Why Nintendo Labo Will Be the Switch's First Bomb

Nintendo's first "Toy Con" has been announced called, Nintendo Labo. These creator kits have everyone talking, but not for the same reason. Is this cardboard accessory going to be the rebounding Nintendo's first big bomb? Why, this big man child of a host , Joseph isn't sold on the idea.

[FallenAngel1984]

It’s bound to happen eventually

[UltraNova]

Yeah but its Nintendo...when they are on a roll they ride it hard. I can see this Labo thing talking off simply because Nintendo has all the popularity, or 'cool' factor in the world right now. Do I like it? No its not my cup of tea for sure but me and yoυ my friendwe are the tiny minority compared to Labo's target audience.

[darthv72]

Bomb could be taken two ways. Bomb as in to crash and burn or bomb as in to explode with huge success. It's already some what of a media bomb... blowing up on social media and word of mouth.

It's def not for everyone but it is a pretty creative thing for younger kids and kids at heart. Hell I was impressed and it made me think back to building stuff with erector sets. Kids today don't do enough with their hands besides tapping on a controller, keyboard or smart device. This gives them a break from that, even for a short time to actually make something that they can then use with their technology at the center.

[Moonman]

It won't bomb just because it wasn't made for YOU. There's a plethora of toys doing quite well without our help. lmao

[Poli_Games]

I love these comments, they just prove you didn’t watch it. That was explained Lmfao.

[Moonman]

I watched the entire video. I stand by my comment. I would also like to add as you wondered about pre-orders. Labo is #1 on Amazon right now....lol

[Prince_TFK]

I also just wanna add that your website has been known to post flame-baiting contents and headlines before, so excuse me for not taking this seriously.

I understand that the Labo is not for you. But that is just it. Not everything has to be tailor made for you or me. There are other people out there. There are different kind of audience out there. We should give it a chance first. People said the Switch will fail and look at how that turned out.

[notachance]

it's not targeted for the majority users, it's targeted for kids, even before the reveal they already stated it...

[Knushwood Butt]

Kids have 80 Dollars to burn?

[Prince_TFK]

@Butt

So you mean just like kids have thousands of dollars to pay for school? Just like Kids have thousands of dollars to pay for food?

Who pay for them exactly? What a stupid comment.

[Poli_Games]

Awesome, which is why i state right off the bat, if you like it more power to ya. at the end of the video, i say hay we all have different views, its all about the conversation. As for it being number 1 on Amazon absolutely doesn't surprise me one it. Mid january announcement of a new game from the top publisher in the industry. I view it the same as wii fit or wii party. Hits at first, just to almost immediately collect dust at gamestop preowned shelves. No need to be sarcastic we can always be nice to each :)

[Monster_Tard]

Wii Fit sold over 20 million copies and Wii Party sold about 10 million copies, that's far from bombing.

[Theyellowflash30]

But Wii Fit and Wii Party are not bombs and sold very well. So a "bomb" is when something fails financially. You seem generally confused on the difference between a bomb and success.

[3-4-5]

Not sure POli_Games understands the word bomb.

It's going to be financially successful and it's going to be a huge hit with kids 3-12. That is the target audience and for that audience it will be a success.

I don't want it...I won't be using it, but I can see how it will be good for others, because I'm not selfish and I don't think everything needs to be catered to me like some people on this site do.

[ClanPsi1]

I can't see this actually launching. It'll be like the health sensor thing that just never materialised.

[xX1NORM1Xx]

With a release that close the game is done or on its way out the door where as the health sensor never got a release date Andrew was forgotten about. I don't know if you didn't think what you wrote through or you are trolling people.

[Tazzy]

I'll go with trolling there was never a video showing the health sensor they showed a video of this it means its coming people should think real hard before typing.

[ChickeyCantor]

Are you comparing the mention of a health sensor to an actual video with already realized concepts?

[davand114]

It's already on pre-order and it has a launch date. The health sensor was a prototype that was never made into a product. This is a product that is for sale.

