Nintendo Labo: Innovative Fusion Between Tech and DIY

January 18, 2018 Entertainment, Tech

With technology advancing at an exponential rate, from the early days of dial-up internet access in the 80s to the 3D printers and drones of today, it is difficult to imagine emerging technology as anything but metal, screws, and screens. Nintendo has gone back to basics with the Nintendo Labo by creating a fusion between DIY and tech.

As children, many of us brought inanimate objects to life through the power of imagination. The Nintendo Labo takes this concept and puts a spin on it by taking DIY cardboard projects and incorporating the Nintendo Switch, a console/handheld hybrid that was released on March 3, 2017.

There are endless possibilities that the Nintendo Labo presents, including a functional cardboard 13-key piano and a cardboard fishing reel. The Nintendo Switch then acts as the brain of the project. For example, it produces the sounds of the piano or creates the digital fish that you physically reel in.

When assembling the cardboard toys, instructions videos will be found on the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo adds a unique touch with its precise detail that results in a surprisingly elaborate toy with a homemade feel.

The most impressive aspect of the cardboard toys is its likeness to its real-life counter part. The keys of the cardboard piano goes down as you push; the reel of the fishing pole will turn as you use it.

The first look at the Nintendo Labo was released on Nintendo’s YouTube channel on January 17, 2018.

 

This is a huge step for the Nintendo Switch as it was considered a risk when it was launched. However, the Switch sold over 2.74 million units a month after its release, creating a profit for a company that had been falling short as a competitor in handheld gaming during an era of smartphones.

The Nintendo Labo line is set to release on April 20th with two products: a variety kit for $69.99 and a robot kit for $79.99.

And of course, the Internet is having a blast with this:

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Arianna is College Media Network's Weekend Editor and a student at Penn State University. She has written for various websites, including Thought Catalog and The Odyssey Online. Arianna also runs her own blog called Yoga With Mimosas in which she combines her passion for fitness and writing in hopes of inspiring and empowering others through her work.

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