TV appeal for virtual warriors

Design your perfect fighting machine on the site

Do you fancy doing battle with Demonika, MonkofDoom or Chadwokie? These are just some of the pseudonyms used by people to create their virtual warriors and do battle in the BBC's FightBox programme.

FightBox is a joint TV and internet project which challenges UK gamers to design the perfect fighting machine.

The programme hits TV screens in September, premiering on BBC Three and BBC Two but it is already living and breathing thanks to the web.

Thousands of people have been logging onto the programme's website - just over 60,000 people in less than two weeks - simply to be crowned the champion of FightBox champions.

New arena

The creators of the project describe it as a new televised sport for the PlayStation generation.

We've already seen the success of shows where the web is highly instrumental in the TV programme's success such as Celebdaq and Test the Nation

Finbar Hawkins, FightBox

"Viewers will never have seen anything like this before nor had the chance to create the drama and action of TV show in this way," said Nick Southgate, joint director FightBox Ltd.

"Gaming is an important part of popular culture and we hope that FightBox will lead the way in moving the gaming world into whole new arena."

Contestants can create their own virtual warrior on a computer from a series of components using the FightBox software. Using downloads from the website, creations can be trained and scores uploaded to the site's FightBox leader board.

"We've already seen the success of shows where the web is highly instrumental in the TV programme's success such as Celebdaq and Test the Nation," said Finbar Hawkins, FightBox joint director.

"FightBox takes on that concept. The web is a crucial element to make FightBox work.

"It's not only for people wanting to download the kit and create a warrior but it's the centre of a community for anyone interested in FightBox."

TV face-off

On the site, the forums are host to lively debates, with people swapping tips and getting competitive.

Your warrior will face a series of challenges

There is even the formation of 'tribes' where groups of FightBox fanatics have clubbed together.

The top warriors from the website will be entered into the TV show where, using new studio technology, the virtual warriors - controlled by their makers - will slug it out in a huge arena, surrounded by a live studio audience.

The viewer at home and the studio audience will then watch these life-size gladiators in action as they compete in games of skill and combat against each other and the FightBox house warriors called Sentients.

The ultimate winner will become the FightBox Champion and their warrior will be immortalised and join the six house Sentients.

People have until 30 June to complete the qualifiers and submit their scores to the website to be in with a chance of seeing their creation on TV.