Dominoes vs. Machines: Round IX (w/

For the 9th year in a row, the fight is on yet again in the battle of chain reaction art! This year, I go head-to-head with one of the most innovative minds in all of domino art: ‪@micajodomino‬. Will Machines come out on top? Or have I met my match against the sheer insanity of these domino clips? You be the judge!
Support me on Patreon! / jackofallspades98
LINKS:
Micajo Domino: / micajodomino
Watch Rounds I - VIII! • Dominoes vs. Machines
Overall, I'm very pleased with the tricks I built this year. After losing the first half of September to my recent move, I was worried I'd have to cut corners to finish all my clips, but I think all of them turned out well, even (especially?) the ones that were "rushed".
Compared to last year, I think there are fewer crazy insane sudden motions, and more tricks that are cool for other reasons, but I think it's a change for the better. I'm especially proud of clips like the Zigzag Board Escapement Car and Collapsing Zigzag Tracks because of their concepts and execution, even if the motions themselves aren't blow-your-socks-off insane.
Another new thing this year are some clips with some additional arts-and-crafts decoration elements (the spikes/danger signs in Looping Pendulum and the hypnotic swirl in Resetting Circular Billiard Ball Chain). This is the kind of thing I'd like to add to my machines more often, and I'm starting to find more and more ways to do it. Keep an eye out for things like this to become more integrated into my style in the future!
If you're wondering what the miscellaneous objects are in the background of the Anagram Decoder clip, there are 3 other pairs of words that are anagrams of each other, one on each side of the decoder, just like how HEART turns into EARTH. The extra anagrams aren't easy, but they serve as a bonus puzzle for those who want to figure them out! (See bottom of description for the answers)
CLIP LIST:
Anagram Decoder (0:18) - 10 fails, 5 days
Up & Down Gear Tracks (0:33) - 31 fails, 2 days
Jump Rope Pong Shot (0:46) - 72 fails, 4 days
Looping Pendulum (1:18) - 13 fails, 3 days
Resetting Circular Billiard Ball Chain (1:32) - 12 fails, 4 days
Double Pendulum Planetary Gears (2:23) - 1 fail, 4 days
Zigzag Board Escapement Car (2:32) - 5 fails, 1 day
Collapsing Zigzag Tracks (2:48) - 3 fails, 3 days
CLIP STATS:
Most fails: Jump Rope Pong Shot (72 fails)
Fewest fails: Double Pendulum Planetary Gears (1 fail)
Most frustrating during building: Anagram Decoder (the stuff you can't see underneath the board, trust me...)
Most frustrating during testing: Anagram Decoder (see above) & Up & Down Gear Tracks
Most fun: Looping Pendulum & Zigzag Board Escapement Car
Favorite: Looping Pendulum
Longest Build Time: Anagram Decoder (5 days)
Quickest Build Time: Zigzag Board Escapement Car (1 day)
SPECIAL THANKS:
‪@BobbyBroccoli‬ for the inspiration (and tutorial) on using Google Earth to animate ( • How to Animate in Goog... )
‪@RadicalReactions99‬ for suggesting this year's song, honestly such a perfect choice I knew I had to use it the instant I heard it
My friends over in Crosscord, the crossword community's Discord server, for suggesting anagram pairs for the Anagram Decoder clip. Some of your suggestions became Easter eggs in the background!
#DominoesVsMachines
MUSIC:
Z0 - Skyblock
• Z0 - Skyblock [Argofox...
Follow Z0:
KZbin: / @hi_im_z0
SoundCloud: / hi_im_z0
Twitter: / hi_im_z0
Want to hang out with other chain reaction artists and enthusiasts? Join the official Domino & Machine Community Discord server! / discord
I am also interested in commissioned work, such as live events, commercials, or product placements. Contact me via e-mail at [e-mail] if you have any questions.
ANAGRAM DECODER ANSWERS:
-GRAPES / PAGERS
-NOTES / STONE
-PLATES / PETALS

[@KaplaBen]

I'm more of a machine guy and huge fan of jackofallspaces in general, but in this one the dominoes are UNREAL

[@SuperDominoes]

machines won BY FAR, jack you are sooo smart

[@tricky-life]

OMG the collapsing zigzag tracks were sooooo good, I really did not expect that! Amazing machines, as always! I am really excited for what you have built for MM22!

