It's part of a magazine bonus

[Update: It's out now in Japan, if you're able to pick up a copy of Yochien. The Poke Times Twitter account has a wonderful little video showcasing a sumo??? match between Eevee and Pikachu using the new remote control Labo feature. This thing is perfect for kids to mess around with!]

Labo ha??s been getting by in an extremely low key manner in the west. It almost never even hits sales charts, and much of it, including the late-in-the-game-kinda-VR set, is almost never mentioned in popular culture.

But in Japan, it's been niche enough to keep trucking, especially for the younger audience. Case and point: there's a new Pokemon Labo set that doesn't focus on a game, but the actual cardboard itself. According to Japanese Nintendo, the Japanese magazine Yochien (a publication for kindergartners) will be scoring a free Pokemon Quest Labo set in the March 2020 issue.

That's more than enough time to find a way to pre-order it or get in contact with someone in Japan who can grab you a copy. From the looks of it the Labo set includes three cardboard characters (Eevee, Pikachu, Bulbasaur), as well as a small lake/forest playset. If y?ou want, the Joy-Con can be attach?ed to the sides of each figure to make them move around. Cute!

I a?ctually dig this cheaper alternati??ve to Switch Labo software, and wish Nintendo did more of this overseas: it would probably be a hit in daycares.

Nintendo Labo x Pokemon Quest [Japanese Nintendo]

#ãƒã‚±ãƒ¢ãƒ³ç›¸æ’² 三月場所 速報📣

〇ブイã®æµ· VS ピã‚«ã®å±±â—

決ã¾ã‚Šæ‰‹ï¼šæŠ¼ã—倒ã—//t.co/xuhP8XOIHw pic.twitter.com/4FNQb8DVdF

— ã€å…¬å¼ã€‘ãƒã‚±ãƒ¢ãƒ³æƒ…報局 (@poke_times) February 1, 2020

The post (Update) This Pokemon cardboard might be the best Labo set yet, and it’s Japan-only appeared first on Destructoid.

For Labo VR

Labo...remember that product line?

While I'm sure everyone with kids is letting out a collective "yes" chant right now, a lot of folks still don't know? what it is: or it completely passed them by after the initial furor and they forgot about it. As someone who's in t?he middle of the road on Labo (it's fun to assemble with the right family member or friend, but the longevity is often lacking), I won't turn down free stuff.

Nintendo has been steadily adding free? minigames to the Labo ecosystem for months now, and there's a new kid on the block. Found by way of the Japanese News Channel app on the Switch (thanks Jeff!), you can head right into the listing ??and download it: so long as your Labo VR cartridge is in. It's basically a Santa platforming simulator on rooftops, and a cute, albeit brief distraction.

If you don't have the Japanese News Channel yet, make a free Japan-region Switch account and it'll appear in your feed along with your home region. Easy! It should also roll ou??t to other countries throughout the week.

The post There’s a new Christmas-themed Labo game on the Switch, and it’s free appeared first on Destructoid.

Now where's the VR sequel?

Nintendo really loves surprising people, doesn't it? With absolutely zero fanfare, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker now has Labo VR support. In the version 1.3.0 update (which is currently available from the eShop), players with the Toy-Con 04 kit will be able to experi??ence four levels from the main game with?? a new perspective in Toad's joyful puzzle platformer.

While there aren't many massive differences to level structure, you'll be able to get a 360-degree view of the courses with full camera rotation. The very concept of Captain Toad is perfect for VR, even if Labo VR is more like stereoscopic 3D than a true use of the ter??m. I'm almost tem??pted to buy the dumb little kit just to try this out.

Nintendo Labo: VR Kit + Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker [Nintendo via YouTube]

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Convoluted, but free

If?? you're still playing Labo VR (sorry, Labo-04 VR Kit) Nintendo has just added a few little extras to jump on. "All" you need to do is head to the Nintendo news channel system on Switch and download two new minigames (free DLC essentially) to your system, which will in turn mak?e them available to play in Labo VR proper.

Basically just find the news article, go to the bottom, and hit "open and receive sample" at the end of the piece. If it's not popping up just add the Labo channel proper to your feed and view that specific series to locate it: it should be easy to f?ind based on the scr?een above.

For reference, the free DLC involves a home run derby and a maze that you guide a little robot through. It's not a bad way to spend 30 minu?tes.

The post Labo VR just added two free D?LC minigames through the Switch news channel appeared first on Destructoid.

Get ready for lo-fi VR titles!

Nintendo seems to be going hard with its Labo VR kit. As revealed by Famitsu, Unity Technologies ha?s announced it now supports the cardboard peripheral. While this doesn't mean anything in the here and now, it does signal that a lot more VR enabled titles will be coming to the Switch in the future. With Unity being a cheap opti?on for indie devs to start creating titles, it seems we could be getting a lot of lo-fi VR stuff on the eShop.

While the only currently available VR titles on Switch are first-party games, indie visual novel Spice And Wolf will be the first third-party game to support Labo VR on the platform. Now that Unity includes the option, we're bound to be see other games include the option. Personally, I'd like Broforce VR to happen.

Nintendo Labo VR Unity Support Has Been Revealed [Siliconera]

The post Nintendo adds Unity support for Labo VR appeared first on Destructoid.

Go go Sheika colors

On Thursday, Nintendo will update Mario Odyssey and Zelda: Breath of the Wild with Labo VR support. It really feels like those games should have been updated before Labo VR hit, so they could garner a lot more pre-orders, but regardless, the functiona??lity is coming.

To celebrate, YouTube channel Just Intense Gaming (thanks Jeff!) managed to mod their Labo kit for the occasion with an awesome looking Breath of the Wild/Sheika-themed headset. The channel shows off how they did it, which now only involves an aesthetic vinyl makeover but a functional one: straps and a facemask allow players to use the kit without holding it to their h??ead, eliminating one of the worst parts of the experience.

The idea of re-configuring Labo isn't just an isolated homebrew thing, as Nintendo actively encourages it with their Labo software, complete with a trio of original characters guiding you along the way. I t?hink Nintendo would be proud of this one!

The post Here’s how to turn your Labo VR kit into a Zelda: Breath of the Wild art piece appeared first on Destructoid.

