A few months ago, Nintendo launched its line of fascinating new carboard accessories known as Labo, which allow players to use their Joy-Con and Switch in fascinating and inventive new ways. Though there haven’t been any more packs announced since launch, it always seemed like the kind of initiative that would work well being integrated into Nintendo’s main line up, rather like how amiibo are often supported. Today, Nintendo announced the first steps forward with the concept, as you can now utilize Labo in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
The implementation is simple and elegant; you can now use the Toy-Con motorbike attachment to drive karts or bikes in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, much like the wheel attachment that launched a while ago. On top of this, Nintendo is also holding a second Labo contest, with two different categories up for competition this time in North America, and three in Europe.
For North American players, the first category asks that you make a musical instrument and the second asks that you make a game. Both will be judged on quality, creativity, and spirit, and Nintendo asks that you upload a YouTube video demonstrating the invention.
European players can enter either a 'creation', using the Toy-Con Garage to come up with anything you like; a 'customisation', which must utilise stickers, pens, paints, or any other artistic materials you can find; or the 'kids' category, in which children up to the age of 12 can submit an original Toy-Con creation or customisation.
Prizes up for grabs include a custom Labo-themed Switch and dock in both regions - with Labo-themed Joy-Con for finalists, and North American entrants can also win a special Labo jacket and a framed certificate signed by the developers. The competition starts on 19th July and runs till 20th August in the US, and 7th September in Europe. You can find more info on the contest at the European and North American Labo websites.
What do you think? Will you be entering the competition? What other Nintendo games could benefit from Labo compatibility? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
[source labo.nintendo.com]
Comments 26
I actually like the skins for this, but surely i'm not the only one who does
Nintendo is taking baby steps and that is all that matters.
I’m not creative enough to win this, but look forward to seeing the winners’ creations
I want to join in, but i am in Indonesia.
Making the Labo motorcycle compatible with Mario Kart 8 is clever synergy, but I’m still not paying $70 for a disposable controller made of paper.
They should make more games compatible with labo.
Labo should have started off with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe using this as optional. it probably would have sold more.
but glad to see it either way.
THAT'S A SEXY CONSOLE. I want one! Definitely a head turner!!!
It would be nice if Nintendo just sold a software-less Motorbike ToyCon as a $15 accessory to Mario Kart 8 DX. Would be a great entry level way to promote Mario Kart 8 DX and Labo itself.
But that probably won't happen.
Anyways, I'm surprised this didn't happen sooner. The Motorbike minigame in Labo is cool, especially with the course-creation features, but it's no alternative to Mario Kart.
That’s cool! I may try to enter.
Remember the labo buzz?
I did this a few months ago. It worked surprisingly well!
Now make the robot suit smash compatible!
I can just buy the variety kit cardboard set, right? Eh, even so, I lean more towards karts, and I have wheel attachments for that.
Obvious they are going to make it compatible with Mario Party when that drops. Mini-games are probably going to cater to the use of Labo. I would like seeing Nintendo selling a fishing rod controller and not using it in Mario Party.
That ought to be fun!
I'm not a big fan of the deliberate limitations LABO Garage imposes on game creation, though I've seen people work around them to great effect.
@NintendoLife: Considering you're based in the UK it'd be nice if the info above wasn't specific to the North American competition only. Check the equivalent Labo competition page in the UK and you'll see there are three categories and not two, and that the categories are different.
@westman98 They already do, $11.99 in fact: https://store.nintendo.com/ng3/browse/subcategory.jsp?categoryId=cat960195
Not that it's really what you want as it's a spares pack and doesn't include instructions.
I had hoped that Labo wouldn't be crowbarred into other Switch games and it seemed at first that Nintendo was quite careful to treat Labo very much as its own separate thing. But I guess it's desperate times now and if Labo is going down it's taking everything else with it... No, I guess this is just the new idea to try and make Labo a thing.
If a Soulcalibur game ever comes to Switch, it needs to support the Labo fishing rod.
Aaahh, I wish the jacket was one of those baller satin Badstreet USA lookin things from 1987. Just some basic thing instead.
I hope they do more of these with more of these switches, cause I have no money for labo right now after building a gaming pc
@thesilverbrick , It seems you do not need to buy the whole TOY CON 1 package. The Software for this is in Mario Kart so you could suffice with only buying the cardboard spare parts from Nintendo.
@chardir , instructions for motorbike can be easily found on you tube. found many video's with all instructions for LABO online. only thing is, you need to not just buy the spare parts cardboard but also the accessory set i guess for the the stickers and elastic bands.
Why can't Nintendo release a system with these colors?
@NoLife Agreed. The general public deserves more than just a black console with different colored Joy-Cons.
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