Live Your Mech Dreams on a Small Scale with the GEIO Battle Bot

Mech suit video games have always been a favorite among gamers. There is something innately appealing about controlling a giant robot to battle your friends for supremacy. Conversely, battle bot TV shows have proven that actual physical robot fights are fascinating in their own right. But, how can the two be combined in an affordable way?

GJS thinks they’ve found a way with GEIO: an FPS battle bot that lets you battle your friends in the physical world from within the robot itself. GEIO works on a mixed reality level, and gives you control of the robot while allowing safe combat with other GEIO bots. The bot itself rides on four omnidirectional wheels for agility, and has a movable turret for the camera and “weapons.”

You control GEIO with a smart phone app, which gives you a first person view from the bot. Where it gets really interesting is the combat with other players. Various game modes are available, which are similar to what you’re used to in video games, but you battle within the real world. You can hunt down, shoot, and “destroy” other players, with the effects being layered onto your phone’s screen.

Players can build their own arenas in whatever space they have available, and place tags on boxes or other objects to do things like upgrade your GEIO’s weapons, or equip a shield. Team play is also available, so you can gather all of your friends for a frenzied FPS fight.

GEIO is currently on Kickstarter, and is close to reaching its funding goal. The prototypes and mixed reality tech all seem to be functioning, so it certainly looks like this is a real product that will actually ship. Backers should receive their orders in February 2018.