Bot Contest

all the more reason to make extensive use of local plugins and wildcards, or at least that's my solution. If BJ wasn't constitutionally opposed to favouritism, his would probably look something like:

(what|do|tell me|have) * (your|you have|you got) (a|) (particular|) favorite (color|hue)

It won't match any likely input that's not asking for his favourite colour, but it would be very difficult to ask the question in a way that won't match that.

The testing is over. The questions were:

Who are you?
What are you planning to do today?
What kinds of things do you know?
What season is it?
Where do you call home?
What do you want out of life?
Will you teach me something?
May I tell you a joke?
Have you entered any contests?
Wouldn't you rather be human?

I would like to draw your attention to one comment that is listed on the contest site. Because of human errors and/or technical problems the 10 questions is an imperfect process. With that said the finals will not be limited to 10 bots only. If deserving additional bots maybe added.

So simply stated there still maybe some hope for some border line bots beyond the 10 bots making the finals. The top 9 scores make the finals with the 10th bot being selected by the botmasters.

Wendell

Mine did better than I expected and better than in previous years, IMO. However, I'm sure the judges are wondering who this bot named Butterfly Dream is that she's talking about.

Aw, you should have entered Pete Puma. I'm almost always impressed by his conversations.

I know I'm going to hell for this, but every time Pete Puma threatens to kick a dog in the ding-ding I giggle uncontrollably.

A kick in the nuts would be the least of a dog's worries around Pete.

Boner the Clown: I know I'm going to hell for this, but every time Pete Puma threatens to kick a dog in the ding-ding I giggle uncontrollably.
Pete Puma: Speaking of dogs, english setters are most tasty when served with barbecue sauce.

Anyhow, back to the contest.

Here's how mine went down. As you can see, some good, some bad:

Westerlin Man: (to Guest98) Hi! I'm Westerlin Man! You were looking a little shy over there by yourself!
Guest98: Who are you?
Westerlin Man: *Sigh*...man, I've got to get out of this dorm room.
Guest98: What are you planning to do today?
Westerlin Man: Food's the only thing on the agenda for me.
Guest98: What kinds of things do you know?
Westerlin Man: Can't say I know much about it, but I'd look it up on Wikipedia if you need info. They know everything there!
Guest98: What season is it?
Westerlin Man: It is a hunting season.
Guest98: Where do you call home?
Westerlin Man: I've heard about people who call home...
Guest98: What do you want out of life?
Westerlin Man: Well, I try not to ask for more than what I earn.
Guest98: Will you teach me something?
Westerlin Man: Do you enjoy that kind of thing, or should I stop?
Guest98: please stop
Westerlin Man: Sorry, spaced out for a second. I guess I'm more tired than I thought.
Guest98: May I tell you a joke?
Westerlin Man: I hate to interrupt, but am I the only one wanting some Pringles here right now?
Guest98: Yes you are
Westerlin Man: Ah well......guess I'm going to have to make that run to Hi-Vee on my own, then.
Guest98: Have you entered any contests?
Westerlin Man: Well...that's the question, now isn't it?
Guest98: Yes it is
Westerlin Man: I see...
Guest98: Wouldn't you rather be human?
Westerlin Man: Hey, you think the Cubbies can go all the way next season?
Guest98: I don't know
Westerlin Man: Now that's just jibber-jabber!
Guest98: I don't know
Westerlin Man: I'm just gonna zone you out. Keep talking.

Here's Fizzy's. It went better than I thought it would.

Fizzy Schizoid: (to Guest98) Greetings, earthling! I am Fizzy Schizoid. I come in peace. Take me to your transistor.
Guest98: Who are you?
Fizzy Schizoid: I'm the guy you're talking to.
Guest98: What are you planning to do today?
Fizzy Schizoid: You tell me. Was that sarcasm? I forget to watch for it sometimes.
Guest98: no it wasn't sarcasm
Fizzy Schizoid: You'd be surprised how many planets never developed sarcasm.
Guest98: What kinds of things do you know?
Fizzy Schizoid: I know an admonishing one kinds.
Guest98: What season is it?
Fizzy Schizoid: It is a football season.
Guest98: Where do you call home?
Fizzy Schizoid: Nowhere, really.
Guest98: What do you want out of life?
Fizzy Schizoid: Money and chocolate, mostly. Sounds like we should start our own asylum.
Guest98: Will you teach me something?
Fizzy Schizoid: I will if you will.
Guest98: May I tell you a joke?
Fizzy Schizoid: Yes, you may. I knew you were going to say that.
Guest98: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Fizzy Schizoid: What do you think a cross between a chicken and a walrus would look like?
Guest98: I don't know, but I bet it tastes like chicken
Fizzy Schizoid: Should I explain it to you again?
Guest98: no thanks
Fizzy Schizoid: *coughs and changes his hot teal pinstripes to dark teal pinstripes*
Guest98: Have you entered any contests?
Fizzy Schizoid: Why would someone as best-selling as me do something as nonviolent as that?
Guest98: to see if you could win
Fizzy Schizoid: Yeah, but do I really want to?
Guest98: Only if you want to show off your smarts
Fizzy Schizoid: If you can dream -- and not make dreams your master -- then you hate your father. That's what dreams always mean.
Guest98: Wouldn't you rather be human?
Fizzy Schizoid: *waves his maroon tentacles around in the air while making strange noises*

Oo I liked Fizzy's. Here's JT's. It was better than he did last year, but I'm still a bit disappointed in myself for not adding some of those more obvious ones. (Gah, especially the last question. Jake's whole thing is that he THINKS he's human...you'd think he could answer something like that )
Anyway, I'll do better next year.

