Character contest 3: You, Robot

Your character creation challenge for this week is to craft the best, coolest, most innovative robot the world has ever seen! You might opt for a rolling centauroid tank of mechanized death, or a chipper helper kitchenbot, or a deranged hippie cyborg, but whatever you choose has to somehow fit the concept of "robot". The winner will get to choose either any one item they wish or a caricature of their head, to be immortalized forever in HeroMachine 3.

The rules are simple:

  1. You must use HeroMachine 3 Alpha to create your entry. No other versions of the program, and no Photoshopping, just pure unadulterated HM3 output.
  2. All entries must be left in the comments of this post, as a link to the actual image file for your creation. You can use any image hosting location you like so long as it does not require an account to view.
  3. You can enter as many times as you like but each creation must not have been used as an entry for another contest before.
  4. No previous entries -- it has to be a new creation.

That's it! Good luck everyone; judging will be next Tuesday, May 19.

99 Responses to Character contest 3: You, Robot

  1. violodion says:

    That is so asking for trouble. ๐Ÿ™„

    From the companion contest kinda thought this was done. The genie is out now….

  2. Damien says:

    Does innovation include unique and interesting ways of using the program itself, or just design?

  3. violodion says:

    Probably both.

    Re-enter your previous entry. ๐Ÿ™‚ To be on the safe side, top yourself.

  4. Damien says:

    Topping myself is one thing. I just don’t want to blow two days on an awesome piece of artwork, only to get beaten by a kitchen utensil with a buzzsaw attachment

  5. The Imp says:

    This probably won’t be as far out there as some of the other entries, but I was happy with it.

    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=58139&d=1242196445

    Your garden-variety robotic angel. ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. RJ mcd says:

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6849955&l=ce3db59d5b&id=639815173 i hope this works i am very proud of my guy warzone

  7. Darth_Neko says:

    Hey Can I use my Hard Drive character from my Hero arcives on the forms or Can’t I? I’m confused!

  8. Jeff Hebert says:

    Rules updated to reflect no previous entries allowed.

    A robot is not the same thing as a companion. There were some good cyber/mecha entries in the last one, that’s what made me want to have a whole contest devoted to it. I almost made it “cyborg” instead, but I wanted it more wide open than that.

    And Damien, it’s all about the final image, whichever one looks coolest wins, whether it’s a tank or a kitchen utensil with a buzzsaw attachment ๐Ÿ™‚

  9. Jeff Hebert says:

    @Darth_Neko: You can use a character you created in the past as long as it’s never been entered in a HeroMachine.com contest before. Using the UGO Forums is fine.

  10. Jeff Hebert says:

    @RJ: That link’s not working, I suspect the visitor has to be a Facebook member and a friend to view it. Try making an album and setting its access rights to “Public”.

  11. RJ mcd says:

    ok jeff and i am so prod of my cyborg too ๐Ÿ™‚

  12. RJ mcd says:

    and i was so proud of him

  13. Matt says:

    Shame we aren’t aloud to post previous entries, I would have put my Capstan in:(

  14. Jeff Hebert says:

    Gotta keep it fresh, yo.

  15. RJ mcd says:

    jeff see why i kept bugging you for those certian parts ๐Ÿ˜‰

  16. Kaldath says:

    Does it have to be a full fledge Robot and or Cyborg or does Robotic Power Armor count ( Like Iron man ? )

  17. Jeff Hebert says:

    I think cyborgs are fine, I’m a little iffier on a power armor guy. That’s a guy in a suit, not a robot.

  18. Brambles says:

    Here’s my robot:

    http://s624.photobucket.com/albums/tt323/Brambles_2009/?action=view&current=Cogsworthmain.jpg

    He’s a steampunk robo-gentleman named Cogsworth.

