Video: There Are More Nintendo Labo Toy-Con Than You Might Expect

we will obviously get tons more "kits".. after all they have already started numbering them.

@crackafreeze my inner kid just did a backflip

They sure have presented a ton of variety. I’ll give them that. And the whole concept makes me smile until I look at the pricing.

eh? the first thing is not a break pedal. it's a gas pedal that they showed in combination with a wheel (that's different from the motorbike thing)

@crackafreeze Man, that game has so much untapped potential. If the robot Labo can bring Project Giant Robot to life, maybe the camera Labo can bring Pokemon Snap...

There's a camera? Maybe we'll get that Pokémon Snap sequel.

You forgot the floppy man. He's not in set one or two

yes, helicopters use pedals!

Am I the only person who doesn't get the appeal of these things? They look childish to me. Maybe it's because I'm a teen but I don't like them. I'd prefer to use the standard joy-cons or, better yet, the best controller ever, the switch pro controller.

Something really interesting could be a way to actually make your own paper craft creations and have a software to "program" a game. Maybe something simple like combining the different sensors to different actions in real life and to things that happen on screen, like a custom mapping. Or registering with the IR camera and mapping the actions to sounds, movements or something. I'm not really sure how that could be done... But possibilities are almost endless and now they seem, to me at least, a little tied to the single software.

@Bentheblaze2390 You're not meant to like them, they're for kids, as Nintendo specifically said before they were revealed.

@Bentheblaze2390 They are childish. That doesn’t mean they’re not appealing to children (of all ages).

i wonder if for some toys you will need more than one set of joy-con

I'd be interested to see what the IR camera is truly capable of.

@WonderfulTorment "You're not meant to like them"

LOL. Yeah no. Pretty sure that's not Nintendo's stance on the situation.

And water is wet.

Labo is going to be, at best, the next amiibo deal or at worst something we all look back on in 2 years and go 'lol 'member? you 'member!"

@Ricube

Don't see why Fuze4 (announced in todays news) couldn't be used to program your own game/interface, enabling you to bring those ideas to life. Unless the advanced features of the Joy Cons aren't available.

That bird has an orange joycon as a beak lol!

I’d buy the camera one, don’t know about the others

@WonderfulTorment And yet a lot of people who aren't kids are allowed to profess their love for it?

Time to get over the idea that people will vocalize what they don't like regardless if it's "meant" for them or not, as I'm sure Nintendo wouldn't tell him Labo wasn't made for him if he went out and bought a kit.

@gatorboi352 I pretty sure that is their exact stance on Nintendo Labo. This is so clearly not for everyone. Really, nothing is for everyone.

@Bentheblaze2390 I believe the point of them is that they are childish.

2:16 in this video (2:06 in the original video) I think the item he can't identify is a slingshot. Looks like you pull it back and then it rubber bands back together when you release it.

the thing at 2:16 is a grabbing device like the one in the R.O.B. game.

My Lego loving pre-teen self would have loved this. Combining my love of Videogames and Lego/Mecano. This really was a genius move by Nintendo, and as usual us mere mortals don't have the imagination to have even thought about it. If my newborn daughter ever shows an interest in Nintendo and Lego in the coming years, I'll be getting her this.

@Bentheblaze2390 That's the thing, you're a teenager which is the age group that wants to act the most mature to show you're not a child anymore. Nothing wrong with that, it's natural. While as an adult, there's nothing wrong with being childish. I'm 40 year old and I know already I'll be buying this,because why not? It looks like fun and there's nothing else quite like it.

Not everyone will like this. No everyone likes let's sing 2018 but it didn't get that much negative comments

Like it or loathe it, let's all be grateful it's not "quality of life"!

@Bentheblaze2390 You are undoubtedly not the only one, but Nintendo did very specifically say that these were designed with kids in mind, or those who are kids at heart.

It's obviously a seweing pedal. Seriously. If you watch the trailer she is pushing up and down in the same motion a sewing pedal is used to rotate the wheel.

Toy-Con racing with online multiplay?

