Whenever an invite is extended to check something new and interesting at Nintendo's offices immediately after a Nintendo Direct broadcast, it's easy to fall into the trap of making rash assumptions. Given that it has just been confirmed that Dark Souls is Switch-bound, we took it almost as a given that the hands-on session we'd been booked in for would revolve at least a little around that; other possibilities were the unveiling of the much-anticipated online subscription service, which is supposed to be coming at some point this year. What we actually got was something wouldn't have guessed in a million years, yet it could be one of the most significant ideas to come out of Nintendo's R&D labs since the inception of the Switch itself.
Ushered into Nintendo UK's lavishly-decorated Windsor showroom - adorned with Miyamoto artwork, framed sets of Hanafuda playing cards and even Wil Overton's iconic Retro Gamer cover featuring some of the company's most famous characters - we were initially befuddled to discover a large table festooned with art and craft material. The video presentation began to roll, and we were shown a assembly line of cardboard sheets which would eventually become fishing rods, pianos, houses and other toy-like objects. Even at this stage, it felt impossible to shake the idea that this was merely an elaborate stylistic choice; that these cardboard creations would be replaced in the video by fully-fledged plastic accessories, ushering in "Wii Era 2.0". Just as we were inwardly grimacing at the thought of filling our cupboards with yet more plastic tennis racquet attachments, an anonymous finger fell onto the cardboard piano's keys. One of the other journalists in the room summed up what we were all thinking with a simple yet perfect exclamation: "No!"
At first sight, it's easy to dismiss Nintendo Labo; DIY creations like Google's Cardboard VR headset have perhaps prejudiced us against this cheap and disposable material; however, Nintendo is using cardboard to shape the future of creative play - not just in the realm of video games, but in toys as well. At its most basic Labo is a selection of flat-packed creations - dubbed "Toy-Con" - which are assembled with the aid of on-screen instructions like those seen in Lego Dimensions. These play out on the Switch's screen and show you step-by-step how to construct these objects, allowing you to rotate the model in full 3D to ensure you've got everything slotted in the correct place.
The Toy-Con all make use of the main Switch console and Joy-Con in unique ways. The most basic creation is the Toy-Con RC Car (which is actually a remote-controlled bug-like creature not entirely dissimilar in concept to the Hexbug Nano range of toys) and this takes around 10 minutes to make and uses the HD Rumble of two Joy-Con to move around the room; you control the action with the Switch touchscreen and you can even view the world through the right-hand Joy-Con's IR camera, sending the bug on secret missions inside unexplored nooks and crannies. Outside of that the potential for competitive play is obvious; one of the demonstrations we took part in was a sumo battle where the last bug inside the circle wins.
At the other end of the scale there's the aforementioned piano, which is utterly, utterly ingenious. Everything is made from cardboard, right down to the keys which use folded flaps to spring back into place when pressed. The Joy-Con slots into the back, with its IR camera pointed at a small slot just above the rear of the keys. When one is pressed, it pops into view through the slot and reveals small strip of reflective tape - the camera picks this up and plays the relevant note. The same visual trick is used to change the tone of the keyboard, adjust the pinch, record patterns and much more besides; you can even use the slot on the top of the piano to insert a cut-out (created by yourself) which changes the sound of a keypress based on the shape of cardboard.
The first time you witness this, it's nothing short of magic. You can't fathom how this primitive cardboard assembly is producing these sounds with such accuracy (despite the promotional video showing it quite clearly). Run your finger down the keys and it plays a perfect sequence of notes; turn the dial on the top-left and the tone of each note is subtly altered. Even when you realise the IR camera is behind all of this - perhaps the best application it's ever had, in fact - you'll struggle to withhold your amazement. It's jaw-dropping stuff, made all the more remarkable by the fact that Nintendo takes delight in lifting the curtain and showing how it's done; the app even presents you with a real-time read-out which shows the "hit boxes" the IR camera is looking for so you can place the reflective tape correctly. Even when fully constructed, the piano has an easy-to-access flap which allows you to open it up and view how it all works inside; there's a child-like joy in seeing these tricks revealed.
The only other Toy-Con we got to play with on the day was the fishing rod, which features a clever telescopic design and is a fairly lengthy build. One Joy-Con is inserted into the handle which can be turned to reel in your catch, while the other Joy-Con slots into the bottom of the rod to track how you're holding it. The Switch slots into a cardboard dock which connects to the rod itself via "line" - the physical line disappears over the top of the screen and appears on the display, creating a surprisingly convincing connection between the real and virtual worlds. When you get a bite a quick flick of the rod snags the catch, then it's a case of gingerly reeling in your prize without putting too much tension on the fragile line. Sink your hook down into the shadowy depths of the ocean and you'll pass wrecked ships and larger fishes - including some which can only be lured by first hooking a smaller fish and using it as bait. There's a degree of depth (no pun intended) here which isn't immediately obvious at first glance, and all of the Toy-Con models included feature similarly engaging activities and games.
Elsewhere, there's a house into which the Switch is inserted, presenting a living doll's house which can be interacted with using special buttons attached to the side (again, it should be stressed that everything is fashioned from cardboard here). The IR-enabled Joy-Con is placed in the chimney and "looks" for reflective tape on the button, causing something to happen on-screen (or, in this example, "in the house"). Another Toy-Con is a set of motorcycle handlebars complete with a turning throttle and string-linked brake pedal; the Switch is mounted to the handlebars and presents a view of the road. Turning into corners is a given, but like Sega's Super Hang-On, you also need to lean into the tighter bends.
The most basic Toy-Con won't take long to construct but the piano - the most complex build - could take you almost two hours to complete, depending on your skill level. While the idea of spending that amount of time folding cardboard might not seem all that interesting, it's incredibly satisfying in practice; a gloriously tactile experience which has universal appeal. Nintendo's message with this concept is simple; it wants to make "screen time" seem less like screen time. It's easy to see how Labo can bring families together; the bigger builds are more fun with helping hands. The on-screen 3D instructions are crystal clear and superbly written, shot through with just the right amount of humour, and the sound of tabs slotting home never gets old.
Everything we've discussed so far relates to just one of the proposed Labo packs you'll be able to buy this April. The second pack - which we sadly weren't able to sample - is more focused and includes a single build, but it's a doozy. You make a cardboard backpack into which you place your right-hand Joy-Con. This reads a series of reflective markers (like the piano) which are attached to a series of ropes. These in turn are linked to your feet and hands, allowing your real-world movements to be replicated on the TV screen; another Joy-Con is attached to your bonce for head tracking. You assume the role of a massive, Optimus Prime-style transforming robot who stomps around a massive cityscape (comparisons with the ill-fated Project Giant Robot were made by several people in the room). As we didn't get chance to demo this pack we can't comment on its depth or accuracy, but the video footage alone had us yelping with excitement.
After the initial surprise had worn off, concerns about Labo as a concept began to swirl and form in our consciousness. While the Toy-Con are expertly designed, with marvellous engineering which ensures that points of stress are reinforced by additional pieces of board, it's not as robust as plastic and all of these items will have a limited lifespan. However, because it's cardboard, there's nothing stopping you from repairing ripped or snapped sections, and while Nintendo UK representatives couldn't confirm it on the day, it's highly likely that some kind of spares service will exist which allows you to purchase individual boards and replace broken parts. A key feature of Labo is customisation - the announcement video shows Toy-Con being painted, covered in tape and much more besides - so it stands to reason that Nintendo would want to make it as easy as possible to keep your designs fresh with new (and replacement) boards. Long-suffering parents concerned with how well these items will fare when left into the company of unruly children will no doubt appreciate such a service.
What initially feels like clutching at straws soon gives way to something truly revolutionary; we could happily have spent an entire day mastering the fishing game, while the adorable piano is such a remarkable feat of technical engineering it could easily have been sold as a stand-alone product. The promotional video shows other Toy-Con in action, which hints at more packs in the future and more creations to uncover, but it's truly stunning just how much content is being included in this initial pack. Many of the builds come with optional extras and once you've done with the "play" side of things you can move onto the "discover" part of the game, which adds even more value and playability.
Nintendo, it should be remembered, was a toy company for many decades before it revolutionised the world of video games. That history is glaringly apparent when you look at Labo; this is unquestionably a master toy maker at work. While its rivals clamour to conquer the world of Virtual and Augmented Reality, Nintendo has thrown a curve-ball by creating actual reality; games and toys which, while dependant on hardware such as the Switch and its Joy-Con, become living, moving objects that you can touch, move and interact with.
Can this cardboard-based concept really find a mass-market audience? How easy will it be to order spares? Will Nintendo open up the idea and allow players to create their own code and manufacture their own Toy-Con in the fullness of time? While we can't answer any of those questions at this moment in time, we're still stunned by the inventiveness of this concept and the fact that we weren't expecting it in all our wildest dreams.
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Nintendo Labo will go on sale on 20th April 2018 with a $69.99 price tag for the Variety Kit (Toy Con 01) and $79.99 for the Robot Kit (Toy Con 02).
Comments (483)
Glad I have 2 kids to justify buying it. "Its for the kids" wink
Did I see Project Giant Robot in that trailer???!!!
Nintendo have some wonderful minds.
This really looks cool & cute... and REALLY unexpected!! I love building (or crafting, nice on Nintwitter!) and this really hits the spot. Mind you... I'm 36. Goodness knows what the ickle kids will think.
Is it April 1st already? 😳
I mean reading this sounds pretty dang good, I guess we'll find out soon enough.
This looks wild.
Sorry but this is pathetic Nintendo. Disappointed to say the least.
Genius!
I didn't see that coming, that's for sure... :/
Could be interesting.
You knew it all along!
It's okay I guess? I don't like cardboard with things like the switch that make it look cheap. But I suppose kids will like this.
Please understand...
Oh boy. It make me smile, thats something
Very cool for children who like to build things. Also, nobody expected this as usual
I spend so much money on Switch games I might have to buy one of the LABO cardboard boxes to live in.
This is pretty slick actually.
This ...looks pretty damn awesome, not gonna lie. Leave it to Nintendo to surprise and delight with even the weirdest of ideas. Wow.
The best part (on top of EVERYTHING)? Its being released on 4/20!
I'm speechless ..... just terrible .
Haha, this is DEFINITELY not something for me.
Im in love, this is beyond amazing
Uhhh It is indeed unique.
Uhhh, it seems interesting but there is a lot of opportunity to drop the Switch. If it comes to the US maybe I will check it out.
@garydbz25 You say pathetic, I think it's wonderful.
Nah
Sure, Nintendo is all gimmicks sometimes but at least you can’t predict them! Lol
Ah well, they say kids always just want to play with the box anyway so here’s Nintendo creating a market for it lol
Kids are gonna love this
The age of plastic is over.
I for one bow down to our new cardboard overlords.
PS: Project Giant Robot, yes!
instantly reminded me of this
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--PAnlEiqT--/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,q_80,w_800/17xkhe1w8uulnjpg.jpg
Wow !
But, Dang it !
I have to assemble first the cardboxes in order to use the game properly.
Very Clever, Nintendo !
I hope the games can be played even without the LABO cardboxes.
This looks amazing. I have 2 boys that love building things so this will be right up our alley. I can TOTALLY see how some were disappointed with THIS but me as a dad am super excited. Can't wait!!
Finally, Nintendo found a way to sell us cardboard.
...Kidding, they did that when they released that empty Splatoon 2 bundle box.
Joking aside, this looks cool and creative, even though I won't be buying it.
Cardboard, hmm one for the recycle bin. I would rather have VR than this, 1-0 to Sony for the better gimmick
Nintendo Switch. It prints.........
moneypaper?Which got Nintendo thinking. I wonder, they said to themselves...
Microsoft: We made 4k gaming cheap!
Sony: Check out our awesome VR!
Nintendo: We got Cardboard boys and girls!
@garydbz25
I'm sorry but the idea about LABO was interesting.
Think about kids too, dude.
Man, that robot thing looked like a VR game at first ...but nope. It's fine, though.
Okay, having fully read the article after reacting to the video, I find this even MORE AMAZING. I love the idea that you can buy something cheap, build it yourself and have a fun toy that REALLY uses the unique features of the Switch in ways many of us wouldn't have imagined.
Just recently I was watching @AlexOlney struggle to think of good uses for the IR camera... and now we get a flipping Piano!!!
I love this idea and will jump into a few of these feet first, hopefully these toy cons (groan) aren't expensive.
@617Sqn it IS terrible to be speechless. It's okay though, just let the glory of it all sink in.
sold !!!
So Nintendo said that they wouldn’t do VR for the switch yet a kid is playing a game similar to VR. Who knows one day the people complaining they want VC on the switch may actually happen.
I've gotta say, I sighed and rolled my eyes when I saw the opening minute of the video. But the more it went on, the more I realised how genius this concept is, at least for kids. Nintendo are geniuses when it comes to innovation, and they've proved that here yet again - and this "hands on" article cements that further.
To think cardboard just made me emotional.
@garydbz25 What do you mean? This is a great business idea.
Genuine by nintendo
@Rika_Yoshitake
Hahahaha.....
Nintendo Counter those Two Gigantic Video Game Company by LABO Cardboxes.
LABO Carboxes cost Waaay...... More Cheaper than VR and 4K TV.
And More Interesting.
#fail on so many levels!! Nintendo almost released a proper gaming console and within a year they are mucking around with gimmicks.
Wow!!! This is so cool! This definitely falls in line with Nintendo's president saying they wanted to reach new customers and find inventive uses for the joy con. This has such awesome potential for use in classrooms, particularly tech and robotic classes. And using cardboard should keep packs low in cost, and hopefully easy to replace. Wow! This is Nintendo through and through. Way to go!!!
Man, Nintendo will never fail to surprise me. You lovely, weird people.
Interesting. I suppose this would have been really cool as a kid. Sadly, this doesn't really peek my interest now. Granted, Nintendo did say it's meant specifically for kids, so that makes sense.
Overall, I think it's cool but it's just not for my demographic. Give me more game announcements, Nintendo!
I watched it again and I think this will go over in a big way. I have to admits some of this looked like fun. I am up for it and I see a huge robotics play here.
Well well well.That looks pretty cool I must say. Is this the secret weapon that will help propel them to 20+ million sales? I think it just might you know.
One thing is clear, if it wasn't already obvious. Whatever we think Nintendo are going to do, we're never even close to predicting correctly.
So.... your paying 70$ for cardboard..... 🤨
"Hey Mom, what did you do with that pile of cardboard on the floor?"
"Oh I threw it in the trash. Why?"
"It had four Joy-Cons in there!!!!!!"
@SLIGEACH_EIRE One day, the execs were looking at all the cardboard boxes from WiiUs that never sold...
The rest writes itself.
I'm shocked by the initial tone of this article. Labo looks flippin awesome. Perhaps that is why they stipulated kids at heart as well as kids.
