
Update: The original headline of this article stated this was the second third-party VR title to offer Labo VR support. Thanks to our friends at Japanese Nintendo for reminding us it's actually the third such game after Rooms: The Adventure of Anne & George also patched in support. It would seem that JanduSoft is no longer the best kind of correct...
Still got your Labo VR Goggles kicking around somewhere? It's time to dust them off because a free update for arcade action puzzler Neonwall has added Labo VR compatibility. Significantly, this is one of the first games outside of Nintendo's own first-party titles to receive such an update, as announced by developer JanduSoft on Twitter:
Last year's Spice And Wolf VR also supported Nintendo's cardboard VR headwear, although that game released with the functionality on Day One, so JanduSoft's tweet is still technically correct (the best kind).
Neonwall launched on Switch in 2018, a year after the console itself, and is already available on VR formats including PSVR, Oculus and HTC Vive so it's great to see JanduSoft adding support for Nintendo's lo-fi take on the tech. Obviously, the result won't compete with the higher fidelity experiences available elsewhere, but if you've got the game and your Labo VR just sitting on the shelf, it'll be a nice little update to try out.
We liked Neonwall when we reviewed it two years ago, describing it as "a beautiful package of endless neon glows and electronic music filled with some stiff concentration and reflex challenges." It's currently on sale on the eShop with 75% off until 5th February, so if you've already got your Labo VR Goggles, it'll cost you just $2.49 / £2.24 / 2,49€ to add another VR game to your Switch collection.
Let us know below if you've tried the update and how it compares to VR's big boys.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 44
@antdickens Baby steps.
I don't like VR, it's expensive and a waste of money. But Nintendo is OK for me, it's simple aND cheap for those that want to try. It's also WAY more safe as kids won't have a heavy device so close to their eyes for 10 hours screwing up their vision.
How are you supposed to play without the head strap ?
@mesome713 Please cite your source for how you came to the conclusion that VR headsets cause eye damage
Wow, I think I'll get this!
@AJ1 Wait, that's a good suggestion. How can I hold two joy cons and keep the goggles on my face?
Let’s face it, LABO is dead
@rjejr this will certainly be a huge step forward towards Labo becoming the market-leading VR platform
Nice, I actually have this game and Labo VR so I'll give it a go. Not sure how it will work but we'll see
@mesome713 way more safe based upon what exactly, your imagination? And who plays VR for 10 hours anyway?
As for price, cheap if you have a Switch otherwise a Switch and Labo VR would be £315 where as Occulus Go is £199 and Occulus Quest £399 and both (especially the latter) offer a monumental leap in VR experience over this, or if you own a PS4 then about £240 and what the Switch offer doesn't really compare to any of these
@antdickens and to think I was going to waste my money on Iron Man VR for the PS4, this is where it's at 😂
I really like the VR in this. Looks good and the game's visuals are simplistic enough for the low resolution to not be too distracting.
Unfortunately the lack of a head strap on the Labo VR breaks the immersion a bit as you can't use the headset alongside motion controls.
Still, this is a pretty good effort and one of my favourite Switch VR experiences so far.
LABO VR is a lot of fun.
I was very surprised to find that even if Youtube has a Switch app, the app doesn't suport display of standardized VR video content. And the few films that DO make sure to match the LABO goggles are hard to find and ultimately pointless.
Since the game is less than $3 I'll give it a go.
@antdickens "market-leading VR platform"
Well if you have a market "leader" that means somebody has to be the market "loser". Every competition has a loser.
@carlos82 "and to think I was going to waste my money on Iron Man VR for the PS4"
Have you seen you now have an extra 3 months to play something else while you wait?
https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2020/01/marvels_iron_man_vr_the_latest_ps4_game_to_receive_delay
@ummyeahnintendo It's a common fact that staring at a screen for over 45mins without taking a break to exercise your eyes and look at something at a different depth causes damage to your eyes. Ask your eye doctor.
Love the Blues Brothers reference
@rjejr yeah I saw, I've got a bit of a gap on PS4 now until Doom Eternal and then it's all go for a few weeks. I've neglected my Switch for a while so I'm having a bit of a catch up while its quiet
@mesome713 You still did not cite your source and thus provided no evidence to back your claim. From this article, "While some concern has been expressed regarding blue light emitted from digital screens, recent research indicated that the low levels of blue light from such devices do not represent a biohazard, even for long-term viewing." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6020759/ Longterm use of digital screens can cause eye strain. Strain is not the same as damage.
@carlos82 It's good to own multiple consoles.
@ummyeahnintendo well then eye strain, which is highly unhealthy.
@mesome713 You’re wrong about everything. The only way your kids’ vision would be screwed up is if you’re a neglectful parent. (VR’s not recommended for kids under 12 anyways)
@tobsesta99 Nintendo VR is. It's healthier.
Yeah, because this is the VR game video game fans are excited about 🙄
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-01-15-valve-index-out-of-stock-around-the-globe-ahead-of-half-life-alyx-launch
@mesome713 It’s not really even VR that much, It’s basically just a VR camera for games.