  19. Kaldath says:

    Entry #1) Bluestreak: http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49/Kaldath/BluestreakMk4.png – This Transfered Intelligence Robot is built for Speed but he also packs a punch with his High Frequency forearm vibro blades as well as his electrical discharging “Knuckle Bombs”

  20. RJ mcd says:

    i am so confuzzled listening to kal and jeff if my entry is good or not he is a cyborg his parts don;t come off

  21. Jeff Hebert says:

    You’re fine, RJ, no worries, your entry stands.

  22. RJ mcd says:

    thanks guys this is the first time i enter a contest so you can understand i’m nervouse

  23. Worf says:

    Now Jeff… why do you go around GIVING people ideas???? Look, DJ just gave you your “kitchen utensil with a buzzsaw attachment”… ๐Ÿ˜‰

    @DJ: Thanks for the laugh!!

  24. Worf says:

    BTW,

    here’s my first, somewhat uninspired, entry…. Hopefully something better will come along during the week. ๐Ÿ˜‰

    http://picasaweb.google.com/ricardo.m.almeida/Stuff#5335449665450918802

  25. MartianBlue says:

    Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce…
    The Mind Drone – A small flying robot, that lands on people’s heads, and replaces their thoughts with it’s own diabolical programmed agenda!
    http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m189/acebase_2006/Hero%20Forum/MindDrone.jpg

  26. Kaldath says:

    Entry #3) The Cyborg Nathan Storm Captain of the M.A.P.F. ( Mega-Human Apprehension Police Force ): http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll49/Kaldath/CaptainStormHM3.png

  27. Worf says:

    Second Entry…. slightly better…
    The AracnoBlade

    http://picasaweb.google.com/ricardo.m.almeida/Stuff#5335503367502618546

  28. DJ says:

    You won’t be laughing when the Spatulorg takes over man! He will slice,dice,mince and flip you till you can’t be flipped no more!!!!!!

  29. DJ says:

    http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv67/FamilyPhotoBucket1_2009/CyborgShadow.jpg

    I was experimenting making shadows. I like how it turned out.

  30. Damien says:

    @ Jeff: I noticed just now that you specifically say “no Photoshopping.” I know I made the comment last week about Photoshopping and just wanted to assure you–my statement was for *HeroMachine 2 only.* A lot of what I used to do in Photoshop or Paint.Net is now easily done in HM 3. Just wanted to say, just in case I was the reason for that statement…

  31. Jeff Hebert says:

    @Damien: Not directed at you, no — that was in the first contest rules, I just forgot it in the second, and wanted to be sure it was clear.

    @DJ: The shadow idea is great! What if you made all three colors a medium gray instead of black? I think that might look even more convincing.

  32. Damien says:

    http://sites.google.com/site/damienstadler/Home/random-creations/hero-machine-3-contest

    Hello, I’m back!

    First off, we have the DigBug. I was sad that I didn’t win, so I made a sad robot.
    Then I was angry, and wanted to crush my opposition. So I created Titiun the Destructor, Emperor of the Robots. And he keeps DigBug around to do his gardening.

    Seriously, I’m seeing some great competition already! Keep it up, everyone.

  33. Damien says:

    My wife suggests that I should make a piece that is viewable with 3D glasses…doesn’t she realize how much work goes into these? I spend upwards of 6 hours apiece! (The exception being Cyber-Squid.)

  34. Worf says:

    Jeff, before you say anything… I know.. Copyright…. But I couldn’t resist making a version of everyone’s favorite little robot (or droid if you will) ๐Ÿ˜‰

    http://picasaweb.google.com/ricardo.m.almeida/Stuff#5335733783864000658

  35. MartianBlue says:

    I prefer my first entry, The Mind Drone, but here’s a second. I call him Mecan!
    http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m189/acebase_2006/Hero%20Forum/Mecan.jpg

  36. DJ says:

    @Jeff

    I should have thought of that. I’ll probably make more with shadows because I like the effect it has. It can also be used to make a really neat character. There was one you drew for a Contest winner where the character wore all white but had like a black demon type thing coming from him. I imagine the shadows being good for it.

