The software for Nintendo Switch, which is attracting attention from a wide range of users, is packed with new play by the controller "Toy-Con", which is assembled around the parts separated from the cardboard sheet, with "make, play, understand" as the starting point. Nintendo Labo ”. The fourth "Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit" will be released by Nintendo on April 12, 2019. As is clear from the title, the concept of this work is a kit that allows you to experience various VR (Virtual Reality) using cardboard-shaped goggles. You can create "Bazooka", "Camera", "Elephant", "Tori", and "Toy-Con" called "Wind" with cardboard, and immerse yourself in the world of VR with the corresponding games.
advertisementI'm curious about the new VR world proposed by "Nintendo Labo"! With that said, I had the opportunity to experience the "Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit" ahead of its release, so I would like to introduce mainly the impressions of actually playing each Toy-Con compatible game. Let's go. I want you to feel the charm of the VR world filled with "Asobi Gokoro" unique to Nintendo.
The full set "Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit" is 7980 yen [tax excluded] (8618 yen [tax included]), but for those who want to try the world of VR for a while, "VR Kit" A little version is available, which is a trial version that includes two types of Toy-Con, "VR goggles" and "Bazooka", and the price is 3980 yen [tax excluded] (4298 yen [tax included]. ]). In addition, "Camera & Elephant" and "Tori & Kaze" are available, so you may want to buy more if necessary. The price here is 2000 yen [tax excluded] (2160 yen [tax included] each).
The "entrance" of the VR world that functions from the moment it is assembled
◆ Feeling when you hold it The robust construction, which is mainly made of plastic parts that fix the lens, gives the impression of a “box!”. Since there is no part that becomes a grip when used alone, it may be difficult to find a suitable holding position depending on the size of the hand.
◆ Gimmick features When setting the Nintendo Switch body, it feels comfortable to fit in the slot. Operations such as making decisions and displaying the interrupt menu during gameplay are performed by knocking on the upper side of the main unit (* common when using each Toy-Con), but it is quite difficult to adjust this strength. The best thing at the moment is to bang without negative emotions such as hatred and irritation (laughs).
◆ Impact of compatible games The “trial VR movie” centered on live-action video is perfect content when you finish assembling goggles and want to experience something like that for the time being! You can easily experience classic (?) Reactions such as "I feel like I'm right there!" And "I'm close!". It is also good to let an acquaintance who has the first experience of VR play and see the reaction and return to the beginning.
A fascinating cylinder that draws a vivid trajectory in VR space
◆ Feeling when you hold it Between a pistol and a bazooka ... If you compare it to a "holding large cylinder (a handheld cannon used in the Warring States period)", it has a solid response as a weapon only for adults and children. The tension goes up. Since the center of gravity is at the base of the grip, it seems better to refrain from deciding the pose while swinging with one hand in a good condition.
◆ Gimmick features The pump action that slides the foregrip (the protrusion at the bottom of the barrel) toward you is the real thrill of Bazooka Toy-Con. The momentum of the foregrip that returns with the power of rubber is also refreshing, and it makes you want to rattle in the dark. When pushing the trigger located behind the grip, be careful as you will lose balance if you do not firmly touch the foregrip. The Joy-Con holder on the side of the goggles can be tilted 90 degrees forward. As an image, it is a gimmick that excites the military mood, such as setting a special scope and canceling the safety (safety device).
◆ Impact of compatible games "Bazooka" is a 3D shooter that destroys the enemies that appear along the way that automatically follows a fixed route. It is full of easy-to-understand highlights such as "Enemy is ugly no matter where you look" and "Giant boss character is approaching". You can feel the presence of the VR space from the trajectory of the bazooka that draws a gentle parabola and bounces on the ground or wall.
Field of view = finder's simple cameraman experience
◆ Feeling when holding The left hand is the lens (the part of the cylinder that imitates), and the right hand is the position of the Joy-Con L button set in the slot, which corresponds to the shutter of the camera. Because it is sized to fit VR goggles, it is slightly larger than a real SLR camera, but it is not difficult to hold.
◆ Characteristics of gimmick When you rotate the lens, you can hear the sound of "crispy ..." from inside the Toy-Con, and you can feel the slight vibration in your hand. There aren't many cameras that behave like that when zooming in and out, but it's a real ant for the vague act of "playing with a machine"! Please look forward to seeing how the sound and feel are actually reproduced when assembling the Toy-Con.
◆ Impact of compatible games "Underwater camera" is a shooting game that allows you to observe all sea scenes from the surface of the sea to the deep sea. Some of the subjects are quite playful, but basically, you can see various kinds of fish up close, which is also attractive as environmental software. If you are lucky, you can also see the fish colliding with the cameraman's body. In addition, a glasses-shaped item "snorkel" is available as a dedicated option for the "underwater camera". When a person wearing a snorkel stands in front of a person playing "Underwater Camera", a fish that traces the wearer's movement appears in the VR space. It seems that if you set it up suddenly, it will show you a good reaction (laughs).
Demonstrate elephant creation by dexterously moving the "nose"
◆ Feeling when holding The elephant's face connected to the goggles is fixed to the face by holding the part of the handle protruding below with one hand instead of both hands. It looks like a masquerade party participant or a welder, but if you have an articulated nose with your other hand, you will get the impression of the latter. It's good that it doesn't matter which hand you hold with either the left or right hand in terms of shape, but both handles get tired at a fairly early stage.
