Techno Games
Robot competition spin-off from Robot Wars on BBC Two.
It was a spin-off of the popular programme *Robot Wars*. Participants—including schools, colleges, individuals, and technology clubs—competed to set world records, earn medals, and win the overall series prize. Many events required robots to move in lifelike ways; for instance, swimming events banned propellers, allowing only legs, paddles, flippers, or fins. The show featured a variety of challenges, some of which also appeared in earlier *Robot Wars* series or its video games. These included an Assault Course, Cycling, Football, Gymnastics, High Jump, Long Jump, Micromouse (both wall-following and maze-solving versions), Relay Cars, Rocket Cars and Funny Cars, Solar Challenge Cars, Tug-of-War, Rocketry (spot landing and egg protection), Rope Climbing (using natural movement with arms and legs, and artificial movement with wheels and rollers), Sprint (for two-, three-, four-, six-, and eight-legged walkers), Sumo, Swimming, Water Polo, and outdoor events like Penalty Kick and Shot Put.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Robot competition
- Presenter
- Ulrika Jonsson (2000) / Jayne Middlemiss (2001) / Philippa Forrester (2002–2003)
- Starring
- Ed Hall (2000–2001) / Sophie Blake (2000) / Julia Reed (2001) / Simon Scott (2002–2003) / Andy Collins (2002) / Liz Bonnin (2003)
- Judges
- Noel Sharkey / Martin Smith
- Voices
- Barry Davies
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Num Series
- 4
- Num Episodes
- 35
- Runtime
- 45 minutes
- Company
- TV21 (2000–2001) / Mentorn (2002–2003)
- Network
- BBC Two
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Techno Games featured a variety of events, not all of which appeared in every series. Some events also appeared on the first four series of Robot Wars and on Robot Wars videogames. Events included Assault Course, Cycling, Football, Gymnastics, High Jump, Long Jump, Micromouse (Wall following and Maze solving), Relay Cars, Rocket Cars and Funny Cars, Solar Challenge Cars, Tug-of-War, Rocketry (Spot landing and Egg Protection), Rope Climbing (Natural movement and Artificial movement), Sprint (for two, three, four, six and eight legged walkers), Sumo, Swimming, Water Polo, and Outdoor Events (Penalty kick, Shot Put).
Reader's Guide
Techno Games extended the robot competition format of Robot Wars into athletic and record-breaking challenges, requiring lifelike movement in many events—for example, propellers were banned in swimming in favor of legs, paddles, flippers and fins. The programme provided a platform for schools, colleges, individuals and technology clubs to showcase engineering and programming skills. Its legacy lies in broadening public engagement with robotics beyond combat, emphasizing creativity in movement and problem-solving. The show's events influenced later Robot Wars series and videogames, appearing in titles such as Robot Wars: Arenas of Destruction and Robot Wars: Extreme Destruction across multiple platforms.
Did You Know?
- In the swimming event, propellers were banned in favour of legs, paddles, flippers and fins.
- Events included Micromouse (Wall following) and Micromouse (Maze solving).
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