PROPOSAL for FUTURE FXWARS CHALLENGE: Rube Golberg Machine!

#1

One idea i was to try is to to Challenge oriented towards the technicla directors in our forum.

I saw one in the MIT museum in Boston and I tought that it would be cool for us to try it.

What is a Rube Golberg machine?
Well from wikipedia:

The term also applies as a classification for a generally over-complicated apparatus or software. It first appeared in Webster’s Third New International Dictionary with the definition, “accomplishing by extremely complex roundabout means what actually or seemingly could be done simply.”

In the United Kingdom, such a device is known as a Heath Robinson contraption, named after the British cartoonist who also drew fantastic comic machinery, which in his case were tended by bespectacled men in overalls. See also Roland Emett, who created many actual working machines of this type, such as the Breakfast Machine in the filmPee-wee’s Big Adventure.

The idea is to perform an animation that is COMPLETLY SIMULATED, no keyframes (only for the camera)

Ok here is how you guys can help,
I need IDEAS for rules on how to keep it fair and to judge this.

Looking forward to your ideas.

-R

#2

Bueller?

-R

#3

I worked for days creating a machine that I could use to answer your question, I created a computer…

Seriously, this sounds like a cool concept. I haven’t wrapped my head around how the judging might work, nor the rules for that matter. I’m not very likely to participate since its more of a simulation effects challenge, and I’m doing more stuff with visual effects.

#4

Sounds cool, I’ve been meaning to push rigidBodies to the limits. Rules…

Once you hit play that’s it, no keys, no further interaction, no key on fields

what about initial velocities?

how about no fields other than gravity, perhaps wind?

what about faking magnetics? hmmm is there a way radial field and drag, I guess.

max time limit of 2.5 mintes, too force people to keep it as interesting as possible, these things if you’ve watched them online can get kind of long and boring. Rendering and lighting? sure I guess but a playblast would prove he right rules were followed maybe a little better.

#5

No keys!.. wow, thats more challenge :thumbsup: .

well I think that Gravity Field, Wind, and Initial Velocities are necesary to Start the simulation, also gravity will influence most of the objects of the scene…

for judging… mmm maybe could be:

  • Timming: is realistic?

  • Creative Work: how creative its the machine?

  • Final Objetive: how Original its the machine?, you could have a super machine that make a breakfast as you describe in the movie example, or a machine that only light a candle…

  • Best Render: Coul be two styles, realistic or Cartoon style (cartoon Shader or Pixar, Dreamworks styles)

  • Best Concept to Simulation translation: for this, you must post a Machine Sketch and a Story Board of your animation, before start to work on it. Then if your Final Machine and animation match with your preProduction work you can obtain this mention.

  • and of course, Best Overall entry.

As Dave said, must be a Max time limit, to avoid long and boring entries.

–<Daniel>–

#6

I hate that I am always interested in the challenges, but when it comes to it I don’t have enough time or ambition. I like building these types of things so maybe I’ll actually get to it (crosses fingers). I actually made two rube goldberg esque animations plus another physics simulation last year for school though.

I used this as a closing for the half hour magazine style show I was part of:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SylMuYrGaQ

And I made this for an AP Physics project revolving around rube goldberg:

And this was a project for Principles of Engineering where we had to use all of the simple machines (I couln’t get strings to work correctly so the animation lacks one simple machine. This was built in real life with all of them):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppQr_vsqnTc

#7

This is an FYI to ALL teams.

ROBERTO’S BULLHORN: SUPERPOWERS DATELINE Three Weeks to go!

Also I Just wanted to check how you all are doing, and i there are any issues or questions please post on the thread i just posted.
-R

#8

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