Japan, USA show off giant fighting robots ahead of epic battle

On the heels of the US victory over Japan in the World Cup finals, another showdown between the two countries has gone viral: a robot battle.

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The idea stemmed from US-based MegaBots Inc., a group that builds giant fighting robots for sport. They've created America's first fully functional giant piloted robot, the video explains. Wanting to put it to the test, they issued a challenge, to -- naturally -- Japan. Specifically, to Japanese robotics company Sudobashi.

"We have a giant robot. You have a giant robot. You know what needs to happen," MegaBots team members said in the video. "We challenge you to a duel."

The video challenge went viral, and soon Sudobashi couldn't ignore it.

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In the video response, Sudobashi's frontman called the challenge "interesting" but kept his poker face.

"We can't let another country win this," he said. "Giant robots are Japanese culture."

The self-proclaimed experts in giant robots, though, said the battle wouldn't be cool enough if it was just about guns. They wanted to do it the old-fashioned way, they said: Hand-to-hand combat.

Understandably, the stipulation made Team USA sweat a little. But they said they're up to the challenge.

MegaBots Inc. said to expect the fight to happen around one year from now. With the media hype already heating up, this is sure to be the most anticipated giant robot battle the world has ever seen.

Images used with permission of MegaBots Inc.