Nintendo Uses Corrugated to Bring Video Games to Life

First it was Google. Now it's Nintendo. Corrugated board is clearly becoming a hot material in the electronics world.

You may have seen or heard about the new Nintendo Switch game system that came out in 2017, but now, Nintendo has announced that it has developed Nintendo Labo, a line of Switch add-on kits. It describes the kits as "a new line of interactive build-and-play experiences designed to inspire kids and those who are kids-at-heart," according to a press release. The "build-and-play experiences" are actually sheets of corrugated board that are perforated for easy pop out and assembly of various constructions called Toy-Cons.

To get a better idea of what a Toy-Con is, take a moment to watch this video:

Is your mind blown? The fact that Nintendo has paired its digital gaming system with something that requires physical, hands-on production is pretty innovative. And as this article from Babble notes, the kits merge the love of video games with STEM education, something that many people agree is important because they are fields that will continue to drive innovation.

Corrugated Fun For All

It's also interesting because the kits aren't made up of pieces of plastic for kids to play with, it's printed corrugated board, which is not a new material by any means, yet somehow, it still seems fresh. On the company website, users are also encouraged to decorate the cardboard to "customize their creations," further motivating kids to work with their hands and imagination to express themselves.

There will be two different kits — the Variety Kit and the Robot Kit — for the April 20, 2018 launch priced at $69.99 and $79.99, respectively. According to the press release, "with the Variety Kit, you can create many different Toy-Con, including two Toy-Con RC Cars, a Toy-Con Fishing Rod, a Toy-Con House, a Toy-Con Motorbike and a Toy-Con Piano. With the Robot Kit, you can build an interactive robot suit with a visor, backpack and straps for your hands and feet, which you can then wear to assume control of a giant in-game robot."

The variety of toys included in the kits is bound to entice people of all ages, but it would be interesting to know if there will be a warranty or guarantee on the products. After all, they're made of corrugated board, which isn't indestructible, and we know how rough kids can be on their beloved toys (some spilled milk or juice could surely be its downfall). Some of the commenters on the YouTube video seem to agree.