Granted, my father was a factory worker for a cardboard box manufacturer so I had WAY more cardboard forts and props than the average kid. (also made moving a breeze)
Ok, I have no idea what to make of this, but it made me smile.
Nintendo can't even announce baby toys without people setting nuclear expectations.
WHEN WILL YOU LEARN
What a cracking idea this is, totally unique and will resonate with the makey makey types (myself included) and kids alike.
It shouldn't be a huge cost to nintendo or the consumer given that its cardboard.
Very clever
Well it certainly makes the 'is it a handheld or a home console?' debate a bit more interesting. Now can expand the list to 'is it a handheld or a home console or a fishing rod or a robo-suit or a piano or a little scuttlebug or a house?".
@garydbz25 What's pathetic? That Nintendo could announce something not targeted towards you specifically? How dare they.
I hope they don’t invest too much in this gimmick. With Amiibos, Classic Mini Consoles, and now cardboard accessories, I worry they’ll have less resources for real games... and I only get Nintendo consoles for first party, they may be getting a little third party support but it’s still limited, I’m not really impressed by this...
It most definitely is not. I mean, I'm all for cardboard and creativity, but this is a gaming console. I'm playing virtual games, not building physical things.
The most Nintendo thing I've seen in ages! I can't wait!!
I see many people are disappointed buy this, but for me, personally, this is fantastic. Combining video games with physical arts and crafts is a fantastic idea. It makes the imagination run all wild and it just a sight to behold. My only worry is the quality of the cardboard, but if that is alleviated, I cannot wait to give these as gifts to friends and family
Well I'm suprised to say the least!!! I guess is nice for the kids right?
My daughter already wants the piano! I can see us getting quite a few of these. Left field never looked so interesting!
Really? People are now disappointed over this? They were explicitly stating that this would be an anouncement for a new interactive way to play for the kids. Yet a lot of people were expecting smash i mean come on
Actually gidddy with excitement. This looks like so much fun and I'm sure my son and I will really enjoy this. So unexpected, so crazy, so Nintendo! Love it!
@garydbz25
Then jog on Gary
First reaction - "Seriously?"
Part with the robot plays on the screen - "Well, damn, this has potential!"
Hope the cardboard parts won't make the game more expensive.
That's surprisingly cool
Ummm Wut? Zero interest
It all looks ingeniously engineered and designed. But as it’s not what I’m interested in then I’m neither impressed nor disappointed. Nintendo now sells cardboard.
It would be interesting to see the ratio of children to adults, of who owns a switch.
@KTT gee if only there was a way to recreate a design in a piece of cardboard.
Well, I'm sold
That's for me is awesome. Day one buy for sure !
Video ends - 'What the heck did I just watch?'
Sorry, Nintendo, but this is really only something for little kids. I doubt my 10 years old cousin would sit herself down and fold cardboard. And then where do I put these so they won't break after a while? Or are broken by kids as they use them? I mean, I'mma get it but it'll be more of a collector's item type thing to me, like those Classic Editions.
You knew it all along! Sneaky!
I'm not a kid. I'm buying it day one. Now I need to have a kid.
PS. That's a proper industrial design. Bravo Nintendo!
This is awesome for house with kids. It’s a completely new way of playing that throws us back a few decades when kids (like myself) made our own toys out of cardboard and other stuff we could get out hands on.
This might be just stupid in the eyes of some gamers (specially FPS living teenagers and adults) but it is pure genius!
Nintendo greatly and pleasantly surprised me!
I played with Cardboard as a Kid in identical ways. I´m So hyped for this!
Right, I’m 37 and a dad of 2 girls, did it blow me away, no. However when my kids see this I think it will make them very excited. My only concern is if the cardboard breaks, which cardboard can do as my kids drive cardboard cars, can a replacement set be bought cheaply enough. Still for all the naysayers you gotta admit it that you didn’t see this coming 😂
A few days later... "Italian singer sues Nintendo".
That actually looked more impressive than it sounded. This will be a cool line if the products work well. I really hope they do. It just adds another thing Nintendo offers. Good innovation.
I'm floored. I'm not sure I'll buy it (but that Piano is soooo tempting!), but I think it's great how they've completely elevated the toys to life concept. The one thing that got me about toys to life is that the toy was never really necessary--it just unlocked digital content. But this just REALLY makes sense that they applied the concept to the console and built the games around it.
LOL!!!!... $80? - no really, just make more games. Even my little niece practices piano on an iPad - she wont care for that nonsense. Stop killing trees.
They already got outsold by PS4 this week in Japan - One good game a month got you here. Stick to it.
@ShadJV Let's not act like this is some indie start up company. Nintendo could have as many resources as they want to pay for. Yes, you can fault what they may prioritize, but lack of resources is a problem Nintendo can solve instantly.
I can very well be proven wrong, but I really don't think this will appeal to kids of this generation. It is a cool concept I suppose, but I can only assume the games included will be short and shallow and at the end of the day you will be paying for something that will take longer to build than enjoy using.
I would get this day one if it didn't need another joy con and i wasn't quite so terrible at setting things up lol.
Totally unexpected and a pretty interesting concept. I really want to try this!
So if you mess up once trying to put one of these together, you're pretty much screwed. Terrible idea
That's actually pretty darn neat. I mean, it's probably not something I would use (other than for novelty's sake, kinda like a Wii ^^), but let's be for real, this is not aimed a mature, core'ish audience, but - as they said - at kids and those young at heart.
I could definitely see myself giving this to my niece, and having a blast spending the afternoon assembling and eventually giving it a go. A lot comes down to pricing of course, and how fun it'll actually be to get this assembled and "play" it, but the idea is pretty darn impressive imho.
I always enjoy it if someone finds creative ways to bring the digital and the haptic realm together (amiibo being a cute, but ultimately futile attempt beyond aesthetic purposes).
Sony and Microsoft execs: “Get cardboard on the line...”
if this is "Wii Gen 2.0" than Nintendo needs to create a version of Wii Sports for the Nintendo Switch.
I'm going to make so many cat videos with these.
Nintendo thinking outside the (cardboard) box yet again. Unsurprisingly many don't get it. Watch this become an enormous success that propels the Switch to Wii levels which is good for all of us, whether we're interested in this or not.
@thesilverbrick
Agreed...
This thing is very, very Japanese... Even by my standards... o_O; (And I am more or less fluent in the language and know their culture.)
The idea with the cardboard is great though, imho. Properly put together, those things can endure more punishment than stuff made from plywood.
Yet... honestly speaking... this whole thing still looks crazy to even mine jaded eyes. O____O
As someone who built the Lego Saturn V Rocket over the Christmas, Im genuinely intrigued by this.
I want those 3 minutes back.
Love the idea! It actually is Wii 2.0, but in a good way. The same way Wii gave physicality to your actions by tracking controllers, Labo gives physicality to actual objects you play with!
Gotta see how it fares (and how much it costs), but the musical tinkerer in me can't be but adored by that piano!
@RazumikhinPG So you can watch the video again? Just hit the replay button...
@Pluto14 You think a kid would be able to put one of these together? One slip up and the whole things ruined. Hope that tape can hold it together
don't worry guys, you can buy nintendo duct tape and stickers for 10 bucks
Kids will not get excited about cheap cardboard, kids want Ipads or any internet connected device (the vast majority of them).
Looks extremely cool and my younger siblings will have a blast with it (if I let them play lol)
Nintendo strikes again with creativity and I love it
These look like a pain in the butt to assemble.
Could you imagine 3D printed replicas with all the reflective tape transferred? That would be awesome
I think this just looks like brilliant fun. I can't wait to get my hands on this, my 11 year old sister can come round and paint the parts then we can build it together. Hours of fun. A stroke of genius as far as I'm concerned. And please remember it was stated up front that this one was for kids! I just wonder now if Nintendo have had this planned since before Switch's release or if this is a recent development!
@Kalmaro Nah, to spend them playing Mario Odyssey.
Looks awesome, love building Lego, think I’ll love this too. What a way to inspire curious little minds into enigineering and understanding how things work.
I don't think I've ever seen a more polarizing announcement from Nintendo...love or hate, with almost nothing in between. But hey...even if you hate this, there's still lots of great traditional stuff coming to Switch.
I’m still wiping my eyes from tears of joy. This is the coolest announcement since the initial switch trailer
PSYCHED!
wow, don't think anyone was expecting that. but it could be cool to do with my son. still crazy though.
ps. can we have a real direct now?
I don't know what people expected from the announcement since they already stressed it was for kids.
Fantastic! What fun! This made me smile from ear to ear, I know so many kids who will absolutely love this. Parents will be happy that they are building and not just sat in front of a screen. It's actually a really good STEM project too.
I get that this isn't for everyone but to all those naysayers what harm does it do? It's just a different fun way to play. Day 1 purchase for me…...for the kids of course! Lol
I was one of those kids that built my own toys out of Cardboard. I still tell people how I built a Jumanji Board, and all the Arwings and Great fox out of cardboard (poorly), and I loved it.
However, part of the joy of that was figuring out how to build something, and being free to build it my way. If I'm to pass that to my son, I'll do it the way I did it as a young boy.
I'm passing on this. Maybe we can get some of the most requested features next now?
@GrailUK Lemme translate: "Pathetic" = "something outside the scope of what I personally would be interested in"
@BravelyDavid I don't think that's completely true. The kids in my family have all the tech but still are more often found bouncing on a trampoline or colouring in at the kitchen table. I think there's a place for this if marketed well, and this is a good start.
Gotta admit I went in having absolutely no idea what to expect, and had my heart crash to a halt when i first saw the cardboard, but by the end I realised holy *&^# that is actually amazing. It will bring a new kind of accomplishment to games that we havent had since playing with lego or other creator toys
Did not expect this. Its definitely interesting. Guess I need to see the price.
@Richnj It's literally cardboard. I'm sure you could still buy the game and find a way to construct your own unique set. That would be awesome actually.
This is some of the most creative and intriguing stuff I have seen when it comes to gaming. Very excited!
It's so bonkers it's brilliant!
@Nintendoforlife don’t act like they have infinite resources. No, they’re not an indie company, they can handle more than one or two projects at a time. But they’ve been underperforming for years and combining their more limited budget with having their hands in quite a few cookie jars (Amiibos, this, mini classic systems, supposedly an online subscription, hardware, and dozens of IPs) means some will be put on the back burner. And they way they’re hyping this means they’re likely going to have more than a couple games using these. Already nearly everything has to use Amiibos these days, I don’t want them shoving this into stuff either.
I’m not saying it’s a bad idea, I’m saying I’m a little worried and I think I have a right, I don’t want this to become another Wii. I liked some Wii games sure but that’s when they chose to remember core gamers. I don’t mind this if it stays as a small side thing that they only put a couple games into or is mainly for some third companies to utilize.
@Stuffgamer1 Not sure I understand the hate though... I would imagine "very excited" and "indifferent". It's like a Star Wars fan getting super pissed when they announce a new Star Wars Lego set or toy line...
I don't know what I was expecting from this announcement, but this certainly wasn't it. I was ready to write it off as junk at first but the more I watched (and read the full article) the more I was kinda like...huh. Their might be something to this. I guess it's a wait and see for me. I'm down to try it, if its not to expensive.
@BravelyDavid This generation kids are sad kids. They’ve forgotten what imagination is, they just want everything given to them from the start.
Man, I love smartphones and the Internet and technology and everything in between but, let’s be honest: it has turned our kids (and most adults) into consuming zombies.
This is amazing. Innovative. Inclusive. Creative.
It will influence young minds in many great ways. It will inspire future software developers. It will inspire future engineers. It will inspire future artists. Not many entertainment products are able to do all of those, and probably none in the land of video games.
And it looks crazy fun! I can't wait to play the piano or build my own steering wheel or BUILD MY OWN FRIGGIN MECH!!! There are endless possibilities. I don't have children. I don't have little children around me, but Nintendo was right by saying "people with hearts of children" . No, this has nothing to do with children.
It is simply fresh and exciting.
That looks amazing! My sons’ birthday is April 27th and he is definitely getting this. He already loves the Switch and I know he would love this too.
Genuinely looking forward to building these with my 8 year old.
Disappointed, but not surprised, at all the folks who expect every announcement has to be aimed at them... especially when they specifically said it was going to be aimed at children. If you were expecting Smash, VC, or D-pad joycon, you were ignoring what you were be told and living in a dream world.
@GoldenGamer88 32, can't wait to get my hands on this. I'll be buying a set for my godson as well.
The reactions are the same as "The Last Jedi" reactions...
Wow it's pricy £60-£80
This 'hands on' needs more content on the mini games!
it's nintendo cardboard lego, i love it!
and project giant robot is back, baby!
Good idea Nintendo but the price will be important. It was a surprise, Totally!!
@KTT glad to see we agree that the cardboard pieces can be easily replaced.
I see nothing about this on the US Nintendo site.
Schools are gonna be all over this.
It's already April Fools...time flies!
But seriously, this is very unexpected. And to be honest, it looks quite cool.
Oh and from the looks of it project Giant Robot is back! But lets face it, that cardboard will be expensive!
Watched it with my kids. Looks interesting but watched it again and not for us. Looks fun tho.
still. in. shock.
I like it but don't really see myself getting it especially the more intricate ones like that fishing rod.
@daveh30 I'll probably end up getting 3 of them. Two for my kiddos and one for me lol. Say it proudly 😁
@garydbz25 well it's meant for kids not adults so...
I have very little interest in this, knowing the limitations of the tech in the joycon. But if I had young children, I'd be happy to get this for them. Something that has them working to make something, and then enjoying a game with it sounds great. The games will be incredibly simple and lack much depth, but that is what you get with these types of initiatives.
@garydbz25 - Kids and kids at heart.
Obviously there is a thing called "target markets and you don't have to be in all of them.
How hard is it for people to understand that this product is for kids?
They should sell replacement cardboard on the online store.
The tech inside them joycons really are super impressive
The carboard element is brilliant and neccessary, there is enough plastic in landfills.
@Kalmaro hahaha
@BravelyDavid have you heard of Lego? My daughter got all sorts of cool toys for Christmas, a drone, microscope, iPod Touch etc. I spent Boxing Day making a hotel with her out of the cardboard Amazon boxes her Christmas presents had been delivered in so her Sylvanian Families would have somewhere to stay.
@daveh30 Right. I wasn't expecting anything big, they literally said it would be for kids.
@ACK Hear Hear!!!
'At first sight, it's easy to dismiss Nintendo Labo; DIY creations like Google's Cardboard VR headset have perhaps prejudiced us against this cheap and disposable material;'
Euhh no, that is actually cardboard done right. You get virtual reality for €3 with hundreds of apps. The whole point of using cardboard was to make it approachable and cheap.
This is €60-70 for a 13 key piano and a fishing rod with some mini games.
