Tag: Mii

Nintendo’s ‘Miitomo’ Launches In North America On March 31st!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Briefly: It’s about time.

Matt detailed Nintendo’s rough launch plans for Miitomo back in February, and today the big N finally revealed that anticipating gamers in Canada and North America will be able to join Miitomo as of March 31st!

Nintendo notes that the app had an incredibly successful launch in Japan, boasting that the title was downloaded over “1 million times in its first three days of availability, while achieving the #1 most downloaded free app status in both the App Store and Google Play storefronts.”

Now it’s our turn. The company states that you can actually pre-register for Miitomo right now, right here, and that doing so, you’ll “receive an email when the app is ready to download. People that create their Nintendo Account and preregister before March 31 will also receive Platinum Points for the new My Nintendo rewards program, which will simultaneously launch with Miitomo. Aiming to be much more than a standard rewards program, My Nintendo is a comprehensive service that rewards users for interacting with Nintendo products and services in a variety of ways. Miitomo users who link the app to their Nintendo Account will be able to take advantage of My Nintendo to enhance their experience. Platinum Points can be earned by interacting with Nintendo apps and services, including Miitomo. Gold Points are earned when purchasing digital versions of games from Nintendo.com or Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Both Platinum and Gold Points can be redeemed for rewards like games, download content, in-app items and eShop discount coupons.”

It sounds pretty danged easy to get starting with Miitomo: “After downloading the application for free on the App Store for iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, along with Android devices, users create a Mii character and customize facial features like eyes and hair, as well as voice and personality. Users can also use the camera on their smart devices to snap a photo of themselves, which can be used to create a Mii, or they can simply import their Mii from theirWii U or Nintendo 3DS systems using a QR Code.

Once their Mii is ready, users can add friends who already have the app in person, or by linking the app with their existing Facebook or Twitter accounts. After that step is complete, it’s time to answer some questions! Miitomo creates conversations and turns discussions into a form of play by prompting users to answer all kinds of fun questions. How would you define your fashion style? What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? If you were given 10 grand to spend in one day, what would you do? The answers get shared among friends, sparking interesting conversations – part of the fun is discovering unexpected facts about your friends. When users hear how their friends responded to questions, they can give answers a “heart” or a written or picture comment.”

The application looks weird as hell, but as a gamer who doesn’t spend a lot of time at home, I’m beyond excited to try out this unique experience on my iPhone. What are you excited to do in Miitomo? Be sure to sound out in the comments below!

Miitomo

 

Can’t Wait? Launch Plans For Miitomo Includes Pre-Registration And More!

by Matt Rodriguez

Nintendo has finally unveiled their launch plans for Miitomo, which is their first foray into the mobile game market, soon to be available on iOS and Android devices!

These plans not only allow players to pre-register for an account and updates, but also rewards them for doing so!  As detailed on Business Wire, “Starting Feb. 17, people will be able to pre-register for Miitomo by signing up for the new Nintendo Account service using their existing email, social media accounts or current Nintendo Network IDs.  People who pre-register will be among the first to be notified about the availability of Miitomo when it launches in March.  Nintendo will offer a special Miitomo bonus to anyone who signs up for a Nintendo Account between Feb. 17 and launch.”

Several other features of the game are also detailed, such as lighthearted fun conversations between Mii characters in Miitomo, such as “What song has been stuck in your head lately?” to as wacky as, “If you saw a nose hair sticking out of your friend’s nose, what would you do?”  There will also be a “Miifoto” feature which will allow you to take photos featuring your Mii.  Mii characters are central to this game, and they’ve been used a variety of ways since their introduction in the original Wii console–one of their latest adventures includes a friend and family simulator in Tomodachi Life, where Mii characters can build relationships, engage in activities, and even have families!  They’ve also become characters in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U, taking their powers from the various incarnations they’ve had over the years.  We have no doubt that Miitomo will continue their lighthearted humor and provide a meaningful experience for players, as they allow users to be able to “interact with their friends in an entirely new way that transforms communication into a form of play.”

Miitomo will launch in March, alongside My Nintendo.  Several details have been revealed for the My Nintendo account program, as we have recently found out.

…One last thing!

