Nintendo Brings Virtual Reality to Kids with Its Latest Labo Kit
Google debuted its basic cardboard virtual reality kits back in 2014 to a roaring success and Nintendo is about to replicate that with its own DIY skeletal VR cardboard kit. The new Labo kit is a VR kit for Switch that fuses DIY cardboard construction project with virtual reality creations and promises users a simple and shareable virtual reality experience for kids and families.
It’s not a serious virtual reality gaming headset like PlayStation VR but it’s more of a basic VR device for creating fun concepts around gaming, especially for kids. It’s more in line with the other Labo demos and not a high-end headset that engages users with new gaming mechanics or form factor.
The Switch after all is not a good fit for VR experiences due to its 720p split screen for both eyes which will output a very-low res virtual reality experience. The VR content might come out good but it won’t be as comfortable to the end user. However, users won’t need to use Switch in its virtual reality mode in order to platy through the Labo projects. It’s possible to use the Labo kit even if you don’t mount the Switch to your face.
The Nintendo Labo virtual reality kit will be released in April 2019 with a retail price of $79.99 and contains all the kits for a toy-con project which include a Toy-Con blaster, Toy-Con virtual reality goggles, Toy-Con blaster, Toy-Con elephant, Toy-Con camera, Toy-Con bird and a wind pedal. Users can also purchase a $39.99 extra kit and other extra kits online. The Nintendo Labo allows users to build impressive projects including one which involves the headset transforming into an elephant mask with its controllers mounted to the trunk of the headset. The kit also includes a safety cap and screen holder.
The Nintendo Labo VR starter set includes the Toy-Con Blaster, Toy-Con Goggles, Nintendo Labo software, a blaster, and screen holder.
The virtual reality kit has also been designed to allow for a social gameplay whereby it can be passed around and shared with groups of other players. For this group play, users only have to insert the Nintendo Switch console into Toy-Con VR Goggles and then hold the setup close to their eyes to play the various games on offer. This setup does not require a headset like other virtual reality headsets.
The Labo kit builds upon numerous elements of the Nintendo Labo including make, play and discover so as to provide a virtual reality experience that is fun and enjoyable not just for kids but also adults who wish to try the VR games. The Labo kit experience is designed in such a way that it encourages real-world and virtual interactions among the players by sharing the Toy-Con creations.
The Nintendo Labo virtual reality kit is also planning to launch two optional expansion sets that cost $20 apiece. The first set will have a Toy-Con Camera and a Toy-Con Elephant and the second set will have the Toy-Con Bird and Toy-Con Wind Pedal. These two expansions can only be purchased online even though the Labo VR Kit will be available in the stores from April 2019. Nintendo will release additional information about the virtual reality experiences in the near future.
https://virtualrealitytimes.com/2019/03/08/nintendo-brings-virtual-reality-to-kids-with-its-latest-labo-kit/https://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Switch-Nintendo-Labo-VR-Kit-ToyConBlaster-600x600.jpghttps://virtualrealitytimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Switch-Nintendo-Labo-VR-Kit-ToyConBlaster-150x90.jpgCardboardHardwareVR HeadsetsGoogle debuted its basic cardboard virtual reality kits back in 2014 to a roaring success and Nintendo is about to replicate that with its own DIY skeletal VR cardboard kit. The new Labo kit is a VR kit for Switch that fuses DIY cardboard construction project with virtual reality...Sam OchanjiSam Ochanji[email protected]EditorVirtual Reality Times - Metaverse & VR