[Blu3_Berry]

I don't think this will bomb. In fact, I think this is a great idea for Nintendo, and honestly only Nintendo can pull something off like this. It is made for kids, but also it is kinda made to replace the plastic accessories. No more having a Wii Zapper or Wheel made of plastic. With this, it will be much cheaper to make and it should be able to be easily replaced if Nintendo sells these individually later down the road. If kids break them or something, a replacement should cost maybe $15.

That is the main thing people need to understand. This is for KIDS or kids at heart. With the added ability to decorate it with different colors make it more enticing for young kids. I think this is brilliant. People shouldn't underestimate this. Me personally, I could care less about it. But as I said and even Nintendo saying this, it is made for kids or kids at heart.

[davand114]

I think more people in the maker community are just going to download the patterns from Nintendo and make the replacements themselves with supplies from a arts & crafts store, but the replacements Nintendo sells should be priced around $10 - $15.

[kwijgaming]

It looks both cheap and easy to use. Even if it bombs, Nintendo probably isn't risking much. It could be pretty rewarding selling a person a cardboard box.

[Moonman]

To Nintendo's credit, you can replace your cardboard sets for free if it gets damaged (according to reports).

[davand114]

Nintendo sells their own laser cut replacements, but they're giving the patterns away for free online, so anyone can download them and make their own.

[Poli_Games]

Thats true! It must be a huge profit margin for them on this thing. My father works at a press printing on cardboard, youd be surprised how cheap those materials really are. Great comment!

[Gemmol]

Cardboard sets free from Nintendo

[yellowgerbil]

was the article written by scrooge? I watched it and loved it, not gunna buy it but still love that Nintendo has that imagination and innocence about them. So at least it does the brand good keeping people seeing them as a wacky inventor rather than a group of suits pushing Mountain Dew and Taco Bell...

[ElementX]

I thought the first bomb was 1 2 Switch

[Prince_TFK]

Based on VGChartz, it sold 1.17 million copies worldwide. That is hardly a “bomb”.

http://www.vgchartz.com/gam...

[G20WLY]

It was very heavily and very well marketed by Nintendo.

[Gemmol]

It sold better than other systems first party games,

[WPX]

@cupojoe
Gemmol isn't lying.
1-2 switch outsold Knack 2 and that's a first party game too.

[WPX]

And it sold more than gravity rush 2 too, to boot.

[Gemmol]

@cupofjoe

horizon not the only game sony made

[Tazzy]

@Cupofjoe How did Horizon do compared to Mario Odyssey compare Horizon sales which has been out close to a year to Odyssey thats been out for 2 and a half who wins there??? 4 million for Horizon in 11 months against 5 million in just 2 and a half Nintendo wins.

Mario Odyssey 463 copies every minute http://fortune.com/2017/10/...

[michellelynn0976]

Well, you don't know. That is not up for you or the rabid fanboys in here to decide.

[G20WLY]

Don't undermine yourself, you can decide for yourself, nobody can take that away from you 👍

[masterfox]

I hope someday Nintendo executives use their brain and create something really innovative and not this nonsense, I mean literally you will have to buy cardboard, cut it and hope for the best you will end up with something functional, but in the end that cardboard and remains will end up in just one place...Your trash can!, game cases are literally removing all paper instructions booklets to help the environment, save trees for example, and now this brainless people from Nintendo are expecting you go out and buy cardboard to fulfill this ridiculous idea.

[Prince_TFK]

Yeah! Screw Nintendo! Why are they the only company in the world trying to sell product with cardboard box?

And screw Nintendo for not trying to to do anything new! They should have created a new console with ideas like detachable controllers and can be used on the go as well as docked as a home console.

Oh wait..

[gangsta_red]

"I hope someday Nintendo executives use their brain and create something really innovative..."

Lmao... it's like you're trying your hardest to be oblivious.

I would have never of guessed you were a planeteer.

[CorndogBurglar]

Don't act like you care about saving paper lol. Who doesn't miss game manuals?

[Godmars290]

I have no idea of what to make of this. Certainly not going to appeal to the hardcore.

[WPX]

To be fair, they stated it was targeted to kids. Even the direct announcement said it.

[Dalailana]

And people said the switch is DOA last year at the exact same time LMAO.