“Including Miitomo, Nintendo plans to release approximately five smart device applications by the end of March 2017,” according to Business Wire.  Are you excited about this?  We definitely are, and can only imagine what they have in store!

Miitomo

Source: Business Wire

Palutena Shines Her Light On The ‘Smash Bros’ Arena!

by Josh Jackson

As Nintendo’s digital event drew to a close, the company made sure to leave us with one last piece of information in regards to its biggest title of the year, and it was huge for Kid Icarus fans!

Lady Palutena, the goddess of light and guardian of the angelic warrior, Pit, will be joining the fray as one of the latest additions to the Super Smash Bros. cast. Using many of her abilities she displayed as a boss in Kid Icarus Uprising combined with a moveset that shows off the variety of special items that Pit could use in the stellar 3DS title such as the reflect shield, heavenly light, black hole and mega laser, (the last two of which seem to make up her Final Smash), and we have someone with a ton of combat potential. Oh, and I don’t want to forget to mention that she looks incredibly fun!

And what’s up with that Dark Pit tease at the end? If that means he’s going to be his own character, I won’t be opposed to it. Pit is essentially representing the original Kid Icarus, and while Palutena uses many of the items from the 3DS reboot and a few weapons from the title have been shown as items, they don’t even scratch the surface of how many skills Uprising contains. There would be no better way to display those skills than with Dark Pit.

Check out her reveal below, in which Nintendo pulled out all the stops to make it have as big of an impact as possible thanks to a return to the Studio I.G. produced anime shorts that accompanied Uprising when it was initially released. And even though the Uprising only came out in 2012, listening to the banter between Pit, Palutena and Viridi gave me so many nostalgia feels!

Are you excited to add the goddess of light to your growing pool of fighters, including Mii? Keep checking back for more E3 news as it breaks!

Not One, But THREE Different Mii Fighters Join The ‘Smash Bros’ Roster

by Josh Jackson

During Nintendo’s Digital Event, what many considered a foregone conclusion was confirmed as Mii’s were officially added to the Smash Bros. roster. What we didn’t expect however, was how much of Mii were were actually going to get.

Representing the many roles Mii’s have taken over the years, your custom avatars will be able to take the roles of either a brawler, swordfighter or gunner, (complete with the Samus outfit from Nintendoland), each with their own unique movesets and abilities.

I’ve never been one of those people who were heavily against Mii’s getting into the game. On the contrary, I’ve felt that not only was it inevitable considering how much they’ve been in every other Nintendo game as of late, but games like Find Mii and Nintendoland have increased their move pool posibilities tenfold. While not all of the games they’ve been in have been shown as inspiration for these three styles, the fact that they display so many abilities are a sign of how prominent they have been, and will likely continue to be.

All this was revealed in one of the most RIDICULOUS trailers I’ve ever seen, which you can watch below. Make sure to check back with more E3 news, including our coverage directly from the show floor.

Miis Invade New York!

by Derek Kraneveldt

Have you been living under a rock for the past year? No? Then you’re probably aware that Nintendo’s new home console, the Wii U is set to launch in just over 24 hours. You’re probably also aware that it looks absolutely incredible.

Nintendo is understandably, and so are their classic Mii’s, who after six years are finally about to get a new home! As a promotion for the upcoming launch, a lot of Mii characters took over New York City, and the results are pretty hilarious.

Check out the photos below, and let us know what you think! Will you be waiting in line for a Wii U? I know I’ll be picking one up the second my finances allow it!

If anyone is interested in buying a kidney, I’m not opposed to selling it. I’d love be able to pick up a Wii U this Sunday!

WiiU Press Conference Wrap Up: System Arriving Nov. 18th In Two Bundles And More!

by Jonathan

The Nintendo Wii U press conference just ended and there was a slew of huge announcements (and a few not so huge ones). The big facts are that the system will arrive on Sunday, November 18th (start planning your camp out now) and that it will come in two bundles:

A Basic Set will come in white for a suggested retail price of $299.99.

There’ll also be a Deluxe Set, which includes higher storage capacity (32GB), additional accessories and the new Nintendo Land™ video game, will be offered in black at a suggested retail price of $349.99. Europe is getting ZombieU as a packaged in title. I hope that’s the same for the US.