To VR or not to VR

VR is in such a precarious ??and exciting spot right?? now.

It was expected to completely change the game out of the gate and just hasn't so far. Myriad corporations, direct VR hard??ware peddlers, or otherwise have scaled back production from the 2016 wild wes??t spending period, but that doesn't mean the [good modern] tech is dead. Nope, many innovators still believe in the space, several headsets are actually doing well by most standards, and a lot more hardware is on the way.

By comparison, Nintendo's take is more of a flight of fancy than, say, an Oculus or PlayStation VR competitor. But you probably knew that going?? in when the basic VR goggle kit retails for 40 bucks.

The full kitten caboodle for Labo VR (dubbed "Toy-Con 04") is $79.99 fo?r the goggles and five ancillary accessories. You can also pick up individual items or the aforementioned goggles bundle (which comes with a blaster) for $39.99. For the purposes of this assessment, I had access to everything.

As usual, building it is part of the fun: unless you absolutely hate building things, at which point you can probably check out of this article and Labo as a whole posthaste. Nintendo roughly estimates that it'll take you six hour??s at minimum to build the goggles and the five accessories, with an eleven-hour guess on the high-end. As is the case with my other Labo builds, the low end is usually on point for most adults. I don't judge, though.

The gist is that you're basically building a shell for your Switch unit, which slides into a little slot and is held in place by a separate cardboard lock. Nintendo provides the actual goggle interface and the Switch can be toggled into "VR mode," which separates the screen like two living cells (complete with a cute animation) to fit into the eye holes. Now, you're gonna get God rays, and your Switch glass needs to be really clean (it is the screen), but it works.

Having used every single major VR headset to date, I came in expecting a lighthearted take on the technology and that's exactly what I got??. You probably remember witnessing VR a decade or two ago at a county f??air or something: this is more akin to that than the boundary-pushing, "let's strap a PC to your head capable of dual 1080x1200 90Hz (or higher, now)" displays. Perhaps the only vestige of modern VR that Labo retains is the concept of field of view, where you can swivel your head around and view a full 3D space.

While you can technically use your own headphones (there's a slot at the top), the main flaw is that nearly everything, even the giant gun, requires you to hold the mechanism up to your face. Nintendo accounted for this somewhat by making the accessories comfortable to hold and only requiring the one-handed Joy-Con for the goggle-only micro-games, but over time it becomes a burden and inhibits long-term play. I can spend hours in ?the Oculus Rift, but with Labo, not so much.

With the basic goggle construction you get 16?? minigames to choose from: things like controlling a robot to break blocks, batting practice, or more esoteric activities like a petting zoo where you can rip the head off of a chicken (see below). Most of them are 30 seconds long and the accessories offer meatier side games that will run you roughly an hour or so with all the extra trimming??s. The real longevity, like other Labo kits, is the creation tool suite (where you can essentially program your own minigames or customize the tech like educational coding software).

At this moment in time that's basically it for Labo VR. The two heaviest hitters — Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey — are coming later this month, and weren't available for testing. It's kind of like how the wheel and pedal kit shipped with various (albeit fun) tech demos and not Mario Kart 8 Deluxe support until it was quietly added later.

Let me just point out that Labo VR has a camera accessory and there is zero talk of a Pokemon Snap revival, even in minigame form. It kind of shows where Labo lies in terms of Nintendo's priority list, which is probably for the best given their penchant for going too hard on accessories and promptly pulling support when they don't sell gangb?usters. 

??I dig Labo! It's fun to build projects on my own, with my wife, and hopefully one day, with my kid. If you enjoyed previous kits with your family you'll probably like spending a weekend with this one, even if it won't be making the rounds and wowing Late Night audiences.

_{[These impressions are based on a retail build of the Labo kit provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Nintendo Labo: Toycon 04 VR Kit appeared first on Destructoid.

Watch all the cutscenes in 3D

The upcoming VR update for Super Mario Odyssey will include a thea??ter option to watch all the cutscenes in. While not ??allowing you to manipulate the camera, you'll be able to get some stereoscopic 3D going for all of the story bits. I'm not sure if playing the entire game with the Labo VR kit will seamlessly transition the cutscenes to 3D, but a new theater option will render every scene with the effect.

If you don't have the Labo VR kit, you can still make use of the theater option to rewatch any cutscenes you liked. I'm honestly surprised this wasn't a thing beforehand, but it's nice of Nintendo to update Odyssey for free almost two years after release.

The April 25, 2019, Super Mario Odyssey VR Update Will Add A Theater Mode [Siliconera]

The post Super Mario Odyssey’s VR update will include a theater mode appeared first on Destructoid.

Now do you want one?

Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild are two of the best games you can buy on Switch. Both are incredibly fun, bright, vibrant, and showcase phenomenal game design that puts them at the top of their respective genres. They're also two of Switch's older games, and after Nintendo stopped issuing new costumes for Odyssey and the season pass wrapped up for Breath of the Wild, there hasn't been any? new reasons to return to either game if you've already conquered them??.

That changes this month.

Just as quickly as it announced the Labo VR Kit, Nintendo confirm??ed today its two flagship Switch games are being updated to support the new cardb??oard VR accessory.

Experience 2 beloved games in new ways with the Toy-Con VR Goggles from the #NintendoLabo: VR Kit! //t.co/be8xudP2PK pic.twitter.com/M0C6w59lIT

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 5, 2019

It's a good thing Nintendo didn't announce this at the beginning of the month because I have no about people would have thought it an elaborate April Fool's joke. Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will both receive Labo VR updates on April 25. Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit launches April 12. Hopefully, Nintendo doesn't stop here because I'd love to see games like ARMS and Yoshi's Crafted World also get VR support.

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Pedal to the carpet

Nintendo is onto something with Labo, at least beyond the realms of their typical level of peripheral support.  Re??member the Vitality Sensor? No? What about more nostalgic hardware like R.O.B., who only worked for two games?

How about the more recent Wii Wheel, which was $15 for a piece of cardboard and also only worked for a few things? Well now Nintendo has worked their way up to $70 cardboard with accompanying software, and as? is appropri?ate with a vehicle-based kit: your mileage may vary.

