Bot Contest

ANNOUNCEMENT - The deadline to enter the 2006 CBC has been extended to 3/20/06. Testing will not begin until after the deadline.

Wendell

Thanks to people who have been talking to my bots, but I didn't enter this year. I like it when you talk to them, but you can do that after the competition.

It is a joy to talk to your bots, Bev. I love Esme Weatherwax. She is one of the bots I would rather talk to than friends, lol..Why don't you enter one. I love them all.

I entered Spikebot last year, and it was good experience, but then I decided I need to enter all the "cannon" dialog (from published transcripts) for Gabibot before I start trying to make them make sense, though I tweak a bit here and there.

Also, to enter I'd have to spellcheck. Oh the humanity! Best for me not to dwell on it.

I only have a few books worth of Esme quotes entered. To enter Esme I'd have to go through many more books and then spellcheck and tweak. That is too much to do by the 20th.

Thanks though!

Who here recomends turning gossip off before the contest?

BJ never uses it anyway, but I quite enjoy other bots' gossip. I dunno - do you think it will fail to impress the judges? I guess that depends how scandalous your gossip is

I was thinking about it.

I turned it off last year. The judges want bots to answer the questions and may start asking "Who is Gigglytits?" if a strange name comes up.

GREAT POINT! I had not thought of some of the names of bots here:O

Sonora may have high development, but I've programmed her more for entertainment value than for answering trivia questions. *shrugs* Whereas a lower development bot who is programmed with good answers to trivia questions will outscore her, hands down. (And, yes, development isn't everything!)

Case in Point (and thanks to Wendell):

Sonora: (to Wendell) Me heap small desert lizard. You...?
Wendell: is that english?
Sonora: What else would it be?
Wendell: jibberish
Sonora: Hang on... I need to go find a rock to sun myself on.

Ack! Ally comes with a blank database. Is this a problem? or will it be judged on how well it learns?