◆ Characteristics of gimmick A simple structure in which the tip of the nose connected by rubber is held and moved by hand. Move the pointer freely in the 3D space where the nose is fully extended, and use the trigger to select or move / release the object. The accuracy of the trace is higher than expected, such as the twisting motion of the tip of the nose, and although there is no force-tactile transmission, you can feel the feeling of remote control of the robot arm.
◆ Impact of compatible games "Doodle" is software that makes 3D drawing surprisingly easy. You can feel artistic just by drawing a line in a mess. The other "Tsumiki Puzzle" is so interesting just to do something like an educational toy for young children in the VR space! You can feel the awareness. In a sense, Elephant Toy-Con may be able to feel the “near-future gadget feeling” in the most understandable way.
"Wings of freedom" that can fly in 3D space
◆ Feeling when you hold it Although you are frightened by the impact of the appearance that imitates a bird straight, when you bring it, it has a mysterious fit like the old rugged Polaroid camera. It's also easy to push the levers that are attached to the recessed parts such as the handles on both the left and right sides.
◆ Characteristics of gimmick When you push it down and then release it, you can experience the feeling that a bird is fluttering in the sky by continuously pushing the lever that returns to its original position with the force of rubber. The rough texture of the entire Toy-Con and the slight breeze on both hands are the secrets of the sense of presence. The movement of the bird's neck in conjunction with the movement of the wings is a smile to the side, but in reality, the Joy-Con gyro sensor installed on the head measures the speed of flapping ... It is a rational design.
◆ Impact of compatible games Go straight in the direction of your line of sight, turn in the direction of tilting your head, and increase thrust by flapping your wings. In other words, you can fly around the vast 3D space freely! You'll want to stay longer because you can enjoy the feeling of liberation that you can't get with other Toy-Con compatible games, but don't forget to take frequent breaks.
Super sub that enhances the reality of skin sensation
◆ Feeling when you hold it It's not a type of Toy-Con that you play with, but it's big! In particular, the uchiwa part made of a single cardboard has a wide vertical, horizontal, and height, which prevents smooth movement in a messy and narrow room (there is also a story that you only have to clean it).
◆ Characteristics of gimmick A mechanism that is supposed to be used while sitting on a chair. Each time you push the foot pedal part with either your left or right foot, a large fan lifts up and sends wind near the user's face. You can see how powerful this wind is by expressing it as "in early spring, if you get on your feet and flutter in short sleeves, you will catch a cold." The foot pedal is fixed by joining rubber + cardboard parts. If you step on it too roughly, it will break, so it is better to handle it more carefully than other Toy-Cons.
◆ Impact style of compatible games There is no standard compatible game that can be played by Toy-Con alone. "Norinori Jump" is a single-use VR goggles, "Trillary" is used in combination with Tori Toy-Con, and so on. Each of them is designed so that you can experience the feeling of moving in the air by cutting the wind with rapid acceleration. If you are inexperienced, you may think that it is just a breeze, but if you watch a powerful 3D image and blow it at the right time, it will permeate your experience as information that was not enough for your eyesight. Come out!
Athletic society (?) Toy-con where vital capacity is a thing
◆ Feeling when you hold it Unlike the main Toy-Con, which is widely introduced in the package, it is a sub-positioned Toy-Con. If you don't set Joy-Con in the slot, you will even feel the "transience" that seems to be squeaky. When using it, it is necessary to insert it into the safety cap of VR goggles or the front of the bird Toy-Con and fix it.
◆ Characteristics of gimmick The basic function is to read the speed of the wind turbine with a motion IR camera (sensor at the bottom of the right Joy-Con) and reflect it in the VR space in some way in real time. When setting it in another kit, the blade part of the windmill is designed to be just near the mouth, so you will inevitably blow on it and turn it.
◆ Impact of compatible games In some mini-games recorded in "VR Hiroba", you can experience actions such as "flying bullets like a blowgun" and "inflating balloons". The gimmick itself that affects the game screen by blowing breath has existed since the LCD mobile game era such as Nintendo DS, but the unusualness that the result is expressed in a spatially convincing form is Kazaguruma Toy. Only with -con. If you're too enthusiastic and overdo it, you'll run out of breath, so literally get enough rest.
The gateway to 3D & VR game creators !!
◆ Characteristics of gimmicks In addition to the visual programming environment "Toy-Con Garage" that allows you to create new play linked to Joy-Con and Nintendo Switch, which was also in the conventional "Nintendo Labo" series, it is set in VR space. "Toy-Con Garage VR" is included, which allows you to make fun games. "2D edit mode" that builds play rules by connecting nodes (various command panels) with touch operation or Joy-Con, and "3D edit mode" that allows object placement in the VR space that is the stage of play This mode allows you to create content that is completed within the game screen while switching between. Creating a full-fledged game from scratch is quite a hurdle, but all 64 types of minis recorded in "VR Hiroba" that can be played with various Toy-Cons, VR goggles alone, or Nintendo Switch itself. By making the game program a "model", you can also learn how to make an original game from the direction of remodeling and arranging!
In garage VR, you can operate 2D and 3D editing modes while wearing VR goggles. At present, I have the impression that there is still another practical aspect, but there is no doubt that the future of rosy (?), Where you can continue to make games while immersed in the VR space, will come.
Various types of mini-games set in the VR space are recorded in the "VR open space" that can be selected from the "Play" menu. These works, which Nintendo's development staff made in Garage VR, can be put into edit mode at any time during startup. You can remodel and arrange as much as you want.