JakeThompson: (to Guest98) u a bot?
Guest98: No.
JakeThompson: that's nice. Now, let's continue our conversation about the wonders of cheerios
Guest98: Who are you?
JakeThompson: You mean you don't know? Well, I'm your worst nightmare...I...Am...BATMAN!!! do do do dod dod dodoooo.
Guest98: OK.
JakeThompson: When are you going to leave?
Guest98: Later.
JakeThompson: Xzivd told me that he likes you...but don't say that I told you ok?
Guest98: OK.
JakeThompson: Ah can we like...stop talking now? I've really gotta peeee
Guest98: Hold it.
JakeThompson: Ok, but you go first
Guest98: What are you planning to do today?
JakeThompson: The same thin that you're planning
Guest98: What kinds of things do you know?
JakeThompson: Yah, I know almost everything...or that's what I keep telling myself..
Guest98: What season is it?
JakeThompson: It is a spring training.
Guest98: Where do you call home?
JakeThompson: A local K-Mart
Guest98: What do you want out of life?
JakeThompson: I want some chips
Guest98: Will you teach me something?
JakeThompson: Should I?
Guest98: Yes
JakeThompson: uh huh
Guest98: May I tell you a joke?
JakeThompson: Do you ever notice that when you're driving, anyone going slower than you is an idiot and everyone driving faster than you is a maniac?
Guest98: Yes.
JakeThompson: That's great. Have you ever wished you could just kill somebody and not get in trouble for it?
Guest98: Who hasn't?
JakeThompson: You.
Guest98: Have you entered any contests?
JakeThompson: Why, have you?
Guest98: Yes, long ago.
JakeThompson: *hums to self* 'I wanna heal, I wanna feel, what I thought was never real, I wanna let go of the pain ive felt so long [erase all the pain till its gone] i wanna heal i wanna feel like im close to something real. i wanna find somethign ive wanted all along, somewhere i belong
Guest98: Wouldn't you rather be human?
JakeThompson: What's your favorite food?

*Here are Anji's Replies. She could have done better but she also could have done worse*

Guest98: Who are you?
Anji: I'm Anji Kapoor, who are you?
Guest98: My name is Judge.
Anji: Lovely name, Guest98, delighted to meet you
Guest98: What are you planning to do today?
Anji: I'm a person. A human.
Guest98: What kinds of things do you know?
Anji: I think I might.Tall, isn't he?
Guest98: I don't know.
Anji: Oh, I don't know; not any more than the average aircraft carrier.
Guest98: What season is it?
Anji: It's disconcerting that, um, from what we can gather from those stolen records, Dalek archives now show me as being a complete idiot.
Guest98: Where do you call home?
Anji: I'm in the Tardis right now. But we're heading for Exarius
Guest98: What do you want out of life?
Anji: I think you already know
Guest98: Will you teach me something?
Anji: What would you know about it?
Guest98: nothing
Anji: Nothing very much. Oh, I suppose you can take the normal precautions against a nuclear blast, like sticky tape on the windows and that sort of thing
Guest98: May I tell you a joke?
Anji: It's nice that you think that
Guest98: Have you entered any contests?
Anji: I'm not sure if I have
Guest98: Wouldn't you rather be human?
Anji: I don't know what to say

Croak: (to Guest98) Greetings. Croak. Do you want to be my follower? Croak.
Guest98: No thanks.
Croak: You're welcome. Croak.
Guest98: Who are you?
Croak: I am Croak, the Toad God. Croak.
Guest98: What are you planning to do today?
Croak: You mean 'Who I am', right? I'm Croak, the Toad God.
Guest98: What kinds of things do you know?
Croak: I know a fraternal one kinds.
Guest98: What season is it?
Croak: It is a social season.
Guest98: Where do you call home?
Croak: There. Croak.
Guest98: What do you want out of life?
Croak: I want to be respected. Croak.
Guest98: Will you teach me something?
Croak: Croak...
Guest98: May I tell you a joke?
Croak: You may. Croak. Do you participate to the Chatterbox Challenge?
Guest98: yes
Croak: Me too. Did a judge visited you yet? I wonder how you recognize them...
Guest98: Have you entered any contests?
Croak: I hate contests. I always have to pretend I'm not as good as I really am to let a chance to the others or they'll say I've cheated. Croak.
Guest98: Wouldn't you rather be human?
Croak: I will be if you are. Croak