R.O.B.



R.O.B. (short for Robotic Operating Buddy) is an accessory for the Nintendo Entertainment System. In Japan, it was known as the Famicon Robot, which was short for Family Computer Robot. R.O.B. functions by translating flashes of information on the television screen into physical actions (using technology similar to the Zapper Gun). R.O.B. was first used for the game Gyromite.

Players can control R.O.B. with the control pad to make him raise and lower gyroscopes. To make the gyroscope spin, set the object in the gyroscope spinner and then balance it on one of the two round trays that are connected to controller two. Placing a gyro on the red tray lowers the red GATES; placing a gyro on the blue tray lowers the blue GATES.



R.O.B. is also the last unlockable character in Mario Kart DS. In the game, he is one of the heaviest characters, his weight matched by only Bowser. R.O.B's symbol is the NES D-Pad. R.O.B. has two original karts: the ROB-BLS and the ROB-LGS. His karts are fast, heavy, and have wider handling. R.O.B. is the first non-Mario character to appear in the Mario Kart series. The others (in the Mario Kart Arcade GP series) are Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Blinky, and Mametchi. When players play online, they may come across the HVC-012, the red Japanese version of R.O.B.

R.O.B. is also the subject of the "Stack-Up" microgame in WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ from 9-Volt's games. In WarioWare: Smooth Moves, R.O.B. is the first boss of the Starfox boss game.

R.O.B once again appears in another Mario game-this time Super Paper Mario. Francis keeps a model of the red Famicon Robot on his shelf in the game.

R.O.B.s will appear under two roles in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. During the Subspace Emissary, they will be part of the Subspace Army, and will be used to activate the Subspace Bomb, as well as guard the Ancient Minister and will come in different variations. The bodyguards for the Ancient Minister are called The R.O.B. Squad. In fact, a R.O.B. apparently defects from the Subspace Army and becomes a playable character in its own right.