Topic: Nintendo Labo

@Octane My concern is how many are going to be actually games or gimmick games meant for cardboard robot suits and other silly nonsense.

@Tasuki Its a one off, I think its a great idea.

I dont think labo has come at the expense of other developments, its aimed at the kids market. Good on them I say, gaming is fingered for contributing to obesity so anything which encourages positive cognitive development is a good thing.

@Tasuki As long as it remains its own line of products, I don't have a problem with it. Fortunately, I don't see how they could shoehorn this into regular games without affecting the controls, so that won't happen I think.

Thst mini direct and all prior announcements still happened people.

Dark Souls? Metroid? Bayonetta? Fire Emblem? Wolfebstein? Ys VIII? Still coming people.

I know last week seems long ago but come on. Stop being drama queens.

This is similar to Playlink. A different way of using a core gaming system in different kinds of experiences for people who maybe dont play games as much.

Playlink has games via your phone that arent for the core crowd. Labo uses making stuff.

Notice how the PS4 hasnt been given this same treatment despite aiming for the same goal, different experiences for none gamers, without the backlash.

Like seriously. Grow up. Get the hell over it.

Did you react to the EyeToy in this way? What about the Wonderbook?

Core experiences are still coming. They have been very clear about the different demographics that Labo is reaching compared to over 95% of the systems damn library.

Two pieces of software people. TWO! And you start crying foul.

@Octane @YummyHappyPills Yes Sony has play link and such but Nintendo has a track record of shoehorning gimmicks into gaming that core gamers don't want.

Take motion controls for example. Yes Sony had Move, and Microsoft had Kinect but didn't shoehorn it into every game like Nintendo did with the Wii? I didn't see MS remove normal control function from Halo 5 or Sony remove normal control function from Final Fantasy XV alike Nintendo did with Skyward Sword. Motion controls with them may have been an option but weren't mandatory.

I just fear that will happen with this. Let's shoehorn recycled Happy Meal boxes into every game.

@Tasuki They can still shoehorn motion controls, or IR camera controls in their games if they wanted to. They don't need Labo for that. Not sure what the cardboard would add though, an optional pointless accessory? And I don't think they're bundling the next Zelda game with mandatory cardboard piano controls, because they know too it would piss people off. Out of the 3D Zelda games, Skyward Sword sold the least, and it was on their most popular home console. They've learned their lesson.

@Kidfried I'm ambivalent to it.

I'm not saying it's a good idea. I honestly like the creative aspects of it, but I'm also glad its not mandatory and seems to solely be, as @Tasuki has said, a separate thing.

But I also don't think its the worst idea in the world. They made it very clear even before revealing it that this is for children, not the core audience of the Switch. Every system has some weird periphery event at some point in its life. It's part of the cycle.

Look at it this way: Given it is optional and requires software and additional manufacturing, unlike Wiimote controls or a second screen, how many games will really use it?

Considering the system itself does not come with Labo, that would for certain reveal that the concept can never be mandated for core use. Unlike the Wii, that was built around the gimmick, instead of having the gimmick added on.

Heck these days systems are lucky if their features are used at all. Lord knows the PS4 touch pad is never used outside of a handful of games.

And I'm not hating on Sony's every move. Like you guys and this, I reserve the right to be critical of their moves. Namely their back end business moves. Their games, with a few exceptions, are fine. Their hardware, controller notwithstanding, is fine.

For you guys, the Switch, Labo notwithstanding, is fine.

All I draw the line at with Sony, and it is common these days, is their "Responses" to consumers and practices that frankly don't mesh well with me. And you cant tell me their staff reshuffles at this sudden moment and their mumblings to investors aren't eyebrow raising, and not always for the right reasons.

And I will gladly attack Nintendo for things. amiibo for instance and the on-board DLC. Revealing Season Passes before release dates. Their YouTube policies, though I maintain some of that blame is on YouTube itself for obvious reasons. Hell, I tend to lambast Nintendo games more than Sony games, if you frequent NL you will find out how absolutely unbearable I find Xenoblade 2, 1-2 Switch, 3D Zelda, 2D Mario, and my ambivalence to Donkey Kong and Animal Crossing as snooze fests.

To state I am a fanboy, is untrue. Sadly, on this site, you wont see me lambasting Nintendo as much, because look at the name of the site. PushSquare. Sony site. I reserve my myriad complaining about Nintendo, and there is a lot I want off my chest soon regarding a few moves of theirs, to NintendoLife.

Here, I will praise Sony for their good moves, and question some of the err...not so wise ones.

Oh, and regarding my questioning of their success, I do the same with the 3DS and Switch in Japan. I hate monopoly powers as it leads to market control. So my stance of Sony in the EU is the same as Nintendo in Japan. It requires intervention to boost competition so that consumers get a better deal.

Why do I get the impression that if Sony did this then they'd be laughed out of the building but Nintendo kinda get "oh you" ruffle of the hair treatment.

@Tasuki "Nintendo has a track record of shoehorning gimmicks into gaming that core gamers don't want."

You don't know what I would give to be able to play an HD version of SMG 1 and 2, or Skyward Sword HD with a regular controller. Chances of that happening due to motion controls is practically 0%.

Funny how angry people are about this. Let me say, if you haven't bought lego in the past 10-15 years... you ain't the audience :')

Anyway back on to the topic of wholesale cardboard.

