Toy-Con Garage for Nintendo Labo – Programming power to the youth!

If you’ve been itching to create a Switch band with fellow Nintendo pals then your dreams are about to be actualised. The previously announced Nintendo Labo  has a few new tricks in store with the introduction of  Toy-Con Garage mode.

So what exactly is Toy-Con Garage mode? Well, it’s a basic programming mode for the new software available within Nintendo Labo. This means that you’ll have access to a variety of inputs and outputs called ‘nodes’. A good introduction, though, is via their episodic videos. Have a look at the first one below.

As you can see, you can assign input nodes (such as pressing a button on the Joy-Con controller) and an output node (such as making a sound) with a few relatively simple steps. There’s also the possibility to assign a middle node which assigns a specific action paired to the input node. For example, if the input node is button A on the controller, the middle node might be pressing this button eight times before playing an explosion sound (the output node). Even from this simple example, it’s clear that the Toy-Con Garage could be quite a powerful little tool for curious minds.

While this might be a little complicated for the tiny Switch fans, it’s definitely a step in the right direction for those a little older, teaching them about the fundamentals of programming from a young age. And I’m sure their parents won’t mind helping them rock out, or perhaps control their RC car, with a fishing rod.

To access the understated power of Toy-Con Garage, you’ll need to buy one of the two Nintendo Labo kits (the Variety Kit or the Robot Kit). Both will be launched on the 20th April and can be yours for between $99.95 – $119.95.