot Arena 2 community, RFS quickly changed the format of the website to stay afloat. RFSHQ "reopened" on May 9th, 2004 as a comedy/satire website. The first article on the website was a sarcastic review of "The Adventures of Bayou Billy" on the Nintendo NES. The community kept the subforum for Robot Arena 2 and added the category for Miniclip.com's game [[Robot Rage]]. The two subforums were listed under the forum category "The Robot Overlords".  
 
  
−
===RFSHQ Era===
+
===RFSHQ===
−
From May 2004 through July 2008 RFS was the lead content supervisor of RFSHQ which at the time grew to a community of over 12,000 users and several "guest writers" on the website. During this time he was currently contracted by the British game developer '''Miniclip''' as the position of Forums Administrator, supervising and coding for their vBulletin forums. During this time, his works were published in one compilation author book, he hosted a podcast for the Club Penguin computer game, and opened up several smaller websites (AceUplink.net, UpUrs.us) and production affiliates (Twilight Foundry, Channel 44, World 8-4 Entertainment). Also during this time the RFSHQ website began to compile a complete database of every episode from the television series "BattleBots".
+
The first iteration of Radio F Software Headquarters (RFSHQ) launched on February 12th, 2004. The site's launch date was somewhat significant in that it was the day AceUplink's domain renewal took place; the original intent behind RFSHQ was to outclass AceUplink as a better and more efficient website so the February 12th opening was intended to be an intimidating move. RFSHQ's first version was used as an outlet to host all of RFS' Robot Arena 2 tutorials and downloads since they had been removed from AceUplink's servers.
  
−
===Post-RFSHQ Era===
+
When the Robot Arena 2 community began to dwindle RFS changed the format of RFSHQ to a comedy/satire website to stay afloat. RFSHQ "re-opened" on May 9th, 2004 with its first article, a sarcastic review of the NES game ''The Adventures of Bayou Billy''. From May 2004 through June 2008 RFS acted as the website's content supervisor as the site grew to a community of over 12,000 users and featured several "guest writers".
−
In July 2008 RFS, now under his pseudonym "Dracophile", outed himself as a member of the furry fandom, apologized to his audiences for lying to them for four years, and retired from his position as RFSHQ's lead writer. He is still employed by Miniclip.com and rumors circulate that he is currently shooting a pilot for the 1up.com website under his new production label "Channel F Productions".
+
 
 +
===Post-RFSHQ===
 +
In July 2008, RFS (under the pseudonym "Dracophile" at the time) retired from his position as RFSHQ's lead writer, effectively ending the website's run. In his departure post he expressed regret for the manner in which he chose to handle himself during conflicts with other communities and their members. Ownership of RFSHQ was relinquished to [[goose]], who in turn used the website as a testing ground for what would eventually become the social gaming community [[TrackMill]]. What began as RFSHQ's original forum database is still in use on TrackMill to this day.
 +
 
 +
Beginning sporadically in 2009 and lasting throughout 2011 RFS was a columnist at GatorAIDS, a comedy website similar to RFSHQ. His writings in the field of video games and pop culture were occasionally showcased on industry blogs such as BitMob and VentureBeat. Between 2014 and 2016, RFS was the on-camera host of the Alamo South Super-Regional FIRST Tech Challenge events held in San Antonio, TX.
 +
 
 +
Starting in July 2015, RFS has been the lead columnist of the fansite [[BattleBots Update]], a revived version of the 2008 column of the same name he originally wrote for RFSHQ. The relaunch of BattleBots Update coincided with the ABC reboot of the television show and has begun covering legacy seasons of the show as well as other events such as Robot Wars. BattleBots Update has been promoted by participating teams as well as BattleBots themselves on multiple occasions.
  
