Atlaspheres

Infobox Gladiators Event
Event_Name = Atlaspheres|

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width = 320px
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Int. Year = 1990
origin_country= flag|United States
Used In = flag|United States
flag|United Kingdom
flag|Australia
flag|Finland
flag|South Africa
flag|Sweden
AltName = Atlasphere flag|United States
flag|Australia(revival only)
Ihmiskuulaflag|Sweden
Last_Used = present
num_cont = 2
num_glad = 2
timelim = 60 seconds

Atlaspheres is an event played in several incarnations of the television series "Gladiators". In this event, all participants are enclosed in Atlaspheres, heavy steel balls 2 metres in diameter. It is the contenders aim to use their Atlasphere to roll over scoring pods on the floor and the Gladiators job to prevent it.

Rules

Two contenders face two Gladiators and begin on ramps in opposite corners of the playing field. On the whistle, all participants must roll their Atlasphere to the centre for a clash. On the floor are four scoring pods placed in a diamond shape. The contenders must roll their Atlasphere over as many scoring pods as possible within 60 seconds.

It is the Gladiators job to mark the contenders out of the scoring pods. A Gladiator may only mark their allocated contender and are not allowed to block them into a corner or hold them in a position for longer than 10 seconds.

Contenders must successfully roll over the center of the pod to trigger a sensor. Only a successful 'centering' will trigger a CO2 emission from the appropriate pod which signifies a contender score. Contenders are not allowed to score on the same pod on consecutive attempts unless they have attempted to score on another pod and have been thwarted.

International differences

Scoring for a successful centering varied across the different countries. America awarded 1,2 and 3 points per score over the course of its initial run. The UK awarded 3 points throughout its run whereas Australia awarded 2 points during its initial run. Both American and Australian revivals currently operate on the basis of 2 points per score. Also, American Gladiators are "not" tied to a Contender and may guard whoever they wish at any time, which allows for a player to breakaway if an opponent is being double-teamed.

The American name for this event is Atlasphere (singular). It should be noted that the Australian revival also uses the singular version.

Atlaspheres was played in South Africa. In a stark difference to the original concept, contenders had to knock down giant bowling pins instead of rolling over pods.

The event was also played in Sweden under the name Ihmiskuula.

Event History

America

Years active: 1990-1994, 2008(ii)-

Atlasphere was first introduced during the second season (1990) run of American Gladiators. During its first season, Gladiators began the game on one of the scoring pods near the middle of the floor while the contenders started at opposite ends of the floor. The shape of the pods varied significantly during this season, with the pod openings becoming wider and the pod sides becoming shallower as te season went on, and in some episodes, a fifth pod was seen in the center of the floor. As no contender ever managed to settle in this goal due to the large incline and small opening, it is unclear whether this center pod was a legal scoring pod. Contenders had to bring their Atlasphere to a stop in the pod for at least a second in order to score. Because several Contenders, and even a couple of Gladiators got stuck on the pods, the rule was amended the next year in that the Atlapshere had to cleanly go over a sensor in the center of the pod in order to score, with two clouds of smoky fog being emitted along with a glowing ring of lights to indicate a successful score. In addition, Gladiators were moved to the opposite corners as became the norm of the event.

In the fifth series of American Gladiator's original run, the starting ramps where no longer used. The event was retired in America from Season 6.

Atlasphere returned in the second series of the 2008 US revival in the semifinals with several minor changes. The pods no longer had the pressure sensors in the center that determined scores and the starting ramps returned. Also, the Atlaspheres used in the revival were both larger and heavier, weighing 650 pounds as opposed to the 225 pound Atlaspheres used in the original series. Event Commentator Van Earl Wright noted the popularity of the game when announcing its return. There is no visible testing of the smoke sensors during Al Kaplon's countdown, something which took place when Larry Thompson checked smoke sensors before starting the matches in the original series, although all four pods are activated immediately upon the beginning of the game.

UK

Years active: 1992-1999

Atlaspheres was the very first event to be played during the show's run and was played throughout all eight series. The event's signature tune was "We Will Rock You" by Queen which was played before most matches with John Anderson then checking that the pods emitted smoke.

The event received a slight make over in the second series (1993) with a single cloud of CO2 being released as opposed to two diagonal spurts. In addition, the pods had red stripes added to them. A variety of different coloured Atlaspheres were used during the shows run, with grey for Gladiators and a combination of red, orange, yellow and blue for contenders. In series 3 (1994), new 'turbo charged' Atlaspheres were introduced which moved quicker across the arena floor.

The event was sometimes modified for special shows, with 2 Gladiators on ramps facing off against 3 contenders (placed in the centre) and later 3 Gladiators starting off on the arena floor directly in front of 3 contenders.

Atlaspheres was modified for the junior Gladiators show Train 2 Win. In this modification, one Atlasphere was used as a giant bowling ball, attempting to knock down 10 giant bowling pins placed at the end of the arena (similar to the South African concept).

Atlaspheres had been planned to appear in the 2008 revival, with the events signature tune being played in television adverts, but had to be scrapped due to the lack of a floor space big enough for the event.

Australia

Years active: 1995-1997, 2008-

Atlaspheres was introduced in the first series and ran for all three series. It also returned for the first series of the 2008 revival under the singular name, "Atlasphere".

References

* [http://www.gladiatorszone.co.uk/events/atlaspheres.php Gladiators Zone- Atlaspheres]