ROB The Robot

ROB the Robot NES accessory, full name Robotic Operating Buddy (R.O.B.), is the toy robot Nintendo released in North America in October 1985. It was designed by Gunpei Yokoi. This listing is for the R.O.B. unit shown in the photos.

About ROB the Robot NES Accessory

R.O.B. has arms that can grab and move objects. To give it orders, the game flashes the screen, and an optical sensor in the robot reads those flashes. Games can send six distinct commands this way. The robot runs on batteries.

Only two officially licensed games use R.O.B.: Gyromite and Stack-Up. In Gyromite, R.O.B. places gyros onto the buttons of the second controller, which raises and lowers gates on screen.

R.O.B. played a big role in the NES launch. After the 1983 video game crash, Nintendo used it to present the console as a toy, which helped retailers accept the system. Historian Chris Kohler called R.O.B. a "Trojan Horse" that got NES systems into American homes. This R.O.B. NES accessory was sold in the Deluxe Set and was quietly discontinued within a few years.

R.O.B. Robotic Operating Buddy Details

• Works with: Nintendo Entertainment System, with Gyromite or Stack-Up
• Maker: Nintendo (designed by Gunpei Yokoi)
• Released: October 1985 (North America)
• What it does: Reads screen flashes and moves its arms to handle game pieces
• Power: Batteries
• What you get: The R.O.B. unit shown in the listing photos

Before You Use R.O.B. Today

R.O.B. needs a CRT television. It does not work correctly with LCD screens, because it reads light flashes from the picture. You also need a copy of Gyromite or Stack-Up. The condition of this unit is not recorded, so check the listing photos to see the exact robot and which parts are included.

Related Listings

Play R.O.B.'s best-known game with Gyromite or Gyromite (5 Screw). Browse more NES accessories, or read about R.O.B. on Wikipedia.

ROB the Robot NES: FAQs

What games work with R.O.B.?
Gyromite and Stack-Up are the only two officially licensed R.O.B. games.

Does R.O.B. work on a flat-screen TV?
No. It needs a CRT television, because it reads flashes from the screen.

How is it powered?
R.O.B. runs on batteries.

Is a game included?
No game is listed with this item. You get the R.O.B. unit shown in the photos.

Ordering and Shipping

Orders are dispatched within 2 business days. Standard US shipping is $4.99, and orders over $50 ship free. Every order is covered by our 30-day return policy.