I said Wow
@daveh30 I agree, a lot of people seem hurt that this isn't specifically designed for them and are going out of their way to find fault. OVERPRICED CARDBOARD... but what about the game? GAME WILL BE SHOVELWARE... it's Nintendo making this & for all we know could have years of updates.
Younger kids will genuinely love this & a few adults (cough) might find this exciting too.
Sorry but all the haters are just being selfish here.
Like others have said if you were expecting Smash or I go about the online or VC, a disappointment was guaranteed. They clearly said it was for kids and kids at heart (which seem to be few these days).
Even if it’s not directed at you, let’s admit that this is pure and inspiring genius.
We won’t know how the execution actually turns out, but the idea is beyond awesome.
@OmegaYato It astounds me more than the fantastic idea Labo is.
To everyone who doesn't like this - it is not for you so stop whining about it. This is for kids and families in the majority. If this then leads kids into more traditional gaming, that is good for the industry as a whole.
Also, even if you don't like it, if you think that this won't make Nintendo a ton of money, then boy are you wrong.
@Fandabidozi brilliant
@garydbz25 How? How is it pathetic? They're just toys. Nintendo is really a toy company at heart. They invented that extending grabbing arm thing, after all. I think it's great for them to be doing some awesome product design and not just game design. It's innovative, no matter if it's agreeable to you or not, and it makes my heart sing to know that there are still big tech companies looking to push the boundaries of what their products are and take innovative risks.
"You know, for kids." - Hudsucker Proxy.
It looks fantastic. I can imagine a lot of kids (or certain parents) really liking this idea. Plus, cardboard is easily recyclable.
Plus, really inexpensive to manufacture. I'm thinking there's a nice profit margin.
Ingenious.
They made tearaway real remember that vita game where you can download paper models and build chcarters from that game.
That robot game is cool it looks like it almost VR.
@BravelyDavid
"Kids will not get excited about cheap cardboard, kids want Ipads or any internet connected device (the vast majority of them)."
Eh, really ?
Then those kids must be NEVER Knew what it called something better than Ipad.
Nintendo LABO was a Great Introduction about Cardboxes meet Nintendo Switch. Kids nowadays SHOULD be introduced with Real Toys, NOT by Ipad All the time. As you can see Some kids nowadays with Ipad addiction don't developed well in mentality and their cognitions. With Traditional things like that, Nintendo want to Recapture the essential way of playing with Real Toys.
Note: I'm single but if i am a Daddy with my childs, i will Introduce that LABO Toys, keep the Ipad stay away from my childs because i don't want the next generations addicted with Ipad or Android devices too much. Maybe i still allowed them to use for Google or Youtube, but NOT for gaming.
@Slim_Boy_Fat I have, http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lego-cuts-20170905-story.html
@BigKing the tech for the way this piano works is amazing!
I still don't get it though, kids want this??? I though they want iPhones and Facebook???
Ropes attached to feet and hands that, combined with reflective tape, let the system know how you are moving about = NINTENDO HAVE CREATED TEH REAL HOLODECK!
@Mqblank In the kids market, Nintendo isn't competing with Sony or XBOX. They are combating mobile and tablet gaming. You are right, this will be great for the gaming industry. Kids grow up. Most of us are Nintendo fans because it made an impact on our childhood. Nintendo is thinking years ahead here.
One of cutest, most creative and different things i’ve seen in a long time!! Gj nintendo, to those who say this is pathetic/terrible/sad i would suggest to try to understand why your inner child has withered and died. You might not want this product for you but it’s impossible that watching this video doesn’t make u smile.
it looks amazing, but the price is pretty painful. It would have been better to have the software be "free", and just pay for the precut cardboard.
I'm worried that the replacements will be expensive (pretty much just pay another $70 for another pack). It's not going to be for everyone, but it's definitely awesome innovation.
@BravelyDavid yep, still had a turnover of 2.4 Billion. Do you have kids?
Look @ this.
Seriously impressive
https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/17/16900496/nintendo-switch-labo-cardboard-diy-accessories-announced-price-release-date
These creations become even more impressive when you understand how they work, and this is especially true of the piano. The Joy-Con that slots into the back has a camera, which can see the back of the keys so that it knows which ones you’re pressing, and then relays that information to the Switch. The sound-modifying knobs, meanwhile, each have distinctive stripes that are associated with their respective sounds, so that the camera can tell them apart.
@Anti-Matter Parents will buy this, because it encourages more than just screen time. Killer idea.
@GoldenGamer88 Well yeah, that's the point.
I want the backpack.
And maybe the piano.
And maybe the car.
And maybe the fishing rod.
But that’s it!
...and maybe the house...
@kobashi100 It's a nice gimmick and fun for 2 minutes. But a cardboard piano is lame.
I'm starting to feel that one thing Nintendo never does is fail to disappoint!!
Some of the innovations look good but pause on the 'outside the box' innovations and give me the games I need on switch full of.. innovation.. Please
I love this! Nintendo finally did something brilliantly “Nintendo”. This is why I love Nintendo. You never know what crazy brilliant thing that will come next, but it’s not going to be something that you already have!
Is this coming out on 4.20 because you must be high to think this is a good idea? O.o
Yes people, please use your expensive Switch's and Joy Cons and put them in cheap, crappy cardboard garbage.
@BigKing I will be using the Cardboard piano in my Live Gigs - I don't think that's lame. . .
@Yorumi maybe third parties will make the cheap plastic versions that cost like 10 dollars more and you don’t assemble?
While not something for me personally, I can't help but love Nintendo when the go completely crazy like this.
Creating something so off the wall that makes you wonder just how someone could come up with this.
Simple joy and creativity rolled into one. It really does harken back to their toys of the 70's.
There's a uk hand on event. Register your interest now. Would of gone but I'll be enjoying the sun far away
Imagine making a big deal about a announcement and then coming out with this rubbish, jeez...
I am as excited about this as I was when the switch was first announced. Not because I think it will be a better game than Breath of the Wild but because it captures creativity and imagination in a tactile way.
Comes out just before my son's 9th birthday. Between him and my other two kids, I'm sure this will get a lot of good use.
I do worry about its durability though...
@Minch - This is probably why this is marketable to such a degree. Parents want to encourage their kids to get active, kids want games, Nintendo literally became the bridge of both. Not every parent will create a cardboard anything for their offspring, nor the time to learn it. This is basic answers for simple fun. The creative's that are more grown up will probably take what's here and improve it for the cheap.
How much would a LEGO Robot Suit cost? $500+ ?
I’m just blown away... I’m 36 years old, and I can’t wait to have these on day one. Honestly, I’m gonna take off of work on 4/20 and have a blast.
I can't wait for the obligatory Jimmy Fallon segment on Nintendo Labo. It's going to be nuts!
PS: I don't mean that as sarcasm, I really want to see other parents find out about this. It's really awesome.
@Maxz It is everything. Next thing you know it will be a kid and a squid. (although the robot means it is a kid right?....or my adultself who will totally be stomping around in this come april)
@NintyNate small kids mostly want attention.
my 11 year old was just asking if he could take to ir camera out of a joycon and use it in his latest robot, guess that will be a wait awhile now. At least we should get to take a early look at this as we where number 180 to book a spot at the london testings next month.
Gotta love Nintendo, utterly bonkers is what they do. Who else could justify selling us cardboard for £70 😂
Honestly, its starting to reignite my childhood love for Lego.
Its also a pretty environmentally friendly toy.
Me, the wife, and our three kids are gonna go bonkers with this. Nintendo...you never cease to amaze!
@ShadJV I hear you, I hear you. I just doubt Nintendo at the height of its value is going to come out and say "Hey guys we ran out of people to help make games, so expect low quality stuff for awhile". You have valid points about the Wii 2.0, I will say that.
Remember that Nintendo for long was a toy company and I guess it is hard for them to leave that part behind. Somehow got to love them for that As expected, this announcement wasn't something for everyone, but I'm glad to see there are a few around here that liked it. Not for me though!
I expected to hate it, but I don't. Pretty creative but I'll hold off until I can get it onsale. I'm sure software is involved, but looks like $70 is too much for what it offers.
Great for kids, but being 28 I can say it's not for me.
This is Brilliant. We’ve all been scratching our heads thinking what’s the point of the IR camera. Well here it is. Can’t wait to try these with my daughter.
@maruse
+1
yes, the games started being products of the imagination, why not continue having the same ideology?
and yes, always people come to act selfishly and pretend that their interests should be of priority than the "general interest", but well..., it is their problem to be disappointed, upset, and to get sick (and really get sick) for something that does not hurt them or neither should ...
oh well...
Been thinking about it and reading through most of the comments on this article over the past 45 minutes.
I am clearly too old for this. But does this take away from the fact that this is a very creative and Nintendo thing to do? Not in the slightest. I am unsure, however, that the target demographic will care much about this and won't break one of those constructions one way or another. I wish to be proven wrong, though, because this is simply ingenious and could very well be a series in of itself.
@BigKing if we see 3rd parties use that piano for rhythm games. Mind blown!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DTxy2a4WkAE_1u8.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DTxzNgxW0AI-hpr.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DTxzeWxWAAAe3c9.jpg
This actually looked more amazing thr longer I watched it
THIS is why you should never try to predict what Nintendo will do next because they come up with innovative, left of centre stuff like this. I have three kids and live in Arizona where you can't go outside in Summer. When the heat kicks in, this will already be out so just perfect for our house.
It's like Google Cardboard but for everything except putting it on your face.
It's an interesting solution to having games with unique gimmicks not requiring people to shell out tons of money on accessories that only work with 1 or 2 games.
I imagine the handheld cardboard accessories would be rather uncomfortable though.
I do like how Nintendo LABO respects kids' intelligence by forcing them to actually build something intricate out of mere cardboard. I figured this thing would be a simple plastic accessory that would make the Switch easier to use for kids. Guess I underestimated Nintendo's penchant for embracing the weird and wacky.
glad to see nintendo are making a use of all those unused switch boxes. Just kidding.
Sega bass fishing people!!
I hate this so much.
Caine's Arcade saw Nintendo LABO coming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faIFNkdq96U
I'm completely surprised and shocked, but in the best way possible. The ideas present there are future changing in so many wild ways, that my mind can't stop thinking and dreaming about it.
Uh, what a brilliant future this idea could have if Nintendo releases a software to create their own designs and code! What a brilliant idea to later are more tech and concepts. This is so great im so many ways, on both educational and inspiring ways...
Definitively, it's far from typical videogaming. They're bringing gaming to the real world. This is such a breaking idea! What more could be done in a few years if this is sucessful?
What a wonderful and unique minds are there at Nintendo! I'm so happy to have been living at this time in history! Thanks Nintendo!
Remember Voez is getting an update for physical controls people.
It looks fun and it’s Nintendo opening up to all ages which is their mantra after all.
If it takes off then maybe we could see more ingenious designs. Cardboard guns. Wii accessories but in cardboard.
It’s certainly something different although the idea that this will be the thing to give Switch a great second year is an odd statement. The only thing that will do that is quality games.
Everyone that laughs and dismisses this, I will save your post and repost it in a few years, once this gaming world phenomenon has taken over the world. Trust me, this is gonna be huge. Its the worst and best thing I have ever seen.
But 2 copies of version one of the actual cardboard and save one in an airtight bag, it'll be as rare as a macintosh¹ one day.
For all those haters, maybe you don't remember the joys and satisfaction of building a DIY toy.
But I sure remember and I'm sure my child and I will have a blast building all those toys and playing with them as well.
@Damo Could Labo be the reason why Yoshi Switch was somewhat strangely not included in the recent Nintendo Direct Mini?
Labo's big game will be Cardboard Mario, a harder version of Paper Mario.
A+mazing! Can not wait to buy this for my nephews!
@Agramonte I've said it before and I'll say it again. You need to step up your trolling game, one weeks sales numbers won't do it
Nintendo and their gimmicks. At least this one isn't central to the system like the Wii Remote and motion control was for the Wii. Just keep your gimmickry to the side, Nintendo, and we'll be fine... But aren't there other things Nintendo should be talking about right now? Like why in the world we should have to pay for their online services in the future?
So many butthurt comments lol
I think it's bloody brilliant, it's like Arts & Crafts for those modern day kids that sit stuck to a Tablet or iPad all day!
I've 2 kids and I'll be getting this day one, another chance to actually sit down and have fun.
@Harmonie
Indeed, this might be a nice way to channel all their gimmickyness into this and leave the core system relatively unscathed.
@ShadJV man, you're so right. I mean, they weren't developing ANY decent games while they were doing amiibo and Nintendo Classic Minis were they? Oh, except BOTW I guess... And Mario Odyssey... And Splatoon 2... Oh, and ARMS... And Samus Returns... But aside from those critically acclaimed gems, they've done like, nothing, right? Amiibo and the mini classics have been SUCH a distraction.
I’m intrigued. The piano actually looks really cool.
@KTT I agree. It could be cheaper. But really it is a similar price to 1-2 Switch. At least they're consistent.
Thought: retail stores like target will probably sell it cheaper than the listed price.
I'm just going to go ahead and rename this Nintendo Cardboredo... patent pending.
I have young children and this still has -100% interest for me.
The kings of left field strike again!
I don't mind this as long it isn't heavily focused or a big part like with Sony's PSVR.
@jacksayspurple in his FACE.
This is gonna be one of the biggest toy sellers in 2018.
Can't believe anyone would think this thing is gonna bomb. It's sell serious numbers
A clever gimmick but I can't imagine the games or apps will have much depth.
Not for me but I'm not the target audience here. Kids will love this. Spares will definitely be essential for younger kids.
@Spoony_Tech My kids, now teens and building real robots in school, are probably going to be a little too old for this, but even they think it's a good idea.
Oh, my wife's home, time to see what she thinks.
She thinks the name is stupid. Yes, my whole family is negative like that, it's not just me. Besides the name we're good though.
@KTT I think you’re looking at it in the wrong way. $70/~£60 gives you 5 construction toys, ranging from 15 minutes to 2 hours build time, as well as software containing the instructions, how it works and games to play with each Toy-Con, with what seems like varying levels and challenges. That cost also covers the incredible R&D that’s gone into these products and a profit for Nintendo plus retailers. Sounds like a great deal to me.
It’s also environmentally friendly (more than plastic, on face value) and clearly is meant to engage kids with engineering and coding concepts, so is not for very young children, so I don’t see why cardboard is a problem. When I was younger I absolutely adored construction toys (thanks to my dad) and my parents encouraged me to be creative and learn while playing, as did my school through construction club, Lego club etc. Building it is meant to be half the fun, so it’s common sense to avoid if that style of play doesn’t fit your children.
Personally, I’m thrilled to see toys that show children that technology, creativity and hands-on learning can go hand-in-hand. I’m a firm believer that It’s a parent’s job to expose kids to plenty of unique and enraging stimuli as well as have fun together... and that’s exactly what Labo looks set to do!
