How do you play Gyromite for the NES?

[junglehunter]

I have the R.O.B. for the NES with Gyromite. How the heck do you actually play it? What are all the accessories that you need to play? Please help. Thanks. :-D

[Videogamerdaryll]

Providing no one answers this..I'll take some pis of the accessories that you need to play? and give you an explanation ...later on today..

I gotta run,,The Flea market is a Callling... :D

Here's an Ebay auction of the accessories that you need to play?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3027017132&category=3605

[Raccoon Lad]

Forget teh robot, just use your feet to operate controller 2.

[Videogamerdaryll]

You can have lots of fun playing games with R.O.B., but to make him work
you need all of the items in the picture below. If you try to use R.O.B.
by himself he won't work. You need the NES, a Robot Game Pak (robot
accessories are included with a Robot Game Pak), a TV, and four "AA" Size
batteries. R.O.B. has photosensor, microcomputer and motors. During game
play, R.O.B receives movement instructions by light signals transmitted
from the TV screen. These light signals go into eyes, and the photosensor
relays them to the microcomputer. The microcomputer decodes the signals
and makes R.O.B.'s motors move. R.O.B. performs three kinf of movements:

1. Grasps and releases objects
2. Raises and Lowers objects
3. Rotates and carries objects to the left and right

In some Robot games, you may command R.O.B.'s movements. In other Robot
Games, the NES will tell R.O.B what to do.

note: Your NES control deck should be connected in accordance with the
NES instruction manual.


2. ROBOT SETUP
----------------

1) Inserting the batteries (Batteries not included)

- Turn R.O.B.'s power switch OFF
- Slide the battery cover on the back of the base in the direction
of the arrow
- Insert four "R6" size batteries in the position indicated on the
battery case. Use only alkaline batteries.
- Replace the battery cover.

NOTE:
If the movement become slow or stop altogether, replace the batteries immediatly.
Running R.O.B. on old batteries could lead to malfunction. When not using R.O.B.
for long periods of time, remove the batteries. (battery life is approximately
three weeks assuming one hour of use per day. This varies according to the games
played).

2) Place R.O.B on a flat surface facing your TV screen and within the shaded area
shown in the sketch on the right.(= A top view of a TV. A quarter circle is drawn,
the center of the circle touching the TV screen, the shaded area is located in
the quarter circle between a 1 meter minimum limit and a 2 meters maximum limit).

3) Attach the Robot accessories to R.O.B. as described in the Robot Game Pak
instruction Manual.

4) Insert the desired Robot Game Pak into the control Deck by following the
directions in the NES instruction Manual. Be sure to turn on both the Control Deck
and your TV. Using the controller select button, select the test mode from the game
menu and press the start button. The test screen should now appear.

NOTE:
Ensure that no strong light is shining onto TV screen and that any on screen display
(such as channel number, sound volume, etc.) is turned OFF.

5) Aim R.O.B.'s eyes directly at the center of the TV screen by positioning his body
and tilting his head up ro down. When aimed correctly, the LED on top of R.O.B.'s head
should begin to flicker. If the LED does not flicker, the brightness and contrst
controls on your TV may need adjustment. Adjust the brightness and contrast so that
the background (dark area) around the test signal is black and the test signal is bright.
Be patient! You may have to make the adjustment until R.O.B.'s LED flickers.

6) Press the select button to go from the "test mode" back to the "game menu". If the LED
stays lit at this time, R.O.B. is ready to accept commands.

- If the LED is not lit when you return to the game menu, try again starting from step (4).

- The LED will go off while R.O.B. is moving, and he will not accept commands during that
time. You can give the next command only after R.O.B. has stopped moving and the LED has
come back on.

- In order to avoid transmission errors in the light signal, do not change the position of
the Robot (or the TV screen) after seting up the Robot.

- Do not put any obstacles between the TV screen and the Robot.

- Turn off any on-screen display of the channel numbers, sound volume, etc., as they may
cause R.O.B. to malfunction.