People don’t learn huh

[RetroGamingBlog]

This is obviously based off market surveys Nintendo has been continuing hammering out. I’m a father of 2 boys with a Switch. We generally do a lot of craft with them outside of playing games, so this idea amalgamates quite well given our ‘lifestyle’.

We love building Lego too.

It’s a bit out there when comparing this product to PS4 and Xbox one culture, but it’s actually something we should expect from Nintendo, they did similar releases back in the 80’s with their NES, so following same ethos from back then.

I’m pretty excited where this could lead as someone who as a child used to prentend to be Godzilla smashing up cardboard box cities. It has pretty good intentions, and although it is overpriced im game to give it a chance. Plus my 6 and 3 yo will appreciate this more the the 20 somethings.

[NotoriousWhiz]

Same boat as you man. Although, my oldest is 3, so I'm probably going to wait a couple years before trying this Labo thing out. Assuming it's still a thing by that time.

[davand114]

Another great thing about it is every game has a video detailing the engineering that went into the product in a way that kids can understand. Labo is a great way to get young kids into engineering and coding.

[Einhander1971]

It's looks totally weird but amazing at the same time. Not convinced about the cardboard though it won't take much abuse from the audience it's targeting. But again it's Nintendo they have a way with making things fun so with the right software who knows.

[Gemmol]

You can get free card board from Nintendo, so even if you damage it you have unlimited replacement

[Knushwood Butt]

Nintendo ships you free cardboard?

Source?

[The 10th Rider]

I think you're confused there. Nintendo has the plans available on the website. I'm pretty sure replacement cardboard isn't free.

[davand114]

The cardboard from Nintendo isn't free. You can get the patterns for free online and make it yourself though.

[davand114]

The thing that makes cardboard better than using plastic is cardboard is easier to repair and if it does break Nintendo is putting out the patterns online for free, so you can just get some good cardboard from a crafts store and make it yourself.

[_LarZen_]

Seeing the feedback from parents around that have shown the video to their kids I think this will be a wild success for Nintendo. Again.

Personally I think it looks fantastic. Can’t wait for my boy to get a bit older so we can construct and play with this.

[Veneno]

I really wonder about this product and how it will actually appeal to kids. Kids nowadays have so many high quality built toys and gadgets to choose from. I cant see a kid today swooning over cheap cardboard. Maybe the artsy kids but that seems to me like a very small market.

[davand114]

The Paper craft community is pretty large. Kids love putting these things together with their parents and the prospect of having everything pair with a video game is a big plus.

[Xx_Pistol_xX]

1 2 Switch has the first bomb spot.

[davand114]

1 2 Switch was actually pretty successful even though the game sucked.

[Xx_Pistol_xX]

I was talking more about the game sucking aspect than the 1.17m in sales.

[lellkay]

its Wii shovel ware games, with Wii Shovelware accesories... but you get to make them out of cardboard and they are three times as expensive.

[xX1NORM1Xx]

It's not kids will love this shit it's for parents to buy and play with their kid this isn't the next botw it's just a kids game and I don't mean like mario is a kids game I mean this game was literally created from the ground up to be for like 5-10 year olds to learn and play with it annoys me how many people see this as some game for everyone to enjoy its aimed at kids if you like it then great more power to you but stop treating it like one of Nintendos heavy hitters cause it's not.

I'm more worried about Kirby because that is a game targeted at everyone that I'm not seeing too much excitement for maybe it's because I've never played a Kirby game but it didn't look "good" and that is one of Nintendos heavy hitters but again before someone chews my face off I've never played a Kirby game this is gonna be my first so if that's what a good Kirby game looks like then great.

[Apex13]

I think hobbiests and kids will buy into this more so than gamers so I dont think it will bomb. Not for me but my kid will love it.

[davand114]

Exactly.

[deathtok]

Doubt it... this is appealing to the Minecraft crowd. My 5 year old will love this. I just wish it was plastic and not cardboard.

[Kosic]

Hopefully because it's made out of cardboard it isn't a large investment for Nintendo to lose. I really don't see the appeal to this idea, even watching the video, there wasn't even a 'ok, that's kinda cool.'

I was more shocked to the reason why. It's a lot of resources being used on what seems to be a niche market.

[chris235]

they are bombing all the time, so what?