  37. Damien says:

    @ Worf: Nice attempt! I know as good as anyone here how difficult it can be to find the right parts for your creaton. (How many more times must I say, “Boy, I wish I could rotate this so I can use the back!”?

  38. collex says:

    Here is mine.

    His name is Takeshi Nagada. He is a WW-II Japanese scientist who was fatally wounded during the Nagasaki bombing. Using his skills in robotics, he was able to tranfer his consciousness into a rudimentary military computer. As the years passed, he create numerous robot bodies to help him achieve his goals: to one day recreate a flesh and bone body for himself. This is the most recent body to date: Made of titanium and stainless steel, this body is protected form both extreme heat and extreme cold, can resist to almost every type of firearms and comes equipped with with a energy-storm creator. Simply put, this is a canon that can creates storms of disrupting energy, affecting living beings and machines alike. It also comes with an USB port somewhere in the back ๐Ÿ˜‰

    http://img13.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hm3beta.jpg

    I’m sorry for the lack of background, but I simply had not time to add one, and without a save function, I cannot go back and finish it. AT least, I had time to finish the character and I’m happy with it.

  39. collex says:

    http://img13.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hm3beta.jpg

    Hopes it work this time. If not, you can always copy/paste the link in your browser.

  40. collex says:

    Can someone help me with the code please? I can’t seem to get it to work. At least, Jeff, you can copy-paste the link in your browser. It works, I tried it.

  41. Jeff Hebert says:

    I fixed it for you Collex. You can just cut and paste the URL into the comment, it gets put into my “pending” folder til I get a chance to go and manually approve it.

  42. Eric says:

    Wow, Damien, Worf, and Hammerknight. You guys are doing things i never thought could be done with this.

  43. Worf says:

    @ Damien: I know!… I’ve had the same feeling quite a few times… Today I actually thought of a functionality that if included… I’d love to be able to “skew” objects. As in making a square into a rhombus. and Jeff, I know… dream on… It’s just that you inspire us to go so far, we can’t help but imagine more!! ๐Ÿ˜€

  44. Damien says:

    Skew? I’d prefer a 4-point scale system. Instead of four ensquared squares showing the -100 and +100 ranges, use the same setup and put a point in the middle of each small square and be able to drag each one. With that, you could turn a square into an irregular quadrilateral, or a circle into a rounded triangle.

  45. Worf says:

    Cool Idea Damien. Then we’d just need one box saying by how much we want to scale it up or down.

  46. DJ says:

    So I got bored and decided to play around with chains. I made this.
    http://s670.photobucket.com/albums/vv67/FamilyPhotoBucket1_2009/?action=view&current=ChainSkeleton.jpg
    That isn’t an entry into the contest but more a before picture.

    http://s670.photobucket.com/albums/vv67/FamilyPhotoBucket1_2009/?action=view&current=ChainSkeletonComplete.jpg

    This is the after picture. I made the armor slightly transparent so that you can see the chain skeleton and I think it looks cool. THAT is an entry into the contest.

  47. Isia says:

    Not sure is this works or not. My version of skatebot. http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/4306/skatebot.png

  48. StrangezThingez says:

    Well, here’s mine:
    http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/7965/pathogen.png

    The year is 2243. Deep in the Antarctic Ocean, a team of scientists working for the Prion Corporation were ordered to construct the perfect mercenary: unquestioning and indestructible. After 12 years of intensive research and assembly, they built the shell of what was to be the most ferocious robotic being on the planet. When they programmed the robot, the robot’s central processing unit malfunctioned. The creation seemed to be ruined. But as the scientists retired to their chambers, the robot’s eyes flickered.

    The next morning, the creation annihilated the research facility, and on his own terms, went to shore to destroy those who imprisoned him for 12 agonizing years. Pathogen was seeking vengeance, and he will not stop until mankind is obliterated.

