Nintendo Labo — Bringing Back Toys into Kids’ Lives

Play demands interaction. In an age where the digital platform offers greater interactivity than any physical action figure, it isn’t difficult to see why parents fret over their children spending too much time in front of their screens. Children just don’t see the value of other forms of play. But what if there was a system that integrated the modern interactivity of digital media with the traditional physical manipulation of a toy? Enter: the Nintendo Labo.

The Video Game vs Toy Problem

Modern gaming culture has driven on a long and eventful road; one that has at every turn led to new technologies, new ways to socialize, and new applications of digital media in peoples’ lives. Sadly, such progress never comes without sacrifice. As video games quickly became the norm of play among young children, traditional concepts of “toys” fell out of place. Why? Because the truth is that games offer an immersive experience for less imagination.

There is no need to pretend in a simulated environment. Why pretend to be a soldier at war when you can experience it in Battlefield One? Why pretend to slay a toy dragon when you can do it in the first person in Skyrim? If you want to play house, run The Sims. It is true that there are some experiences toys provide that cannot be replicated in a digital world. For example, actually flying a drone in the physical world will always feel superior to a simulation. But for the most part, video games are a sandbox for the impossible. And it is difficult for toys to compete against that.

The Nintendo Labo: Old Toy Concept for a New World

If one wishes to make any new toy successful in today’s world, one must first understand (and accept) this sad truth. One has to refuse traditional views of toys. One must search for new angles from which to approach the interests of today’s youth. Thankfully, Nintendo has been known to do just that.

The Labo is a series of construction kits for the Nintendo Switch. Each kit consists of foldable heavy-duty cardboard that can be assembled into a variety of constructs, from pianos, to fishing rods. Each kit comes with software that utilizes the constructs, integrating the physical and digital worlds into a singular experience. This is especially true for the Mecha Labo kit, which allows the user to walk through a kind of augmented reality.

Physical Toys in a Digital Age

Overall, the Labo seems to be a step in the right direction for the toy industry. It grants the level of interactivity of digital entertainment, while also providing the hands-on experience of physical toys. Most importantly however, it rewards imagination, even allowing users to program their own consoles. Not bad for a piece of tech geared towards children. And if the Labo proves to be a success, it is entirely possible other companies will follow suit.

The Nintendo Labo Variety Kit costs $69.99 and the Mecha Kit costs $79.99. Individual packs are also available on the Nintendo Store.