[@B16Dominoes]

Truly insane guys. I would have to say that Micajo won. Wooooooooooooooooooow

[@mbcommandnerd]

Honestly, I think this one’s a draw! There’s so much awesomeness on the machine side (as always 😉), but the domino side had some EPIC tricks I’ve never seen before that gave them some serious points, too! So no one really won this time in my opinion. They both did equally well!

[@PresidentPaul2028]

The domino setups in this were very daring and unique.

[@christinekoops6211]

they were both so cool!! MInd blowing!

[@joelsinventions]

I've already laid out all my thoughts in our voice call but I'll plop some of them down here again since these are genuinely some of the most polished clips you've ever made 0:33 10/10 - perfect timing and path sequencing, also using a curved train track for the timing delay to better encapsulate the shape of the trick is brilliant. I may not have noticed the importance of centrifugal force immediately, but on my first watch the main thing on my mind was "how is this possible lol" so I already knew it was important without knowing exactly what "it" was 0:47 10/10 - super fun idea to incorporate the motion of a jump rope, also as I mentioned before, the ball dropper freezing after the ball drops (whether intentional or not) is a key element of polish considering with such a spectacle of a motion, you would not want anything moving in the background to distract the viewer while the main complex movements are happening here 1:19 10/10 - the PERFECT demonstration of the physics trick in so many ways: 1- the starting/ending locations of the components of the physics trick are BOTH used to form a full one ball path, where not just both components are necessary, but both PHASES of both components are necessary so the trick has a proper book end 2- the actual motion and position changes of the physics trick are crystal clear (unlike in mine 🤢) and 3- the little decoration spikes act as a visual indicator that something is about to fall and then be saved, so even if the viewer doesn't know how it's going to happen, they won't be entirely confused as to WHY the motion has to happen 1:31 9/10 - almost flawless with the minimized connection systems, motion smoothness, added decoration, and the overarching concept itself. The issue is you can't really see the key moment where the billiard balls all make the switch, which is the whole point of the trick. I think it's sick now, but I fear most viewers won't experience that same moment of clarity 2:24 10/10 - brilliant combination of ideas, shows insane technical ability being able to pull something like this off. The elements of polish here are much more subtle, but they make a world of difference, in particular the existence of the gap between two unmoving tracks that needs to be filled, as well as the minimalism in regard to the components that have to be removed - the tube gets subtly pulled back, and that motion is not only justified in order for the pendulum sequence to have room to move, but it actually triggers the lever itself that nudges the gear to topple over! 2:31 10/10 - super original concept for a ball-powered car trick, made all the sweeter by the classic demonstration of tiny ball don't do something bige ball do do something, especially considering that "something" is a unique motion that's hard to predict but super easy to understand once you see it (aka why I screamed the first time I saw it) 2:48 10/10 - BRILLIANT demonstration of a track trick idea with parallel tracks in the starting position. The inclusion of the "bounce pads" to lure the viewer into the trap of the fourth ball is so genius because even experienced machine builders will have no clue what's about to happen based on the design itself. Not to mention that all of this is just extra shenanigans because the main feature of the trick is a crazy new type of track domino that I never would have conceptualized, made all the more mind blowing from the subversion of expectations But yeah these tricks are goated. I still can't pick a winner for the episode even though these are some of the best tricks you've made, but that's just because micajo also wields the same power to make my brain melt

[@MrJ01]

Absolutely fantastic, well done Real glad Micajo was a part of this

[@cwdcubing]

Genuinely impressed that 9 years into this series you're still able to capture the spirit of Dominoes vs Machines in the same way. These always make me feel nostalgic for some reason. Also the dominoes in this video were super technically impressive, there were quite a few concepts in here that I never have seen before. Well done, both of you!

[@lorennzolictao5019]

Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness! This is UNBELIEVABLE! Your tricks have become more complex than ever! I deserve the machines as a winner!🏆 congratulations! 👏

[@bluekrabs]

Everything was amazing!!! This was such a fun video to watch on my first viewing, it was like a magic show ✨ Now that I’m going back an analyzing everything, I think the clip at 1:32 is my favorite 😳 like,, I love how smooooth that spinner is!! Also, it always makes me happy to see a billiard ball chain in a video :) I’m not sure why

[@sirgabealot01]

Commenting late but I didn't want the chance to slip by to say that this is a perfect episode of Dominoes vs Machines in my opinion - the machines, dominoes, and music are all flawless. This is one of the few videos I've seen where there are more machine clips that blew me away than clips that didn't - the jump rope and looping pendulum are easily two of the best machine tricks I've seen to date, with the planetary gear and collapsing zigzag tricks following close behind. Micajo makes for a perfect domino partner, innovating with new creative techniques with dominoes but also still making them feel like domino clips as opposed to machine clips with dominoes (which I'm down for but in this case it serves better for a video that contrasts dominoes and machines). The music is also spectacular - there is nothing quite like the exhilarating feeling of watching mind-blowing machine tricks with an awesome bass-blasting theme in the background, a feeling I experience once every 1-2 years. I've watched this video probably once a week since it came out, it's truly amazing how a project with so many different parts came together this well. I really didn't think anything could top 8 but this video is definitely the pinnacle of the series to date. Great work!

