In Third Person

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3Bd3HUMkyU&t=0s

…what?

In a world where companies are racing towards 4K resolutions and virtual reality, Nintendo’s next technological innovation is…cardboard.

Nintendo Labo is a line of kid-focused games that incorporate the use of cardboard in a variety of different ways. In the example video shown, cardboard is used to make a piano, where the tablet sits in the middle. There’s a bug with Joy Con controllers on the sides that moves through HD rumble and inputs from the tablet. The most insane example is a full-on cardboard mech suit with a headset to mount the screen directly in front of your face.

…WHAT?!?!?

Off the top of my head, I immediately jump to the Wii. We saw lots of attempted simulations of experiences that required you to stick your Wii remotes into all sorts of plastic peripherals. The more I think about it, the more I see and appreciate the differences between the Wii and Nintendo Labo.

For starters, motion controls were the focal point of the Wii experience. If you didn’t like that, well you were out of luck. This doesn’t take anything away from the core game appeal of the Switch, as the monster hardcore games will still be there. Nintendo Labo is an optional experience you can choose to partake in or sit out.

Next, this is positioned as a toyt for kids. Adults and teenagers have burned out on the concept of playing pretend with motion-based controls. Kids haven’t. If anyone is open to the concept of playing in this manner, it’s them.

Finally, the use of cardboard instead of plastic is deceptively smart. Cardboard is cheaper to produce than plastic, helping to keep the price down. Two, the use of cardboard gives kids the joy of building something. These are quite elaborate cardboard creations to build, and kids can decorate them any way they want. Secretly best of all, once the kids tire out of the games, simply recycle the cardboard instead of hanging onto plastic peripherals for way too long. In a worst case scenario, I would imagine that buying new cardboard sets wouldn’t cost too much. Better yet, maybe make your own with what you’ve got lying around the house.

We don’t have to wait long to try Nintendo Labo for ourselves, as the Variety set and the Robot set are scheduled for release on April 20th, 2018. From what I’ve seen thus far, it doesn’t appeal to me, and that’s totally fine. But for its intended audience, this could be awesome.

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