So we all saw and heard the announcement from Nintendo about Labo. While some people were happy to hear this news, while others somewhat hesitant upon the announcement. Everyone had the same question “Will this be popular or just a passing fad?” There was no real clear answer. But now the Labo has been launched, I am still on the fence about this DIY game that seems to be somewhat of a learn-it-yourself-programming-software skill builder more than real games.

First let me point out that I will be listing the Pros and Cons ranging from the point of view of kids, teens, and adults along with some hypothetical examples. So let’s begin, shall we? Nintendo Labo is a game that comes in a pack that makes you fold cardboard into various shapes over a Switch controller that might range from a reel, piano, robotic backpack with gloves or a small ‘tank-spider-looking-robot’. When used with a given program, it allows you to use the controller to play a set game or make the robot perform tasks. Furthermore, there are other options with the program where you take it a step further and develop or create your own custom game or experiment. Remember those days when you got Legos and you followed the instructions to build the set but later you took it apart because it was taking too much space and just added it to the big Lego box? Yeah, you know that box that had tons of mixed Legos. Also, remember when you were bored and took the box and began to build things out of your imagination? Well, this is what Labo wants you to do with it. Tinker with the app and make things or program things and learn while having fun.

The Pros:

I see teenagers in High School and even College students in Engineering classes using this to make or program things. Maybe this can be used to help kids learn about programming in Middle School and High School. Even college courses can have a semester project to achieve a set goal by using Labo with some boundaries. As for younger kids the present games that come with the blueprints for projects such as the reel or piano. This can be more fun as they have set directions on what to do and once the controller is assembled they get to have fun with the game. This will bring enjoyment to them along with the satisfaction of making something out of plain cardboard. This will also give them a sense of achievement since they made it themselves and decorated the cardboard themselves to give it a unique style.

"Maybe this can be used to help kids learn about programming in Middle School and High School"

Parents will love this as it makes their kids use their creative minds to make things out of nothing and they can even help them customize the set controller. This will have the smaller kids asking for more playsets or blueprints while asking for a parental assistant to build the set. This will encourage family bonding time and might carry into play time.

The Cons:

So what about the young adults that are not interested in engineering or programming? Will they want to sit and learn of how to build a game or do they just want to go out and buy a copy of “Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” and start playing it? This is a hit or miss situation that Nintendo might have overlooked. What makes people want to come over and try something they never wanted to learn before? Will they want to sit and assemble something that might wear out after a few weeks? As for the younger kids, will this be fully entertaining or will it just be another project to buy more replacement parts when they destroy the first one? Also how inclined will parents be to want to buy the replacement pieces from the Nintendo store  with prices ranging from $1.99 to $11.99? Well if you want to save some money, there are the Japanese free PDF files offered by Nintendo on their site but who has a cardboard printer or what parent has the time to print and copy on actual cardboard?

"Will this be fully entertaining or will it just be another project to buy more replacement parts when they destroy the first one?"

The bottom line is that this is a great learning tool to make young minds tinker but as far as actual gaming software that will make kids ask for it as a must-have toy, I doubt it. I do see this becoming niche software that indie developers will take advantage of since they can just print the peripherals and save some money on the assembly by having customers do that work, while they spend more time in programming and improving the actual game. I don’t see Labo being the thing that saves Nintendo but I do see it being the new thing that makes them stand out and hats off to them to take a risk on this. I do think indie developers will take this further if Nintendo does offer them the support they need. Will I see parents rushing to the toys store next Christmas for more templates and Labo games? No.. It will continue with some fans but will mostly fade into the shadows. I can also say that this won’t be showcased at future game conventions or this year E3. So don’t think you will see more news from Nintendo after the many ads with celebrities such as Ramin Djawadi (acclaimed composer of the“Game of Thrones” theme song) playing his theme on the cardboard piano, and Bill Nye “The Science Guy” playing with Nintendo Labo and talking about the engineering part of it. And don’t forget Ariana Grande with the Roots on ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon’ recreating her “No Tears Left To Cry” song on the show using Labo instruments.