Nintendo Labo: Toycon 03 Vehicle Kit (Switch)
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: September 14, 2018
MSRP: $69.99

What's Labo?

If you've never constructed a Labo device before, the concept is pretty easy to grasp. After opening the box you're greeted with a Switch cart: pop tha?t bad boy in and it'll serve as an instruction manual/blueprint, IKEA style (but with less significant other fallout given that the directions are actually really detailed and animated, cutting down on arguments about which Lack piece goes into which Hemnes coupling: a situation that totally didn't actually happen 10 years ago). Beyond that there's a few bits and pieces (rubber bands and stoppers) and a giant stack of cardboard. Simple and clean.

Labo is ostensibly made for kids (the space for a child to write their name on the game cart case is cute and makes this qualifier obvious) or the young at heart. A word of warning: if you hate the idea of even playing with LEGOs you will also probably hate this. We covered a lot of the nuts and bolts of what makes Labo tick previously, so I'm just ?going to go right on to the Vehicle Kit specifics.

Building the Vehicle Kit

After a short appetizer Joy-Con holder build you're onto the pedal, the gateway to your vehicular an??tics. "60-90 minutes" is what Nintendo suggests as the timeframe, but my wife and I took roughly 40. Still, plan on spending an entire afternoon on the rest of the kit -- an endeavor that's even more delightful with kids around and no responsibilities for the day.

Having never crafted with Labo kits before the actual cardboard is a lot thinner than we expected, but we didn't run into any frays or breaks. The actual instructional UI is sleek, with a WarioWare kitsch to boot. Moving the camera around and rewinding/fast-forwarding at will was a blast, as the step-by-step ??directions are insanely precise.

So yeah, the pedal (with a Joy-Con in it) takes about an hour or more. Then there's the key (the main Joy-Con device that snaps into each accessory and allows you to use everything), with a suggest build time of 15-30 minutes. The hard work is really in the car's wheel/engine (150-210 min), the submarine attachment (60-120 min), and the airplane (30-60 min). All of?? these times are fairly? accurate.

The main thing you need to understand is that when building a Labo device you'll be using all sorts of doohickeys other than cardboard. There's washer??s and stoppers, stickers, grip tape, string, the whole nine of knickknacks. While i??t seems intimidating it's really not: the software literally guides you through every step with helpful iconography that even shows you each individual crease. After an hour or so you kind of get into the groove.

For a lot of folks the "build" aspect, similar to break?ing open a huge $100 LEGO kit, is going to be the draw. Add up all the times above and that's basically a full afternoon of building.

Vehicle Kit's software

To clarify you're not just spending $70 "on cardboard." Labo kits, at least so far, also?? come with a physical game cart with a software su??ite.

After you're done with the pe?dal you're rewarded with a simple one-input (push to accelerate) slot car game with up to four players/CPU?s.

This isn't?? something I'm going to be playing long term but it's a lot more fun than I expected it to be given that it's literally a one-button game. You're free to use the pedal of course but Joy-Con are also supported, as are do-it-yourself pedals with Joy-Con stuck into them (a can of chips used as a dial and a binder/sponge m??echanism are shown off by the cute in-game cast as possibilities). From there you can move on to a circuit race, a free roam hub mode with quests (the highlight), a rally race grand prix, and a car battle gametype. All of these are probably going to last the average person a week at best.

The wheel is surprisingly intricate and involves three types of "gadgets." One is a pull ring that boosts your car forward like the Cruis'n series. Then there's the turn signal-esque levers that pop out helpful tools like a refueling coupler, and finally, a lever fo??r reverse (as well as a single button to honk your horn and view the map right in the center of the wheel). The Labo suite shows you how it all works as you build it, so when you're pulling and flicking all this stuff you feel a little more accomplished knowing that you had a hand in creating it. The fact that the levers can be moved to trigger gadgets is impressive on its own, but the turn signal knobs can also be rotated individually to swap them -- genius.

The pedal is very responsive and can sense different points of pressure, which will no doubt come in handy with meatier experiences. At no point, even with my brute strength,? did I feel like I was going to rip pieces off of the kit. It's all pretty magical, but again, you'll be blowing through the hub rather quickly in a few hours. With several zones and "quests" to handle it's all well presented but I'm sure most of you out there could really go for a full game to accompany your pricey peripheral.

The plane and submarine builds are more side story-esque things. It's neat to be able to hot-swap to another vehicle and fire missiles or grab objects underwater: in a Transformers kind of way. Some kids are going to freak out over this, but once they're done with the Vehicle Kit software's campaign and exhausted the few arcade modes they're fresh out of things to do. The submarine angle seems obvious -- a Switch version of Steel Diver -- so does the airplane (Switch Pilotwings). To be? perfectly clear neither of those exist at the moment. All you can r?eally do is play with the on-board software and...one other big game that supports the wheel.

Yep, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is also due to get 03 Vehicle Kit support (it already allows for motorbike-only controls in a prior Labo kit) soon. Why it wasn't available day one of the new kit's debut we'll never know: but it's coming, and we'll cover it in a separate impressions article and link it here. This might be the first instance of a "killer app" for Labo if you're still playing Mario Kart 8 for years after the Wii U release (I can easily see myself busting out the Labo wheel for compa???ny going forward).

That's all folks

Like all Labo experien??ces the Vehicle Kit was fun to build, but once that's done and you've saturated the software, you're done.

If you're the kind of person who needs to take everything apart and put it back together again (or you're an actual engineer) you may enjoy the Secret Lab mode and the power to completely alter how the Joy-Con work to serve your own needs. But I know that's a niche. $70 is a lot of money to spend on something that you may only play a few times, so be sure that you're making the absolute most of it and possibly own Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as a bare minimum. As? someone who occasionally picks up the odd K'Nex kit with my wife and doesn't mind s??pending a day crafting: I'm happy with the mere act of building this thing.

At the moment a lot of really creative people are doing some really cool things with Labo, but you need to sort of make that happen. So do Nintendo,?? and by proxy, third party developers: because this vehicle kit could really serve as a cool alternative r??acing wheel for every genre title on the Switch. Right now, it's specialized and laser-focused.

_{[This scoreless review is based on a retail build of the game purchased by the reviewer.]}

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Think of the children!!!

