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Fightbox Flop

(November 2003)

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WH
Whataday Founding member
Moz posted:
What, like decent BBC Two programmes getting moved to BBC One!!!



No, not like that at all. Shows occasionally move from BBC2 to BBC1, but very rarely are BBC2 programmes repeated on BBC1.

In the case of BBC3, any decent programmes are REPEATED on BBC2, rather than just moved to it.
NG
noggin Founding member
RTS posted:
On a wonder round TVC one day I went to the windowy-balcony bit where they were putting the final touches to the studio and set. I also noticed a load of spirrally like disks on the roof, which I'm told were to act in a similar way to barcodes helping to guide the robot on-screen. This was invented specifically for the programme, although no doubt will be used on other programmes in the future. It was obvious to me that there was a lot of hype and excitement about this expensive venture.


I think you are slightly confused. The barcode disc camera tracking system is called FreeD and was developed for general virtual reality systems as a flexible camera tracking system - not specifically for FightBox. The system has been in use for quite a number of years (TC0 was its first home) and is a commercial product now. The creators of Fightbox saw the possibilities of FreeD and worked with the developers to create other new technologies (the rendering, virtual&real lighting links and clever keying systems) for the show - but specifically the circular barcodes pre-date the show idea I think.
RT
rts Founding member
noggin posted:
RTS posted:
On a wonder round TVC one day I went to the windowy-balcony bit where they were putting the final touches to the studio and set. I also noticed a load of spirrally like disks on the roof, which I'm told were to act in a similar way to barcodes helping to guide the robot on-screen. This was invented specifically for the programme, although no doubt will be used on other programmes in the future. It was obvious to me that there was a lot of hype and excitement about this expensive venture.


I think you are slightly confused. The barcode disc camera tracking system is called FreeD and was developed for general virtual reality systems as a flexible camera tracking system - not specifically for FightBox. The system has been in use for quite a number of years (TC0 was its first home) and is a commercial product now. The creators of Fightbox saw the possibilities of FreeD and worked with the developers to create other new technologies (the rendering, virtual&real lighting links and clever keying systems) for the show - but specifically the circular barcodes pre-date the show idea I think.

Sorry, been given duff information. Interesting stuff.
MO
Moz
Whataday posted:
Moz posted:
What, like decent BBC Two programmes getting moved to BBC One!!!



No, not like that at all. Shows occasionally move from BBC2 to BBC1, but very rarely are BBC2 programmes repeated on BBC1.

In the case of BBC3, any decent programmes are REPEATED on BBC2, rather than just moved to it.


I don't think Burn It is repeated on BBC Two - though I may be wrong?
DU
Dunedin
The following programs (currently on the BBC Three books) are not repeated on BBC One or Two (except possibly in the post-midnight Three zone, put there to appease those who think no money should be spent on digital TV because only 45% of the population can receive it):

Arrow 60 seconds, Liquid news, Sortitout-man, The Third Degree, 7 o'clock news,
Arrow Art and the City, Casino, Dreamspaces, Love for Sale, New Tycoons, Sex Warts & all USA, Vinnie and multiple one off documentaries
Arrow Diners, Liquid Assets, Stupid Punts, Lowdown, Whine Gums
Arrow Burn It, Grease Monkeys
Arrow Multiple animation shorts e.g. Peter and Jaydee/ Angry Kid

That's about 20 programmes a week in case you hadn't noticed.

The following are repeated:
Arrow Celebdaq (I think), Fightbox, Little Britain, Monkey Dust, Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps

That's 5 programmes a week.

So is BBC Three pointless? No
MO
Moz
tsunami__active posted:
The following programs (currently on the BBC Three books) are not repeated on BBC One or Two (except possibly in the post-midnight Three zone, put there to appease those who think no money should be spent on digital TV because only 45% of the population can receive it):

Arrow 60 seconds, Liquid news, Sortitout-man, The Third Degree, 7 o'clock news,
Arrow Art and the City, Casino, Dreamspaces, Love for Sale, New Tycoons, Sex Warts & all USA, Vinnie and multiple one off documentaries
Arrow Diners, Liquid Assets, Stupid Punts, Lowdown, Whine Gums
Arrow Burn It, Grease Monkeys
Arrow Multiple animation shorts e.g. Peter and Jaydee/ Angry Kid

That's about 20 programmes a week in case you hadn't noticed.

The following are repeated:
Arrow Celebdaq (I think), Fightbox, Little Britain, Monkey Dust, Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps

That's 5 programmes a week.

So is BBC Three pointless? No


Well said!
NG
noggin Founding member
Liquid Assets does get repeated on BBC One on occasions.

Celebdaq is repeated on BBC Two on Saturday nights - either after HIGNFY, or the film following HIGNFY.
MU
mulder
2 Pints has finnished and Little Britain hasn't started yet.
:-(
A former member
The Guardian article got quite a lot wrong (no surprise there).

Regardless of the quality of the show issues, Fightbox was an attempt to bring the world of games and broadcast together - as such it works technically, and like all of the other shows mentioned will improve if it goes to a 2nd series.

The cost of the show is wrong, and by only using the lowest audience figures it's easy to get to the £136k per head numbers - it's also possible to prove that taking the 90,000 registered users and the peak audience of 87,000 on BBC3 and the actual costs - then the public owes the BBC money. I think it's also possible to prove that aliens abducted Diana so she could breed with Elvis in their moonbase - but I havn't got all the figures.

The show was always going to BBC2 because BBC2 put money in to make it.

Imagine being there when the concept was pitched - where would you put a show thats never been tried, features on-line gaming as it's reason for exisiting and needs a team of geeks involved with a TV production team to make?

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