7) You are now ready to play games with R.O.B. Try using R.O.B. in the direct mode to get
used to playing with him. Have fun trying all the games described in the Robot Game Pak
Instruction manuals.

NOTE:
If R.O.B. receives the test signal, but does not respond properly to movement commands, the
brightness level of your TV may be set too high. Adjust the brightness level down until R.O.B.
responds correctly to your commands. If you continue to have problems getting R.O.B. to follow
your commands, yout TV may be too bright and you may have to attach the enclosed filter to
R.O.B.'s eyes (see following sketch).

If it is necessary to use the filter:
Peel off the protective paper from the two-sided tape, and attach as shown.
Also peel off the protective film from the filter surface.
If you use R.O.B. with another TV, you may have to remove the filter.


3. PRECAUTIONS
----------------

1) R.O.B. is a high precision toy. He does not like places that are very hot or cold. Never
hit him or drop him. Don't take him appart!

2) If fluorescent light goes straight into R.O.B.'s eyes, or a strong light hits the TV screen
he may not work correctly. NEVER face R.O.B.'s eyes toward the sun.

3) DO NOT use R.O.B. near hair dryers, electric shavers or so other electrical appliances that
generate a lot of static noise. They may cause R.O.B. to malfunction. If this happens, don't
worry; there's nothing wrong with him. Just remove the source of static noise.

4) If R.O.B. gets dirty, wipe him with a clean, dry cloth. DO NOT use paint thinner, benzene,
alcohol or other volatile cleaner.

5) Always remember to utrn off the power switch after you and R.O.B. have finished playing.
(Remove batteries if not used for prolonged periods of time.)

CAUTION:
The gyromite Robot Game Pak includes a gyro and gyro spinner. Misuse or mishandling of a spinning
gyro can cause physical injuriy. Please carefully review the gyromite instruction manual before
operating R.O.B. with the gyro spinner.
RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 8 TO ADULT.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GYROMITE

INSTRUCTION BOOKLET

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for selecting the Nintendo Entertainment System Gyromite (TM) Pak.
This game requires R.O.B. (TM), your Robotic Operating Buddy.

OBJECT OF THE GAME/GAME DESCRIPTION

In this action-packed game you've got to keep R.O.B.'s gyroscope spinning in
order to assist Professor Hector, the mad scientist, in defusing all the
bombs in his laboratory. R.O.B. will help move the columns blocking the
scientist's way so he can get to the dynamite before it explodes. Master
the techniquue and you can get R.O.B. spinning two gyros at the same time.
But don't take your eyes off the screen for two long - because anything
can happen in Gyromite!

Please read this Instruction Booklet to ensure proper handling of your
new game, and then save it for future reference.

CAUTION: Misuse or mishandling of spinning gyro can cause physical injury.
Read this Instruction Booklet for proper and safe use of gyro and gyro
spinner BEFORE operating R.O.B.'s accessories.

Please follow instructions in the NES Instruction Manual to properly
set up your NES and R.O.B.

Nintendo of America, Inc.
(C) 1985 Nintendo

SETTING UP FOR GYROMITE GAME PLAY

1. Turn on the power switch on R.O.B.'s main body. R.O.B. should start
automatically and stop in the standby position (arms open, body at the top
of the center shaft with arms facing forward).

* If R.O.B. does not assume the standby position, switch the power off and
switch it on again.

* Please note that R.O.B. will not move when his batteries are run down.

2. Names of R.O.B.'s parts and attachments:

Spinner (1) (Uses a D size battery sold separately)

Hands (2)

Gyros (2)

Holder (1)

Tray (1)

Game Pak

3. Set Up of R.O.B.'s Accessories for Gyromite

LOCATION OF GYRO ACCESSORIES

a) Insert one D size battery into the spinner and place the spinner into
position No. 1 on R.O.B.

CAUTION: Do not place fingers or foreign objects in the gyro spinner.

b) Attach the hands (2) to R.O.B.'s arms.

c) Set Controller 2 in the tray with the A and B Buttons in front of the
actuators (not upside down!). Place the tray into positions 2 and 3 on
R.O.B.