Nintendo Labo may not be the smash hit everyone was expecting, but Nintendo has continued to push the software's creative elements to those that are interested. In an effort to get kids to use their imagination and create some nifty things, Nintendo will be launching Labo ??workshops across the US?A. As the official website reads:

To give some of Nintendo's younger fans a safe, family-friendly space to experiment with Nintendo Labo, Nintendo is ??hosting a series of workshops all across the country that encourage kids to let their DIY talents run wild.

Starting in September, families in select cities will be able to take their children to an hour-long workshop that will teach them how to properly utilize Labo's features. Admission will be free with kids aged nine to 12 being encouraged to ??a?ttend.

The workshops will be available in these loca??tions:

• Phoenix, Arizona
• Knoxville, Tennessee
• Orange County, California
• Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Charlotte, North Carolina
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Savannah, Georgia
• Denver, Colorado
• Seattle, Washington

Families can register on the official website and pick from a selection of dates for each location. The earlie?st I see is September 10 in Phoenix, Arizona, but Nintendo stresses signing up ASAP. Tickets for each event will be limited.

Nintendo launches interactive Nintendo Labo Workshops for kids across the country [Nintendo]

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Paper Mario Kart

A few months ago, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe got a surprise update that allowed for compatibility with the motorcycle accessory from Labo's "Variety Kit." With a third kit soon to hit store shelves, Nintendo is looking to further support Mario Kart 8 with more papercraft accessories. Those of us with children (or who are children at heart) will be happy to learn that the crazy transforming steering wheel and pedal won't simply collect dust after a weekend since it will have full support for Mario Kart 8.

You can even catch a glimpse of it in action below. I'm not sure I would find that comfortable to use for extended periods of time, but it is a real treat to see Nintendo extend Labo support beyond the software it was intended for. There isn't a date for the patch, but it is likely to laun?ch alongside Toy-Con 3 in September.

Nintendo of America [Twitter]

The post Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will?? be getting Labo vehicle kit support appeared first on Destructoid.

Game sales offset hardware slip

As with Sony, Japanese gaming giant Nintendo has released its latest financial earnings report, showing that their hybrid console, Switch has sold 19.67 million units to date, backed up by a strong catalogue of million-selling soft?ware.

During the first quarter of 2018, 1.88 million Switch units were shipped, which is down slightly on last year's 1.97 million. Game sales, however, have gone through the roof, with 17.96 million titles shipped - an increase of about 120% on last year. Recent sports release Mario Tennis Aces - and cardboard creativity kit Labo - both managed to pass the one million s?ales mark.

In addition to this, the re-release of the urban myth that is the NES Classic Edition managed to shift a further 1.26 million units, while the 3DS moved 360,000 handhelds as it approaches its ninth year. Nintendo has released an updated chart refle??cting the sales of their first-party catalogue.

Super Mario Odyssey – 11.17 million
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 10.35 million
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 9.32 million
Splatoon 2 – 6.76 million
1-2 Switch – 2.45 million
ARMS – 2.01 million
Kirby: Star Allies – 1.89 million
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – 1.42 million
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – 1.40 million
Mario Tennis Aces – 1.38 million

Nintendo conso?lidated financial highlights Q1 2018 [Official]

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The Vehicle Kit releases September 14

Are you up for more cardboard-powered Switch hijinks? The next Nintendo Labo kit will have players?? driving a car, flying a plane, and piloting a submarine. The Vehicle Kit is out September 14 for $69.99.

You'll actually have one vehicle that can transform between these three distinct modes of transportation when you insert ??a key (read: Joy-Con) into the corresponding slot on the cardboard kit.

As much as the Variety Kit was well-rounded and the Robot Kit led to funny gifs, this new Vehicle Kit?? l?ooks like the most interesting one yet to me. I particularly like co-op support shown at the end.

Nintendo recently added Toy-Con Motorbike support to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. I wonder what's next.

The post The next Nintendo Labo kit might be th??e coolest yet appeared first on Destructoid.

Watch out for rainy days

Next month, Nintendo will hold the Nintendo Labo Creators Con?test. Some neat prizes are to be won by those who can come up with the most interesting and ingenious uses of the creative gaming utility.

There will be several categories in the contest, with participants able to enter each category multiple times provided each entry is a unique submission. From July 19, Nintendo will be looking at the Best Musical Instrument and Best Gaming Experience using Toy-Con Garage. Various factors will be j?udged including ingenuity, originality, sound and other such elements.

The Grand Prize winner in each category will bag themselves an exclusive cardboa?rd Switch, don't sweat it, it's not actually cardboard, but that is a very fun design. They will also receive a signed certificate and Nintendo Labo jacket. Four runners-up will receive the jacket and a pair of cardboard-stylised Joy-Con.

Although entry to the above contest is for North American and Canadian citizens only, Nintendo are holding a European equivalent,?? which will offer similar prizes in three specif??ic categories: The creation of a Labo invention itself, the customisation/deoration of of said invention, and finally a special 12-and-under category for da kidz.

If you'd like more info on the contest, along with rules and submission applications, then you can check out the official Nintendo Labo Creator's Contest page right here.

The post ‘Cardboard’ Nintendo Switches to be won in Labo creativity contest appeared first on Destructoid.

Cardboard turtle shell not included

Remeber Labo? Nintendo's weird venture into papercraft that let you bui??ld a piano and then sat in the corner of your living room for a month? 

Well, it has a neat new use. You can now use the Toy-Con Motorbike with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Onc??e you download ?the latest update just select the Labo icon in the main menu to choose the Toy-Con as your controller option. 

Grab the Toy-Con Motorbike handlebars and race to victory! #MarioKart 8 Deluxe is now compatible with the Toy-Con Motorbike creation from the #NintendoLabo Variety Kit! pic.twitter.com/4bUYoTsdvC

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) June 26, 2018

That isn't the only Labo-themed news Nintendo had to announce though. They also announced the categories for the second Nintendo Labo Creators Contest. 

Anyone who submits to the categories “B?est Gaming Experience using Toy-Con Garage” and “Best Toy-Con Musical Instrument" has a shot at winning cool prizes including a Labo-inspired Switch console.

Nintendo also said that "more titles will be compatible with Nintendo Labo in the future."

