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BBC
launches FightBox
A 21st century sport and the TV show for the gaming generation
On
25 May, BBCi launches the FightBox website - www.bbc.co.uk/fightbox
- giving you the chance to shape the most innovative gladiatorial
contest to be seen on TV.
FightBox
is a co-commission that will premier in September on BBC THREE and
will follow on BBC TWO.
FightBox
leads the way in bringing together the web, computer games and TV
audiences in a new entertainment format.
New
studio and gaming technology means that FightBox will be a unique
gladiatorial contest combining virtual characters in a live arena
with the audience determining the content of the programme.
Using
the FightBox software, available via the BBCi website www.bbc.co.uk/fightbox,
contestants will be able to design and build their own virtual warriors
on their PCs from hundreds of specified components.
Using
downloads from the website, they can train their creations and upload
their scores onto the leaderboard.
The
top players will be entered into the TV show where, using new studio
technology, the virtual warriors - controlled by their makers -
will slug it out in a huge arena, surrounded by a live studio audience.
The viewer at home and the studio audience will then watch these
monstrous gladiators in action as they compete in games of skill
and combat against each other and the FightBox house warriors called
Sentients.
The
ultimate winner will become the FightBox Champion and their warrior
will be made one of the house Sentients.
Step
One - Creating a virtual warrior
To
create a virtual warrior, contestants can download the FightBox
warrior construction kit – the FightKit – which is only
available from the BBCi website - www.bbc.co.uk/fightbox.
They
can either modify a pre-existing warrior design or build one from
scratch using the hundreds of components and body parts.
Players
are then required to take their virtual warrior through a series
of training exercises. Warriors can be trained as much as players
like and this can be done without being connected to the internet.
Step
Two - Best of the best
Once
they have perfected their creation, players can download a series
of training programmes from www.bbc.co.uk/fightbox
and put their creation through a number of tests to hone their skills
and strengths.
Scores
for their level of agility and ability can be uploaded to the FightBox
leaderboard.
They
can also chat with other FightBox users via the messageboards on
the site.
Step
Three - Let battle commence
From
the leaderboard, the top players will be chosen to compete in the
TV programme to be shown in the Autumn.
Using
new studio technology, the warriors - controlled by their makers
- will be constructed for real where they will slug it out in the
FightBox arena, surrounded by a live studio audience.
The
viewer and the studio audience will then watch these monstrous warriors
competing against the FightBox Sentients and one another as they
go through the eliminator stages and battle to become the Fightbox
Champion.
The
winner will have their creation given the status of Sentient.
Notes
to Editors
The
FightBox press pack is available here, in PDF
format. You may require Adobe Acrobat Software to read PDF files
which can be obtained here.
FightBox
press pack (35 KB)
All the
BBC's digital services are now available on Freeview,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the BBC's eight television channels, interactive services
from BBCi, as well as 11 BBC radio networks.
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