 
==Notable Game Contributions==
 
==Notable Game Contributions==
 
===The [[RFS AI Pack]]===
 
===The [[RFS AI Pack]]===
−
Originally slated to be an upgrade that featured non-stock components, RFS scrapped this idea in favor of a fair all stock AI pack. The first version of the RFS AI Pack was a simple 45 robot replacement and was otherwise unimportant and made no impact on the community aside from overall well reception. A month later with the help of [[TheDisturbedOne]], a follow-up AI pack was created, but rather than overwrite the existing 45 robots from the previous version, this mod allowed '''6''' AI bots per team instead of the default '''3''', giving the user the option to fight up to 90 different robots. Two months after the release of the second version, a third version was released that allowed '''30''' AI teams instead of the default '''15'''. Once again this doubled the maximum number of total AI bots, bringing the count to 180.
+
The RFS AI pack began as an upgrade featuring robots built with various non-stock components, however this idea was scrapped in favor of a more simple a compatible stock AI pack that showcased realistic robot designs that could be taken out of the game and built in real life. The version 1.0 of the pack featured the standard fare of 45 robots and received lukewarm feedback. Through some creative code editing with the help of [[TheDisturbedOne]] however, the version 1.2 follow-up to the pack expanded the limits of the AI teams from 3 robots to 6. This update was the first of its kind and resulted in wider acceptance of the AI pack. Finally, the version 1.5 update to the pack added additional AI teams, another never-before-seen feature. The final tally of AI robots in the RFS AI Pack was 180.
  
−
===[[Personalized Components]]===
+
For a period, the RFS AI Pack was the most downloaded AI upgrade of all time (according to download metrics from [[RA Reborn]]'s download database). Popular pirate copies of Robot Arena 2 often came pre-patched with the RFS AI Pack.
−
To this day RFS hasn't created a component that wasn't based off of an existing [[GMF]] file. He was, however, the first person to take requests for personalized components. After copying the GMF for the standard [[Ram Plate]] RFS turned it into a license plate. Users were able to request one plate with the following customizable features:
+
 
 +
Despite the simplistic and often whimsical designs showcased in the pack, the massive expansion of AI team allocations marked a turning point in the customization of Robot Arena 2's AI allowing future AI pack creators (notably [[Starcore]] and The [[DSL]] Team) to further explore the newfound "territory".
 +
 
 +
===Personalized Components===
 +
Despite not having the software to create original renders, RFS still worked on custom components in the form of reskins. He was the first to take requests for "personalized" components; after copying the GMF data for the standard [[Ram Plate]] RFS turned it into a decorative license plate with identical stats. Users at AceUplink were able to request one plate with the following customizable features:
 
* The state
 
* The state
 
* A slogan
 
* A slogan
 
* Up to 10 characters in the center for a message
 
* Up to 10 characters in the center for a message
 +
 +
An example of the license plate component is included in the RFS "Component Pack" and is modeled after a Texas plate with "BORN 2 BOT" as the vanity lettering.
  
 
===Notable Robots===
 
===Notable Robots===
−
* '''[[Tha Thumperizer]]''': A heavyweight robot with dual vertical tribar spinners. The term "Thumperized" achieved fad status on AceUplink when RFS would lock or edit out posts replacing them with "POST/THREAD THUMPERIZED".
+
* '''[[Tha Thumperizer]]''': A heavyweight robot with dual vertical tribar spinners. The term "Thumperized" achieved fad status on AceUplink when RFS would lock or edit out posts replacing them with "POST/THREAD THUMPERIZED". The robot was named after a Lego Mindstorms model built in 2001. Its memorable name, design, and paint job have kept its legacy alive. As of 2014, Tha Thumperizer is still an active robot in RFS' roster.
−
* '''[[Rock 'N' Roller]]''': A heavyweight robot that consisted of two middleweight robots, described as the first "multibot" robot.
+
* '''[[Rock 'N' Roller]]''': A heavyweight robot that consisted of two middleweight robots described as one of the first [[multibot]] robots. It required a team match to be set up with both middleweights on the same team against one heavyweight.
 +
 