The post Nintendo Labo is now compatible with Mario Kart 8 appeared first on Destructoid.

FOCUS ON ME

[Update: You can find the video below.]

I'm not sure why Ariana Grande keeps randomly appearing on Destructoid, but the lady has a penchant for promoting herself through gaming. Tonight will be no different, as Ariana Grande is set to appear on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" to perform her latest single using Nintendo Labo. Yup, she and The Roots will be using cardboard instruments to recreate a pop song; Nintendo Labo is seriously diverse.

Fallon, speaking to IGN UK, said, "We made a full-on band using Labo. I love that Nintendo does stuff like this. I mean what is this? Why would you even think ?of this? Only they could do something like this. We met with Nintendo and they showed us a bunch of cool cardboard things that you can make. We used the Variety Kit and we made a keyboard. We a??sked if we could make other cardboard things like guitars and they [Nintendo] said, 'Of course! We'll help you do it.'"

As much as I don't care for pop music, I'm pretty damn interested to hear what this sounds like. I'm not sure I'll catch this when it airs, but the glory of the internet age should have it uploaded shortly after. Honestly, now I kind of want Nintendo to make a Labo guitar.

First Look: Jimmy Fallon, Ariana Grande Sing with Nintendo Labo [IGN UK]

The post (Update) Ariana Grande will be? performing a song?? with Nintendo Labo tonight appeared first on Destructoid.

Infinity War also makes its presence felt

Cowabunga, dudes! The Switch release of Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze has jammed into the UK Charts, making an impressive second-place debut. Of course, even the awesome power of Funky Kong wasn't enough to keep Sony's mega-smash God Of War from h??olding a thir??d week in the premier position.

Cumbersome Lego title Marvel Super Heroes 2 also made its way back into the big leagues, no doubt thanks to that scamp Thanos and his cinematic shenanigans. Speaking of movies, Electronic Arts Star Wars Battlefront II also pushed its way back into the Top Ten, as hype builds for the upcoming Solo movie. Props to end-of-days shooter Far Cry 5, which has held fast in?? the upper tier for some time now.

Elsewhere in the charts, the creative  Nintendo Labo: Toy-Con Variety Kit dropped from last week's number three spot to sit just outside the Top Ten at number thirteen. Microsoft swashbuckler Sea of Thieves also made a break for high tide, pushing up from number seventeen ?to number eleven.

U.K. video game sales chart w/e: May 5 2018
(Chart reflects in-store sales only)

1. God of War - Sony Computer Entertainment
2. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - Nintendo
3. Far Cry 5 - Ubisoft
4. FIFA 18 - Electronic Arts
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo
6. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 - Warner Bros.
7. Fallout 4 - Bethesda
8. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds - Microsoft
9. Star Wars Battlefront II - Electronic Arts
10. Super Mario Odyssey - Nintendo

U.K. video game charts [GFK Chart-Track]

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Diminishing cardboard returns

You're probably wondering why this review of Nintendo Labo - Variety Kit is so late. Well, it was ?going to be late from the start, since there was no review copy. So instead of getting my review up the second I completed all of the cardboard constructions and "won" the game, I decided to hold off a bit longer to learn about the shelf life of these toys.

One of the main complaints initially launched at Labo was that the cardboard would be fun to put together, but would fall by the wayside, left to clutter up the house with those tiny, useless toys your kids get on holidays, and the Wolverine action figure they played with once and then forgot about, in favor of a large cardboard box. So I gave Labo some breathing room to see if the mini-games and cardboard To?y-Cons sto?od up to the rapidly changing attention of a child. 

My initial feelings towards Labo still stand, as ??just that, but after the excitement of construction wears of?f, your experience may vary.

Nintendo Labo - Variety Kit (Switch)
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: April 20, 2018
MSRP: $69.99

You can check out my review in progress for the full run down on exactly what the Labo variety pack comes with and how well built it is, but suffice to say the cardboard is sturdy and the execution is immaculate. This has Nintendo written all over it, with details thought out, designs tested, and everything just working. My son and I have played with the toys semi-regularly since launch? of the game and they are all still in good working order. Easy destruction should not be a concern here.

What is a bit more concerning is the lack of depth to the mini-games. In my initial impressions I thought Nintendo was going to do some novel things throughout the construction, and my son and I would have a b??it more creativity with things once finished, but aside from a few cool gimmicks here and there, the mini-games can get a bit old fast.

The fishing line is really, really, really, really ridiculously cool... for a week, but there isn't much more to do with it than digitally fish. While ??the motorcycle bars are great, and the track creation a neat feature, there is desperately little to do with it once you've raced around a bit. The nifty factor of making a track by driving your Joy-Con like a motorcycle does wear thin eventually.

The house and piano Toy-Con have a bit more life to them. The piano is tiny miracle of cardboard and tape, and building it alone is an amazing experience. The simple fact that it works at all is mind blow?ing, and then the things it allows you to do - like turning a knob to affect the sounds, adding your own music,or creating a fish for the fishi??ng game, is just incredible. On the other hand, it's also just a piano. The mini-game for it is just some very basic music playing. There's little instruction or engagement beyond making sounds. Maybe if my son were a bit older (he's three), he'd be able to do some more, but even as an adult I find that aspect a bit underwhelming.

The house Toy-Con is my son's favorite by a long shot, and why wouldn't it be? It's basically a Tamagotchi, but with more levers and mini-games. He loves checking in on the little fuzz ball that lives in there, even though there's no life or death consequence to feeding it or not. The mini-games are simple enough to play, and you can make fun things in the microwave out of your prizes.?? There is ab?solutely no depth to it, but it's a fun diversion, and the toy that has stuck the most. 

There's also the "Secret Lab," which is the section of the game where you can basically program your Joy-Con and Switch to do whatever the hell you want them to. I'll be honest, I am not creative, smart, or driven enough to use this in any compelling way. My son is way too young for it as well. That being said, if you have time and the inclination, it can be incredible, as a plethora of YouTube videos have already shown. It's one of those things that can either g??ive you years of mileage or only ten minutes' worth, depending on what you want to do with it. 

