Why Hypno-Disc can't work in an office (found testing video of Robot Wars competitor; 2000, 2007)
Why Hypno-Disc can't work in an office (also known as Why Hypno-Disc shouldn't work in an office) was a 2007 YouTube video which featured the Robot Wars competitor Hypno-Disc. One of the first Robot Wars videos uploaded onto YouTube, it consisted of the machine destroying various office equipment.
Background
Hypno-Disc debuted on the BBC 2 show Robot Wars during the show's third series, entered by the Rose family, consisting of twins Dave and Derek, and their father Ken. During its run from Series 3 to Extreme 2, Hypno-Disc successfully reached the Grand Final three times, including finishing runners-up in Series 3.[1] It also gathered a reputation for its ability to destroy some of its opponents thanks to its powerful horizontal flywheel, most notably against Robogeddon, Stealth and Splinter.[2] Hence, it is considered one of the most notable machines to have ever competed on the show.[3]
Sometime during the filming of Series 4, the Rose family recorded a video of their machine within an office setting. Hypno-Disc ultimately ended up destroying a variety of office items, including a photocopier.[4] During YouTube's early years, presumed to be 2007, the video was uploaded to the platform under the name "Why Hypno-Disc can't work in an office". However, it was removed from the platform prior to the clip gaining recognition from Robot Wars fans in 2021.[5]
Availability
With the original video being removed from YouTube, there is currently no means of accessing Why Hypno-Disc can't work in an office. No images are also available currently. It is possible that the Rose family may still hold a copy of the video. An analysis of the Hypno-Disc website states that the Series 4 Hypno-Disc underwent a "weapon test" prior to filming. It is therefore possible the website once hosted the video in question. Ultimately, the present and Web Archive versions of the website do not allow for the user to view the contents of the "weapon test", meaning if the video was hosted on the site, it is now inaccessible on it.
Using the Wayback machine, images taken of the photocopier's destruction were able to be uncovered. The archived website also mentions video playback, suggesting the original video was on here at one point, but was not archived with the images. Interestingly, the images are spread across two pages, referencing a Weapons Test Clip 2 & 3. Suggesting that there may have existed even more footage or angles of the testing that were previously unknown.
See Also
- 1995 Robot Wars UK Open (partially found rejected robot combat TV show pilot; 1995)
- BattleBots (found game show; 2000-2002)
- BattleBots Collegiate Championship (partially lost unaired spinoff of robot combat TV show; 2009)
- Mechanoids (partially found BBC game show; 2003)
- Robot Wars (lost MTV pilot of British robot combat gameshow; 2000)
- Robot Wars (lost near death footage of Jeremy Clarkson from robot combat gameshow; 1998)
- Robot Wars (lost work on unfinished cartoon series based on robot combat gameshow; existence unconfirmed; 2002-2004)
- Robot Wars (partially found unaired or partially aired battles of BBC gameshow; 1998-2017)
- Robot Wars (partially found uncut battles from BBC robot combat gameshow; 1998-2017)
- Robot Wars Extreme: Series 1 (lost original BBC Choice version of robot combat battle; 2001)
- Robot Wars: Extreme Warriors: Season 1 (found TNN robot combat gameshow; 2001)
- Robot Wars Revealed (partially found BBC Choice spin-off of robot combat gameshow; 1998)
- Robot Wars: Series 8 (lost unaired pilot of BBC gameshow; 2016)
- Robot Wars: The Kick-Off (lost BNN robot combat special; 2001)
- Robotica (partially lost game show; 2001-2003)
- Robots Revenge (lost Discovery robot combat documentary series; 2001)
External Link
- Hypno-Disc website, where the video may have been present on the "Weapons Test!" section of Series 4 info.
- Wayback machine link to a 2004 capture of the Hypno-Disc website
References
- ↑ Fighting Robots Association article on Hypno-Disc, discussing its history. Retrieved 18 Jul '21
- ↑ YouTube video showcasing Hypno-Disc's most destructive battles. Retrieved 18 Jul '21
- ↑ WatchMojoUK video Top 10 Badass Robots From Robot Wars, where Hypno-Disc was placed third on the list. Retrieved 18 Jul '21
- ↑ Fighting Robots Association forum discussing the video. Retrieved 18 Jul '21
- ↑ 2021 Unofficial Robot Wars Facebook post discussing the video. Retrieved 18 Jul '21