 +
===Tournament Entries===
 +
{| border="1"
 +
|.
 +
|'''Antweight'''
 +
|'''Lightweight'''
 +
|'''Middleweight'''
 +
|'''Heavyweight'''
 +
|'''Super Heavyweight'''
 +
|'''Other'''
 +
|-
 +
|'''AceUplink Tournament #2'''
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|[[Digital Dragon II]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|'''AceUplink Tournament #3'''
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|[[hack.exe]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|'''AceUplink Tournament #4'''
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|[[Box of BS]]*
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|'''AceUplink Onslaught #1'''
 +
|It Puts The Lotion On
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|'''RFSHQ Tournament #1'''
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|Credit Card Shredder (BW)
 +
|-
 +
|'''DSL Tournament #1'''
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|Bad News
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|'''RFSHQ DSL Tournament #1'''
 +
|
 +
|Vote 5
 +
|Mal De Ojo
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|Blast Cannister (BW)
 +
|-
 +
 
 +
|'''BattleBots 9'''
 +
|
 +
|[[Jeremy Clarkson]]
 +
|[[The Legend of Bryce Genesis]]
 +
|[[Tha Thumperizer|Thumperizer XIV]]
 +
|[[Crush Fetish]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|'''Minor Inconveniences'''
 +
|
 +
|[[Racecar]] & [[Racecar|Racecar Backwards]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|'''Blood Brothers'''
 +
|
 +
|[[Wreckx-N-Effect]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|'''Trials 4'''
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|[[Gatorphilia|Gatorphilia II]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|'''Undisputed'''
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|[[Particle Accelerator]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|'''Deadly Alliance'''
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|[[Eternia]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|'''HFT: Summer 2014'''
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|[[WE GOT DODGSON]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|'''No Holds Barred'''
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|[[The Chaos Engine]] (UHW)
 +
|-
 +
|'''Video Game Showdown'''
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|[[YOUR FAULT]]
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
An asterisk denotes a robot that was disqualified from a tournament.
  
 
==Robot Combat Creations==
 
==Robot Combat Creations==
−
Spanning the years 2003 - 2004 RFS was involved with real-life robot combat. His robots were entered under the team name "[[Newfac Robotics]]" and participated at five events hosted by '''SWARC''' (Southwestern Alliance of Robot Combat). Newfac Robotics was comprised of RFS, his father, Casey "kickedsomeass" Steward, and Jason "MATT DAMON!!!" Glecker, the latter two both from the RFSHQ community. Creations from Newfac Robotics were presented as various species of dragon on the team's website, their joke specie names are listed below with the robot descriptions.
+
Since 2000 RFS has been involved with building combat robots of his own. Originally competing under the "Team T.E.N.C.H.I." banner, RFS formed Twilight Foundry Robotics in 2001 and continues to compete under this name to this day. Many of their retired creations appear at the robot combat "museum" during Dallas Area Robot Combat ("DARC") events.
−
===Euro Antweights===
+
 
−
* '''Keep Back 500 Meters''': A smaller version of Keep Back 500 Feet. Featured a clamp-based weapon and in a later version the robot had anti-flip spikes. (''Draco clampus-minus'')
+
(Between the years 2003 and 2005 each robot the team built was given a fake dragon species name on their website, similar to Team Raptor. These names are provided here where applicable.)
−
* '''Five-O''': An invertible four wheel drive wedge robot with a titanium front end. The robot featured a police car paintjob and miniature police lights. (''Draco enforsus'')
+
 
 +
===Fairyweights===
 +
* '''Keep Back 500 Meters''': A smaller version of Keep Back 500 Feet. Featured a clamp-based weapon and in a later version the robot had anti-flip side spikes. (''Draco clampus-minus'')
 +
* '''Five-O''': An invertible four wheel drive wedge robot with a titanium front end. The robot featured a police car paintjob and miniature working police lights. (''Draco enforsus'')
 +
* '''Telefrag''': A scaled-down version of Kill Switch; wedge with tank tracks.
 