Idk how much replay ability cardboard contraptions will have. Once you build a set and play a game a few times, will you want to go back to it? It’s not like LEGO where you can build something, tear it down, then build something else.
How durable is the cardboard, after a few uses from a child, would the mechanics still function or will it get flimsy over time?
Either the cardboard is high quality and the games are outrageously fun, which I hope is the case for those ready to spend the money on Labo, or it may go the way of the 3DS’s AR cards, you have fun for a while then put them away for good in most cases.

I would’ve liked to see a more durable, biodegradable material, though. Maybe this will hold up, but the kids were being pretty gentle in that trailer, lol.

The gun made me think... I want lightgun games on my Switch. Gimme some HotD and Time Crisis. Please.

The bass pedal could work with drum sticks. I see alot of potential.

CARdboard. Excellent work.

I wonder what the price is for the game by itself. None of the accessories from the variety set interest me much. The piano is cute, but I can’t see myself playing with it for very long. The camera looks interesting. So does the light gun and possible flight game. Is the variety kit the price of the game and the accessories? And if the game includes a lot more variety than just the basic set, then I think the price may be pretty reasonable. If you can print up plans for the cardboard accessories, and especially knowing the schematics, can make your own out of whatever materials you want, this game could actually be kind of neat. I could even see some people 3d printing some of the accessory parts. Not everyone, obviously will want to put that much work into a game, but this is clearly trying to appeal people and especially kids who like Maker projects. The biggest consideration for me will be the quality of the games. Are the games themselves fun to play and replay? Or is the focus mostly on building the toys?

CaRdboArd Play

@SEM Just a couple of thoughts:

1) LEGO's really aren't like that any more. Most of the ones I see my nephews playing with come in a specific kit. The pieces are designed/colored to make a specific thing and they come with instructions to let you know how to make that thing. Yes, you can break it down and do it again and customize it to a certain extent, but I don't see that happening often or ever. The kids just move on to the next kit. So I think in that light, this is very similar.

2) Regarding durability, I fail to see how it is any more or less durable than any other Arts & Crafts project for kids. The difference with this is that you can add your Switch to these to do cool inventive things. I do not think these are designed or expected to last months (let alone years). The creation is part of the entertainment value. The decoration is part of the entertainment value. And then after you do that, you can add the console to do some cool neat things. But then you put it aside and move on to the next one. It is for a video game console, but it is not just a normal video game so it seems unfair to compare it to one. It is more of an Arts & Craft meets STEM type of product.

The car, in he foreground you see the blue Joycon being used as he accelerator. Which is the foot pedal 👍

@Bentheblaze2390
Childish in ATTITUDE is not nice for grown up.
But, liking Kiddie stuffs are diferent story.
Everybody are deserved for Kiddie looking stuffs, including You as a Teenager.
There is NOTHING Wrong for grown up playing with Kiddie stuffs.
It WON'T make you looks like a Baby.
I'm 33 years old guy but Adore Kiddie stuffs so much, as you can see from my avatar that i created by myself.
Don't worry, you are deserved for liking Kiddie stuffs.
Beside, how could you threw away your childhood memories ?

@crackafreeze Now I'm just imagining a multiplayer Pokemon Snap Labo with one player holding the cardboard Labo Camera and the other players holding cardboard Labo versions of various pokemon (like the bird labo in the video)

Then trying to run around taking pictures of the players masquerading as Pokemon.

That.....sounds kinda fun actually.

@Shadowkiller97 The way the trailer was presented makes me see Labo as more of a product for people that enjoy making model planes and cars. I would think something like that is geared more towards adults and a very niche hobby for children especially.
I wouldn’t place Labo in that category, since that would really narrow the target market. That’s why I think durability should be brought into question, especially with all the movement required for a lot of the kits we’ve seen so far.

And even with the Lego sets with instructions with specific models, you can still take it apart and connect the pieces any which way or mix them up with other sets.

@crackafreeze I would buy it.

@thesilverbrick I'm not too worried about pricing yet. It's expensive...for now. Once those build kits hit market, what's to stop someone from providing the patterns online? It's Cardboard. With a box cutter and a ruler you can reproduce the kit, all you need is the software for the game, and the used game market will eventually provide that for cheaper because the cartridges will always outlast the cardboard peripherals.