NOTE: The controller connected to controller socket 1 becomes Controller 1.
The controller connected to controller socket 2 becomes Controller 2.

d) Set the gyros (2) in the holder. Place the holder into positions 4 and
5 on R.O.B.

NOTE: The gyros are intended to be played with the Gyromite Pak only.

e) Turn on the gyro spinner's power switch. When a gyro is placed in the
spinner, the spinner automatically turns on and spins the gyro. If the
gyro is not held by R.O.B. during this process, it may not obtain full speed.

4. Insert the Gyromite pak into the control deck and turn on the power
switch.

5. Select the test mode and focus R.O.B.'s head to the T.V. screen per
the instructions in the NES instruction manual. R.O.B. IS NOW READY TO
PLAY GYROMITE!

CAUTIONS

CAUTION:
Misuse or mishandling of a spinning gyro or the gyro spinner can cause
physical injury.

RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 8 TO ADULT.

* A spinning gyro should never be touched.
* Do not use your fingers to insert or remove a spinning gyro from the
gyro spinner or a gyro tray. A spinning gyro should only be handled by
R.O.B.
* Use R.O.B. to insert or remove a gyro from the gyro spinner and to move
it to and from the gyro holders and gyro trays.
* The gyro is designed to spin in the gyro tray only. It should never be
operated on any other surface.
* Do not place anything on the spinning gyro. Do not attach anything to it.
Do not allow the spinning gyro to come into contact with any object other
than the gyro spinner or the gyro trays.
* Do not place fingers or foreign objects in the gyro spinner.
* Avoid close contact with a spinning gyro. Do not touch spinning gyro if
it falls off tray until it comes to rest.

CONTROLS

1. Select Button: This button is used to select which game you wish to play
while in the select mode menu. During the test or the direct mode, pressing
the select button will return you to the select mode menu.

2. Start Button: After selecting the desired game mode use the start
button to start the game. The start button also changes the screen to
blue to control R.O.B. or to black to control Professor Hector and
Professor Vector during Game A.

3. Control Pad: The control pad has two functions. It can control R.O.B.
(blue screen in Game A, black screen in Game B) or Professors Hector and
Vector (black screen in Game A).

4. A Button: This button is used to open R.O.B.'s arms (blue screen in
Game A, black screen in Game B) and pick up or put down turnips (in black
screen Game A).

5. B Button: This button is used to close R.O.B.'s arms (blue screen in
Game A, black screen in Game B) and pick up or put down turnips (black
screen in Game A).

GAME MENU AND GAME PLAY

1. Test mode - This is used to focus R.O.B.'s eyes onto the T.V. screen.
(See NES Instruction Manual)

2. Direct - This game helps you get accustomed to moving gyros with R.O.B.
Your commands go straight to the T.V. screen which sends signals to R.O.B.

Up: Raises the arms.
Right: Turns the arms to the right.
Down: Lowers the arms.
Left: Turns the arms to the left.
A button: Opens the arms.
B button: Closes the arms.

R.O.B. makes three kinds of movement:

1) Grasps and releases objects.
2) Raises and lowers objects.
3) Turns and carries objects to the left and right.

A gyro set in motion by the spinner will not fall as long as it is rotating
- even after it is relocated to the tray. You can then move the other gyro
after the first one is set spinning on the tray. Practice the commands one
after the other so you can get used to operating R.O.B. Skillfully moving
the gyros will be helpful when you play Game A or B. Press the select
button to return to the select mode menu.

3. GAME A - 1 Player

Characters

Prof. Hector
Prof. Vector
Dynamite
Turnip (used as a decoy)
Smick (eats turnips and bites Professors)
Gate (Red)
Gate (Blue)

This is an exciting game in which the Professor and R.O.B. cooperate to
remove the dynamite and prevent a big explosion. The screen scrolls
sideways to expose more bombs.

* There are 40 phases for this game mode. Use the A and B buttons while
the select mode menu is displayed to select the phase you want.

