R.O.B.



R.O.B. (short for Robotic Operating Buddy; known in Japan as Family Computer Robot, and in Mario Kart DS known as HVC-012) is an accessory for the Nintendo Entertainment System. In Japan, it was known as the Famicon 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 (surprisingly) a playable character in Mario Kart DS. In the game, he is one of the heaviest characters. Only Bowser is his equal. 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. He is the fourth and last character to unlock. When players play online, they may come across the red Japanese Famicon Robot 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 red model of R.O.B on his shelf in the game.