[Knushwood Butt]

I think it's interesting, but looking at their GAME lineup for the next few months it is clear they sacrificed traditional games for this, and personally, I'll stick with my G29, thanks.

I'm sure my kids would enjoy it, before trashing it in under 30 mins.

[iofhua]

Cardboard construction kits aren't all that fun once the initial novelty wears off. What they should have done was make a 3D printer that "prints" perforations into cardboard stock. They can keep releasing new toy designs and keep the fun going long-term.

Then they can make money selling:

1. Cardboard stock for their printer
2. Assembly kits with tape, string, and pulleys so they can assemble the more complex toys (staples and staplers? They will have to come up with ideas for a "universal construction set" for cardboard toys)
3. Maintenance kits with replacement blades, cleaning solution, whatever. (for the adults to use)

Have the printer connect to your wi-fi so it can download the new designs as they become available, and the kids can have fun assembling the new toys. Nintendo has created a profit generator selling cardboard and string.

Hell I would have bought that. But not these one-off kits. These are going to get boring fast.

[Hugodastrevas]

Let's be honest for a sec, if Sony or Microsoft came out with this they'd be laughed of the stage and utterly humiliated online, but Nintendo fanboys will just praise anything.

[michellelynn0976]

Wow. This has got to be the saddesr comment of the day. To the rabid Sony fans. Sony is a God and does no wrong. Get real. Wow

[Hugodastrevas]

Go back to school and learn to read.

[quent]

People bashing on the idea bc Cardboard, some of the most fun grouped experiences involved board games that were made out of cardboard and paper you dopes, think about it, why wouldn't you want you're kid to do something that's fun and educational that's tide to gaming

1 dimensional, or at least people that act that way on this site, you fail yourselves so hard bc of you're deliberate ignorance just to prioritize bashing Nintendo for trying something different

Original ideas are never perfected on the first try but they can be improved upon in the future, what if Sony followed up with something similar but improved upon it

still "just cardboard" ?

[Mr Marvel]

This shit idea needs to die.
WTF!? Are Nintendo having a warehouse cleanout and want to make money off their old cardboard boxes?
I can't wait to laugh at all the little kiddies walking around with papercuts on their hands.

[Moonman]

You don't need the cardboard to play the games. Anyone can play them with a Switch.

[Knushwood Butt]

Only, they look like an afterthought.

What is the idea here? Cardboard, or interactive experience, or shallow looking game?

Why would I put a joy con in a cardboard piano when I can download an app to my tablet for free?

Credit for getting people talking though.

[masterfox]

LMFO, "little kiddies walking around with papercuts on their hands", that's actually true, some Nintendo fans they just won't see the whole picture here, they only see Nintendo brand on it and they will just run towards them without any hesitation without any background knowledge whatsoever, like a raging bull seeing a red flag.

[Bronxs15]

Looks like non sense

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

A bomb how?
I mean, it's aimed mostly at kids; adults who like and want it are going to be the extreme minority, and that being the case, why does it matter if the author isn't sold on it?

I think a lot of people are honestly overlooking who the target audience is for this, in their criticisms of it.

Granted, it could turn out to not be popular with kids either, and at that point I'd easily agree that it's a bomb, but at this point it's really too soon to tell.

[davand114]

The target audience for this are kids and parents that want their kids to do something that can stimulate their imagination. This product is for parents that are interested in STEM toys for their kids and for the maker community. Paper craft toys are very popular right now and they have a similar cost to Nintendo Labo. Labo is going to be very popular with family's that have young children. It's not targeting the gamer.

[CrimsonWing69]

Oooo OOOOO I know! I know! Is it because it's cardboard cut outs you attach to your controllers?

[dillydadally]

This dude is mistaking "I'm not interested" with "no one is interested". My kids are going to go nuts over this.

[Runechaz]

Simply because i won't put a 300 $ game in a paper box ... just no...

[metalgod88]

... it's cardboard. If I bought this, my 1 year old would attempt to eat it as my three year figures out how to break it down.

[unknownbystander]

Same was said about the Switch and look where it is now. It's way too early to predict the outcome of a product we don't even know much about.

[DOOMZ]

No thanks...