Rise of the Robotars

CEBU, Philippines - Hey, what online game do you play?

There's this cool game developed by Manila-based doodle and graphic artist Jomike Tejido, featuring our very own lovable tarsiers (Tarsius syrichta).

“Robotars are robotic tarsiers that were built to destroy, but lived to love," Kuya Jomike said.

The first Robotar, named RT, initially had weapons in its cranial storage pod, but chose to discard them. Instead, he used his head to germinate Sitsiryums and bring back life in Sitsiryum Island.

Sitsiryums are the peaceful inhabitants of Sitsiryum Island. Some grow on trees and live to be eaten or planted. The following are the Sitsiryum characters destined to keep their island safe and healthy:

•Chichacorn. This is the most common variety, but is said to have flavorful variants in some areas of the island.

•Pili. This is slightly rare and often disguised among leaves and branches.

•Kasuy. This is a rare variety in most parts of the island.

•Pastillas. These are mystic concoctions that give up life.

The other characters are Dr. Honeyjar and his son Pulot. Dr. Honeyjar is an ace mechanic and builder of almost anything. He invented the beautiful things in Sitsiryum Island. But when the Robo-Kaiku invaded, they crushed everything he made.

Pulot is his son who hangs out in his dad's workshop, tinkering with little things to make his father proud. Both of them have their super-brains in their bellies.

The other character is Madame Pastilla. She is a fortune-teller who lives in a tree hole. Being one with nature, the cosmic power aligns with her aura and let her produce mystic charms. No one really knows which tree hole she will appear next.

Robo-Kaiju or "robo monsters" are tall abusive invaders that come from an unknown galaxy. They plunder the best resources from different lands to bring back to their planet and create a utopian world. They can turn any organisms into vicious Kaijus just for fun. They are super evil.

Chicha-Kaiju is tainted with Robo-Kaiju evil. Chichacorns mutate into evil mindless Chicha-Kaijus. So defeating them would mean release of some chichacorns (Weakness: Its bulbous head; Likes: Jumping, crawling, nibbling and slithering in groups; Attitude: Bad).

Pili-Kaiju is again tainted with Robo-Kaiju evil. Pilis mutate into evil, mindless Pili-Kaijus. Defeating them releases three pilis (Weakness: Its over-developed sense of direction; Likes: Going places, swimming in air, eating anything that crosses its flight; Attitude: Medium bad).

Infected Kasuys mutate into evil, mindless Kasuy-Kaijus. To subdue them would mean releasing some kasuys the Robotars could plant (Weakness: Unknown; Likes: Heavy breathing, clawing, growling and sharpening its claws; Attitude: Super bad).

The advocacy

This is what's most interesting about this designer toy and online game. It is about environmental stewardship.

Kuya Jomike pointed out that Robotars are designer toys with an advocacy to the environment. "Its head can split open and you can put soil and plant seeds on its head as a desktop plant. This can encourage children to enjoy nature, and also an alternative display for adults. His hands can hold pens and you can clip a photo or drawing on its tail clip," he explained.

Initially programmed to destroy, Robotars later on learn to love, and start to replant flowers to make Sitsiryum Island beautiful once more.

Play the online game at jmtejido.com/robotars. View the site for the Robotars papercraft toy at jmtejido.multiply.com.