GAME PLAY

1. The professor has to move past a spot where dynamite is laid in order
to remove it. He must remove all dynamite in the time given. By using
R.O.B. and the gyros, you can help him by raising and lowering the blue
and red gates that block the Professor's way.

2. So long as the background of the screen is black, you operate the
Professor with Controller 1.

3. To control R.O.B., press the start button and the background of the
screen turns blue, meaning that Controller 1 sends commands to R.O.B.
(Robot transmission mode).

4. After transmitting, the background of the screen changes automatically
from blue to black and the control goes back to the Professor.

5. If you want to send another command to R.O.B., press the start button
again and then press the necessary command button.

6. One important thing to remember when raising/lowering gates with the
gyros is that placing a gyro onto the blue tray lowers the blue gate;
placing a gyro onto the red tray lowers the red gate.

7. You don't have to bother spinning a gyro to move only one gate up and
down, but sometimes both gates have to be opened to let the Professor pass.
In this case, spin one gyro with the spinner and place it on either the
blue or red tray, then R.O.B.'s hands will be free to put the other gyro
on the other tray.

8. Smicks, the killer bugs, are lying in wiat somewhere on the screen and
you will lose the Professor if he is bitten by a Smick.

9. Smicks like to bite Professors; but even more than Professors, they
like turnips. If you offer a greedy Smick a turnip, his favorite food,
he won't attack the Professor.

10. Use the A button on Controller 1 to make the Professor pick up and
put down the turnip.

11. Move the gate up and down to crush the Smicks and gain 500 points.

12. There are 6 bundles of dynamite (some of which might be hidden and
invisible) per phase. Evbery bundle of dynamite removed gives you 100
points.

13. The time remaining after all the dynamite has been picked up will be
added to your score as extra points.

14. The Professor disappears if he is bitten by a Smick or if the time is
used up. The game ends when all three Professors have disappeared.

15. To pause during the game, press the select button during play. During
pause you can view the entire scene by pushing the control pad. Press the
select button again to release the pause.

*If the start button is pressed during pause, the screen will return to the
select mode list and the game will end.

4. GAME A - 2 Player

In Game A (for 2 players), Professor Vector also appears. Take turns using
Controller 1. Otherwise, the game is the same as the 1 player game.

5. GAME B

Here Professor Hector is walking in his sleep. Move the gates up and down
with R.O.B. and the gyros to prevent the Professor from being bitten by a
Smick. Try to help the Professor pass through smoothly.

*There are 25 phases, starting from R=01 (Phase 1).

1. The Professor comes out of the tunnel on the left and walks determinedly
to the right. When he passes a rope, he always climbs up to the top and
jumps down to the right. If a gate is closed, he will just keep walking
in place.

2. In this game, R.O.B. is operated directly by Controller 1.

3. Operate R.O.B. to position gyros and move the gates up and down. Lead
the Professor safely to the tunnel on the far right.

Up = Raises the arms.
Left = Turns the arms to the left.
Down = Lowers the arms.
Right = Turns the arms to the right.

*A button: Opens the arms.
*B button: Closes the arms.

4. There are holes here and there where Smick is lying in wait. If you
don't operate R.O.B. carefully the Professor will fall into one of the holes.
If this happens, and Smick bites him, the Professor is lost. The game ends
after all three Professors are lost.

5. If an arrow appears on the way, the Professor has to go in that
direction or he will fall into a hole and get bitten by Smick. Watch out
for these.

6. As the Professor advances, you gain points. Every time you overtake an
arrow, you get 100 points. If Smick is crushed by a gate you get 500
points.

7. Various courses appear one after another. If all 25 courses are
completed successfully, the walking speed of the Professor increases and the
game gets more difficult. See how many phases you can clear.

8. Press the select button to pause during the game. To continue playing,
press the select button again. If the start button is pressed during a
pause, the screen will return to the select mode list and the game will end.

PRECAUTIONS

1) This is a high precision game. Do not put it in places that are very
hot or cold. Never hit or drop it. Do not take it apart.

2) Do not touch the connectors or get them wet or dirty. Doing so may
damage the game.

