Nintendo announces new addition to the Nintendo Switch
Yesterday Nintendo announced a new addition to their critically acclaimed Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Labo is a DIY kit that allows owners to build pieces to use for their consoles.
To explain in detail, the set comes with a series of cardboard sheets with different designs and instructions attached to them. Following the instructions, the owner can build, for example, a steering wheel. Each construct is designed with space for the portable Switch screen and detachable Joy-Con controllers. Ideally, these enhance gameplay and allow for more creative uses of Switch apps.
This isn’t the first time Nintendo, or any other company, has created gaming peripherals of this kind. A prime example is the Zettaguard Mario Kart Racing Wheel. This is, however, the first time something like this has been designed as a DIY project. In the announcement kit, Nintendo revealed several designs from a piano to a robot.
While Nintendo has a reputation for family friendly products, this product, in particular, seems aimed towards children and families with young children. The announcement video verifies the safety of the product for children. The only additional parts needed would be tape for natural wear and tear. It also looks quite enjoyable and definitely something worth purchasing.
What do people think of it?
The product has received mixed reviews online. Peer Schneider of IGN tweeted about how excited his children were.
Showed my sons the Nintendo Labo commercial. Unanimous request: "We have to get all of those, okay, Papa." (I'm doomed.)
— Peer Schneider (@PeerIGN) January 18, 2018
SungWon Cho, also known as ProZD, expressed a more lukewarm response about the product.
lukewarm take: i am not interested in nintendo labo but i acknowledge there is appeal there for other people
— SungWon Cho (ProZD) (@prozdkp) January 18, 2018
The product starts at 69.99 USD MSRP and climbs up to 79.99 USD. However, the collection arrives with a series of games explicitly designed to be played with the Labo included. This puts the actual pricing of the product at about 9.99 to 19.99 USD, depending on which version the consumer wishes to purchase. Nintendo has failed to announce individual versions in case an owner needs to replace a specific construct.
The Nintendo Labo will be available for purchase May 20th, 2018.