===Antweights===
 
===Antweights===
−
* '''Keep Back 500 Feet''': The team's first creation. Keep Back 500 Feet utilized servos for drive, and while slow was capable of pushing Beetleweights around. The robot had two interchangeable weapons; a lifting arm created from galvanized steel, and a 12-tooth stainless steel clamping arm that was never used. (''Draco clampus'')
+
* '''Keep Back 500 Feet''': Utilized servos for drive and while slow was capable of pushing Beetleweights around. The robot had two interchangeable weapons: a lifting arm created from galvanized steel, and a 12-tooth stainless steel clamping arm that was never used. (''Draco clampus'')
−
* '''Super Turbo Baby Puncher''': A thwackbot which currently holds the Robot Fighting League record for largest wheels on an Antweight robot - 4.5" diameter. Super Turbo Baby Puncher was a joke robot made from an R/C BattleBots toy. It's weapon was a ball and chain weapon taken from a ceiling fan. (''Draco bashus'')
+
* '''Super Turbo Baby Puncher''': A thwackbot which held the RFL record for largest wheels on an Antweight robot (4.5" diameter). Super Turbo Baby Puncher was a jokebot made from an R/C BattleBots toy. Its weapon was a ball and chain weapon taken from a ceiling fan. (''Draco bashus'')
−
* '''Here Comes Trouble''': A planned wedge/spike robot using salvaged parts. Never completed.
+
* '''Global Domination''': A rambot consisting of a large plastic ball with a small 2-wheeled module inside to guide the direction the ball rolls. Built in 2005 and formerly named "Hamsterball of Doom", was finally completed and entered in 2017.
−
* '''Automatic Win''': A planned full body spinner. Never completed.
 
 
===Beetleweights===
 
===Beetleweights===
−
* '''Fatal Contraption''': A broken Nintendo NES was used as the chassis for this plowbot. It was for show only and never competed. (''Draco electronicus'')
+
* '''Fatal Contraption''': A broken Nintendo NES was used as the chassis for this plowbot. Early information of the robot listed it as having razor blades for weapons. It was for show only and never competed. (''Draco electronicus'')
−
* '''Kill Swtich''': A giant tank-tracked wedge robot that was never knocked out by damage inflicted. (''Draco magnus'')
+
* '''Kill Swtich''': A giant tank-tracked wedge robot impervious to knock-outs resulting from damage. Was formerly the #3 seed in its class at the North Texas SWARC tournament and utilized a custom armor made of layered components named "Kill Switch Skin". (''Draco magnus'')
 
* '''Detonator''': A high-speed thwack robot that was painted to look like a dragon's face. The weapon, a spiked tongue, was dubbed The French Kiss of Death. Detonator was prone to overheating problems and was promptly destroyed in combat. (''Draco carnivorous'')
 
* '''Detonator''': A high-speed thwack robot that was painted to look like a dragon's face. The weapon, a spiked tongue, was dubbed The French Kiss of Death. Detonator was prone to overheating problems and was promptly destroyed in combat. (''Draco carnivorous'')
−
* '''Earth Quake''': A 4 wheel drive plow machine that looked similar to riot control vehicles. Created using twice as many parts as Kill Switch, the robot was so heavy that it had no armor. In its only tournament it won 2nd place, the only Newfac Robotics creation to win an event. (''Draco super-magnus'')
+
* '''Earth Quake''': A 4 wheel drive plow machine designed after riot control vehicles. Created using twice as many motors as Kill Switch, the robot was so heavy that it had virtually no armor. In its only tournament it won 2nd place, the only Twilight Foundry Robotics creation to place at an RFL event. (''Draco super-magnus'')
−
===Hobbyweights===
+
* '''Full Auto''': A rambot designed to look like a radio controlled car. 4 wheel drive and armed with an 1/8" thick custom "train plow" weapon made from a storm shutter brace.
−
* '''Miniclip.com''': A projected sponsorship robot that would feature a pneumatic hammer as a weapon. Proper agreements were never planned out or discussed because of the dwindling audience at robot combat events.
+
* '''The Phoenix''': 2 wheel drive robot featuring a horizontal spinning disc with titanium cutting teeth. Formerly known as "Wild Ride", however its name was changed after the robot was recovered from Hurricane Harvey wreckage.
−
===Lightweights===
+
===Open Class===
−
* '''Dragon-In-Law''': This robot was being built around a salvaged lawnmower frame. By this time the team had run out of funds and the robot was never completed.
+
* '''Metalhead''': Large metal wedge with overhead spinning blade, similar in design to BattleBots champion Hazard. Famously lost use of its primary weapon during its first ever match while still eventually winning its debut tournament.
 +
* '''Terminal Impact''': Armed with a large overhead spinning disc equipped with chain flails and luggage padlocks. Its weapon was powered by two large 6V flashlight batteries wired in series to run at 12V.
 +
 