@Redax Plot twist: Nintendo Life knew about this for a week so they'd have time to write an article, but were prohibited from publishing said article until Nintendo made an official announcement. This is typical for the industry.
Typical for news as a whole. My ex worked for a news agency and had to make an obituary video for Jimmy Carter when he was having brain surgery, so that, in the event he died, they would be able to immediately publish the obit.
I don't know how anyone of you said kids would be interested in this.. I don't know one kid who likes to play with cardboard..This was hugely disappointing. I don't believe it will sell well if it is 70 dollars.
I think a lot of you guys are all missing the point of this. This isn't aimed at 20+ year olds (but that doesn't mean they can't enjoy it! ). Everyone saying "pathetic" - you aren't the only core audience for Nintendo, I hope you understand that. This is honestly a pretty brilliant move on their part.
@ANeonChicken apparently you were never a kid and played with/in cardboard boxes (different situation obviously) but I think we sometimes forget the excitement that kids can find in things.
Seriously, Nintendo Labo is like WTF? in the best possible way!
I think this could be huge!
@Kfmush lf it is so expensive to run online games how have Nintendo done it so far? It is a falacy that online services like PS+ and XB Gold use the money to pay for servers that you play on. The service your paying for is matchmaking, party chat and cloud storage.
The servers you play the games on are run by the games developers. Nintendo tend to use p2p, even on splatoon i believe, and i dont see that changing. The paid service will enable better friend services and interaction.
This couldn't be cooler. I know for a fact my niece and nephews would love this. I can't believe anyone can watch that and not think it's amazing tbh.
Someone is going to make a ton of money by selling fully assembled plastic versions of the Toy Cons.
@hippoeater I was a kid and I mostly played with my toys and I'm surrounded by kids and not one of them likes playing with cardboard..
@ANeonChicken Why are you fixating on it being cardboard? Kids love to build and colour stuff. Look at Lego and art stuff like Playdoh and colouring books. I think you are out to lunch, kids will love this. My wife's a former teacher who still works extensively with kids as a librarian and she thinks so too.
Add some of those features to some games, like the car thing to Mario Kart, that joycon looking thing to some classic shooters and even 2D games, and it will be great.
An interesting idea and I wanna see more of it!
It's Nintendo seriously trolling us right now? They selling us cardboard inserts for $70 or $80?
This is Nintendo's Vegemite - you'll either love it or hate it (most likely whether you have kids or are a kid at heart - much like their pre-announcement statement). Personally, I love it (and I love Vegemite too) - and it's something only Nintendo would ever think of. They continue to surprise and delight me, and for that I am thankful
@bonham2 They're clearly selling a video game with ELABORATE cardboard periphials.
(Real is) Best graphics ever
Competition is way behind..
@Bondi_Surfer - That's... That's actually a pretty good analogy.
@gortsi Yeah, And I'll say it again - you can keep calling "wolf" each time people don't care to put their heads in the ground next to you. No worries here.
Yeah, Switch be on top again. When they release another amazing game everyone wants.
That's pretty heckin awesome
This looks fun. I should buy it so I can test and see how it works and stuff...
Honestly, I think it's a great idea but the price might be too high. It's aimed for kids, like Nintendo stated multiple times. So I'm really surprised that there are a lot of people (although, less than I expected) offended by Nintendo Labo.
Seriously, it's not aimed at most of you people around here. And it's not $69,99 for only some cardboard. If that would be true, Breath of the Wild is just some plastic for $59,99.
I think it's great for kids but also for parents who like to build with their kids ánd play with their creation. I'm just curious if it's really going to be a big succes, since $69,99 ~ $79,99 is a lot. And if their kid doesn't own a Switch, they're paying extra.
This really is a feature they have done for young minds, and if I was a kid man I would have loved this!
So it’s really just another mechanic added to the switch to make it even more family friendly.
So FairPlay we’ll done Nintendo, so now that you got the kids out the way....can I have virtual console now please?
And also res evil 7, gta 5 and some silent hill, also whilst your at it please port your full back catalogue of all previous Nintendo consoles, I would like all of this on a lolly pop stick please thank you.
Wow just wow 😮
@Agramonte by everyone you mean yourself? Because armchair analysts on the Internet are definitely not what a game company thinks of when making games. I'm sure 10 years you'd dismiss something like Wii sports as "not what gamers (i.e. you) want." In the meantime Nintendo laughed all the way to the bank, as they will this time. Don't worry, they don't really care about "hardcore gamers" because nobody outside of teenagers and manchildren does either
This place is funny and annoying at times. I love when something gets announced or reviewed and the comments say "Skipping". "Terrible", "What a waste", etc. With no reason for stating why. It's annoying. Not everything is for you and we don't need to hear about it. This is for kids who love building or have imagination. Don't buy it. This is Nintendo being Nintendo and being awesome in my opinion.
Wow, that completely took me by surprise!
@Agramonte Well, maybe the momentum is up, the shots are fired, and Nintendo's reloading takes time they didn't prepare for? Ubisoft are still teasing Nintendo related news though, and a direct could still very well happen. Or it's just that mini, and 2018 will become like the Dry Dry Dunes
@BravelyDavid This is combining both technology and toys. I can see most kids loving the heck out of this.
If it was released when I was a child, I would be all over this, since I was a Lego fan.
I do think this will be a hit with kids. They should try to demo it somehow, with a road show for example, because I'll bet this is the same as the Switch - you have to try to enjoy it. And according to Damien it seems good.
Now i want a House of the Dead collection with cardboard guns (pistols for 1&2, shotgun for 3, machine gun for 4)...
I know this seems to be aimed at kids, but maybe Sega does what Nintendon't again.
@Luna_110 They will, in the Netherlands atleast. They will let you play with Nintendo Labo here on 16, 17 and 18 March at various locations.
Such an imagination those Nintendo engineers have. This is brilliant!
This is so dumb. But it's the right kind of dumb. I'd be all over this if I was a kid, and if I had a kid that was into hands-on science experiements, or legos, or anything you gotta build to use...Christmas/Birthday, filming it from opening the box to complete. Freakin' genius-levels of dumb!
What a Nice Idea !! But.. 79.99$US for a bunch of cardboard ? 😩
The more this sinks in... the more I like it.
Don't get me wrong, I was legitimately impressed watching the video, and my curiosity was definitely piqued. But the more I dwell on it, the more attractive it becomes to me, personally.
That fishing game seems super fun. And that Giant Robot game? Are you kidding me? I have to try it! I have to. The piano too- it's too ingenious to be passed over.
Even that motorbike with the handles and the Switch screen shows the road- that sounds awesome!
This is truly brilliant. When they said they were announcing something for the casual audience I thought to myself, "there is no possible way it will appeal to me, it just won't". Yet here we are, and I am genuinely interested in this.
This video warmed my heart and made me smile. Although I’m probably not gonna end up getting one, I’m very glad that Nintendo did this.
@gortsi News Flash - every time you read an opinion here it is an individual "their own" personal one - not like we all go take a poll before posting. And If Nintendo listen to anyone here we be playing Metroid or Fire Emblem right now, not reading about $80 dollar cardboard packs.
Yeah just like Activision laughed all the way to the bank with CODWW2 2 months ago. People buy random stuff - not my money - not my problem.
@Agramonte The best part about this is people like You saltiness, you're acting like this will destroy Switch sales when in reality this just a neat idea for kids and their parents and people who like legos. Not everything is marketed to you. Also how about fire emblem and Metroid are still in development, games don't take a day to develop.
@MFD well Ubisoft is right up there at #3 on Amazon JP. It will give the Switch a shot in the arm.
https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/bestsellers/videogames
Yeah, I'm a big Ubisoft fan - hopefully that will be awesome.
420! hehe
Gee things are going so well for Switch, we'd better wii-u it up a bit now. Whats joke, is it April 1? Please tell me it is!?
Next hUGE commercial flop inbound. Cardboard for $100 AUD get out of town Nintendo LOL so much LOL.
@Agramonte Kids gotta convince mum and dad to pay for this junk. Yeah not gonig to happen. I buy $800 worth of switch and accessories so ic an buy you cardboard you are going to destroy in 10 minutes? yeah right.
Brilliant. There are tens of thousands more kids in the world who will love this than basement dwelling neckbeards who hate it.
am i alone in thinking that this is the worst idea since greedo shooting first? do you want 4k or vr, na what i really want is some cheap cardboard crap to hook onto my switch! dang i was hoping it was gona be something rad, cool for kids but how long is cardboard gona last with kids just doesnt seem like that great an idea
I would like to place my vitriol here regarding a product not marketed toward me, nor even released yet.
As someone not involved in market research or any level of business I can confidently predict this will fail. Nintendo what are you thinking?
So much salt
Not for me, but i’m impressed. I think this could go over well with kids under a certain age. Nintendo is just so creative.
Well, I think it runs the risk of muddying the Switch's clean and clear concept/message so early on in its lifespan (going from "it's a handheld/home console hybrid" to "it's a handheld/home console hybrid and all that weird cardboard sh*t"). Runs the risk of reinforcing the "Nintendo = kiddy console" stereotype (which the Switch has so far done a decent job of shedding). Plus I got distinct Wii Music vibes from the whole thing, but still, I guess it's pretty intriguing.
@Anti-Matter The boxes are literally the entire point...😒
@bolt05 Exactly - They cant help themselves.
https://gematsu.com/2018/01/nintendo-labo-build-play-toy-con-kits-announced-switch
If you want a good LOL, you need to go to Gematsu... they really going to town on their boards. If anything this nonsense is really bringing the humor out of people.
The one where the father puts his kid in a cardboard box with paper plate wheels and called it "F Zero announced" is priceless.
@Paraka You are right. Parents do want to encourage more active and creative play. Even if the parents are gamers themselves, no-one wants to produce a gaming zombie of a kid (you know the ones that go crossed eyed and need glasses prematurely because they stare to closely at their personal iPad?). I agree that the importance of this innovation is not this iteration but how other people will run with the concept and perfect it. This is as much as a stimulus to developers and creative minds as it is a generator of revenue.
I'm hoping that Korg (a keyboard and musical instrument company) has seen this, and will release an app on the switch like they did for the DS.
@Voldemort807
Don't underestimate those Cardboxes.
Maybe looks so cheap, but it just more than just any Ordinary way to play.
I still curious about that Piano.
Props to the engineers who designed these, that is some complex stuff made out of cardboard.
@Anti-Matter oh I wasn’t doubting the actual product, it looks pretty fun. It’s just you said, “I hope you can play the games without the cardboard.” I don’t think they would be playable without
I am not sure on this.. seems a little out there.. You would think they would make it of plastic at least.. geez one kid falls and the toy is in the garbage.. I mean recycling box
slow clap
Well done, Nintendo. Well done.
Pretty barmy, perhaps brilliant. Got to love Nintendo.
@Voldemort807
That was i thinking about.
Can i use subtitute things to play Piano for Switch, even without LABO Cardboxes ?
@garydbz25 what were you actually expecting?
"future of gaming"....yea....OK....
I’m floored. Nintendo are unto something here. This will be a major, major succes.
Ofcourse, it depends how they handle the whole thing and how they support it. But man...
Nintendo are Crazy Creative!
This is ridiculous. But that's what makes Nintendo who they are. They stand out from the crowd with crazy products like this. Always going an alternative route. But alas this isn't for me. Though I do appreciate the creativity behind it!
Wow, leave it to Nintendo when it comes to innovation. Kids are going to love this.
It's hard to call the Nintendo Switch a home console/handheld hybrid anymore, because it is literally trying to be any toy possible.
I just wonder about Sony / Microsoft reaction about LABO...
Nintendo Labo Robot Kit is labeled "Best Seller" on Amazon US right now. Boom.
This is pure creative genius in movement.
BRILLIANT
@Anti-Matter
We are so nibelsnarfed ?
@CorvoRevo
Hey, mind your F word !
That's so Rude to reply someone.
As a parent I would have loved this when the kids were younger, a bit old for all that now, but I can think of several friends who are at least interested in this idea (to play with their kids) to make this venture interesting.
I gotta be honest, im going to get it, just from a curiosity point of view, It looks so......cool!
Scalpers are going to have a field day with this accessory and Nintendo knows it. I predict a low initial print run which will essentially have everyone paying double the price for cardboard. Meanwhile, the media, will promote it like they did the nes and snes classics thinking there will be a massive amount of product on store shelves and Nintendo is headed down the wrong direction. Guarantee a lot of the media initially surrounds toycon with negativity and the idea of what are they thinking? Next thing you know this will fly off the shelf like amiibo and Nintendo announces they never anticipated such high demand. This is definitely not for gamers which is another reason I suspect quantities will be extremely limited. On the bright side, it looks like we are finally getting the miyamoto robot game announced for the u a few years ago.
It's not for me, but it's so nice to see something so unconventional just pop at 2018. Dear god! Looks like the world is a gray machine and Nintendo wants to put some color in the minds and faces.
I'm buying it.....for my newphew....yeah...yeah....
I welcome the new cardboard overlords with open arms. Errhh is still for my nephew though he hee...
Love Nintendo Labo, but the comments from people that can't see it... I mean it's fine if it's not for you, that's not what I'm talking about... I mean the posts with people that just hate it, or think it's "terrible" or it makes them angry or disappointed... just makes me sad... about them.
Is there a non-selfish, informed, broad reason for the hating on it that I'm just not seeing?
@Agramonte good for Activision, it's a good game.
I don't have kids right now but I work as a pediatrician. Making stuff out of cardboard for kids especially for those recurrently confined to the hospital, they'll need something to look forward to even just to take their minds off of their sickness. Fortunately, I have a Switch and this is the perfect toy/software for them.
I feel like there will be a Yoshi tie-in because Yoshi's new game is paper-related.
Labo Super Smash Bros level, items and robot character!
@aaronsullivan No, it's just plain old, stupid "needs a good smack across the face" kinda negativity. Actually, make that three smacks, or head crushed into the pavement or whatever. (man, idiocy really DOES bring out the angry Titan in me)
A lot of those numb skulls didn't get the memo about this VERY explicitly being announced as being for kids, but still people reach for completely new and previously uncharted levels of stupid by angrily disclaiming and whining how "Nintendo is disappointing them personally" with "something so lame", and "why, oh why aren't they making the games that I, poor innovation-hating gamer that can only barely stomach any content that's below 4K, wants to play"...
These sorry souls just aren't getting it, and I highly doubt that they ever will.
Meanwhile, Labo will be making Nintendo tons of cash and even this initiative alone will see Nintendo riding out the coming year quite nicely. Of that, I'm pretty sure...
@aaronsullivan
I think some of those haters dislike LABO Cardboxes just because it looks Kiddie or like Kids Toy, NOT a something for adult gamers.
Because of that, they felt Nintendo didn't care with those gamers.
Ah.... what a complainers.