[@flashdomino]

You're still getting so much mileage out of track tricks and I'm glad that's never been a limiting factor for you, because these are mind-blowing! Each year is becoming more and more of a visual spectacle, I love the height and decorations in your clips. Awesome job!

[@joelsinventions]

lyle is the hot wheels track trick qween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@rowsdominoes]

@@joelsinventions do you mean KING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@donlyphans7801]

The domino tricks were painfully good! And the ending machine was great. The viewer is almost lulled into a trance seeing the balls roll down one by one, only to snap out of it by the tracks falling down and creating a new path. Perfect.

[@rensyracimo7814]

Absolutely amazing! It was so much fun to watch all the creative tricks you did was great especially the last machine trick because it blew my mind and inspired me to make a machine.

[@AWoodenDomino]

I am speechless. Both of you guys did an amazing job! Seriously AMAZING! All the clips are on 🔥. It’s really hard to choose who won, you put a lot of effort to make your clips!

[@Smileypeacefun]

To still see so many new tricks is mindblowing. Amazing collab.

[@delta3244]

2:55 alright, that got a laugh out of me. Fantastic trick (in multiple senses of the word!), I love it.

[@amyzebrowski8493]

Now THAT'S a birthday celebration! Both parts were impressive!

[@IncredibleTS]

Those machines are absolutely INSANE. I admire all the different contraptions you set up and they inspire me to do more creative stuff! (Although I don't make Rube Goldberg machines or chain reactions, but I do make trickshots and I try to implement some of my own "contraptions" in them when i can!)

[@craiglister7110]

You’re both winners 😊 that was amazing 🤩 great job 👏🏻

[@terminatorX2]

This was the best collaboration ever!

[@ieatatsonic]

how consistent was the little jump rope at 0:48? It took me a second to actually realize what was going on there

[@jackofallspades98]

Not very consistent at all haha, 72 fails was by far the most out of all the clips in the video

[@migsy1]

That was amazing!! Both of you made such mesmerizing builds! I can’t wait to see what you guys make next! Also, is one of your Patreon subscribers Danica McKellar?!

[@jackofallspades98]

Yep, she's been very supportive since Domino Masters :)

[@CameronBaba]

i, already impressed by the anagram, could not have prepared for the 4 minutes to come these are INSANE

[@donlyphans7801]

Superb, it should be said.

[@Vanson_Rad]

In this time dimino won!

[@q-tuber7034]

3:10 what the hell

[@RaduPetrici]

2:59 best moment of your part

[@wisejedi]

0:47 was very radical

[@jhdomino572]

Truly insane, and the best DvM episode. Now it's hard to judge. :)

[@codemancreations6865]

A year later and I am still confused how Micajo managed the trick at 3:10 😂

[@micajodomino]

Magic ;)

[@codemancreations6865]

@@micajodomino lol

[@michaelmullen263]

That anagram couldn’t have been more perfect for this spectacular collaboration.

[@BatteryPoweredBricks]

As someone just stumbling upon this series, my mind has been blown 🤯

[@ogrelogre8429]

So, I'm genuinely curious. Were all the dominoes free standing, or were some strung together, or hinged?

[@micajodomino]

Many of the dominoes were taped down to control how they fell, and string was also used for a few of the tricks :)

[@Dadzuka]

Incredible, as always. The Pythagoras Switch reference was a nice touch 👌

[@jackofallspades98]

That little green block is always hidden (or in this case, not so hidden!) in all my videos 😉

[@Dadzuka]

I went from feeling clever for spotting it to feeling like an idiot for not seeing it in earlier videos 😂

[@ChillBeans42]

Wow the dominoes were incredible

[@cloudboy08]

2:37 that green block gave me Nostalgia

[@parkerfitzgerald5993]

Jack of all spades

[@parkerfitzgerald5993]

Machines!!

[@DodotheWishFanboy]

Cool