America challenges Japan to real-life battle of giant robots

Now that America's MegaBots and Japan's Suidobashi Heavy Industries have both built giant, pilot-controlled robots, it seems obvious what has to happen next.

by Eric Mack

@ericcmack
July 2, 2015 1:25 PM PDT

The MegaBots Mark 2 hopes to fight another giant robot from the other side of the Pacific Rim.MegaBots/S.N. Jacobson

Finally, let the robot wars begin! MegaBots is laying the foundation for what could be the prequel to the giant mech vs. giant monster flick "Pacific Rim." The Boston-based company on Tuesday challenged Japan's Suidobashi Heavy Industries, creator of the Kuratas giant robot, to a duel against its Megabot Mark 2.

If you're having as a hard time as I repressing the geek-gasm over the news, you might not want to watch the video below from MegaBots (complete with Japanese subtitles) that highlights both giant, pilotable fighting robots before issuing the official trans-Pacific challenge.

"Suidobashi, we have a giant robot, you have a giant robot; you know what needs to happen," says MegaBots co-founder Matt Oehrlein in the video, while wearing an American flag as a cape. "We challenge you to a duel."

According to the video, the Mark 2 weighs six tons and is piloted by a team of two capable of firing three-pound paint cannonballs up to 100 miles per hour. Kuratas is lighter at just 4.5 tons but boasts a pair of Gatling guns and advanced targeting system with a heads-up display.

Oehrlein says both teams will need time to make battle modifications. He tells Suidobashi to name a battlefield where their giant robots can face off in one year. No word yet on whether the Japanese team has accepted the challenge.

I'd be happy to coordinate hosting the battle here in New Mexico if that's what it takes to make sure this happens. I definitely know we've got some giant robot enthusiasts in the neighborhood, and who doesn't love a good giant robot battle on a Southwestern summer day?