All-in-all, however, my son has slowly drifted away from Labo. This past weekend we only played with them once, and about halfway through he wanted to go outside. The shelf life of Labo ??can be a bit short once building is complete it ?seems. Of course, all children are different, and you know your kids better than I do. My son is always going, but an older, less active kid may find longer engagement with all the Toy-Con creations. Just know that at some point, the lack of depth will probably mean you've got a cardboard house laying around, waiting to get stepped on.

I'm not upset about this at all, though. The building, construction, learning, and exploration that Labo did afford was well worth the price of admission. All toys fall by the wayside eventually, especially when video games are concerned, where there's little physical reward for our efforts. In the case of Labo, Nintendo has made something that uses a gaming console in ways you'd never have expected. It turns your Switch into a toy. Do I wish that toy had a bit more depth to it? Sure, but the simple act of creating those toys is quite enough to make Labo something special.

_{[This review is based on a retail version of the game purchased by the reviewer.]}

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God of War holds fast in the premier spot

Nintendo's cardboard creativity project, Labo, launched this week and had a pretty good opening run. The Toy-Con Variety Kit landed straight in at the number three spot of the UK charts, while the Robot Kit debuted at number twenty. It wasn't enough to dethrone Sony's mighty God of War, however, which ain??'t going anywhere anytime soon.

At first glance, Labo has been successful, but not a smash, with news outlets reporting only?? around 30% of its shipped units sold in its native Japan. However this is a marathon, not a sprint, as Labo as a concept is both an expensive product and a long-haul idea, rather than a new release that needs to go platinum in week one, lest its gets abandoned by the publisher.

Elsewhere in the charts, murder-fest Far Cry 5 held on to its number two position, while Yakuza 6: The Song of Life peaked hard, going from number three to number thirty-nine in one week. The Switch edition of South Park: The Fractured But Whole debuted just inside the ??Top Twenty at number nineteen.

U.K. video game sales chart w/e: April 28 2018
(Chart reflects in-store sales only)

1. God of War - Sony Computer Entertainment
2. Far Cry 5 - Ubisoft
3. Nintendo LABO: Toy-Con Variety Kit - Nintendo
4. FIFA 18 - Electronic Arts
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo
6. Fallout 4 - Bethesda
7. Call of Duty: WWII - Activision
8. Super Mario Odyssey - Nintendo
9. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds - Microsoft
10.Grand Theft Auto V - Take 2

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Lovely

Labo has a lot of potential if Nintend?o keeps supporting it, and it isn't one of their hundreds of pet peripheral projects that go the way of the dodo -- and videos like the below prove it.

Developer Rayark just gave us a quick clip of Deemo in action with Labo piano support, and surprise, it looks like a working demo. Remember that Guitar Hero device that you'd strap onto your ?DS? It's like that, but it a little more ele??gant.

It's not quite officially supported yet as t?he studio is currently seeing if it's possible, but it's still fun to watch and marvel at all the same.

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Thank god for no region locking

If you've yet to grab Nintendo Labo, you might want to hold off on running straight to your local store. Amazon Japan actually has some exclusive little goodies for Labo, should you decide to import the kit from the land of the rising sun. Included in both the Variety and Robot kits, you'll receive some nifty masking tape and a cut out of Danbo the robot from the manga Yotsuba&! In ??a nice touch, the masking tape is actually modeled after the tape Amazon us??es for packages in Japan.

These goodies don't amount to a whole lot (and could easily be rep??licated with some ingenuity), but they are certainly a bonus not available in the West. I like how plain Danbo's face is, so I'd definitely wear that if I had the kit. Maybe I should just import this (and spend more on cardboard).

Amazon Japan Has Exclusive Nintendo Labo Tape And A B??onus Set For Danbo From Yotsuba&! [Siliconera]

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So... much... folding...

Nintendo Labo has a lot of stuff crammed into its box. I initially thought I'd sit down with my son today and whip up a few cardboard creatio?ns, play the games, and then write this review. After making our first larger Toy-Con, as Nintendo has named these projects, I was quickly disabused of that notion. The majority of the Toy-Con take more then 90 minutes to complete, according to the game, and the piano can take upwards of two-and-half hours. 

That being said, the basics of Labo can be picked up in a few minutes, and I have been able to build and mess around with the Motorbike and RC Car Toy-Cons. Given that, I'm not quite ready to make a final ruling on Labo, but there's enough here to deliver something?? of an opinion on what exactly Nintendo has done here.

Nintendo Labo - Variety Kit (Switch)
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: April 20, 2018
MSRP: $69.99

Labo is the most Nintendo thing Nintendo has done since, well, the Switch. It's an idea that most likely only Nintendo would come up with, and most definitely only Nintendo would actually manufacture and release. Labo comes with the "game" (duh), a bunch of sheets of cardboa?rd with toy-con parts punched into them, some rubber bands, and a few other doodads that help you make your creations. There are five of those creations: RC Car, Motorbike, House, Piano, and Fishing Rod. The basics of making these are pretty obvious: you pop out the cardboard, fold,? insert the Joy-Con - and sometimes the Switch itself - and you're off to the races (quite literally if you've built the Motorbike).

Labo is for children six and up, and it's pretty obvious. My son is three-years-old so a lot of the folding and some of the gameplay was a bit beyond him. There's not anything overly complicated in what I've built so far, but there's definitely some precise folds that require a lighter touch. Still, even at three, my son was enticed by the folding he could do, and entranced by the fact that something we made could control the things on the screen. Watching him realize that the Motorbike handles we built actually controlled a motorbike on-screen was cool. Hell, I thought it was pretty damn cool and I'm a grown man. Having something you build vibrate like a motorcycle, steer li?ke one, and even have a workin??g accelerator, brake, horn and ignition is just... awesome.

The construction itself is pretty sturdy, but it's still cardboard. The cardboard is thinner than I thought it would be, but also stronger than it looks. It's definitely strong enough to last a while, even with kids, which was a repeated concern when Labo was announced. My son managed to bash on a piece when I looked way for two seconds (because that's what kids do), and it stood up to his rather energetic attempts to "drive" the motorbike int?o the ground. It's by no means invincible, though, If I wasn't paying attention I accidentally could fold where I wasn't supposed to. That might just be me being careless more th??an a statement of the strength of the cardboard. 

