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It's a Switch exclusive, it isn't available for the Wii U
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| genre = Interactive model kit
| genre = Interactive model kit
| language =[[English language|English]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
| language =[[English language|English]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
| system =[[Nintendo Switch]] [[Wii U]]
| system =[[Nintendo Switch]]
| players =
| players =
| materials = Cardboard, craft materials
| materials = Cardboard, craft materials

Revision as of 17:49, 9 March 2018

Nintendo Labo
Nintendo labo
ManufacturersNintendo
PublishersNintendo
PublicationApril 20, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-04-20)
GenresInteractive model kit
LanguagesEnglish, Japanese
SystemsNintendo Switch
Materials requiredCardboard, craft materials
Media typeToy
SloganMake, Play, Discover
Websitehttps://labo.nintendo.com/

Nintendo Labo[a] is a gaming and construction toy platform developed by Nintendo to be used as an extension to the Nintendo Switch gaming system, which will be released in April 2018. The platform uses kits that include cardboard cut-outs and other materials that are to be assembled in combination with the Nintendo Switch console display and Joy-Con controllers to create "Toy-Cons" that can interact with game software and vice versa. Nintendo designed them as a way to teach principles of engineering and physics.

Construction and gameplay

Nintendo Labo is released as individual Labo Kits, each containing a set of pre-made cardboard cut-outs and other materials, used to make "Toy-Cons", and a Nintendo Switch game card, which contains interactive instructions on how to assemble the Toy-Cons and software that the Toy-Cons can interact with. Once each Toy-Con is constructed, players insert the main Nintendo Switch display and/or one or both of the Joy-Con controllers according to the instructions. Each Toy-Con functions differently in the ways it interacts with either the Joy-Cons or the main display. For example, a piano Toy-Con can read the Right Joy-Con controller's infrared sensor to identify notes being played, while robotic Toy-Cons move using HD Rumble from the Joy-Con controllers, which are controlled via the touchscreen. Players may freely decorate the cardboard parts using coloring pens, tape, and other materials, while more experienced users can invent new ways to play with each Toy-Con.[1][2] The software will come with a feature called "Toy-Con Garage", which allows users to create and program their own Toy-Cons using simple programming commands, either starting with the available Labo kits, or with their own materials.[3]

Development

The concept of Labo came from Nintendo when they asked their employees to come up with ways that the Switch's Joy-Con could be used; out of many potential ideas, the idea of building cardboard toys around the controllers held promise. According to Shinya Takahashi, the use of cardboard as part of playthings is a common practice among Japanese children, and as they started prototyping ideas, they found the "trial and error" process of putting together the cardboard toys was "extremely fun".[4] As the Labo concept was developed, they found it fit well within Nintendo's overall philosophy on innovating new ways to have fun, and had potential to introduce the Switch to more than just game enthusiasts.[4]

Labo was announced on January 17, 2018. According to Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé, "Labo is unlike anything we've done before", and was developed to extend the age audience for the Switch.[1] Nintendo said the product was "specifically crafted for kids and those who are kids at heart."[5] The tagline for Labo is "Make, Play, Discover"; the discovery part arises from how the user of the Toy-Con can understand the fundamentals of physics, engineering, and programming that make the Toy-Con work through the act of making and playing with them. The game software provides instructions on how the Toy-Con works with the Switch, such as describing the fundamentals of infrared sensing.[1][6] While the cardboard Toy-Con are sturdy, Nintendo recognized that the cardboard can suffer wear and tear with time, and plans to offer replacement cardboard kits.[2]

Labo Kits

Two Labo Kits, Variety Kit and Robot Kit, were announced for launch in North America, Australia, and Japan on on April 20, 2018, and in Europe on April 27, 2018.[7] An accessory set containing stencils, stickers, and tape will be available separately.[8] While Nintendo did not confirmed any additional Toy-Con kits at launch, journalists observed that other Toy-Con configurations were shown in the announce trailer, suggesting that additional kits may be announced at a later date.[9][10]

Variety Kit

The Variety Kit contains kits for five individual Toy-Cons:

  • A remote-controlled car, where the vibrations from the Joy-Con serve to provide momentum and steering to the car. The game software allows the player to control the car like a normal remote-controlled vehicle using the console itself as the controller.
  • A fishing rod where the Joy-Con sit in the reel and the handle of the rod. The game receives motion input from the Joy-Con to simulate a fishing game.
  • A toy piano with a full octave of keys; the console sits atop this to serve as a music stand.
  • A motorbike with Joy-Con inserted into the handlebars on either side of the Console for steering.
  • A house containing a slot to insert different components that can interact with the game software on the Console's display.