 +
 
 +
----
 +
----
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Forum Members]]

Latest revision as of 07:24, 2 October 2017

Radio F Software (RFS)
RadioFSoftware.png
Rank Old World Veteran
Political Stance Innovationalist, Informationalist, Forum Master, Manipulator
Grudge / Ally Status
Fear Rating Rating 2.gif 30/100
Respect Rating Rating 4.gif 70/100
Trivia
> Author of the website BattleBots Update.
Memorable Quote
"Post thumperized."

Radio F Software, frequently abbreviated as RFS, is a member of the Robot Arena 2 community and one of the most influential personalities in the game's aftermarket AI development. He is credited with the eponymous RFS AI Pack, a mod which expanded upon stock AI limitations and allowed for AI teams of six robots.

Additionally, RFS is also known for his work and affiliation with AceUplink, Technex's Forums, and TrackMill. More notably, he was the webmaster of RFSHQ from 2004-2008, a former Robot Arena 2 community website whose four year run outlived nearly every other fansite on the Internet with the exception of GameTechMods. He is also the author of BattleBots Update, a popular robot combat fansite that has been featured numerous times by BattleBots on their social media feeds.

RFS is one of the few community members who were on the beta testing team behind Robot Arena 3.

History

AceUplink

Radio F Software, 2003

RFS joined the AceUplink community in March 2003 and over the course of the year self-taught himself the basics of the Python programming language in order to create the RFS AI Pack, a game add-on that would eventually go on to become the most downloaded AI pack of all time for several years. RFS also produced a number of tutorials for new members and modders which earned him the vanity rank "The Tutorial Man". He beta tested the AceUplink BattleBots AI pack, however his name was removed from the download's readme credits due to ongoing conflicts with the staff.

In December 2003 JFranco, webmaster of AceUplink, appointed RFS to work on the AceUplink Robot Database, a comprehensive online encyclopedia of robotics information. RFS and JFranco had a disagreement over the direction and content of the project which resulted in a public dispute. RFS was removed from the moderation team and banned from the forums a few days later, marking his departure from the wider Robot Arena 2 community.

RFSHQ

The first iteration of Radio F Software Headquarters (RFSHQ) launched on February 12th, 2004. The site's launch date was somewhat significant in that it was the day AceUplink's domain renewal took place; the original intent behind RFSHQ was to outclass AceUplink as a better and more efficient website so the February 12th opening was intended to be an intimidating move. RFSHQ's first version was used as an outlet to host all of RFS' Robot Arena 2 tutorials and downloads since they had been removed from AceUplink's servers.

When the Robot Arena 2 community began to dwindle RFS changed the format of RFSHQ to a comedy/satire website to stay afloat. RFSHQ "re-opened" on May 9th, 2004 with its first article, a sarcastic review of the NES game The Adventures of Bayou Billy. From May 2004 through June 2008 RFS acted as the website's content supervisor as the site grew to a community of over 12,000 users and featured several "guest writers".

