Nintendo Labo Announced, Release Date, Pricing

The Nintendo Labo has been announced bringing a series of sets that aim to promote "Make, Play, Discover". This is done through a series of DIY sets that individuals can interact with and integrate their Nintendo Switch into. This includes having customization through coloring and gameplay as the console works with the various cardboard pieces. With each set the Joy-Cons can be mixed into the various creations to create Toy-Cons. From a piano to a motorbike, a robot and more each Toy-Con comes to life through the Nintendo Switch. A prime example is that you can build a functioning thirteen key piano that brings musical creations to life once the Nintendo Switch console and Right Joy-Con is inserted. As you play, the IR Motion Camera in the Right Joy-Con detects which keys are pressed and translates them into unique notes that are heard through the console. A quote and further details follow.

“Nintendo Labo continues our longstanding mission of making people smile by surprising them with new experiences,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s President and COO. “It is an exciting evolution of the Nintendo Switch platform – one designed to inspire curiosity, creativity and imagination in people of all ages.”
Nintendo Labo Kit
After building you're free to color, place stickers or do whatever you'd like with the Toy-Cons with your imagination being the limit. Nintendo Labo launches on April 20, 2018 with two kits. The two kits are the The Variety Kit ($69.99 USD) and the Robot Kit ($79.99). There will also be a Customization Set ($9.99 USD) available on the same date with fun stencils, stickers and colored tape. With the Variety Kit you can create many different Toy-Con combinations including two Toy-Con RC Cars; a Toy-Con Fishing Rod, a Toy-Con House, a Toy-Con Motorbike and a Toy-Con Piano. With the Robot Kit you can build an interactive robot suit with a visor, backpack and straps for your hands or feet from which you can then wear to assume control of a giant in-game robot. Both kits have everything you need within them content and software wise working with the Nintendo Switch. The full details on what's included in the kits as provided by Nintendo can be found below.

Variety Kit
Toy-Con RC Car: Insert the Left and Right Joy-Con into your newly built RC Car and control its movement using touch screen controls on the Nintendo Switch console. The HD Rumble feature in the Joy-Con controllers will cause vibrations that move the car in the direction you choose. Materials to construct two RC Cars are included.

Toy-Con Fishing Rod: Construct the Fishing Rod with an active, rotating reel that is attached by string to a cradle holding the Nintendo Switch console. Catch one of many exotic fish shown swimming on the Nintendo Switch screen by casting your Fishing Rod and unwinding the reel to lower the hook. Once you feel a vibration from the Joy-Con inserted in the reel, you must tug the Fishing Rod upward and crank the reel quickly to try and complete the catch!

Toy-Con House: By inserting various assembled blocks into openings in the sides and bottom of the House, you can interact with, play games with and feed a cute creature on the front-facing Nintendo Switch screen. Each differently shaped block is detected by the IR Motion Camera on the Right Joy-Con inserted on top of the House.

Toy-Con Motorbike: Insert each Joy-Con into an assembled set of handlebars to drive a motorbike on the Nintendo Switch screen. Pressing the ignition button starts the engine, while twisting the right handle activates the throttle. Leaning your body or turning the handlebars left and right controls the motorbike.

Toy-Con Piano: After assembling a beautifully crafted 13-key piano and inserting the Nintendo Switch console and Joy-Con, you can experiment with your own musical creations by pressing different keys. You can even insert different assembled knobs to create new sound effects and tones!

Robot Kit
Toy-Con Robot: Create a wearable Robot suit, and insert the Left and Right Joy-Con into the designated slots on the backpack and visor to assume control of the robot, which is shown on the TV when the Nintendo Switch console is docked. Enjoy a variety of fun game-play experiences, including Robot mode, in which you can destroy in-game buildings and UFOs.

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Gamerheadquarters Reviewer Jason Stettner