The kit comes with a game cartridge that contains interactive instructions of how to assemble each Toy-Con, and at least one software package to use the Toy-Con. Some Toy-Con have multiple programs; for example, the motorbike handles allow the player to race along a track in stunt bikes, and gives the player the ability to create new track layouts, or to use any object detected through the IR sensor to create a track based on that object. Similar IR sensing abilities allows the player to create new fish to catch in the fishing rod Toy-Con, or to create new waveforms to use on the piano Toy-Con.[11]

Robot Kit

The Robot Kit includes parts to make a mecha suit that includes a visor which holds the left Joy-Con for motion sensing and a backpack that holds the right Joy-Con to read hand and feet swings. This allows the player to rampage through a virtual world presented on the screen.[2] Journalists noted similarities between this Kit and Project Giant Robot, a software title for the Wii U that had players use the motion sensing of the Wii U GamePad to control a robot and rampage through a city. Project Giant Robot was teased during E3 2014 and believed to be tied to Star Fox Zero, but was ultimately cancelled by Nintendo.[12][13] The game modes include the ability to control the giant robot as it attacks targets across a cityscape, to control the robot as it flies over a city, and to transform in a tank. The software also includes a two-player mode to allow the players to fight with their giant robots, though both players need a separate Robot Toy-Con for this mode.[11]

Reception

On the day after its announcement in January 2018, Nintendo's stock price jumped around 2.4%, representing about US$1.4 billion to their value. Analysis suggested that Labo was the type of unorthodox product that only Nintendo could develop and market, showing a further return to their more financially-successful period about a decade prior, leading to the rising stock price.[14]

Notes

  1. ^ ニンテンドーラボ (Nintendō Rabo) in Japanese

References

  1. ^ a b c Webster, Andrew (January 17, 2018). "Nintendo is making a bunch of weird DIY cardboard toys for the Switch and they're awesome". The Verge. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c McDonald, Keza (January 17, 2018). "'Like cardboard Lego': Nintendo Labo turns homemade models into interactive toys". The Guardian. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  3. ^ Frank, Allegra (February 1, 2018). "Nintendo Labo Toy-Con Garage lets you make your own custom playthings". Polygon. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Hester, Blake (February 9, 2018). "Nintendo Talks Labo Origins and Wanting "Every Single Person" To Own A Switch". Glixel. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  5. ^ Kuchera, Ben (January 17, 2018). "What is Nintendo teasing for the Switch? (update)". Polygon.
  6. ^ Hoggins, Tom (January 17, 2018). "Nintendo Labo - Hands-on with the Switch's brilliant and barmy cardboard toys". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  7. ^ McWhertor, Michael (January 17, 2018). "Nintendo reveals Labo, a DIY 'build-and-play experience' for Switch". Polygon. Retrieved January 17, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  8. ^ Frank, Allegra (January 17, 2018). "Nintendo Labo: Everything we know". Polygon. Retrieved January 17, 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. ^ Oxford, Nadia (January 18, 2018). "Nintendo Labo Trailer Teases Future Toy-Cons". US Gamer. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  10. ^ Frank, Allegra (January 18, 2018). "Nintendo Labo reveal teased a lot of unannounced Toy-Cons". Polygon. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Mackovech, Sam (February 14, 2018). "The games behind the cardboard: We finally know how Nintendo Labo will play". Ars Technica. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
  12. ^ Kohler, Chris (January 17, 2018). "That Nintendo Labo Robot Game Looks Awfully Familiar". Kotaku. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  13. ^ Mackovech, Sam (January 17, 2018). "Nintendo's Labo playset slaps the Switch into build-your-own cardboard toys". Ars Technica. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  14. ^ Lewis, Leo (January 18, 2018). "Nintendo adds almost $1.4bn in value — thanks to cardboard". Financial Times. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
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