Post-RFSHQ

In July 2008, RFS (under the pseudonym "Dracophile" at the time) retired from his position as RFSHQ's lead writer, effectively ending the website's run. In his departure post he expressed regret for the manner in which he chose to handle himself during conflicts with other communities and their members. Ownership of RFSHQ was relinquished to goose, who in turn used the website as a testing ground for what would eventually become the social gaming community TrackMill. What began as RFSHQ's original forum database is still in use on TrackMill to this day.

Beginning sporadically in 2009 and lasting throughout 2011 RFS was a columnist at GatorAIDS, a comedy website similar to RFSHQ. His writings in the field of video games and pop culture were occasionally showcased on industry blogs such as BitMob and VentureBeat. Between 2014 and 2016, RFS was the on-camera host of the Alamo South Super-Regional FIRST Tech Challenge events held in San Antonio, TX.

Starting in July 2015, RFS has been the lead columnist of the fansite BattleBots Update, a revived version of the 2008 column of the same name he originally wrote for RFSHQ. The relaunch of BattleBots Update coincided with the ABC reboot of the television show and has begun covering legacy seasons of the show as well as other events such as Robot Wars. BattleBots Update has been promoted by participating teams as well as BattleBots themselves on multiple occasions.

Notable Game Contributions

The RFS AI Pack

The RFS AI pack began as an upgrade featuring robots built with various non-stock components, however this idea was scrapped in favor of a more simple a compatible stock AI pack that showcased realistic robot designs that could be taken out of the game and built in real life. The version 1.0 of the pack featured the standard fare of 45 robots and received lukewarm feedback. Through some creative code editing with the help of TheDisturbedOne however, the version 1.2 follow-up to the pack expanded the limits of the AI teams from 3 robots to 6. This update was the first of its kind and resulted in wider acceptance of the AI pack. Finally, the version 1.5 update to the pack added additional AI teams, another never-before-seen feature. The final tally of AI robots in the RFS AI Pack was 180.

For a period, the RFS AI Pack was the most downloaded AI upgrade of all time (according to download metrics from RA Reborn's download database). Popular pirate copies of Robot Arena 2 often came pre-patched with the RFS AI Pack.

Despite the simplistic and often whimsical designs showcased in the pack, the massive expansion of AI team allocations marked a turning point in the customization of Robot Arena 2's AI allowing future AI pack creators (notably Starcore and The DSL Team) to further explore the newfound "territory".

Personalized Components

Despite not having the software to create original renders, RFS still worked on custom components in the form of reskins. He was the first to take requests for "personalized" components; after copying the GMF data for the standard Ram Plate RFS turned it into a decorative license plate with identical stats. Users at AceUplink were able to request one plate with the following customizable features:

  • The state
  • A slogan
  • Up to 10 characters in the center for a message

An example of the license plate component is included in the RFS "Component Pack" and is modeled after a Texas plate with "BORN 2 BOT" as the vanity lettering.

Notable Robots

  • Tha Thumperizer: A heavyweight robot with dual vertical tribar spinners. The term "Thumperized" achieved fad status on AceUplink when RFS would lock or edit out posts replacing them with "POST/THREAD THUMPERIZED". The robot was named after a Lego Mindstorms model built in 2001. Its memorable name, design, and paint job have kept its legacy alive. As of 2014, Tha Thumperizer is still an active robot in RFS' roster.
  • Rock 'N' Roller: A heavyweight robot that consisted of two middleweight robots described as one of the first multibot robots. It required a team match to be set up with both middleweights on the same team against one heavyweight.

Tournament Entries

. Antweight Lightweight Middleweight Heavyweight Super Heavyweight Other
AceUplink Tournament #2 Digital Dragon II
AceUplink Tournament #3 hack.exe
AceUplink Tournament #4 Box of BS*
AceUplink Onslaught #1 It Puts The Lotion On
RFSHQ Tournament #1 Credit Card Shredder (BW)
DSL Tournament #1 Bad News
RFSHQ DSL Tournament #1 Vote 5 Mal De Ojo Blast Cannister (BW)
BattleBots 9 Jeremy Clarkson The Legend of Bryce Genesis Thumperizer XIV Crush Fetish
Minor Inconveniences Racecar & Racecar Backwards
Blood Brothers Wreckx-N-Effect
Trials 4 Gatorphilia II
Undisputed Particle Accelerator
Deadly Alliance Eternia
HFT: Summer 2014 WE GOT DODGSON
No Holds Barred The Chaos Engine (UHW)
Video Game Showdown YOUR FAULT

An asterisk denotes a robot that was disqualified from a tournament.