Turns out there seems to be educational value here. You can bug test your builds, and see how it all works, as you go, as well as the trailer showing off some node based programming interfaces.

The screen had a "Touch" command node, and a "Vibrate" function node. They player linked the two (Yay If statements) and then tapped touch, the Joy-Con vibrated.

Seems like not only is it for the visually creative children, but also a weird engineering/programming lesson too.

@KratosMD Bloomin heck mate, that post is crazy emotive.

Nintendo are a toy company as they have mentioned numerous times. Its innovative as it combines old and new tech. Using rumble to control movement of a remote controlled dog for instance is pretty innovative as is making a musical instrument out of light tape. Us adults are not the target audience. My son whos 9 will love this and its much better than buying 4 wrestling characters for the same price and I personally would prefer to build a remote controlled game hybrid cardboard thingy than any plastic tat my daughter gets every year. Im fully onboard and just like every gimmick toy, barcode battlers, tamagochis, pie face etc they all have a negligible shelf life. Whats this xmas present must have is next summers bargain bin. It wont last, but why the animosity?

You an me as well. I have Skyward Sword since I do make it a point to own every Zelda. Played it for an hour and that was it. Needless to say that is my least played Zelda, and it's not cause of the story or graphics it's cause of the darn controllers.

Sad thing is with Nintendo when the get a bright idea they don't know how to do it subtlety they cram it down your throat and as I said this is what I fear with labos. The Switch is just going to become a Labo machine. And that's not what I bought the Switch for.

@Tasuki Again, mini Direct last week. Please watch. Switch will not be a Labo machine. If that was its intent, that's what they would have started its life with.

When has Nintendo introduced something POST-launch and made it the focus of the machine?

@YummyHappyPills Yeah according to Nintendo. Sorry if I don't take them on their word, I have been burnt by them too many times. Still waiting on the Wii U to be able to use a second gamepad.

...Wow. Two games come out for a side product line and people write the whole system off.

Sigh. What do I expect? People to think logically and have a little faith that the clearly stated side product line is just that?

@KratosMD And why should I trust Sony when they toss away all the franchises that got them where they are? For taking what made them popular and saying no, we wont acknowledge that anymore?

Just like when I bought my PS3 expecting to see the PS2 franchises continue, and with the exception of a handful, they didn't. And the ones that did, outside of God of War, had stuff like Sixaxis and other gimmicks shoehorned in.

I'm sorry if I come across as a sceptic.

Labo is not forcing you to use a gimmick. You bought a Switch, you don't even need to acknowledge Labo exists, unlike Wii, where you are forced to use motion, because the controller in the box did. Or Wii U, where you are forced to use the Gamepad, because that's what is in the box.

The only "gimmick" Switch forces you to use is the Joy-Con and even then, you can ignore motion controls a lot of the time, and the IR Camera, and the NFC chips. You can turn HD Rumble off in a lot of games.

This "Gimmick" is an entirely separate purchase. So get this out there concept: Because it is a wholly separate purchase you never have to touch it. You can buy all the other games and use your Switch as you desire. Just because an additional product exists does not mandate its use.

There would have to be a complete 180 from what Switch is, a core gamer device with hundreds of core gamer games, and a side product coming up with two games, that is aimed at a completely periphery demographic, to fulfil your darkest nightmares about it.

Yes you are being sceptical, so allow me to cast you in the light that you cast me in when I am sceptical of Sony.

If you're not a "kid," or a "kid at heart," Labo isn't for you. Nintendo has made it pretty clear that the core gaming audience is their focus, and that this is a side thing. An attempt at branching out and expanding the range of applications that the Switch has.

And, so far, aside from the childish reactions of some core gamers online that feel like every project the company engages in has to be directed at them, Nintendo Labo's reception has been fairly positive. While I have no opinions on how the product will ultimately evolve, I can't help but remember that it wasn't too long ago when the loudest people online were also laughing about Nintendo and its new gaming tablet.

@KratosMD Totally agree with ya there, that's exactly how I feel.

@YummyHappyPills It's fine if Nintendo wants to go down that road I mean who am I to argue it's their company. Just for me if I want video games cause I am a gamer I guess that means I have to go with Sony or Microsoft from now on. If I want $300 to $500 tech toys (which I don't) I will go with Nintendo. It's just a shame when a company turns it's back on the audience that made them who they are.

@Tasuki Are these two games and seperate product line really pushing you away from the system? Thats the image you are giving off Im afraid.

"Oh no. A peripheral aimed at kids. Guess I need to trade this in for a manly console".

It has games for gamers. Thats the primary market. You cant push a device to solely one audience Im afraid. Thats narrow minded and restrictive.

Seriously how do you function in the world with this attitude of "It has an aspect thats not for me therefore no.".

Again...that mini Direct still happened. All the games they announced are still coming. They didnt just evaporate you know.

You know whats ludicrous about this? Youre acting like this is the death knell for the system disregarding every else about the system to push that agenda. Its like saying "Oh no. PS2 has this EyeToy gimmick for a few games. This ruins the whole machine". Or "Oh no, PS4 has this VR peripheral for some games. That ruins the whole machine".

Can you see how mad this reaction is? At the end of the day, you do you, but to disregard an entire young platform becauseof one periphery product line in a move thats common for companies is...well I dont think you pay attention to gaming if this offends you enough to swear off a system.

Also shows the patience of a core gamer. "If its not 100% for me and ONLY me im out".