If you've treated yourself to your very own Nintendo Labo kit, you'll no doubt be aware that each box comes with its own wonderfully detailed instruction guide, telling you exactly which pieces of cardboard go where and how to put everything together. Naturally, though, the whole concept of Labo is centred around being creative, and some people have been finding ways to use things other than the included cardboard for their own enjoyment.
One such person is LEGO designer Vimal Patel, who has uploaded a video to YouTube demonstrating some of his Labo-based creations. The video showcases LEGO versions of multiple Toy-Con from the Variety Kit, with much sturdier-looking plastic piano keys, a mechanical fishing rod, and even the motorbike handlebars. He's even made his own vertical mode controller setup for the console.
Of course, this is all possible thanks to Labo's use of reflective tape. This tape is perhaps the most essential part of the package - with the right Joy-Con's IR camera using it to understand specific shapes or distances. While the cardboard acts as a perfectly great casing for the tape, while simultaneously being fun to build and rather cute in its own way, any other materials could theoretically be used to replace it as long as they can do the same basic things.
Have you made any impressive creations with Nintendo Labo? Do you still play around with its imaginative set of tools? Let us know below.
[source theverge.com, via youtu.be]
Comments 13
All of this looks more expensive than the cardboard
@Ryu_Niiyama
It would be, but the LEGO is longer lasting, and you could sell it for basically what you paid for it if you had no use for it anymore.
The bike handlebars look pretty good. I thought about remaking some of the kits in plastic but this makes me think about upping the quality.
@Ryu_Niiyama You'll be surprised at what prices Nintendo manages to sell cardboard.
@Nassov y-o-u p-a-y f-o-r t-h-e g-a-m-e.
is it more understandable when spelled or should I draw?
Well, these aren't all "all possible because of reflective tape." The piano uses it, yeah, but not the fishing pole or motorbike. Those just use the accelerometer & gyroscope to measure tilt and motion. But yeah it's still correct that aside from the reflective tape you could basically substitute whatever construction material you wanted as long as it provided the same structure/motion capacity as the original. I've even faked the motorbike just holding my joy cons free in the air haha.
I saw these Lego things yesterday; the fishing pole is my favorite. I'd like to see someone make a fully 3D-printed plastic piano or something though. Now that'd be sturdy!
Awesome!
Quite impressive. The only thing I don't really like is the piano, because the plastic keys make too much noise, which distracts from/interferes with the sounds coming from the Switch.
@setezerocinco I wouldn't even bother, man. People will keep on whining and complaining about "having to pay $80 for cardboard" every time a Labo or Labo-related article pops up.
They didn't get the idea back when it was quite elaborately explained, they still aren't getting it now, and chances are, they're never going to get it (the concept), so instead they revert back to complaining about it, because being negative is the easy way out...
Well there you have it.
Water- and tear-proof!
And still DIY without needing a 3D-printer.
@Ryu_Niiyama
True. Though I'd imagine many from the Switch's current main demographic to have quite a heap of LEGO around already.
Would be awesome if Nintendo teams up with LEGO to Make this official
And how is this surprising or even newsworthy?
Next thing you know NL will publish articles about the fact that you can use smartphones for phone calls...
@shani To be fair, if you use a smartphone for anything other than a smartphone call, it will just be a dumbphone call.
I'll see myself out
Tap here to load 13 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...