Even better if someone loads the designs into a cutting machine, like a Cricut. Even if you can't do the cardboard in a simple machine, you could do paper patterns and then trace them out in cardboard. Have access to a 3D printer? You could probably do these out in plastic with slight tweaks to the design if you really want something more durable. Want a woodworking project? Make some custom durable Labo.

This is a mini-maker kit. The kind of person interested in this might also be interested in the various projects that could be used to improve it or mess with it, or make it custom. It has a lot of potential IF there's software to back it up. The cardboard shells are useless alone.

You know what caught my eye in the reveal? The foot pedal. Do I need an analog trigger for a racing game if I have a foot pedal? A labo racing kit could be a cheap (and light) alternative to a racing wheel. Not as good, obviously, but interesting nonetheless. All it would need is game support.

Camera for Beyond good and Evil?

@NoxAeturnus I never considered the possibility of acquiring a used Labo game card and making the patterns yourself. That's actually a great idea.

@Pizzashapes I was thinking the exact same thing. Even when I played the original, I wished for a camera peripheral.

@gatorboi352 No, it's precisely Nintendo's stance. The tweet announcing when it would be revealed specifically mentioned kids. They didn't mention 50" 4k TVs or people who think that's the only audience developers should be trying to reach.

@Shadowkiller97 good point on the comparison to short-term arts and crafts activities, I think you’re right in the sense that we need to stop thinking about it in video game terms, and more as, well, fun arts and craft. But the one issue I have with that (and I think I’m not alone in this) is that at £70/$70, I would want something with a little longevity.

The Switch usage is unique and has a lot of potential, but if Nintendo are intentionally pushing into the arts and crafts market, where you can get a ton of card and paints and stickers and glue and sticky tape and washing up liquid bottles and used loo roll tubes, for a fraction of the cost.

Is the Nintendo Difference worth the increased cost in that target audience?

Fantastic and neat but sadly horrendously overpriced. Would be interested in a couple but would need to see the price drop at least by half.

Would be interested to see if the software will be available digitally and how much.

@gaga64 Sure, if you go buy individual arts & crafts supplies for kids, it can be pretty cheap. But if you go buy any kind of set or project, these typically range from $10-30 each on the cheaper end. Once you consider that, the variety pack actually has 5 different toy-cons so these actually end up being $14 each. That isn't bad at all. Even if you remove the RC cars, you get $17.50 each. One of the hands-on-articles mentioned the piano takes approximately 2 hours to build. If the other three also take 1-2 hours each, you have 5-8 hours of just building the kits. Add to that the coloring, painting, and decorating and you have 10ish hours before you even get to using the software side of it.

I am more skeptical of the robot backpack pricing. It is more elaborate and larger, but maybe the game is also meatier?

@SanderEvers I hope it is separate so that you can buy the toy-cons individually. Or that it is the same cart in both sets and that it is upgradeable via DLC. That way future sets are just the cardboard sheets and they can be cheaper.

EDIT: I guess it depends on the breadth of the software. If they are mini-game/tech demos I would prefer if it is an upgradeable platform that supports future toy-con sets via free DLC or paid DLC that comes with the sets. If they are more fleshed out games, I guess that wouldn't work as well.

Give me Labo Dualies Nintendo!

I'm on Team Bird-Con

People seem to be forgetting that the variety pack, although it is pricey, comes with the game card, meaning that it's not just the 5 Toy-Cons that add up to the total amount, it's only the robot pack that is completely building materials.

I'm going to buy the packs and then trace all the parts before letting the kids loose on them. That way we have an endless supply of toy-cons without having to download them.

@NovaCam
If the design patterns can be downloaded for free, then $80 seems really high for a model that doesn’t even have the game. I mean if the variety set contains all games for every peripheral they intend to make, I would be very motivated to try and make all the others myself instead of buying them. Also, it looks like the robot requires 4 joycons. Just an observation.

@SanderEvers
Well then I won't be purchasing it at all. Refuse to for what amounts to a cart and cardboard. I have access to a ton of cardboard for free, both at home already and at work.