What is clear is the amount of attention to detail and care Nintendo put into this product. Every aspect seems thought through to the nth degree, from what I've experienced so far. For instance, The design of the motorbike's handlebars allows the bottom section to open up, which makes inserting the Joy-Con a piece of cake, even if you've got big fingers. It's little things like this that make the construction aspect of Labo stand out, not to mention the fac??t that everything (so far) ju??st works.

As a dad - and person who shops at IKEA - I've put together plenty of things that require parts going into other parts, and there is nothing more annoying than when something that is supposed to fit does not. This just doesn't seem to happen with Labo. Every fold and tab fits like it should, and it's really satisfying ?to g?et through a complicated folding series to have your Toy-Con turn out exactly how it should. 

It's also incredibly easy to follow the instructions. After you put the cartridge in there's a brief tutorial that walks you through making a holder for your Joy-Con, and then you're all set to go. You can jump into any project, build, and then play with your new invention. The instructions are presented in a video-style format, turning the Switch into a tablet with the directions on it, and I really hope this is the future of all instructions. I do wish that you could jump more easily to specific spots in the video, but you can, at least, fast forward to pick the pace up. You can rotate to get the right angle, rewind to see a motion just right, and there's even optional background music that I found myself folding to the beat of. Whil??e you rarely need to us these features when building, I would have loved to have this when putting together the cupboards in my kitchen.

The software is broken up into three sections: build, play, discover. Build is basically your construction manuals, while Play is the games you use with your Toy-Con, and Discover is instructions and other details. The coolest part for kids about discover is that it's not just basic instructions. Through three lively characters kids can get outside-the-box ideas for how to play with their new Toy-Con, construct add-on items that expand the initial build's abilities, and even learn the basic mechanics and p?rogramming that let their new toys do what they do. It's far more in-depth than I thou?ght it would be, and really opens up the educational and imaginative aspects of the game.

And these things are way more imaginative then I thought they would be. Both the RC Car and the Motorbike have uses beyond what you'd think. For instance the RC Car can use the Joy-Con's infrared camera to steer itself. You simply set up these little signs for the car and it will drive vibrate from one to the other. Again, a little detail that Nintendo didn't need to put in there, but that plays wonderfully wi??thin the Switch's plethora of random functions.

Another example of this is designing Motorbike race courses of your own. While the racing game attached to the Motorbike toy-con is just super basic Mario Kart it's fun ??enough, and a cool way to show off the toy, but there's also track creation. You do this in an incredibly inconvenient yet totally awesome way. Instead of building a course, piece by piece, you slide the Joy-Co??n into a totally unnecessary cardboard motorcycle that takes a few folds to make.

Then you literally drive it around. Turn left and your track goes left. Raise ??it up and you've got a hill. My son created a race track simply by running around making motorcycle sounds.  You can also design off-road courses... by aiming the infrared camera at things and having it map that to the landscape. Is it a terribly inconvenient way to make a course? Yes. Is it fun as hell? Also, yes.

It's the expanded functionality and creativity like that that really has me looking forward to the rest of what Labo has to offer. Fishing sounds fun, but now I'm wondering what other cool things I'll be able to do with the rod. The house looked like the most uninteresting Toy-Con when I started, but it's got all these extra things that I'm dying to find out what they do. There's a lot more to explore with Labo, and I wish I could take it a bit slower.

Building these toys back-to-back in a rush just doesn't seem like what it was made for. It's made for creativity, thinking on your own, and a million other thi?ngs that you would have never have thought a video game console could do. My only worry is where I'm going to store all this cardboard, and if the games will continue to hold the interest of both mys??elf and my son beyond the initial impact of how cool it is to make something like this.

_{[This review in progress is based on a retail version of the game purchased by the reviewer.]}

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But there are barriers to classing it 'Educational'

Nintendo's new Labo software is already proving to be one of the most innovative and interesting new concepts in video games for quite some time. The Toy-Con Garage in particular provides wide-eyed kids with the opportunity to get to? grips with basic coding in a rudimentary but fun manner.

With the marriage of cardboard, consoles and imagination (along with a bucke?t-load of cash) providing educational potential, various UK schools have reportedly contacted Nintendo to ask about the possibilities of getting the Labo software in front of pupils, hel?ping them learn about design, construction and programming while using tools and concepts that they can feel enthusiastic about.

Obviously it isn't as easy as just sending stock out to classrooms and telling the kids to let rip. Not only are Switch consoles and Labo software materials expensive items, but there are a variety of red-tape barriers that must be crossed before your product can be officially deemed "educational", thus qualifying for bulk??-cost reductions, teacher trai??ning, classroom support and such.

While it remains to be seen whether Nintendo will enter into an agreement with places of learning to turning their new baby into a genuine, bona-fide tool for education, it's clear that Labo is a product that encourages imagination and design, while also containing elements of software coding, lateral th???inking and problem-solving skills.

As the classroom moves into an age I never experienced, of laptops, iPads and live-s??treamed lectures, it would seem fitting for instruments such as Labo to find their way into the hands of pupils, preparing them for a future in which computer science is as i?mportant as your A, B... and, y'know? the next one.

UK schools approach Nintendo a??bout Labo in the classroom [Gamesindustry.biz]

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Bill Nye the Labo guy

Today marks the release of Nintendo's Labo papercraft kits. Obviously the only celebrity endorsement you need for such a thing is Bill Nye The Science Guy, so Nintendo cooked up a short video with the '90s legend getting his science on. I never put two and two together in realizing Labo was a form of scientific ingenuity, but at least? we can now watch nearly five minutes of Bill acting like a kid.

Maybe it is all the nostalgia from the '90??s, but I really love watching Bill Nye tinker around with stuff. I also miss "The Universe of Energy" from Disney World, which featured both Bill N??ye and Ellen DeGeneres. Can we get a sequel to that?

Nintendo Labo feat. Bill Nye - Make, Play and Discover [Nintendo via YouTube]

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And you can make a bank with them

When Nintendo Labo was announced, my main concern was how costly replacement parts were going to be. While I would be pretty careful with anything I'm using, kids aren't known for their restraint. Imagine dropping $80 on that robot kit and your kid breaks the damn thing in a day. That is?? likely to be a common scenario.