@ThanosReXXX
I was also thinking some of gamers here expect about 4K, VR, ULTRA Modern supplement devices for Switch, must be exactly same like PS4 / Xbox 1.
They FORGOT if Nintendo is from KYOTO, The part of Japanese country that still like to maintain their Traditional things yet blended with Modern stuffs.
Gamers like that might be forgot and refuse to explore their Childhood memories, be a "Kid" again. In their minds, they are adults, must be like adult stuffs, not kiddie stuffs or people will insulting for being kiddie.
@Anti-Matter Yeah, and it's so sad, really. None of them seem able to be happy for other people or see the good in there being a bigger/broader assortment of games available that might also please others besides themselves.
But no, they set expectations WAY too high, even though it was CLEARLY said this is for kids, and now, because of their own stupidity, they are needlessly disappointed, and boom! Out comes all the hate and negativity. Stupid, unnecessary and completely pathetic.
You know, you were actually one of the first people I thought of when I was thinking about which members on Nintendo Life were REALLY going to like this...
@ThanosReXXX
Ah, thank you.
I look forward to Super Mario Odyssey piano% runs.
@aaronsullivan doesn't thing iI thought of when i saw this was our conversation about Jalan valuing entertainment that doesn't last and westerners don't. I had into the stereotype. The product design is awesome. But the fact that it's cardboard and will stain, fray, collect dirt, abrade, tear, bow, and bend means is remarkably disposable. I would seriously freak out when my Nintendo piano inevitably crumples.
That's the only thing here that's now awesome is it's quite expensive for something that will fall apart insanely fast.... ESPECIALLY for kids. That makes me sad.
No.
@astralorange Exactly. After dwelling on it, Nintendo is going to make a killing on this. Repurpose some cardboard for $1, but their logo on it, with some code, and sell it for a massive profit at $70. It's brilliant because like you said, kids will destroy this and want more in no time.
Well, and of course, there will be a stock shortage, because they "didn't forsee such high demand." For cardboard. But the cereal is selling out, so why not this.
Pretty divisive technology here from Nintendo. Very interesting.....
I can see how putting the cardboard pieces together could be a nice form of escapism. It's akin to a 3D version of doing a 2,000 piece picture puzzle.
@Djgoa Oh c'mon. Get serious. Dismissing a brilliant idea just because you may not be the target group. Appreciate that others (younger kids and their family) may have fun with this.
This is interesting... I'm not the target demographic, but I might buy one to try it out
@gatorboi352
Haha...!
Pity of you.
Ok done. Release it. Dont soend any more man hours developing and concentrate on first party titles and pokemon 3d please.
@Agramonte Oh no Gemetsu, what will Nintendo do. You need to relize that Nintendo is not only trying to appeal to you. Also a bunch of great games are coming to Switch and you might say these are Wii U but I never really used my Wii U so these are new games to me and many people.
This by far is that worst product I have ever seen.
1. Most kids aren't going to have the patience to make those kind of intricate objects.
2. Where parents just hand kids their smartphones to entertain them, once parents see what kind of work is involved in this card board thing, they're not going to want to help their child make them.
3. Any regular kid is going to turn anything built with cardboard in a pile of bent and unshapely cardboard after a few hours, maybe minutes, of playing with it.
4. This is literally like selling a snow-man kit to a fireplace.
Awful awful awful.
@ThanosReXXX OR. People just think it's a horrendous idea and have every right to state as such.
You apologists are worse than the haters.
@LUIGITORNADO You can make your own Labo with your cardboard. The price is for the cardboard plus the software.
I think it's a pretty cool and interesting idea...it's fascinating, and doesn't have to appeal to all those people who can't be bothered with it.
I do have a pretty big problem with it, though: cost. I knew it would be the moment I saw it, but these thing are outrageously expensive for the materials. My best guess is that it has to do with the games being included - that would certainly explain it, though I think that a lot of games are a bit overpriced anyway.
Love the idea, hate the exclusivity that rises from costs and the fact it will likely only be supported by one or two games per creation. Due to this, the only one with much chance of being bought and tried by me personally is the piano, because I really like the piano and physical access to a good one is impossible for me.
@Azooooz Oh that's even better! Nintendo's going to leave it up to people to take measurements and cut cardboard out to build their own 3D objects.
@LUIGITORNADO
Kids are NOT So Stupid like that.
Some kids today are pretty handy in assembling that cardboxes.
If they are Unable to do that, they can practice and with an ENCOURAGE from closer people (Family, Friends, Teachers, etc) i believe they will ABLE to do that.
Don't mind with the crampy result, that's their Best efforts. Of course, for us as Adult people, we can assembling better than kids.
You said about Parents can entertain their kids with just ONLY with their smartphones. I can say, Really ?!
That means, Those parents are LACK of knowledge of parenting skill. They think they can Hush their kids with smartphones and everything is under control when the kids silent and keep busy with smartphones without supervision from their parents. They Did WRONG !
If you a Good parent, you can consider LABO as a Good Alternative of Both Video games & Art Crafting stuffs for kids. Kids can be taught how to cut, assembly and paste the cardboxes to become a thing. That's also develop their Motoric Skill by cutting, pasting, read the instruction to assemble rather than just keep their eyes crossing in front of Smartphones screen, keep ignoring with their situation and not Developing their Communication skills. It also built their PATIENCE during making the LABO Toys.
If you think LABO will not working for Both parents and kids today just because Smartphones take over everything, You thinked WRONG !
And, how could you so Negative with @ThanosReXXX ?!
@LUIGITORNADO I forgot to tell you also that Nintendo will give you the pattern design of the labo itself for free so all you need is paste it on a cardboard and make your own Labo. I understand that you don’t like this idea, but please don’t attack others who like the idea.
@Anti-Matter Some gamers are painting this as another Nintendo hit, likening it to Wii's casual appeal. I'm saying it won't happen.
That market has sailed. Those parents are content with letting their kids watch youtube on a tablet. The majority, that big market, will not invest money and time in Labo.
I'm sure it'll have its small success, but it has an incredible niche appeal, and it's a product that simply has no way of being long lasting because of the material it's made out of.
Cardboard is incredibly flimsy. Bend something the wrong way, and you shortened your object's lifespan by half. You think a parent is going to keep dishing out money for cardboard? HA!
At first i thought the Nintendo guys have finally lost their minds
As a toy for little children it could really work though.
Only gripe is, that it seems a bit expensive for a toy made out of cardboard.
How long will the robot last for example, if you hand it to your kids ?
80$ is maybe a bit much, if you have to replace it all the time.
edit: Just read that Nintendo allows you to make your own replacements for the cardboard parts.
That makes it a bit more reasonable i think.
Interesting concept.
@LUIGITORNADO
A PESSIMIST, NEGATIVE people will ALWAYS think it will NEVER Working !
LABO Will Embark its Unique Journey and Kick your Butt by its popularity !
Just Remember that !
And who said parents will NOT Spend their money for Cardboxes ?!
Check on some users above !
They showed their ENTHUSIAST to buy LABO, for themself and for their kids.
I will buy LABO and i will SHOW it to you how COOL is LABO !
You Said and Thinked WRONG !
@Kevlar44 Because it's cardboard.. You can't compare legos and playdoh to this. They were meant to be played by kids.
I prefer my games played with envelope.
@Minch Nintendo stuff never gets cheaper in my country. The prices stays the same for several years, if you are lucky enough to find a Nintendo shelve in a store. Unless it's a 10yo second hand Barbie or other shovelware in a smaller gaming shop, that is.
@KTT as long as you paid them for the software, I'm sure Nintendo doesn't care where you get the cardboard.
Nintendo, it's in the cardboard.
@Meowpheel True. But not sure if more of 1-2-Switch style games are worth those 70-80 bucks. I can play plenty of these, without spending 2 hours to set up, on my DS & 3DS tbh. And heck, 1-2-Switch is already an overpiced hardware demo, no exuse. 40 bucks is what the sets should cost and there would be no controversies.
@garydbz25
I will never understand comments like these,they add absolutely nothing to the discussion and I can only assume are trolling.
Nintendo clearly stated there intentions before the trailer.
@garydbz25
my son and I watched it and said nothing through the whole video. then the video ended, we still said nothing...we looked at each other and pretty much said, "move along".
@617Sqn
And another one.........My advice would be to just keep to a PS4/PS4 PRO or Xbox One/Xbox One X.......then you know exactly what you are going to get all the time...simple.
@Joe-b,
I guess Nintendo should just cancel the whole idea...based on the fact you and your son do not like it....sounds reasonable.
This is always the issue for Nintendo as if they release another Mario 3D or 2D game people seem to think they are milking the franchise to death,when in fact it's totally the opposite when you compare titles released year for the PS4/Xbox One.
Nintendo try to do something different and people still complain.
@Djgoa The word “gimmick” is not at all relevant here. Can you really not think of a valid criticism that goes beyond the typical boring anti-fanboy accusation of “gimmick”? It’s just an empty and overused coverall lazily employed by people who don’t know how to process and adequately express their negative feelings about something.
So it has come to this... Nintendo is now selling cardboard.
@LUIGITORNADO “This by far is that worst product I have ever seen.”
Lol okay, dude. I can tell you’re a super reasonable and thoughtful person.
@Nincompoop Yep. And this is a website. And you’re a human. And I’m typing words. And we live on a planet.
If nothing else it's another good opportunity to see under-developed menchildren cry like spoilt babies because somebody dared to make something not specifically targeted at them.
I've brought popcorn.
@johnvboy
Yeah but @garydbz25 actually thought a 'new way to play' meant GTA V.
@LUIGITORNADO
You need to get out more. And not have kids.
I think there's a very good reason for using cardboard. Here in the UK at least, there's a big push to start removing plastic from supermarkets due to the amount of waste it produces. Our seas and oceans are awash with plastic waste; it's being heavily promoted in recent nature programs and news.
Nintendo is all about sustainability, and using cardboard fits into that mindset. The younger generations have really embraced environmental issues and I think this is going to be really popular with them.
@aesc Let's keep it civil, OK? You have every right to disagree with him, but you don't have to take this to a personal level.
@BAN Nintendo is genius, they are selling cardboard to people for $70. There's more profit here than Amiibo. Did you know that you can get free cardboard with a brand new Switch, it's all bundled inside the box.
All i can say is, AT LEAST ITS BIO-DEGRADABLE
@Anti-Matter Err... calm down, count to 10, or whatever, but take it easy, alright?
I like it!
@617Sqn You mean that logo of the JoyCon on the carton boxes? No, that is just the 'plus' at the top of the JoyCon.
@BAN how about lets create a demand for something that will be used once then forgotten about. Or, lets put something out thag will create a massive demand that the scalpers will line their pockets with. The wii balance board did this and ended up down the back of peoples sofa after a week.
while it's good to do these kinds of things for the kids, this is just corporate greed and robbery, Nintendo hope to capitalize on the popularity of the Switch by selling cardboard cut outs for an astoundingly stupid price, no parent in their right minds would spend this type of money on cardboard cutouts at such a ridiculous price.
This is certainly not for hardcore gamers, some Nintendo enthusiasts will spend money on it but many including myself (and i love Nintendo) will find it impossible to justify buying cardboard cut outs for daylight robbery prices.
I wont knock Nintendo for making such a lame toy to begin with, many have already done this. One cup of spilled water and your cardboard cutouts are going to turn into expensive mush. If this is for kids then they really didn't think this through very well.
@KTT Oh I likely will, alongside this. That’s the joy of having competing companies driving innovation and working hard to give my family a good life. Gives you the choice expose yourself (and kids) to plenty of experiences.
Whilst your other comments are true, most I feel can be easily avoided through care and attention, and with the designs being free to access separately, to replace or DIY from scratch, alongside buying the software separately, it automatically opens it up to those unable to afford the complete set, just needing replacements or wanting to DIY for the fun of it.
Regarding your rather sweeping (and rather ill-informed) ADHD comment, your distaste there lies with parents and their parenting techniques, not the product itself. My family and friends have turned out alright, and those that are having kids now seem to be doing a pretty good job of balancing how technology is involved in their kid’s lives. Quite frankly, if you can’t teach your child to respect something, have patience and not sit in front of various black mirrors all day and not appreciate the rest of what’s on offer in life, you’re doing something wrong. ‘ADHD’ is not a given, nor should it be made light of or used as an excuse.
@LUIGITORNADO,
And the Switch itself was never going to be a success because all the people that bought a Wii had moved on and bought tablets etc.
Hang on a second............
@johnvboy
Wow. Never said that. You really jumped the gun there brother. Just saying it isn't something I would like my self. I'm sure there are a lot of people who will try it at least once. I want Nintendo to keep this streak of hot sales going as much as the next Nintendo fan. I want them to crush the competition. I want them to crush Sony for releasing the PS 2 and dethroning my precious Dreamcast! Sorry, got carried away. But anyway. Assembling cardboard to play a game isn't for me, again, it'll have a small niche I'm sure somewhere.
@Nincompoop
yah, the profit margin must be like 700%. All Switch accessories are pricey.
well anything like the amiibo or other stuff they will make 100 sets each for every continent.
Oh my god, this is genius. Only Nintendo could surprise me in such a positive way. I was upset before the direct because I thought they were just going to announce some £500 VR headset or something like that. The same as all the rest of the companies. Boring. But then I saw THIS. LABO. It looks amazingly fun and it has so much potential to expand beyond the confines of cardboard. At it's core it's using sensory data to interact with the digital and physical worlds in sync with your actions. I think I may have a reason to use my coding skills now if I can get off my butt 😂
@electrolite77
looks at your comment history
Lol! You need to take your own advice. You're on here all day everyday...Just saying
@Mikemario Seriously? You know that Nintendo has al kind of departments right? GameFreak has nothing to do with Nintendo Labo. It's coming either way.
@ChibiNinja It depends on the quality of the games ofcourse. It's 'just' $10 more expensive than most other Switch game. But this bring an unique experience with them. Skylanders and Infinity are dying, it's a great time for companies to think of new ways to get kids to gaming.
If Nintendo Labo is going to be a succes, Nintendo has a real moneymaker in their hands.
@Damo
I would like to thank yourself and Nl for obviously knowing about this and not allowing it get out and ruin our surprise. Thank you
As for the concept, wow, this is why I love Nintendo!
@LUIGITORNADO No, not really. Most of the haters just seem to take this as a personal insult, because they either set their expectations WAY too high, or they missed the memo that explicitly said that this was intended for kids.
In that light, this is not a horrible idea, it's a BRILLIANT idea. It has even already resulted in a cautious rise of Nintendo's shares, so even shareholders are able to see the benefits.
It's not about the cardboard, it's about so much more than that. Getting kids to craft stuff, and have them also spend some time away from a screen, and when they're finished crafting, the reward is the game, and finding out about the workings of mechanics. Again: it's simply brilliant.
