toio

toio is an educational video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It consists of two miniature robots, a docking station with a monochrome display, a cartridge port to load software onto, and two controllers. After shipping to crowdfunding backers in January 2018, the platform was released across Japan in March 2019.

toio
ManufacturerSony Interactive Entertainment
TypeVideo game console
GenerationEighth
Release date
  • JP: March 20, 2019 (2019-03-20)
Introductory priceJP¥16,980
StorageFlash memory
Inputtoio ring:
ConnectivityBluetooth

Development

The product was conceived by Alexis André, based out of Sony Computer Science Laboratories' Tokyo division. It was unveiled at the Tokyo Toy Show and was put up for pre-order on Sony Corporation's First Flight crowdfunding platform in June 2017.[1] Bandai, LEGO and Sony Music were announced as partners in development and content creation.[2] In late 2017, Sony Interactive Entertainment took over the project as it offered a challenge beyond the television.[3] Backers began receiving toio in January 2018.

Shortly after the project shifted to the gaming division, the hardware and software was significantly redesigned to improve stability. Sony offered the revised version of toio to those who crowdfunded the original at no additional cost.[3] This version began being sold to the general public in Japan on March 20, 2019.[4] Sony made the platform open source and released a GitHub repository on June 13, 2019.[5]

Kits

Alongside the hardware itself, Sony has released a variety of themed kits that include game cartridges, additional toys for the robots and books with activities.

Game titleRelease Date
toio collectionMarch 20, 2019[4]
Papercraft Creatures - Gesundroid
GoGo Robot Programming
toio driveNovember 14, 2019[6]
~More Fun For Everyone~ toio collection Expansion PackDecember 5, 2019[6]
PicotonsSummer 2020[6]
The Phantom Thief and the Demon King's MuseumFall 2020[6]

Reception

The platform won a 2017 Good Design Award.[7] The Papercraft Creatures - Gesundroid and GoGo Robot Programming kits won the same award in 2019.[8][9]

References

  1. Tarantola, Andrew (June 13, 2017). "Sony's fantastical Toio cubes combine robotics with papercraft". Engadget. Verizon Media. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  2. Ito, Tamotsu (June 2, 2017). "予約即日完売!新発表のおもちゃ「toio」に込められたソニーの革新的技術". Business Insider (in Japanese). Axel Springer SE. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  3. Nishida, Munechika (March 19, 2019). "「プレステのソニー」が挑むロボット・トイ「toio」の勝算 ──"ハード"が別物に進化していた". Business Insider (in Japanese). Axel Springer SE. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  4. "Sony's Educational Toy Platform "toio" Launches In Japan On March 20". Siliconera. January 17, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  5. Aikawa, Izumi (June 15, 2019). "SIEのロボットトイ「toio」が新展開。専用タイトル第4弾「トイオ・ドライブ」や技術仕様の公開がアナウンスされた発表会をレポ―ト". 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  6. "ロボットトイtoioが新たなるフェーズへ。『トイオ・ドライブ』を始め数々の新作が明らかにされた"toio 新タイトル&プロジェクト発表ステージ"リポート". Famitsu (in Japanese). November 14, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  7. "Toy Platform [toio]". Good Design Award. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  8. ""toio" format title [GoGo Robot Programming]". Good Design Award. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  9. ""toio" format title [Papercraft Creatures - Gesundroid]". Good Design Award. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
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