Toio Explained

toio
Manufacturer:Sony Interactive Entertainment
Type:Video game console
Generation:Eighth
Storage:Flash memory
Input:toio ring:
Connectivity:Bluetooth
Price:JP¥16,980

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.

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. Sony made the platform open source and released a GitHub repository on June 13, 2019.[4] On September 30, 2020, Sony and Morikatron released a free Unity software development kit designed for toio.[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 title Release Date
toio collectionMarch 20, 2019[6]
Papercraft Creatures - Gesundroid
GoGo Robot Programming
toio driveNovember 14, 2019[7]
~More Fun For Everyone~ toio collection Expansion PackDecember 5, 2019
PicotonsSeptember 10, 2020[8]
The Phantom Thief and the Demon King's MuseumNovember 19, 2020[9]

Reception

The platform and its games have won multiple Japanese Good Design Awards between 2017 and 2020.[10] [11] [12] [13] Papercraft Creatures - Gesundroidmade the Jury's Selection in the Entertainment category during the 22nd Japan Media Arts Festival in 2019.[14] In 2020, the hardware won a Red Dot Design Award and an iF Product Design Award.[15] [16]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sony's fantastical Toio cubes combine robotics with papercraft. Andrew. Tarantola. June 13, 2017. January 31, 2020. Engadget. Verizon Media.
  2. Web site: 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. June 2, 2017. January 31, 2020. Business Insider. Axel Springer SE. Tamotsu. Ito. ja.
  3. Web site: ｢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. ja. March 19, 2019. January 31, 2020. Business Insider. Axel Springer SE. Munechika. Nishida.
  4. Web site: 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. Izumi. Aikawa. June 15, 2019. January 31, 2019. 4Gamer.net. ja.
  5. ロボットトイ「toio（トイオ）」を活用できる開発ソフト「toio SDK for Unity」の無料配信がスタート. Sony Interactive Entertainment. September 30, 2020. October 4, 2020. ja. 4Gamer.net.
  6. Web site: Sony's Educational Toy Platform "toio" Launches In Japan On March 20. January 17, 2019. January 31, 2020. Siliconera.
  7. 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. ja. November 14, 2019. January 31, 2020.
  8. ロボットトイ「toio」専用タイトル「おんがくであそぼう ピコトンズ」が9月10日に発売. Sony Interactive Entertainment. July 31, 2020. October 4, 2020. ja. 4Gamer.net.
  9. Web site: ロボットトイ「toio」の専用タイトル第7弾「大魔王の美術館と怪盗団」が11月19日に発売へ。ロボットを使ったボードゲーム. Gueed. October 1, 2020. October 4, 2020. 4Gamer.net. ja.
  10. Web site: Toy Platform [toio]]. Good Design Award. January 31, 2020.
  11. Web site: "toio" format title [GoGo Robot Programming] ]. Good Design Award. January 31, 2020.
  12. Web site: "toio" format title [Papercraft Creatures - Gesundroid] ]. Good Design Award. January 31, 2020.
  13. Web site: "toio" format title [PICOTONS] ]. Good Design Award. October 4, 2020.
  14. Web site: Papercraft Creatures - Gesundroid - Jury Selections. October 4, 2020. Japan Media Arts Festival.
  15. Web site: Red Dot Design Award: toio™ (TPH-1000T 010). October 4, 2020. Red Dot Design Award.
  16. Web site: toio™ (TPH-1000T 010) - iF World Design Guide. October 4, 2020. International Forum Design.

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