If you’re gonna have a robot, why not have one that can play sports? This low-cost robot is designed specifically for playing robotic football tournaments.

The RFL (Robotic Football League) Robot was created for playing football in tournaments with other robot enhusiasts. These robots feature a set of four independent high-torque motors which let them really play aggressively, and include special gripping arms which are designed to throw the ball with plenty of momentum.

They can block, tackle, throw and receive a little Velcro football, and even can talk trash to each other when they detect a nearby aggressor. Each one runs on an included wireless RF controller, and sports a powerful 9.6V rechargeable battery pack.

The RFL Robot is available now from Spark Fun Electronics for $139.95.

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Ever had such a bad game that you wanted to throw your controller at your TV screen? How about a gaming system where chucking your display itself is an integral part of the action?

Philips recently filed a patent application for a video game system which uses a monitor that you can actually toss. The patent describes a durable, monitor which which can show images as it’s thrown around the room. A stationary sensor tracks the position of the ball as it moves, while player positions are tracked using ultrasound. The display can then display images that respond to its movements and position within the space. The patent, entitled simply “Gaming System with Movable Display,” begins:

An electronic gaming system comprising: a robust, movable display (101); a game controller(103), arranged to generate a game scenario, comprising generation of pictures to be displayed on the robust movable display (101); and - a trajectory mapping unit (105), arranged to map a virtual trajectory in space- time of a virtual world in the game scenario, with at least two of the pictures with unequal picture content corresponding to different locations of the virtual space-time trajectory, to a real trajectory of the robust movable display (101) in real space, so that at an appropriate moment the two of the pictures are displayed on the robust movable display (101)…

At this point, plans for an actual implementation are sketchy, but one could envision games in which the images on the moving screen could react to the players in the room. Imagine hitting the ball hard, and the display showing an image of a screaming face, or one mocking your opponent when it flies past an imaginary goal line.

The concept is still a little strange, and it seems to me that most of what’s described could be achieved with a combination of accelerometers and infrared sensors (like Nintendo’s Wii-mote). Still, I’m always intrigued by new and different ways to interact with games.

Can you guys think of some other good game ideas for a system like this one?

[via New Scientist Invention Blog]

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Here’s an interesting concept, what if Pac-Man’s gameplay were the exact opposite of what you’ve come to expect after all these years. That is to say, what if, instead of Pac-Man being chased by ghosts, you controlled the ghosts and Pac-Man came after you. That’s exactly the idea of this new Flash game called “Anti Pac-Man”.

The concept is simple. Think of it like a squad based version of Pac-Man. Use the keys numbered 1 through 4 to take command of each ghost, then use the arrow keys to guide them away from your yellow dot-gobbling nemesis. As Pac-Man eats up, your score keeps going down, but if you can keep your ghosts alive, you can minimize the damage.

Maybe it’s the annoying loop of the Pac-Man theme that plays over and over again, but I find the whole thing a bit unsettling. You be the judge and check it out for yourself over at Sugar Free Games.

[via Random Good Stuff]

Nintendo fanboys and fangirls, here’s a chance for you guys to win some awesome prizes. Just share your fondest Nintendo-related memories (by posting a comment below) and you could win an original custom Nintendo collage by fan favorite artist Chris Lange.

Chris has generously donated the following prizes for the best entries that we receive:

• 1 Grand Prize winner
  Custom handmade ‘mini’ collage of any Nintendo character you want
• 5 Runner Up winners
  Signed 8×10 digital print of Mario, Yoshi, Waluigi, or Peach

Plus, if we get at least 100 contest entries, we’ll throw in a random drawing for $50 Amazon certificate which you can use to buy a new Nintendo game with. So even if your story doesn’t win, you’ve still got a chance to go home with a prize.

Contest Rules

To enter the contest, simply leave a comment at the end of this article, telling us your fondest Nintendo-related memory (in 150 words or less). Share any Nintendo story you’d like, but we’ll be awarding the prizes to the ones we think are the most creative, entertaining, outlandish, sentimental, humorous or just downright enjoyable.

To get your creative juices flowing, Chris has contributed this story which best describes his fondness for the “Big N”:

From the time I first picked up an NES controller, to now where I have to force myself to put the Wii controller down, there have been a lot of great Nintendo memories to choose from.

Most important to me is the game that took my fondness for video games and turned it into a passion; Ocarina of Time.

There isn’t really a singular moment I recall best, I just remember the feeling I got when playing through it the first time. I could sit on my family room floor and play for hours, happy to simply ride around the fields of Hyrule. For me, that was the game that made me realize I wanted video games to be a part of my life for years to come.

All entries must be received prior to 11:59pm Central Time on Monday, March 31, 2008 to be eligible. You must post using a valid e-mail address, and only one entry will be accepted per e-mail account. Winners will be selected by Technabob editorial staff and the artist to determine one Grand Prize winner and five Runners Up. We reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments and comment spam.

About the Artist

Chris Lange is an up and coming artist based in the Washington DC area. He is best known for his Nintendo themed collages, which are made entirely of old Nintendo Power magazines. Fittingly enough, these collages have been featured in Nintendo Power magazine, and one is even displayed in the Nintendo of America headquarters on the west coast.

Mr. Lange, an avid gamer and die-hard Nintendo fan, has attracted significant international attention for his work. In addition to his collages, his portfolio includes black and white and color photography, and computer illustrations.

If you’d like to find out more about Chris Lange or request a custom collage visit his personal website. If you are interested in purchasing one of Chris’ originals or even one of his prints you can do so at his Etsy or eBay pages.

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