Age of the Mechwarrior is coming....

[DeSchaine]

It started with the Japanese company Suidobashi Heavy Industry. They gave us the Kuratas.



A 4-wheel, 4 meter high, 30 joint "robot" that can be piloted directly from the cockpit or with an average smart phone. For a nice price starting at a cool million and going up, you can personalize your own version with anything from a claw to a shield to a dual BB minigun.

In response, and not to be out done, the American company MegaBots has given us the Mk III. This builds on two previous incarnations of their bot, specifically made to fight the Kuratas and be the beginning of a new sport: true mech arena battles.



While not commercially available yet, the 12 ton, 430 hp MB Mk III also has a variety of weapons, from rocket packs and bowling ball cannons to dual chopping knives (just in case you come across a really large carrot). This dual piloted monster moves about on a set of tracks inspired by the Howe & Howe Tech Ripsaw tank.

And today comes word of a THIRD entrant into the world of large robot fighting. From the Chinese company GREATMETAL comes the Monkey King!



Monkey King is a single pilot, 4 ton beast that can fight on all four legs as well as two. The official release video doesn't let slip much more than that, unless you can read Chinese.

FASA is seeming to be somewhat prophetic. It's only a matter of time before we see Fafnir and Mad Cats (or Timberwolf if you're a Clanner) in the open country, and Urbanmechs and Shadow Cats in the city streets.

Add in the US Army TALOS project, and it wont be long until we have Longinus battle armor....