  49. IagoValentine says:

    I’m really sort of surprised that no one has really gone this route yet…
    It’s also quite possible that I’m the only sucker around here that still likes this kind of stuff.

    Anyways, here it is:
    http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/7788/heromachinegiantrobot.png

    The M-109c Vanguard Close-Quarters Combat Unit
    Developed at the United States Groom Lake facility in the Nevada Desert,
    it is the ultimate unit in the United Nations’ peacekeeper force. This giant robot is capable of operating in almost any climate, and can withstand most handheld weapon attacks. Utilizing an experimental directed-energy arsenal means depleted ammunition is no longer a concern, as long as the operator remembers to charge the weapons once the unit is returned to base.

    And thus begins the era of the giant robot!

  50. Zorbas the Awesome says:

    Here we go my first entry. I spent some tim trying to work this one out…BEHOLD THE TERMA-SASQUATCH-NATOR

    http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=EsJR57FNXhgRS8%2BEtaH1NQ%3D%3D

  51. Zorbas the Awesome says:

    @martianblue: Martian? DUDE!!! Its Neoshock from the CO forums!!!!!

  52. The Imp says:

    Entry #2:

    http://forums.ugo.com/showpost.php?p=599753&postcount=335

    I was really pleased with the way this one turned out.

  53. RJ mcd says:

    wow i feel sorry for my guys chances aganst you pros its like puting a 90 year old man in the ring with a heavy weight boxer

  54. Whit says:

    Ack! I just spent over an hour on a creation, was trying to figure out how to screencapture the whole thing (he was too tall), and then accidentally hit Back and lost it all! Oh, well, my next-best idea shouldn’t take as long…

  55. Whit says:

    Let’s see if this linked right…

    Maybe this will give a more talented artist some ideas.

  56. patof292 says:

    first time i go in any of these character contests, I hope it’s not that bad xD

    http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/7214/hm3beta.jpg

  57. Damien says:

    I like big butts and I cannot lie
    You other robots can’t deny
    When a ‘bot walks in wit a itty-bitty waist
    And a flame thing in yo face
    YOU GET BURNED!

    http://sites.google.com/site/damienstadler/Home/random-creations/hero-machine-3-contest

    Meet Vengeance Firefly, a jet-powered robo-psychotic with a penchant for torching cities. We watched Star Trek II last night and I was inspired by Khan’s costume, hence the robot’s “bare chested” look.

  58. DJ says:

    http://s670.photobucket.com/albums/vv67/FamilyPhotoBucket1_2009/?action=view&current=contest.jpg

    I decided to make one completely out of shoulder right standard pieces. I like how it turned out. I may try to make some with just leg pieces next. ๐Ÿ˜€

  59. DJ says:

    http://s670.photobucket.com/albums/vv67/FamilyPhotoBucket1_2009/?action=view&current=MomBotBelts.jpg

    This is MomBot. Note the questioning raised eyebrow. The hand up as if to say “Stop talking young man.” The multiple fashion accessories including her tiara signifying her as the queen of the house hold. You will also note that MomBot hovers. This is to simulate the way your very own mother hovers around your personal life asking such questions such as “When will I have grandchildren?!” and “So I know this nice girl…”

    MomBot is being given to you along with $20 bucks to get them off our hands. Please take them. They are hassling us to clean our factory and it’s obnoxious!

    (I made this one completely out of belts.)

  60. Matt says:

    http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/3711/hm3beta2.png

    The Combat Responsive Action Wi-fi Laser Equiped Robot (C.R.A.W.L.E.R) was created by Professor Kolome during the 27th century war between the war between Russia and America for the creation of the deadly planet destroying Hexagon Ray. The C.R.A.W.L.E.R was invented as a infiltration machine to be used on the battlefield, with the ability to change its form to match the enemy designs, it’s prototype was used and was able to get into the main headquarters and copy the Russian half of the Hexagon Ray’s design. But was sadly captured by the Russian comanders before it returned back and, before it automaticly self destructed, was able to kill three of the commanders. It wasn’t created after that event ever again.