You don't have to be an apologist to see that; you only need half a brain. And FYI: I don't see myself making these, although I would like to try the finished ones out on some event or something, but even though it's not for me, I can still see the draw this will have for so many kids and their parents, to make stuff together, almost like back in my youth.
And as an added bonus, Nintendo has assured that the patterns can be downloaded for free, so if the finished builds are ever damaged or lost, you can simply make new ones yourself. Yet another good idea,(EDIT: okay, that part isn't happening, so I stand corrected)And believe you me: this is going to make Nintendo tons of cash. (which, by the way, will in turn be a good thing for the development of those other games that actually ARE intended for a more adult target group)
But your comment gives me the impression that you just don't see it, so I'm actually wondering while I'm typing all this, why I'm trying to explain this to you in hopes you'll be able to see the bigger picture...
@dew12333 No problem. We're professionals here.
At least that's what I keep telling myself, anyway.
I'm not sure Nintendo is saying this is the future of gaming. Merely another experience for people to enjoy, which I think it's great for building enthusiasts. I can see kids enjoying this product too, but it isn't for everyone.
Remember, the Switch is a open ended device, capable of covering multiple experiences. This is another one for you to decide.
@LUIGITORNADO, so where is your BA in Business/Marketing? Communications? I don't see where you are able to making your bias comments without the understanding of what parents buy their kids. Maybe you'll throw a smartphone in front of yours, but others want to take a proactive approach to occupying their kids time. I don't know if Labo will set the world on fire, but for fans of Legos and other building sets, this is a huge win for them.
And just to state the obvious:
1/ Nintendo is going to make billions from this. It's a whole new genre, and no other company can easily do this. The switch was designed for this.
2/ Now we all know why they are increasing production and are confident about sales.
3/ this is their answer to VR at least at this stage
I've read hyperbole titles before, but "the future of gaming" ? Really?
Cya
Raziel-chan
@URAmk2
You don't need to be in to post on here. I turbo post while skydiving 😉
I was just bemused by the 'worst product ever' statement. That's a category with strong competition.
Very nice idea, but will wait down the line to see how this turns out, esp as I hate cardboard clutter.
Won't be buying from those Amazon affiliate links though. Nintendolife are doing deals with retailers who at best avoid VAT tax and at worst deal with stolen stock from the back of a lorry. No thanks...
@progx I don’t see why it’s needed to sound off my education just to have an opinion about something. Seems like people always ask for it if you have a negative opinion about a product. Imagine if fanboys were held accountable for their favorable opinions?
I majored in communications-advertising. Which doesn’t mean anything as I’m sure there are people who have the same credentials as me and think Lobo will be another Wii-blue ocean.
@electrolite77 "If nothing else it's another good opportunity to see under-developed menchildren cry like spoilt babies because somebody dared to make something not specifically targeted at them."
It's great isn't it? Their tears only make me laugh more.
@Joe-b,
My Comment was a tongue in cheek reply to yours,hence the
How about we get some demo kiosk workshops showing off this stuff in public before we proclaim it as the next big thing? This could be a total dud in practice, no matter how interesting it is in concept, after all. Seems like a total waste of trees to me, as well as being overpriced compared to other DIY tech and... actual arts and crafts. But hey, it could go either way. Who knows, maybe this will be what gets people to bring their consoles out in public for once?
@ThanosReXXX
Some people are incapable of seeing the bigger picture,they feel Nintendo should just build an uber powerful console and go head to head with Sony and Microsoft.
They of course conveniently overlook how that worked out for Nintendo in previous generations.
Y'all had a lot of LABO articles ready for the reveal, all with links directly for Amazon at the bottom.
Now, I know this is part of being a responsible adult website that makes money and all, but it's a little much, and the Amazon pages are still VERY crude.
@ThanosReXXX
I love the thinly veiled insults. Keep them coming, honey bunch.
It looks like a fun interactive weekend project for adults to spend time with their kids. But a billion dollar phenomenon, as some users have suggested?
PAH-LEASE! It'll have its fans. You'll get the dad-mom-engineers on twitter posting their "ingenious" designs, and you'll get the holiday sales surge, but it'll never reach the success in any measurable way to what the Wii was, as again, people are suggesting.
You're looking at demographic that's too small to support those numbers. And then the product itself being as flimsy and not in the least long-lasting. You think kids are really going to spend more than a week with that piano in this day of age with smart phones, and kids losing interest in games in a matter of seconds? You think when it breaks that everyone who bought the piano is going to want to rebuild it? You can use your own cardboard, but that still means you have to cut it, and score the edges so it folds easy, which provides opportunity for even more mistakes that could end up being even more time-costing as your forced to try again, and again to make that silly piano, until a parent is convinced to go out and by another kit.
The majority of kids will drop it like it was a tamagotchi from the 90s and never look back.
This has novelty written all over it.
It's not even like Lego where kids can make whatever they want. Unless Nintendo builds some open-ended software tool-making kits, designs are still tethered to the software Nintendo designs.
And yeah. Stock prices. Not like the stock market has ever risen or fallen at the announcement of a product announcement. Not like they've ever been wrong before.
@LUIGITORNADO There are no thinly veiled insults, only the one about having half a brain. If you read more insults than that in my comment, then that's your problem, not mine.
And I never said it is a billion dollar phenomenon, but it probably will sell quite decently, and I say this from my point of view, as a sales & marketing professional.
It's simply a smart, and cost-effective idea, that will bring big returns on investment if it does catch on like I think it will.
And why all the hate towards it? It is intended for kids, so people that were expecting something else to be revealed were just fooling themselves or apparently overlooked that it was already mentioned that this was going to be for kids, or they somehow forgot about this, I don't know.
Either way, it's something that Nintendo made to diversify, and try out something new, or in their case actually go back to their own roots as toy makers, and it won't hurt the people that are not interested in it, so why these people have to get so worked up about it, is anyone's guess...
@LUIGITORNADO @ThanosRexxx Just to chime in for a moment... For whatever it's worth, the only arts and crafts projects which have survived to this day from my youth are those made from wood or clay. Those are natural materials which stand the test of time. Twenty years from now, few people are going to be looking back fondly on a Lab-O project, because cardboard is going to decompose and either be tossed out by then or detrimentally affecting the by then-grown kids' health. Cardboard does not stand the test of time, it gets recycled several times at most, then decomposes into unusable pulp. Following what happens to cardboard in reality, I would say the same holds true where ever it's involved: a short life span.
@johnvboy Yeah, true. Sometimes it makes me wonder why I even bother to try and reason with them. Oh, well...
@PlywoodStick All true, but I actually never claimed that the builds would stand the test of time or would last long. I just said that it is a brilliant idea from Nintendo, that a lot of kids, and parents with kids will have fun with, and that there's no reason whatsoever for people who aren't interested in it, to hate on it so much as they do.
@johnvboy Some people are incapable of seeing that Nintendo is its own worst enemy. The fact that people think Nintendo is seemingly incapable of building a console that can compete with the PS4 on a specs level/multiplat support is only because of years of poor choices the company has made.
Instead of going toe-to-toe they carved out a niche with a console/handheld hybrid. I haven't seen too many Nintendo fans upset by this. It's mostly Sony/Xbox fanboys hating on it. This is Nintendolife. Most of us are here because we are Nintendo fans. Lumping us fans who don't gobble up anything Nintendo touches like it was our last meal with fanboy-haters doesn't mean we're haters as well.
@ThanosReXXX YES. THEM. They aren't us. They're THEM. It's like trying to explain to a fish in a fish bowl (fish bowl important cuz it's not the ocean) what air is.
@LUIGITORNADO Look, I don't mind the discussion, but at least, if you want to make a point, could you perhaps be a bit clearer?
I honestly don't see what you're reply relates to. I never said anything with them in it.
EDIT:
Ah, I see now that you responded to comment #422, which wasn't intended for you, obviously. I was looking for something in your comment that related to my comment #420.
Either way, for what it's worth: it's not my intention to lump everyone on the same heap as Nintendo-haters, and I also don't think you are one, but I honestly still don't understand the hate. It's wasted energy, you guys and girls are not the target group for this, and the other games and services will also still come, so why be angry and invest time in stressing about this?
It all seems so pointless, and short-sighted as well, if people can't even allow products on the market that might also make other people besides themselves happy, even if they aren't made of the most durable materials...
@LUIGITORNADO Yes, I did too. Studied in depth marketing, branding and advertising campaigns extensively. It'd be nice if we could hold fanboys accountable, but some don't want to research.
The Switch is a gaming device with multiple experiences. I look at Labo as a hobbyist or Lego Builders. Also, the way Nintendo introduced it through a trailer, they are not banking on its success. And from Reggie's comments, time will tell if people like it. I may not buy it, but someone just might. Even if it isn't for me, but I won't tear it down since the stuff I'm into will be announced soon.
@ThanosReXXX Now, that said, for the prime of it's lifespan... It's definitely an interesting concept... But in practice? We need to see it in action with demo kiosks/workshops. The Switch has caught on amazingly well based on Internet word of mouth, but this is the kind of thing that the virtual world isn't going to sell by itself, it has to be out there for people to work with. Nintendo has to put in some '80s/'90s era elbow grease for this one.
@PlywoodStick On a side note: in another thread, I already suggested that people could either make the builds from other materials (seeing as it's not about the cardboard, but about the moving parts and the reflective tape which acts as a detector), or toughen the material by coating it in matte varnish, something that's already done in other industries, not only with cardboard, but also with Styrofoam, and it makes it hard as a rock and VERY tough to break, so that could also be an option.
@LUIGITORNADO,
This just makes my point more valid.
Nintendo will not enter the hardcore PS4/Xbox one market directly because at best it's around 170 million consoles each generation,and at best they are going to get a 30-40% share which will cost them millions securing the first party games to do so.
Nintendo will always be going their own way each and every generation,sometimes it will pay off big like the Wii and DS did,on other occasions it will not as with the Wii U and 3DS...But even with the Wii U and 3DS Nintendo have still managed to shift around 80 million consoles or so,this imo is far more than they would have managed competing in the hardcore market.
I don't mind this, as long as it isn't the "focus" for Nintendo. The way that they should be getting casual gamers to buy a Nintendo Switch is to have games that appeal to 2-4 players like Mario Party. The crazy games they can make with the joy-cons, that incorporate 1-2 Swtich like activities is the way to go.
@ThanosReXXX I can definitely see people purposing actual mini pianos, doll houses, handle bars, remote controller antennae, and more... But will the software justify the effort? That's what separates this from a normal arts and crafts project: the software accompanying the hardware must also be worthwhile. And it's proprietary, only Nintendo can contribute software, whereas there are any number of other options that have community input with a far lower (or no) price tag. Thus, Nintendo must also demonstrate that the software is worth more in practice than the cardboard it's initially packaged with. This could be the next big thing, or it could be the next Wii Music.
@PlywoodStick Well, I think they will. They more than likely didn't just scribble this down on a napkin on a Saturday-evening saké fest...
But only time will tell, I guess. At least I'm not as against this as so many people seem to be, even though I'm personally also not that interested in it, other than being mildly intrigued to at the very least try out that piano in real life...
@aesc Well, it's just a generalisation, and a bad one, I agree. It's just that there are multiple ways to tell someone you disagree. And don't worry, it wasn't an official warning or anything, but we got a few reports in, so I felt like I had to say something. All I want to see is a polite discussion!
And yes, that's possible if you really want it, but everything gets deleted and we can't bring back the comments once they're gone. Use the contact form below to contact the admins and moderators personally, and Anthony will handle the rest.
@ThanosReXXX If you don't mind me adding my 2 cent, whoever this product is targeted at, this practice is corporate greed at its most ugly, this isn't a new way to game, this isn't anything new at all, this shouldn't defended but shunned.
Its a new way to charge people extortionate amount of money to purchase disposable cardboard which can easily be damaged bundled with a game that should cost no more than 20 dollars for a premium price of 70 to 80 dollars or more.
It's not targeted at anyone, it's a blatant attempt to cash in on the popularity of the Nintendo Switch with cheap cardboard and a cheap game, the value of all this is worth 1/5th the price that it is being sold for. No parent in their right mind will see the value of purchasing easily damageable cardboard with a very rudimentary game for such a hefty price, to give to a child to play with, not to mention that this type of family experience can be had for much less.
@PlywoodStick
Labo itself doesn't have to have a long lifespan. It's just another way of (theoretically) driving Switch sales.
If it sells a few systems directly to those interested in this, or makes it easier to justify a purchase because one of the kids is into projects like this, or for dad to buy one for some late night Doom and Bayonetta as he and the kids will tinker with this during the day, job done.
I guess Nintendo needed to do something with all that unsold Wii U packaging. I have to admit though, when I saw the release date as 4/20, I couldn't help but chuckle at the thought that this idea came out of some really strong pot hallucinations. Clearly this is not targeted at someone like me. I love Nintendo and I like to consider myself a big kid at heart....but this? I don't need to play with 100% recycled materials. This product has "hoarders" stamped all over it.
@electrolite77 No parent has the level of disposable income that would allow them to spend 400+ dollars on a Nintendo Switch + games and accessories as well as 70 to 80 dollars on disposable damageable cardboard, not when there are far cheaper options with the same possibilities.
In fact i have a hard time believe this will convince a parent who has already purchased a Nintendo Switch to dish out an extra 70 to 80 dollars on cardboard cutouts+cheap game when you can get cardboard model sets for 1/5th the price of this and offers much more scope for creativity and use the rest of the money to purchase a real game.
There is no defending what Nintendo are attempting to do here, this is corporate greed.
Ok...
😯
Time to sell my Nintendo stock 😁😁😁😁😂😂
$80 is a hard pill to swallow unless these games are way more than they appear and justify the price... which at this point, I unfortunately doubt.
However, on the flimsy side, I was just thinking that you could cover the cardboard with that tape that dries as hard as metal. You may not be able to use crayons on it afterwards, but it would be a lot more durable.
@Razer I don't mind your 2 cents at all, after all: it's your personal opinion, and you're welcome to it.
Having said that, I actually DO mind the hate. This is not corporate greed at all, unless you equal a good business idea to corporate greed, but that would be WAY to short-sighted. As a sales & marketing man myself, I think it is brilliant, and I wish I could have come up with an idea like that.
A company NEEDS to make money to prosper or even to survive, much like you and I, and in the case of a company, it also allows them to in turn invest that extra cash flow into other avenues, such as the other games and services that people are so anxiously awaiting, to a point that they hate on anything that isn't what they want or need for their own personal, and in my view quite egotistical, benefits...
And it's SO much more than cardboard. If you really think that, you're sorely missing the point, but I already explained all that in comment #404, so I'll refrain from repeating myself here.
It's quite simple, as with all things: if it's not intended for you, or if you don't like it, why not simply look further instead of bashing an idea that might be suitable for someone else other than you?
I'm pretty sure that we also all have different taste in games, but do we then have to bash Mario Kart, or Splatoon, simply because we as a single person, don't like these types of games?