Thankfully, individual kits will be available for your specific needs and the prices aren't crazy! I mean, I suppose they are a little big expensive for what is cardboard, but getting an entire replacement robot will only set you back around $62. Most individual pieces are under $10, though, so your kids can be a little rough with Labo and you won't need to worry.

• Customization Set - $9.99
• Robot Kit - Accessory Pack - $9.99
• Robot Kit - Knobs Cardboard Pack - $5.99
• Robot Kit - Main Body Cardboard Pack - $13.99
• Robot Kit - Reflective Sticker Sheet - $1.99
• Robot Kit - Slider Cardboard Pack - $9.99
• Robot Kit - Straps Cardboard Pack - $5.99
• Robot Kit - Visor + Feet + Joy-Con Holder Cardboard Pack - $5.99
• Robot Kit - Weights Cardboard Pack - $7.99
• Variety Kit - Accessory Pack - $9.99
• Variety Kit - Fishing Rod Cardboard Pack - $8.99
• Variety Kit - House Cardboard Pack - $5.99
• Variety Kit - Motorbike Cardboard Pack - $11.99
• Variety Kit - Piano Cardboard Pack - $11.99
• Variety Kit - RC Car + Discover Cardboard Pack - $2.99
• Variety Kit - Reflective Sticker Sheet Set - $2.99

Nintendo Labo - replac?ement parts now available to purc?hase, pricing revealed [GoNintendo]

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Do you kids know about cardboard guitars?

Nintendo have released the third video in their Toy-Con Garage series, showing y?ou some of the fun inventions you can put together wi?th just some cardboard, some imagination and a $300 video games console.

This video shows how you can use the Toy-Con Garage kit to make a guitar. As always, it involves the cause-and-effect mechanics of the software's "node" system, where the user redefines sounds and actions based on movement, infra-red sensors??, or button presses. In the video, nodes are instructed to play guitar sounds, then rubber bands are used over the touchscreen to create a "strumming" effect.

From there, users can even program other nodes in order to change pitch and effects. This all leads to a Labo band, complete with guitar, drums and two keyboards. It's the best Nintendo music performance since, well... that one.

True story: In the late '70s, cardboard guitars were an actual craze. Metal-heads would cut guitar shapes out of cardboard, then would actually take them to nightclubs to "play" a?long with the music. In the go-go '80s?/'90s, we were too lazy to make props, so we just pretended to play with air. Less hassle. Just as uncool.

Where was I? Oh yeah, for all the cheese of these videos, I genuinely think Toy-Con Garage is a great concept. With some ingenuity and invention, peop??le are going to come up with some really out-there ideas. I'm looking forward to weird and wonderful YouTube videos when the software launches, April 27, on Nintendo Switch.

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You can make a Quote Unquote Cannon

Nintendo have released a follow-up to last week's Labo video, showing how software package Toy-Con Garage can be used to make all?? manner of fun invention?s and games.

The new video starts with the creation of a remote-control tank and a pint-sized Kaiju??. Using the software's basic coding system, which assigns actions to the Joy-Con's various buttons via "nodes," users can make the tank move using the rumble feature. When the camera picks up the marker sticker on the monster's head, further vibrations will cause the cardboard destroyer of worlds to tumble "Mission Face-Plant accomplished!"...apparently.

Mad on power, the narrator then?? shows how you can use further nodes to include button presses, add sound effects, and more. We then see the science behind Labo's marker sticker, which interact with the Joy?-Con's infra-red beams to create action and reaction. All this leads to a sweet-looking organ grinder device, my favourite Labo invention so far.

Whilst Labo isn't for me - and I understand that perhaps jaded sociopaths approaching forty are? probably not its target audience - I do think some of these home made devices are very cool, and that imaginative kids will create some fascinating tools with it.

The?? first Nintendo Labo kits launch April 27 on Switch.

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He's more than just cardboard...he's also half Joy-Con!

We're in a wonderful time frame that we don't see very often: a time frame between the announcement and release of a new Super Smash Bros. It's a magical time of rampant speculation, character predictions, and people arguing on the internet whether or not Ridely is too big for Smash.

But, Javed L. Sterritt, an Aust?ralian YouTube??r, proposes something different. He proposes...

LaboMan.

#laboman4smash pic.twitter.com/nErBUaBkEY

— Javed L Sterritt (@JavedLSterritt) March 19, 2018

Javed showcases the c??oncept of this small cardboard warrior with a speedy move set that includes swinging around the Joy-Con on his back and even transforming into a cardboard piano mid-air and fall??ing down onto his enemies.

In my opinion, LaboMan could easily be a comedic and standout addition to the Smash roster. With the release of Nintendo Labo kits also right around the corner, the potential for that move set could still easily be expanded upon -- just imagine the potential o??f the fishing rod!

The timing of this concept is right. The time is now. The world is ready for LaboMan. Especially with other Nintendo peripheral stars such as the Wii Fit Trainer making an appearance in the previous game, dare I say it, L?aboMan is the next and obvious step for Nintendo.

Javid L. Sterritt [Twitter]

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Candy dispenser confirmed

Nintendo have released a new video lo??oking at a creative piece of software for their upcoming Labo project. The "Toy-Con Garage" allows users to make various reactive devices ??by linking a selection of cause-and-effect options.

The software is based around the concept of input and output. Users can select various mo??tions, such as button presses or specific stick movement, and then link those inputs to a variety of effects. So, for example, pushing the stick upwards would make the screen light up, or the face buttons could be mapped to play sound effects.

Through this simple, rudimentary method of button redefinition, children can ?put together simple projects using movement, light and sound, whilst learning about the cause-and-effect nature of programming "Input these instructions to create this outcome", so to speak.

Examples given include redefining other Labo kits, such as the fis?hing rod, to work with the remote control car, and even a fun little gizmo that dispenses candy when money is inserted.

When I was a wee nipper, we had these small science kits you could?? buy from Radio Shack where you would link various wires and resistors to make lamps light up, or a alarm sound. The Toy-Con Garage reminds me of those,?? in principle. I think it's a pretty neat idea.

T?he first Nintendo Labo kits launch April 27 on ?Switch.

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