@mesome713 eye strain with screens is caused by focusing on an object close to your eyes for a significant amount of time. Ironically for VR you are actually focusing much further away just like you would going about your daily life, despite the screen being closer to your eyes. So if anything VR may even be better for your eyes than playing a handheld. As for the Nintendo VR being safer, I doubt there is any evidence of that and I'd take an educated guess that Labo is probably the worst if anything, as it is more blurry so your eyes will try harder to focus. I doubt any are bad for you under normal usage though
@mesome713 See, the problem here is you literally don't have any clue what you are talking about.
@mesome713 I've played my Quest for 3 hours straight without a single issue, though I did work up a sweat and had properly worked out my shoulders from virtual climbing. VR isn't as unsafe as you're for some odd reason led to believe. It's come a long way, and opening the door to brand new gaming experiences. It'll only get better and safer. Unfortunately, if Nintendo doesn't legit throw their hat into the pool with a proper piece of kit soon, they're going to be playing catch up for quite some time. Labo is a great proof of concept, but it is by no means safer than the higher end (read: just about everything) options out there.
@onex Nintendo will improve in VR when the tech is cheaper. Right now VR is just an expensive gimmick worst than motion controls. Nintendo will do VR when motion and treadmills, impact vest, etc release and are made affordable.
It may only strain your eyes and give you health issues, which is better than I thought, but it still a waste of money. Most people who bought VR don't buy much content cause it gets boring. It's way the development for VR games has crashed.
@mesome713 Again, proving you have no clue what you're talking about. Oculus just extended support for Quest to PC with Oculus Link, added hand tracking, and is soon to release an Oasis-esque playground experience called Facebook Horizon. PSVR has reached over 5 million units sold, and the Valve Index is already selling out thanks to a new Half Life game on the way. 2020 is going to be huge for VR, and it will only get bigger. Oh, but keep peddling your unfounded opinion. 🙄
@onex Great, that means 5million people fell for the VR gimmick. Look at all that money Sony is spending dev3olping amazing VR games and updated versions. O wait...
@onex I do wonder where he/she gets their information from, I must be imagining these 30 odd games I own for PSVR and big hits like Astro Bot, Blood and Truth, not to mention Beat Saber which I hear is quite popular 😉. With a couple of small titles coming this year for various VR platforms in Half Life and Iron Man plus a rumoured PSVR 2 for PS5
@mesome713 yeah Sony totally didn't put out Astro Bot, Everybody's Golf and Blood and Truth in the last 12 months or so and they're totally not publishing Iron Man VR or adding VR support for its next game called Dreams. Oh and Sony London is advertising jobs to help make its next VR game.
Seriously stop talking about something you know nothing about
@carlos82 I forgot about them insanly popular VR games. Internet better watchout, Fortnite has competition. There's a reason Sony don't waste money developing big VR games, nobody's buying them.
I skipped Labo VR for 2 reasons.
1.) No motion controls as you can't detach joycons, and leave screen in front of the eyes. Who thought this were a great idea for VR?
2.) Where is the Labo VR support from devs and Nintendo?
Google Cardboard is actually better, because you can use a separate gamepad, and use gyro in phone for camera movement too. As of 2018 there were over 1300 VR Apps and Games on Android, and who knows much VR stuff that came 1-2 years after that.
@sketchturner @C-Olimar I made a head strap using velcro that's sticky on one side and a stretchy nylon(?) material. Works perfectly and pretty cheap (under $10). You can buy a pre-made strap on Amazon, eBay, etc. as well.
I'll check this out just to support its VR endeavor! Thanks, Gavin.
@ummyeahnintendo That is kinda like saying obesity doesn't cause adverse health effects. While eye strain doesn't instantly damage your eyes, like obesity won't instantly give you a heart attack, over a long period of time it will develop issues. It has been noted how people who experience eye strain on a regular basis are far more prone to developing problems with their vision in the long term.
@onex Sorry but that is a logical fallacy, you are assuming that just because you don't have any issues that nobody else could possibly have any issues. Motion sickness and nausea are highly common adverse reactions to VR and it isn't uncommon for people to report headaches and eye strain either. While you can debate about how damaging this is to people, there is no arguing how that would make the experience uncomfortable for a lot of people.
@mesome713 "There's a reason Sony don't waste money developing big VR games, nobody's buying them"
I literally just listed several VR games Sony developed/published whilst Blood and Truth topped the UK physical charts at launch, proving the demand is there for big budget VR titles. Whilst Sony have already confirmed PSVR compatibility for PS5 and PSVR2 is heavily rumoured, which is odd for a company that doesn't want to waste money on VR
Stop making things up and go back to your beloved Fortnite if you like it so much
@mesome713 "It may only strain your eyes and give you health issues" What health issues?
I now feel obligated to buy both this game and the LABO VR because of the Futurama reference!
@Kilroy thanks very much for the recommendation! I'll definitely look into ordering one
@JayJ when you learn to ride a bike, do you start on a motorcycle, or do you start with a bicycle? The same applies to VR. Don't start with a space flight sim. That's why VR storefronts have intensity ratings for the software. Something like Astrobot does a great job of easing you into VR motion. Then you work your way up to Wipeout Omega or EVE, etc. Quest however, does a great job of not giving you motion sickness at all, mainly because your movement is 1:1.
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