3) Do not clean with benzene, paint thinner, alcohol or other solvents.

4) Play the game from a normal viewing distance from the TV screen.

5) For your health, take 10 ~ 15 minute breaks every 2 hours when playing
for an extended period of time.

6) Please read the instruction booklet for the Robot carefully.

----

TRANSCRIPTION NOTES

Pages 20 and 21 of the Gyromite instruction booklet offers a Nintendo
Entertainment System Consumer Parts List & Order Form. While the chances
that Nintendo would have any R.O.B. accessories still available are slim,
I've included the following -if for nothing else -reference and assistance
in trying to find a complete R.O.B. unit, or Stack-Up and Gyromite game pak.

Part No. Price Part Name
----------------------------
388 1.00 R.O.B. Filter Lens
151 1.00 R.O.B. Battery Cover
216 8.00 Gyros (2, sold as set)
217 3.00 Gyro Holder
218 5.00 Gyro Tray
219 10.00 Gyro Spinner
220 2.00 Gyro Hands (2, sold as set)
221 3.00 Colored Blocks (5, sold as set)
222 3.00 Block Trays (5, sold as set)
223 2.00 Block Hands (2, sold as set)
370 1.00 Stack-Up Accessories Tray

---
Jeff Bogumil
jeffb@access.mountain.net
For the R.O.B. Mini-FAQ, send e-mail request.

[Videogamerdaryll]

This is the way I set up the Robot..
http://www.imagemagician.org/images/cokegirl/48740.jpg..



http://www.imagemagician.org/images/cokegirl/194959.jpg

[Raedon]

Here is how I play it.. GO ROB!!!

http://home.cablelynx.com/~tsouthern/rob.jpg

[sniperCCJVQ]

and you can play without all the Gyromito goodies, plug the second game pad and your in business :D

[simonbelmont7]

you guys suck you know that? :-D I have a pretty much brand NEW ROB, including Gyromite and a 100% complete Stack Up, just dont have ROBs Gyromite hands! I can never find them anywhere from anybody. I do have his Stack Up hands however...hmmmmm

[Videogamerdaryll]

you guys suck you know that? :-D I have a pretty much brand NEW ROB, including Gyromite and a 100% complete Stack Up, just dont have ROBs Gyromite hands! I can never find them anywhere from anybody. I do have his Stack Up hands however...hmmmmm

I had that same problem..
Years ago..my Mom had bought be the ROB Nintendo set...that was one of the things lost in our house fire..

Then I wanted to get this set up again..I started finding bare Robots and picking them up for cheap....I just couldn't get the other pieces..
Then at a small flea market I started finding the pieces in" different"vendors boxes of misc small toys..I was in shock..I still can't figure why 3 different vendors had 4 of the pieces I needed..and two were the same piece..
I almost had a full Rob..I just needed the Gyros..
I was enjoying putting this bare Robot set back together..(this was before I was on Ebay)
Then I found a complete Lg boxed Nintendo/Rob set-up at the big flea market....no need to complete the old Rob now..
Putting the old Rob back together came to a halt..
One of the hands is in a misc box of video game parts around here somewhere. :/
So I'm thinking of putting the old/second Rob back together just to fulfill my original goal.
I find that on Ebay you may be able to get the hands if you buy a lone Robot.
Sometimes they are still on the Robot..

I keep some of the Robots around the room in places that look like they were cameras....they seem to stare down at people. :o
I guess with some work they could be turned into hidden cameras.

[junglehunter]

Thanks for that post. So the blue/red button stand connects to a controller thingy? Damn. If so then I don't have that. :(

I was thinking about doing that same camera kind of thing with the ROB. Or I wanna try and hookup a red LED to ROB's eyes to make them glow like on the ROB manual. Does it really matter which setup you use for the trays and Gyromite spinner?

[intro9]

I did notice you said you didn't have the Red/Blue connector thingy that attaches to a NES Controller. I do have an extra one laying around if you wanna trade something for it or whatever. Not worth much tho ;)

Frank