Ultimately its a neat idea, but not one that will make me overpay for something, especially when its cardboard. Heck, here they charge you for bags at the grocery store or you can take boxes for free (because they want folks to take them rather than fill up there recycling all the time), my work is the same way with the shipments we receive. Or I could even go in and buy moving boxes which I can get for under $3 for something bigger than required for the template I'm sure.

To each there own.

Bird - skyward sword switch remaster: confirm’d

@Flipbot

I totally agree with you on the quality of the software. Also about the appeal to the DYI crowd. I saw a video of these teens tkaing a barbie jeep and putting a 250cc motor on it. They had a full machine shop and built a new chasis and all but it show 'projecting' appeals even though labo is obviously aimed at those kids younger siblings. I too immediately thoght 3D printers to make more durable versions.

Conceptually I think this is an interesting evolution of AR tech. Who knows how far it will go but I guarantee by holiday 2018 they have a labo Switch bundle. It may be like the Wii balance board which @ close to $100 sold incredibly and pushed Wii sales further. IMO the Wii board never got the killer game its sales deserved.

Lets be optimistic in that N has made some cool and addictive mini games. It seems like them to likely tie some labo features to mainline games, like Amiibo. Will they invest a entire mainline game like a special mario party or pokemon snap....time will tell.

Really doesn't it kind of show how Switch could rule the world.....lol. If it had web, apps, media players, and played top flight games and did this carboard AR poop whats left.....flip it screen down turn off the fan and use it as a hotplate. N has literally figured out how to print $$$.

@Flipbot I’d love a duck hunt remake also with a nes Zapper Labo

I really can't wait to see what 3rd party developers do with this. To me this is some crazy futuristic sh*t. I disagree that it is supposed to be "childish" as many commenters have stated. They are certainly "cute", and the appeal certainly extends to young people and children. But this is tapping into DIY culture and the joy of building and crafting, and creating a new hybrid of video game and physical object...The experience is so layered, just making the things could be really satisfying and non-prescribed, from working out the puzzle of it, to decorating it...or what about don't follow the directions and make your own crazy thing? Crazy robots...And uh...more robots. Nobody ever expected Skynet would be made of cardboard. But seriously, such imagination stimulation!!! I think it taps different areas of the brain than standard video games. I think it could be revolutionary, or at least the roots of something that will be. OK maybe I'm over-excited but d*mn. Also, Korg Synthesizers made a great cartridge for the NDS, I would love to see them make a Labo synth..

@Shadowkiller97 fair point

I'm one of those "eagle-eyed" people

You missed a few stuff in that final shot with the loads of people using Labo, I could see the camera being used, and the gun, and that weird bow and arrow thing.

Just when some of us thought it was safe to think Nintendo without thinking amiibo along comes Labo, or whatever. Although it's a lot of lovely money for Nintendo.....

@Bentheblaze2390 I was the same as you, but the more i watch these videos the more it is appealing, I'm 35 but have never acted or looked my age. It's better to be free than go with the norm.

Also, something just clicked in my head, isn't the new Yoshi game all about cardboard??? Cross promotion

@Flipbot The robot only needs two joycons. One in the visor and one in the backpack.

@chardir But then what are the other 2 small objects the kid is holding. It looks like he would need them for gyro input for punching. I mean, they could be activating buttons on the other joycons, like the feet do, possibly. But I think for a more immersive experience, “Arms style” gyro controls would be more fun. But then would, of course, require 4 joycons. I’m not certain, because they weren’t shown up close, but it did look like the objects he was holding were about the size of joycons.

@chardir Correction. On second viewing, the objects are string triggers, just like the feet. I don’t know, I think gyro punching would have been neat.

@Flipbot I imagine you control direction by moving your head and/or body. The actual punches and footsteps won't be directional.

That cardboard shotgun would be perfect for House of the Dead 3.

About the camera, of course Pokemon Snap seems to be an obvious option, but it could be interesting for some kind of Fatal Frame spinoff, too.

The next wave of toy-cons will require 4 joycons to create even more complex ideas.