Nintendo diversifying isn't hurting anyone, it only broadens their appeal for a lot more people than just the normal gamer.
Next thing you know, we're also going to hate on them for having the audacity to actually make a Nintendo-related amusement park...
Oh, wait...
@ThanosReXXX I never said the idea was bad, but if you can sit there and tell me that something like this is good value for money because of the "idea" behind it (It's pieces of cardboard bundled with a very cheap game), then you my friend are part of the problem, just like you mind the hate, i mind this aspect too.
If you think that it's okay for a company to charge such a ridiculous amount of money for such a rudimentary idea, then we have nothing else to talk about, i see you and your way of thinking as part of the reason why we are at the mercy of big corporations that think its okay to rob us blind.
You haven't explained at all how this is even remotely close to the value of what it is being sold for.
@Razer #1 and #2 on Video Games Best Seller list on Amazon US. Someone is seeing the value in it that you aren't.
Some people see these cardboard contraptions as cheap peripherals to play games differently, but that's a small part of it. That's the fun reward at the end, but the building of the device from flat pieces of cardboard using the interactive instructions, the discovery of how it works inside (again supported by the software), and the invitation to make it your own by personalizing it, are all things that parents and kids will value just as highly as the final game and activity you get to do with it. Not to mention the benefit of expanding the kid's perception of what is possible and how digital devices can be understood, not just used.
I do hope the games are a bit deeper than many expect. I suspect the Robot one is a pretty decent game since the concepts were in play for years, but even the motorcycle game probably has the benefit of input from the Mario Kart team and knowing Nintendo there will be plenty of charm and surprises in these games — even the poorly received games usually come with that.
I'm seeing plenty of value. In addition, the whole STEM/STEAM Maker movement that many parents are already very familiar with has this type of "hidden" value in related products, where the materials are not how the value is judged but the experience. Probably non-parents are much less exposed to this, or at least the products aimed at early learning in that realm. So, I understand why many don't understand, but there's value there, and it's value many will see quite easily.
@ShadJV Nintendo is a large company. They have quite a few resources, especially now. The more they expand into other venues and the more Switches they can sell, the more resources they'll have available.
There's nothing wrong with expanding the audience. First Labo. Hopefully later on, they'll do something to hook in the older folk that still refuse to let go of Wii.
And of course, they'll have something for the hard-core gamer, like Super Mario Odyssey, Skyrim, and DOOM have attested to.
It's essentially Wii done the right way. Most people only bought Wii for Wii Sports. With the Switch, having Labo and additional lines selling hardware and software will make Switch overall the more successful console.
@nintendork64 Here's the thing, games like Mario, like Yoshi/Kirby/Donkey Kong, hell even Splatoon and ARMS, all of these games appeal to kids and adults alike, so is a product like this even required?
And the key question of all this, which I'll also direct @ThanosReXXX something that I feel a lot of people wonder: Is this a side project? A beginning of a far deeper venture? Does this take resources from other developments? How does one look at this?
@Videogameguru50 Again, people need to give up on the mentality that it is time to "circle the wagons" on every post they deem not 100% in favor of Nintendo.
He thought it was funny - the post on Gematsu are funny - so I told him to check them out. End of story.
Even NL - is being a good sport about it
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/twitter_reacts_in_typically_hilarious_fashion_to_the_nintendo_labo_unveiling
I'm thinking a little ahead (Ok, waay ahead) into 3rd party experiences that could have specific Labo for their experiences. The sky is literally the limit for this if this takes off. I'll keep an open mind.
@Razer To clarify, I mind the hate in general towards things that certain people don't want or can't appreciate. I find it silly, useless and a waste of energy well-spent anywhere else than that.
As for me not explaining things: I actually did, you just didn't understand it, or see the scope/bigger picture. @aaronsullivan certainly does, and he explains it in pretty much the same way as I did in his comment #442.
The worth is in families and/or kids and their friends being busy crafting, spending quality time, and also having a way to still be entertained without the initial need for a smart screen to keep them busy.
And the award for that off-screen time is getting a game after all, after the build is finished, so they won't be going cold-turkey...
The thing is, once again, that it is not about the cardboard alone, so the value is in the games and the total experience of building towards that end goal: being able to use their self-built contraption to play these games.
And AGAIN: I'm well aware this isn't for everybody, and it isn't for me either, but contrary to all the complainers, I don't mind the diversity. I like having choices, and choices mean that I don't have to like or buy anything that doesn't resonate with me, but I'm also aware that it might still make somebody else happy regardless, and that can only be viewed as a good thing.
Don't like it? Don't buy it, simple. And you don't have to worry about that price either if you aren't going to buy it anyway...
As for that price: it's warranted, since it's a normal game cartridge, regardless of whether or not it's filled with a single game or a bunch of mini games, and the printed, pre-cut cardboard is actually more expensive than you might think, as someone else that's actually in that line of work already explained somewhere in this or in the other LABO thread.
@MFD Could be both side or deeper project. In another comment, I already theorized that this could just be the first step in "crafting with Nintendo", and the next step might very well be different materials, who knows.
As for it taking valuable resources away: I wouldn't worry about that. Nintendo has thousands of employees, and development teams at Nintendo (there's 4 large teams and one portable team, but nowadays, most development isn't separated anymore because of the Switch) typically consist of a few hundred people, so think around 200 - 300, and depending on the size of the project, Nintendo will use one or two teams for a single game.
I can't imagine this taking up more than one team, and actually might be a project of the former portable/handheld team, which is even smaller, far as I know, so maybe only 50 - 75 people.
In short: no other project is going to be delayed or in danger because of this, since each team has it's own IP's to take care of anyway, so team 1 and 2 for example, were never going to develop these kinds of games anyways, so they'll still be busy with their own projects, regardless of this little one here.
Hope that answers your question, but if not, just send me a reply.
@ThanosReXXX LOL okay the rest of your argument seemed solid enough, until you attempted to say the price is "warranted" i don't think even you could convince yourself of that fact, you might be able to type it on here but i would only believe it if you purchased it yourself a posted pictures.
That price point is not warranted for such an item at all, the game is worth no more than 20 to 30 dollars and the cardboard is worth MAX 5 dollars, how much do you think they would charge you if the cardboard got wet? if you think that this is good value for money, to spend so much on something that i could make in 2 hours with stuff i find+a cheap game, then we don't need to go on further.
The rest of your argument i can agree with, until you tried to convince not just me, but yourself, that the price is justified. lol.
@aaronsullivan and you think its worth this price do you? regardless of weather the sheeple are paying for it or pre-ordering it, you think its worth this price?
Yes i consider any person willing to cater to this price for such a cheap product, sheeple.
@Razer You can lol all you want, I rather have a grown up conversation, thank you.
As for that price: I didn't need to convince myself, and what part of me also not being interested in it didn't you get? So, it's not about how I personally value it, so I don't necessarily have to think that it's good value for money for me personally.
I'm a sales & marketing professional, so that's the view I'm using to gauge this. The price is the normal going rate for Switch software, and because the cardboard templates are included, that price is a little higher, there's really nothing weird about that.
The price is not based upon personal opinion, so what you or anyone else thinks it's worth or not, is completely irrelevant. It's the market's going rate of the necessary components and effort that decides the price, not you.
And the cost for the cardboard isn't $5, it's more likely around $10 - $15, which as I already explained, was already mentioned by someone actually in the business. People are seriously underestimating the cost of printing and pre-cutting stuff, but whatever.
I have to say...it looks fun and fun to play and the price isn't as high as I was expecting, but...it's cardboard, and eventually it will fall apart and you are left with nothing...especially if it stops getting made quickly. Other than that, kids having this, would definitely be the ones that would rip and break it easily, or even get it wet, and having a $300 console in it and $80 joy cons, can become pretty pricey for parents...however, there's also on where to store it all.
My wife and I will probably pick it up eventually, but there's also that thought of how many gimmicks and peripherals for game systems are left to die after a short time, and all of nintendo's zapper guns were like this, plus the balance board, wii speak and (since people will start complaining that I just mentioned nintendo items...sega's dreamcast microphone, nintendo's microphones from gamecube and N64...the cursed Hey Pikachu game, sony's move, sony's playstation TV and so many others I can mention). Hopefully this takes off, but my only other concern is how many hours will you put into actually playing the games before they become old and repetitive, to where it sits on a shelf for months and years on end. Other than all of this, it still looks fun and a neat idea...would just rather have something plastic instead of cardboard.
@ThanosReXXX Most people never seem to look at the costs of some of the other games that came with peripherals and such...Lego Dimensions was 100, Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Rock Band, Rock Revolution, Wii Fit and all of the others like them. The price of this isn't even as high as I thought it was, actually fairly low. I would have thought 100, but 60-70 is just the cost of a new game!
@Razer
I know of parents with that level of income.
As for corporate greed, just no. Nintendo exist to make money, the only way they make money is by people buying their products. They make products that nobody needs and nobody is forced to buy, and this is another one. If it's priced too high the market will decide and it will fail. They aren't squeezing competition out of the market, exploiting a captive market, overcharging people for things they can't live without or emptying pension funds to pay labo developers golden handshakes (as far as we know).
Edit - I've just seen you label any people with a different opinion of this product's value 'sheeple'. Oh dear. I thought you were serious as well.
@ThanosReXXX In regards to that development part, I must ask you this then: How come if Nintendo has such large teams, that a game like Xenoblade Chronicles 2 had minor issues (Frame drops, sometimes in the 10s at some areas under stress) and major ones (Errors that close the game. Many hours have been lost to these)?
How can it be that Mario Odyssey (so far I know) runs flawlessly where Zelda: BotW has noticeable frame-drops when using say Stasis+ and panning the camera?
But I'm going off-topic. So long as this doesn't take away from anything, it's not a problem. It's the moment it starts doing so that becomes the issue.
@MFD Easy: Xenoblade Chronicles wasn't developed by Nintendo's internal teams, Odyssey was, and Breath of the Wild was originally a Wii U game and had to be ported and optimized towards the Switch, so that might have caused some minor issues.
@ThanosReXXX So 2nd party means you can't expect Nintendo quality off of them? (Whatever value that still holds these days)
@JLPick I think that all things considered, the price is to be expected. And I can respect that it's not for everyone and it isn't for me either, but I'm not going to get angry over it, since it isn't going to cost me anything, since I'll be buying other stuff anyways, so why would I bother getting mad about it?
@MFD Not necessarily, but it does mean that Nintendo is only directing, not having control over everything, and it is pretty much known that only Nintendo themselves can squeeze every bit of juice out of their hardware, provided the title is developed on a certain platform from the get go, to prevent any more Breath of the Wild musings...
@ThanosReXXX Then what's your take on this? http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-does-xenoblade-chronicles-2-push-switch-mobile-mode-too-far (as in, is the Switch's limit already reached?)
Nintendo never ceases to amaze me. They were nowhere with the Wii U, so you could forgive them for playing it safe this time. But they came out swiging with the Switch. Then they announce this, which is so bold and outrageously bizarre. A couple of weeks ago I was expecting Nintendo to consolidate the Switch's position by announcing more AAA games and this has completely turned things on its head. I love it!
@MsgBoardGamer and 100% agree. Why they making a great platform for indies and trying to get better 3rd party support. Why they actually listen to our comments at the Apple App Store and have updated the Nintendo Switch Online app a bunch of times.
Nintendo does not publish Ys8, Persona or Cold Steel 4... No point in asking them for it. I just go and put down a Pre-Order for Ys8 at the NisUSA store and send Atlus an e-mail so they know I am here ready to buy games. I rather do that than buy Cardboard toys - yes, that is just me - never said I was talking for anyone else.
@ThanosReXXX Okay so as we are talking about sales and marketing, i am currently a sales executive for The Times newspaper, my name is Ray, feel free to call in on the number you find online, press option 1 and i will sell you a subscription business or consumer editions.
Now back to the subject at hand, if you think telling me that you are a sales "professional" is going to impress me, when i have been in sales for 7 years and know exactly how it works, you have another thing coming.
now this is really something, you yourself won't be purchasing this product but you are attempting to justify selling such a rudimentary product for such a high price point? and you are trying to convince me that you know what you are talking about because you are in sales?
You said you wanted to have a conversation with a grown up but are trying to convince others you know more than them about value added proposition for a product that has barely any value by telling them you work in the industry. and you dont think that is childrish?
done with this conversation with you unless you call me, my name is Ray, i work for The Times corporation, sales department, you can look the number online, option 1 and ask for me, talk to me about your "sales" experience, wont you please...
@NewAdvent This isn't a misstep. Nintendo stock is going up for a reason. It is literally $70 cardboard and are going to make a fortune.
like telling me you work in sales is going to convince me you know what you are talking about... too funny...
@MFD That's a decent article, and if I would have had to think about it myself, without having read that, then I would have probably said that my best guess would be that the open world and the style of the assets is just a bit too much for the hardware as well, and of course having to take into account docked vs mobile mode, something that Xenoblade on the Wii U never had to worry about.
But I'm no programmer, so a best guess is all I can make. There are some programmers on here, however, so they might be able to shed some more light on this. @Kirk, for example. Perhaps he's willing to chime in.
@electrolite77 anyone willing to spend 70 - 80 dollars on cardboard with a very cheap flash game, i call sheeple yes. it has nothing to do with what they consider of value.
I know i can make these items in a couple of hours, so i consider anyone who would be too lazy to make it themselves and instead spend this much money on a ready made version, sheeple.
I call them sheeple because this is part of a western disease that has taken hold in such a big way, people are willing to spend money on junk because "value" and "company needs to make money"
Not a good enough reason to me to spend that much money and if you do i will consider you a sheeple.
In the same way that i consider anyone buying guns to assert their dominance on others insane dictators, i consider anyone needlessly spending money on products to justify corporate greed, sheeple.
Because of these sheeple, these disgusting practices are allowed to continue, degrading the products available to consumers because people are content with being robbed for their money because "good idea"
@Razer I preordered both sets, yes. If you don't think they will bring valuable experiences to my kids and that the whole family will enjoy them, I'm betting you are mistaken, with actual cash.
It's a pretty safe bet. It's not like it's the first time I've bought technology/toys/games that people around me didn't understand and then get a huge amount of return in fun, experience, and family time.
As far as the sheeple thing, it probably looks like that. I mean, my family sometimes gets an unreasonable amount of enjoyment out of many things Nintendo releases that others just don't get. Not much I can do about it.
I mean, I guess I could ignore the genuinely great experiences we are having because other people tell me I can't be right, but... I don't know, we loved Nintendo Land. It hit us just right and we played it (very) often for four years. Other people, especially the vocal group on the Web at the time, thought that game was a joke and I'm sure they genuinely didn't enjoy it. Okay, but we loved it. It's sort of the opposite of "sheeple" but that's why such simple-minded terms are often useless except for throwing shade.