Robot Combat Creations

Since 2000 RFS has been involved with building combat robots of his own. Originally competing under the "Team T.E.N.C.H.I." banner, RFS formed Twilight Foundry Robotics in 2001 and continues to compete under this name to this day. Many of their retired creations appear at the robot combat "museum" during Dallas Area Robot Combat ("DARC") events.

(Between the years 2003 and 2005 each robot the team built was given a fake dragon species name on their website, similar to Team Raptor. These names are provided here where applicable.)

Fairyweights

  • Keep Back 500 Meters: A smaller version of Keep Back 500 Feet. Featured a clamp-based weapon and in a later version the robot had anti-flip side spikes. (Draco clampus-minus)
  • Five-O: An invertible four wheel drive wedge robot with a titanium front end. The robot featured a police car paintjob and miniature working police lights. (Draco enforsus)
  • Telefrag: A scaled-down version of Kill Switch; wedge with tank tracks.

Antweights

  • Keep Back 500 Feet: Utilized servos for drive and while slow was capable of pushing Beetleweights around. The robot had two interchangeable weapons: a lifting arm created from galvanized steel, and a 12-tooth stainless steel clamping arm that was never used. (Draco clampus)
  • Super Turbo Baby Puncher: A thwackbot which held the RFL record for largest wheels on an Antweight robot (4.5" diameter). Super Turbo Baby Puncher was a jokebot made from an R/C BattleBots toy. Its weapon was a ball and chain weapon taken from a ceiling fan. (Draco bashus)
  • Global Domination: A rambot consisting of a large plastic ball with a small 2-wheeled module inside to guide the direction the ball rolls. Built in 2005 and formerly named "Hamsterball of Doom", was finally completed and entered in 2017.

Beetleweights

  • Fatal Contraption: A broken Nintendo NES was used as the chassis for this plowbot. Early information of the robot listed it as having razor blades for weapons. It was for show only and never competed. (Draco electronicus)
  • Kill Swtich: A giant tank-tracked wedge robot impervious to knock-outs resulting from damage. Was formerly the #3 seed in its class at the North Texas SWARC tournament and utilized a custom armor made of layered components named "Kill Switch Skin". (Draco magnus)
  • Detonator: A high-speed thwack robot that was painted to look like a dragon's face. The weapon, a spiked tongue, was dubbed The French Kiss of Death. Detonator was prone to overheating problems and was promptly destroyed in combat. (Draco carnivorous)
  • Earth Quake: A 4 wheel drive plow machine designed after riot control vehicles. Created using twice as many motors as Kill Switch, the robot was so heavy that it had virtually no armor. In its only tournament it won 2nd place, the only Twilight Foundry Robotics creation to place at an RFL event. (Draco super-magnus)
  • Full Auto: A rambot designed to look like a radio controlled car. 4 wheel drive and armed with an 1/8" thick custom "train plow" weapon made from a storm shutter brace.
  • The Phoenix: 2 wheel drive robot featuring a horizontal spinning disc with titanium cutting teeth. Formerly known as "Wild Ride", however its name was changed after the robot was recovered from Hurricane Harvey wreckage.

Open Class

  • Metalhead: Large metal wedge with overhead spinning blade, similar in design to BattleBots champion Hazard. Famously lost use of its primary weapon during its first ever match while still eventually winning its debut tournament.
  • Terminal Impact: Armed with a large overhead spinning disc equipped with chain flails and luggage padlocks. Its weapon was powered by two large 6V flashlight batteries wired in series to run at 12V.


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