Games
Labo has everybody talking, but here are 5 more kits that we hope Nintendo explores in the future.
Don't listen to what Sony and Microsoft tell you, the future isn't Virtual Reality, 4K, HDR or even Augmented Reality – it's all about cardboard. That's the route Nintendo are taking, at least. Never a company to follow industry trends, Nintendo have concocted Labo, a range of ingenius DIY toys that connect with the Nintendo Switch and its Joy-Con to create gloriously tactile experiences that you won't find elsewhere.
It might sound utterly insane, but Labo is one of the most interesting gaming ideas in ages. The Toy-Con are supplied flat-packed and instructions on how to construct them are shown on the Switch's screen in full, interactive 3D. Despite the crude building material, Nintendo have already come up with some amazing designs, including a fishing rod, motorbike and piano. The right-hand Joy-Con's IR camera is integral to many of these ideas; in the case of the piano, it looks for reflective strips on each of the keys and sends the correct note to the Switch when you press one.
Labo's two confirmed packs cover a wide range of Toy-Con, but we know more are on the way – they appear in the video trailer that Nintendo have released, for starters. It's clear that the company has a grand plan for these flat-packed wonders, and the sky is indeed the limit. With that in mind, here are five Labo ideas we hope to see become a reality in the fullness of time.
1. A typewriter
Those of you with especially good memories may recall an 'edutainment' title called Mario Teaches Typing, originally released in 1991 for home computers. While it was a long way from being a classic Mario adventure to compare with the likes of Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario World, it would nevertheless make an interesting focal point for a new Labo kit.
We've already seen how Labo can be used to create a fully-functional piano so a typewriter shouldn't be totally out of the question. Of course, there would be a lot more keys to construct, but we're totally up for some more complex kits. Elements like the old-fashioned carriage could even be replicated in some way, making this particular kit a way of connecting children with a means of letter-writing that has all but died out now we have computers. Like Mario's oft-overlooked 1991 typing adventure, it could also teach kids the basics of typing on a QWERTY keyboard.
2. A drum kit
This idea is inspired by the fact that Switch already has a drumming-based game, Gal Metal, a Japanese exclusive where you assume the role of a drummer in a band. While simply shaking the Joy-Con might be enough to replicate the act of hitting the skins, we think the feeling of immersion would be greatly improved by combining the concept with a Labo kit.
You could create cardboard sticks for the Joy-Con to sit in, as well as a set of drums to provide vital tactile feedback. In fact, you could argue that there's no need to stop with just drums – perhaps the much-maligned Wii Music could get a Labo-themed revival in the near future, complete with a full range of cardboard instruments.
3. A working computer
This might sound very similar to the typewriter idea, but stick with us here. Yes, the keyboard concept would be the same, but you could go one step further by creating an entire working computer, complete with mouse (containing a motion-sensing Joy-Con, naturally) and monitor (the Switch itself).
The software side of things could potentially be amazing, and you could connect to the internet and surf the web, or perform word-processing duties all from the comfort of your Switch. Text input would be easier for social media activities, and there's even the potential for creating mouse-driven games, like classic point-and-click adventures. Sure, this all might be a little too complicated for Labo to manage, but we imagine Nintendo will want to push the concept as much as possible so you never know.
4. A shooting range
Of the unconfirmed Labo kits shown in the promotional trailer, the pump-action shotgun is perhaps one of the most interesting. We're not sure how Nintendo will use this particular design, but some kind of shooting range would be a great idea.
The gun itself could use one Joy-Con, sensing where you're aiming with its motion controls and using the IR camera to pick out reflective tape on various targets – which, as you can imagine, will be created out of cardboard for that authentic look. The Switch could be used to keep score and rate your accuracy, and while we're at it, this idea should probably feature some kind of tribute to Nintendo's past. Duck Hunt-themed Toy-Con, anyone?
5. Anything to do with WarioWare
The WarioWare series is one of the most deliciously zany franchises Nintendo have put out over the past few years, but it's the Nintendo DS outing WarioWare DIY which springs to mind when thinking about future Labo kits.
We're not quite sure how Nintendo could possibly do this, but the prospect of a Labo kit where you can create whatever you want would be incredible; not only would it truly allow your imagination to ruin riot, but it could become a valuable tool for teaching the basic building blocks of programming. That noble aim aside, we'd also like to see some hilarious WarioWare-style contraptions, which allow you to craft bizarre micro-games that you can inflict on friends, relatives and enemies.