Anyway, I'm just saying there is a large group predisposed to this sort of product that is going to not just buy it, but enjoy it and be happy about their purchase.
@Razer "I know i can make these items in a couple of hours, so i consider anyone who would be too lazy to make it themselves and instead spend this much money on a ready made version, sheeple."
Huh? You can make these items in a couple of hours? You've now completely lost me. I'm guessing you don't even write code, or you wouldn't say that... and then that also means you could definitely not create these items at all. So...
"i consider anyone needlessly spending money on products to justify corporate greed sheeple."
So, literally, ALL people who play video games are sheeple now? No one "needs" video games. I think you stumbled across the wrong website or just needed to pick a fight?
@Razer
" it has nothing to do with what they consider of value"
It has everything to do with that. You should have stopped there before you descended into irrational hysteria.
It's difficult to know what point you're trying to make beyond having a temper tantrum because other people may buy a consumer product you don't like, which is an exercise in futility
If you're railing against consumerism in general fine, except you're a hypocrite as a quick glance at your Comments history shows you have previously bought video games, a tablet, a laptop, mobile phones etc. All products of corporations out to make money and all products that others may not see value in, maybe even think of you as a 'sheeple' for your choice. Their opinions don't matter because you're free to spend your money as you like. And guess what? So are others.
"i consider anyone needlessly spending money on products to justify corporate greed, sheeple."
That's you that is.
You talk of 'disgusting practices'. If you think a company manufacturing a consumer entertainment product you don't like is a 'disgusting practice' I hope your eyes soon get opened to other things going on in the world that may give you a clearer sense of perspective. If you can cope with it.
@Razer Well Ray, under other circumstances, I might have said that it is nice to meet you, and welcome to the site, but I don't get your unwarranted animosity towards me, and I didn't know that we had to turn this conversation into a contest, since I'm not trying to impress anyone.
But I'll give you some additional info, for what it's worth:
I'm 47, and I've been in IT-related sales & marketing for almost 20 years now, which is already considerably more than your 7, and besides that, the IT business is a lot closer to the video game industry than any other business, so even if you had more experience than me, you would still be in a different industry, whereas I can pretty easily get access to numbers and figures where it concerns hardware, because that same going rate also counts in the IT business.
Of course, Nintendo's hardware is proprietary, but I can still make a decent educated guess regardless.
Having said that, me telling you that I'm in sales & marketing in the previous comment, wasn't about me beating my chest, and at my age, I really don't feel like pretending to be someone else or something better than myself anymore when I go to an online forum. No, it was simply to (hopefully) make you understand my point of view and how I look at these things, so you might know where I'm coming from.
I simply can't unlearn anything I've learned so far in my career, so I can't look at things the same way that the average customer does, since I have this additional story going on in my head of where all these costs and so on could come from, which more or less goes on autopilot.
As for calling you: why on Earth would I do that, and what use would it be? First off, I'm in a completely different time zone, so the cost to call you would be more than I'd be willing to spend just to have a conversation with someone I don't even know, and you pegged me completely wrong to begin with, so I don't see any other reason to do so either.
And no offense, but if you were me, how would you react to someone who is ridiculing you? You say you're an adult as well, but I really don't consider usage of words like lol, sheeple and childish in a normal conversation an adult way of behaving.
I think I've been pretty civil so far, and I don't mind the discussion, but can we please skip all the sneering and so on? You don't like this new Nintendo initiative, and you think it's too expensive, and that's perfectly fine, since it's your personal opinion, to which you have a right, but there's no need to force that opinion on anyone other than yourself.
We can just agree to disagree, and let everyone have their own opinion on this matter. Everybody happy, right?
Whatever you decide, I genuinely wish you a good day. No ulterior motive, no sarcasm, just a good day.
I love you Nintendo!
@ThanosReXXX I really hope @Kirk is willing to shed some light on this, since I'd love to know what happened with XC2. Such a brilliant game, but those issues are unfortunate.
@MFD @ThanosReXXX Can't really help you with that one, guys. Sorry.
@impurekind no problem man, just thought you might have a clue.
@MFD If I remember correctly, @Yorumi is also a developer, so let's find out what he thinks...
I really hope that these are not as impossible to buy as many of Nintendo's recent products, including the Switch itself, NES/SNES Classics, or perhaps even popular Amiibo characters. Probably a smart idea to pre-order because we know what scalpers do!
These products seem like they'll be very collectible and desirable a decade or two, maybe three into the future. How many people will keep them in good condition, or unopened and sitting on a shelf until some buyer wants one in 2042?
They're made of cardboard. Most of them will not last.
@electrolite77 It might sound like I'm being harsh, but I'm really more neutral about it with bated interest. The potential here goes beyond the Wii Remote, basically embracing the idea of the JoyCons being repurposed in all kinds of ways, according to each game they're being used for. That's potentially a really disruptive practice of how we think about the use of controllers. However, the quality of the software is at the crux of it. It could either create, for example, a a really nice beginner's introduction to piano in game form, warranting real piano keys, or it could be a Wii Music level of piano. (Which is... Ahem, REALLY bad, deserving of the cardboard tier.)
@daveh30 My son turns 8 in May, and I will definitely buying this for me.....I MEAN for his birthday.
Yeah, for HIS birthday...
@Djgoa They can and should make whatever they want. Positive change and innovation don't come about as a result of playing it safe and only ever pursuing guaranteed easy wins that ultimately only net you more of the same. The industry has always been at its most interesting when it experiments and tries to see what will work and what won't. It's up to consumers to respond by either buying a given product or not buying it, which provides the mechanism for propelling the industry down one path over another, which ends up shaping the future of the medium.
No one's forcing people to buy stuff they don't want, or that they'll start neglecting after a few days. If people don't like something, that's totally fine. Don't buy it. But I genuinely do not understand crapping on a company for introducing new products and trying to do something different. I just personally think that the imagination is better and more productive when it throws off the shackles of consumer expectations and shoots for the moon.
@FinalFrog Why would you just leave it lying around on the floor where any of those things would be possible? Which of your important/expensive possessions do you just toss on the floor and step on?
@FinalFrog I'm a kid? I hope you're joking. Interpreting other people's meanings on the internet is everything but simple sometimes...
Haha, just got two more coworkers on board to buy a switch after showing them Labo...apparently this is a hit among 30 year olds as well? lol
Available for pre-order from Best Buy. If you've got Gamers Club unlocked it's 20% off!!
@FinalFrog Ah, okay. Sorry for missing that. Sometimes I really just don't know anymore. Glad I'm not the only one, although in comparison, it's still pretty tame on this site; I've seen far worse.
But it does sometimes make me feel really old, and I also wonder if it is an age thing. Especially younger people think it's completely normal to completely obliterate other people with curses and swears. A look at the average comments section underneath a YouTube video is a prime example of that, and sometimes, I just don't understand what the hell happened, because it comes completely out of nowhere. Someone just starts (the supposed troll), and then the "fun" begins.
Back in the old days, without internet, we'd stomp these types of guys out pretty quickly, and physically. That was always a quick lesson in shutting the hell up for them, but anonymity and a keyboard has given them all the power they ever wanted...
(and in some cases: should never have had access to)
@Razer
Hello, Mr. Ray.
Mind if i interrupt you ?
About overpricing LABO, i thought the price was a bit expensive BUT it worthy for the items that i will get from the box ( 6 - 10 pre-cut cardboxes + 1 software cartridge + instruction)
I will buy LABO once it arrived on my country.
And you said you dislike about LABO, so why did mind with the price if you will NOT buy that thing ? Just ignore it. You will not get upset.
$ 70 will NOT Stopping me to buy LABO.
I knew it a bit expensive, but my LOYALTY with Nintendo is Very HUGE. As long not too pricey, i will throw my money to Nintendo.
Oh, wait...
You called me a Sheeple for spending $ 70
of LABO ?
You were a Sheeple actually !
@KTT Which country are you from? Where I live a barbie is an apparatus for cooking--typically out doors. At launch, Nintendo's rrp for Mario Odyssey was $79, but at Big W (similar to target or wall-mart) they sold it for $62.
@FinalFrog Need them? Nah, rather just give em a good couple of smacks across the face to slap some sense into them.
The best purpose I can personally think of for bad people, is to make the good ones look even better than they already are, but other than that...
P.S.
Friendly hint: making a joke? use a smiley...
Feel as though this wackiness deserves 500 comments.
@johnvboy
no sweat. maybe it'll take off and who knows, maybe they'll be one that interests me..
Actually, where I see the project actually taking off is in the controller ideas. After all, based on what we saw in the Demo, there will be Steering Wheels, Flight Stick, and Pedals. Think what other developers could do if they could find a way to use Labo controllers in their flight sims or driving games? I see the potential for so much more with this project beyond what is expected. Sure, a lot of it looks like tools, but cheap and useful controller peripherals? That would be even more awesome!
@luke88
Haha...
Already 500 comments and maybe will keep going.
Seems like a 'Marmite' idea. I can't bring myself to pay money for card board cut out peripherals. Seems like the kind of stuff that you used to cut out of the back of cereal boxes. Plus, yet more mini games.... Not for me, but I'm sure it will work for others.
the future of gaming is definitely not cardboard...
1/ it is one new possibility
2/ it is made for kids, not adults
@FinalFrog That's good.
@MFD Well, there you go. Sounds like a solid answer to me.
@Yorumi Thanks for the chime-in.
@Yorumi Yeah, that writing has basically become memetic. Maybe it's the fact that Nintendo got away with it in Fire Emblem: Fates? Speaking of Fates, do you think they didn't offer dual-audio because the 3DS can't handle having that on the cart as well? And if so, then why not just offer it as download the way they did for XC2?
Speaking of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, I'll put the links of what I've found in that regard here, and I'd like to ask your opinion on this: https://www.resetera.com/threads/xenoblade-chronicles-2-staff-analysis.9222/ That's a very interesting thing, since it ties into the rush part. Then there's this: http://nintendoeverything.com/xenoblade-developer-monolith-soft-recruiting-for-ambitious-new-project/ Which also ties into that, and last, but not least this: http://nintendoeverything.com/xenoblade-chronicles-2-director-on-development-inspiration-for-the-world-and-setting-upcoming-dlc-more/ which contradicts that by stating the team "Has it's hands full on the Story DLC" but then that can also be that B team without them explicitly telling us.
I'm just happy it had the Japanese VA pack, since holy crap, whenever Rex shouted I just want to duct-tape his mouth shut.
Also thank you for the expansive answer, I appreciate it.
@ThanosReXXX A quick thinking question for you: Do you think Nintendo will improve the Switch docked experience via their supplemental computing device patent/the dock itself? Or are they more likely to use tech upgrades to the tablet itself as time goes by?
@MFD @Yorumi OMG that resetera post... No wonder XB2 has so much that feels off compared to XB1. Looks like the original Wii U version of BotW wasn't the only sacrificial lamb to support the NS version of BotW... The XB2 that could have been was also sacrificed! Didn't notice the true significance of those names in the BotW credits before.
That's... actually really greedy on Nintendo's part. Drawing so many key Monolith people away from their project to help ensure Nintendo gets all the glory through BotW... And XB2 is a lesser product as a result. Lowers my opinion of Nintendo's upper management, honestly.
@PlywoodStick I've not really looked into that analysis, but if you add this all together, then XC2 has indeed been cut short. It's fantastic for what it is as a game, but Nintendo better have a good excuse for this...
@MFD Only fantastic, not legendary. One legend was sacrificed for the sake of another...
@Yorumi What of this then? https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/04/nintendos_supplemental_computing_device_patent_is_cleared_for_completion
@PlywoodStick Yeah, it's a really sad state of affairs. I've enjoy BotW, though not as much as the 10/10 people, and I've greatly enjoyed XC2. Basically figuring out that one was sacrificed for the other.... Especially with that big project, I'd rather have that other project pushed out to make XC2 stronger, but eh, who am I?
And this is also for @Yorumi it seems most people like those English accents. I for one am just happy there was a JP voice pack. Other than that, the main story was great, the side-quests are "Meh" but I'm an MMO-player and have already learned how to shut-off my brain with the menial fetch quests.
@MFD And if it can happen once, it can happen in the future. So this is the true nature of the Kimishima leadership- maximizing monetary profits for his company at the cost of auteur production elsewhere. I don't think Iwata would have ever allowed this, since he was a developer/programmer himself, and he knew well what excising key staff does to projects. He would have brought in good outside assistance if BotW's production was really struggling SO MUCH that Nintendo actually needed the likes of Monolith Soft staff just to make it turn out well, but not at the cost of an important partner's production quality.
@PlywoodStick I hope Kimishima's follow-up has more eye for the developer part then.... Is it too much to ask for some kind of combo between him and Iwata?
@Yorumi Vote Reggie for next global president?
@MFD Well, the SCD patent is the only one to date, well at least: related to the Switch, that is registered, granted and paid for (and indeed cleared for completion), something that you would only do to finalize and use it at some point, since it being granted means that the idea has "matured" into a full-fledged patent, and it would seem kind of useless after you also paid for that to not do anything with it.
But there's still a chance that they've only done that to protect the idea, although they haven't gone through all those steps for all their patents.
On the other hand, there's Nvidia and their connection to Nintendo, which (if the collaboration is a lasting one) would most definitely mean that more powerful hardware will become available to Nintendo, but whether or not that's going to be a Switch 2 or something else entirely, is anyone's guess.
The Tegra X2 is considerably more powerful, but the dock would then probably be replaced as well, because if they replace the hardware inside, the connectors will probably also get an update, so you wouldn't want a new "Switch" in an old dock, I think.
But I'm just guessing, so I could be completely wrong. There are still rumors floating around that Nintendo might still come with a full-fledged home console, which will be compatible with the Switch in some way, and by then, the 3DS will be completely phased out, the Switch having taken it's place, and the next piece of hardware becoming the new home console.
But I'd take that with a bag of salt for now. For the next 3 to 4 years, we'll probably not hear a lot about new hardware, although you can be sure that something is in development as we speak. But Nintendo's focus is, and should be, on the Switch, since they've got a good thing going now, so they better keep the ball rolling...
@ThanosReXXX Agreed. We'll see what they bring.
Quite simply this is a amazing idea! Having the fun of building stuff, Lego-style. Then afterwards using them as interactive toys! I can see this becoming quite a succes, even if its quite expensive. I would almost buy it myself, but then I realized at the end of the day I would be paying money for accesories to simple mini-games. But for kids, a dream!
Potentially they could make lots of those. The Variety kit is a starters-pack, but after that they could do them seperately (like the robo-suit). I also wonder if those Toy-cons will be compatible with future full-scale Nintendo titles. Also, I hope Nintendo keeps working full-stop on proper Switch titles (read: Don't use half of the staff on mini-games and Toy-con creation). And marketing will be a thing: Are parents willing to ALSO buy a Switch? Without a Switch there's not much use!
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