  61. Matt says:

    Sorry about that I kinda get carried away when it comes to writing a story for something like this. You see, when im older I want to write books and my imagination wont give up untill i start and finish a story for it ๐Ÿ˜€

  62. DJ says:

    http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv67/FamilyPhotoBucket1_2009/InsiginaBot2000.jpg

    I made this one completely out of insignias (both standard and tech).

    Zappy is the first bot made by JackBots that runs on their patented perpetual energy machine. It works by absorbing static in the air around it to charge its batteries and if need be charging it from an alternate power source such as a power line.

  63. Jeff Hebert says:

    Damien, I gotta give you props for managing to assemble an entire scene. That DigBot setting is great, I am actually a bit stunned that such a thing can be done with the HM, especially considering there aren’t any “environment” items in yet.

  64. firecracker says:

    Here is my attempt at a robot. Kind of old school in the thinking but I like it.

    http://forums.ugo.com/showthread.php?p=599981#post599981

  65. Damien says:

    Jeff, I haven’t stopped smiling yet. Thank you.

  66. DJ says:

    http://s670.photobucket.com/albums/vv67/FamilyPhotoBucket1_2009/?action=view&current=Spyke.jpg

    I liked MadPunk so much I decided to make one in the same team. This is Spyke. He is a Frankenstein creation by the evil Layfeldinoskee. He is completely dependent on his thigh pouch for his power and for a convenient place to hold gum.

  67. Whit says:

    Let’s try this again. I know I don’t have a win with this, but maybe it’ll give ideas to one of our more creative types here.

    http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/892/robot1png.png

  68. Isia says:

    figured you could use something from the fairer sex. hope you like it. everyone needs one ๐Ÿ™‚
    http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/338/girlbot.png

  69. Worf says:

    I give you the R.A.B.I.T.
    Robotic Automated Battle Integration Tank.

    http://picasaweb.google.com/ricardo.m.almeida/Stuff#5337016491102165378

  70. DJ says:

    http://s670.photobucket.com/albums/vv67/FamilyPhotoBucket1_2009/?action=view&current=MURDERBOT9k.jpg

    Meet MurderBot9k. He was originally built as one of our “Paradise” models but after never being purchased and given a chance to fulfill his programmed needs he snapped. He gathered more followers and eventually started the first robot biker gang known as “Asimov Input Denied.

  71. Zorbas the Awesome says:

    Heres my final entry: “The Bronze-Kill-Bot”

    http://tinypic.com/usermedia.php?uo=K3waCwedLfvdifjauvKhlg%3D%3D

  72. violodion says:

    Slicerdicer:
    http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57154&d=1239496926
    – or –
    http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e250/violodion/SlicerDicer__lg.png

    ( from UGO forums > Hero Archives > Otherverse > post #224 )

    Was done last month before some features & items were available, and prior to figuring around some limits. (A โ€˜monthโ€™ being like a billion years in the HM3 Alpha time scale.)

    Feel it still shows well while applying most every tool/trick HM3 offers:
    * straightforward & direct design,
    * asymmetric composition (split down centerline to see),
    * color darkening for distance (aka, atmospheric effect),
    * unobtrusive patterning (five patterns used for variance),
    * โ€˜one colorโ€™ patterning,
    * tight color selection,
    * re-purposed insignia use (circles),
    * creative Items (โ€˜legsโ€™ & โ€˜hip/bodyโ€™ base),
    * employs full Widescreen View โ€˜canvasโ€™, and
    * use of all the transform tools (flipping, rotating, scaling, layering, and MUCH nudging).

  73. Artfuldodger says:

    To be completely honest, I’m a little dissapointed by the way this one turned out.

    The ESPER13: http://forums.ugo.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=58383&d=1242732351

  74. Damien says:

    Dodger, I can’t see why. That sucker’s hot stuff.