Robert Nicolas Christian "Rob" Topala (born: February 23, 1987), also known as Robert Topala, better known online as RobTop Games (or simply RobTop, also known as RubRub and formerly known as Zhenmuron, known as the latter on Reddit), is a Swedish mobile game developer known for creating Geometry Dash. His channel is currently at over 14 million subscribers as of February 2024.
History[]
Robert's first video was a trailer for his first game, Boomlings. His YouTube channel was created May 8th, 2012, made about two months after RobTopGames was founded. Before Geometry Dash, he created two mobile games: the aforementioned Boomlings and Memory Mastermind. He then created the world wide famous game Geometry Dash in 2013, and later started to upload sneak peaks, updates and other content on his YouTube channel. Additionally, he uses this account to comment on other people's YouTube channel and streams.
On August 15, 2021, Robert released the first 2.2 sneak peek, making the longest record wait of the sneak peek after 4 years. The video eventually hit trending on YouTube Gaming.
On September 4, 2022, Robert released the second sneak peek, after over an year since the first sneak peek. This video has also hit trending on YouTube Gaming.
On May 15, 2023, Robert released the third sneak peek, nearly another year after the second sneak peek.
On August 13, 2023, Robert released the official Geometry Dash 10th Anniversary video, which featured an animation made by rafer, interviewing many Geometry Dash creators and YouTubers, and revealing various favorites within the Geometry Dash community in different categories based on community votes from a forum he made. A fourth sneak peek for Update 2.2 was also unveiled where it was revealed that the update's official release date would be on October 2023 (though the update ended up releasing 2 months after October). Before the end credits rolled, he said:
| “ | Hi everyone, it's RobTop.
So, 10 years huh? Can't believe it's already been a decade. I just wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, to each and every one of you. I couldn't have asked for a more creative and passionate community, and it's been awesome to see all the things you've done. Now, I know you're all waiting for the update and I'm sorry it took so long, but believe or not, we're almost there. |
” |
―Robert Topala | ||
On December 20, 2023, Robert posted a tweet labeled "check steam" with a clip from Avengers: Infinity War, implying that Update 2.2 was released.
Geometry Dash[]
Geometry Dash is a series of five rhythm-based platforming video games where the principle game, Geometry Dash, currently has 22 official levels and more than 90 million online levels made by players. Each level features unique background music. Other features include a level editor, map packs, user-created levels, secret coins, and a variety of icons and game modes, as well as user coins, three shops and three secret vaults in the latest versions. The most recent and anticipated update, Update 2.2, recently came out on December 19th, 2023.
Gameplay[]
Geometry Dash uses a simple tapping/clicking system to control different vehicles that react when a player presses anywhere on the touchscreen (space/up key(s), mouse, or "A" button when using a controller if playing on the PC version) and can be held down to constantly interact. Users cannot control the speed at which the icon is moving, the only way to change speed is by touching a speed changing arrow set. The timing and rhythm of the in-game music are key parts of the game, often in relation to each other.
The objective of the game is to complete a level by reaching its end; however, if the player crashes into an obstacle, they will have to start over from the beginning. All levels (with the exception of the three "demon" rated levels in the full version) are unlocked from the start, so they can be played out of order. Along the way, the player can collect up to three secret coins in each official level, which are scattered in either hidden or challenging areas (or both).
If the player completes a level, they are rewarded with icons or colors on main levels, and mana orbs, which can be used to purchase icons, death effects, or trails in the shops.
The full version of the game also features the ability to upload and download user-created levels. The player must complete their level with all user-placed coins in normal mode in order before it can be uploaded, a process known as verification. Changes after the verification will render the level unverified again. Some custom levels have a difficulty determined by Topala. The creator of a given level, its players, and the game's moderators can influence this decision. User-generated levels, there are 12 difficulties: five which are also used in the official levels, an N/A difficulty, an auto difficulty for levels which do not require input for completion, and five variations of the demon difficulty: easy, medium, hard, insane, and extreme demon. In certain approved user-generated levels, each difficulty rewards a certain number of stars upon completion.
Development[]
Spinoff Games[]
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
- Geometry Dash Lite (released September 12, 2013)
Geometry Dash Lite is the free ad-supported lite version of Geometry Dash for iOS and Android. It includes 16 levels from the full version (corresponding to those from Update 1.8), with limited achievements, icons and collectibles. The ability to transfer certain unlockable data over to the full version through user accounts is also available.
- Geometry Dash Meltdown (released December 19, 2015)
Geometry Dash Meltdown is a free ad-supported expansion app of Geometry Dash developed and published by RobTop Games and released on December 19, 2015 for iOS and Android. It features 3 exclusive levels, with limited achievements, icons and collectibles. The ability to transfer certain unlockable data over to the full version through user accounts is also available.
- Geometry Dash World (released December 22, 2016)
Geometry Dash World is a free ad-supported expansion app of Geometry Dash developed and published by RobTop Games and released on December 21, 2016 for iOS and on December 22, 2016 for Android. It features 10 exclusive short levels which must be played in sequence, split into 2 worlds consisting of 5 levels each. The game is a downsized build of the full version of Geometry Dash and has twice served as a preview for some new content in an upcoming update of the full version, first with the initial release prior to Update 2.1, and again with an update prior to Update 2.2. Various achievements, icons, collectibles, shops and vaults are available although limited. The ability to transfer certain unlockable data over to the full version through user accounts is also available. In addition, once all main levels have been completed, access is given to user level selections including the daily level, the weekly demon, and other featured levels.
- Geometry Dash SubZero (released December 21, 2017)
Geometry Dash SubZero is a free ad-supported expansion app of Geometry Dash developed and published by RobTop Games and released on December 21, 2017 for iOS and Android, first being announced on December 12, 2017. It features 3 exclusive levels, with limited achievements, icons and collectibles. The ability to transfer certain unlockable data over to the full version through user accounts is also available.
For more information, see the Geometry Dash Wiki.
Trivia[]
- The game was originally called Geometry Jump, but was eventually changed after Apple rejected the name Robert provided.
- Before Robert created Geometry Dash, he was studying civil engineering.
- In order to create a Geometry Dash account, you will be redirected to a website known as boomlings.com, which is a reference to his game of the same.
- Despite Geometry Dash being the most popular, the first game he created was called "Bounce Ball Thingy" on Newgrounds (released June 6, 2010).
- 2.2 is the most hyped update from the Geometry Dash community, known for it being in development for more 6 years, if you count update 2.11. RobTop has released a sneak peek for the update, and Robtop stated in the GD 10th Anniversary video that 2.2 will release on October 2023.
- Due to the long anticipation of the 2.2 update, and eventually when it was released, it was the subject of many infamous "lobotomy" user levels where level creators abused the new screen/audio FX by doing things such as speed ramping, spamming a "FIRE IN THE HOLE!" soundbite throughout the level and even spamming the normal difficulty emote at random times on screen.
- He is also known for "roasting" other popular players from the Geometry Dash community.
- He has a quote about his game which goes like this: "There really was no detailed plan [for Geometry Dash]. It simply started as a template with a cube that could crash and jump. Through different iterations I then kept adding more and more features and content until the game felt right."
- His Twitter account got verified on June 26, 2021.
- As of April 2023, he switched to Twitter Blue for Bussiness due to the discontinuation of the legacy verified checkmark. This makes Viprin to have a RobTop icon affiliated badge.