The other big announcements were the free inclusion of non-subscription online WiiU TVii and Wiiverse (or whatever their online component is called) and the expansion of Nintendoland. New Super Mario Bros. U will be a launch game and has some amazing features like an interconnected world map and mini-game challenges throughout the main game that will take the first New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii’s “divorce mode” to another level. Good luck having any Bros after this…

The Nintendoland additions of Pikmin and Metroid-themed games definitely have me excited along with the fact that you can play around in Nintendoland at launch. Nintendo TVii doesn’t seem to offer anything new on the programming side, with Netflix, Amazon TV and HuluPlus seemingly already a part of it, but the fact that you can personalize the experience for each person in the household and switch between accounts on the new Gamepad is awesome. It also has some DVR capabilities and social media sharing that’s available at the touch of a finger.

The Gamepad also keeps cheaters honest by allowing two friends in the same room to be able to play together without using a split-screen, each player with their own screen. The gameplay seemed to work awesome in Activision’s live display of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, which also allows a player to use the Gamepad to configure their gaming experience and weaponry on the fly.

Here is the full press release from Nintendo:

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Nintendo today revealed full details about how the new Wii U™ home console and its groundbreaking touch-screen Wii U GamePad controller can revolutionize not only video game play but also the way people find and watch TV and video content. The new HD system will offer entirely new ways for consumers to play games and enjoy their favorite programming when it launches in the Americas on Nov. 18. During the launch window, more than 50 games will be available for Wii U, which will be offered in two different colors and configurations. The Basic Set will be offered in white at a suggested retail price of $299.99, while the Deluxe Set, which includes higher storage capacity, additional accessories and the new Nintendo Land™ video game, will be offered in black at a suggested retail price of $349.99.

At a special Wii U preview event in New York, Nintendo also unveiled Nintendo TVii, an application that will let Wii U owners in the United States and Canada find, watch and engage with their favorite video entertainment in fun new ways. Using the GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii lets viewers seamlessly explore available video content from a variety of sources – including live TV, their TiVo DVR and video-on-demand services such as Netflix – all in one easy-to-use interface.

Additionally, Nintendo shared new information about dozens of games on the way for Wii U, including Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros.™ U, LEGO® City: Undercover, BAYONETTA 2, The Wonderful 101™, Capcom’s Monster Hunter™ 3 Ultimate and Activision’s Call of Duty®: Black Ops II. New Super Mario Bros. U offers unprecedented ways for friends and families to play together and explore Mario’s world using the GamePad. Nintendo Land, which will be available as a standalone game or included with the Wii U Deluxe Set, is a virtual theme park featuring a lineup of 12 playable attractions based on Nintendo’s greatest game worlds, including The Legend of Zelda™, Metroid™, Mario™, Animal Crossing™ and Donkey Kong™. As an added bonus for consumers, a Chase McCain LEGO minifigure will come as a special pre-order bonus for those who pre-order a copy of LEGO City: Undercover at participating retailers while supplies last. All of these games will instantly immerse players in a variety of new game-play experiences that are available only on Wii U.

“The wait is almost over — in just 66 days, Wii U will arrive with the strongest lineup of launch software in Nintendo history,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. “With the integrated second screen of the included GamePad and features that instantly enhance the way people play games, watch video and interact with each other, consumers will see how Wii U delivers a completely unique experience and a remarkable value right out of the box. The new system also creates extraordinary new possibilities for game developers, bound only by the limits of their imaginations.”

The Wii U Basic Set includes a white Wii U console with 8 GB of internal storage, one white GamePad controller, AC adapters for both the console and controller, a sensor bar and an HDMI® cable. In the Wii U Deluxe Set, components are black. This bundle includes all elements from the Basic Set, as well as the Nintendo Land game, increased console storage capacity of 32 GB, a console stand, GamePad charging cradle and a stand that allows users to place the GamePad vertically on a table. Consumers who purchase the Deluxe Set also will be enrolled in the Deluxe Digital Promotion, which lets Wii U owners receive points for each digital download and redeem those points for future downloadable content from the Nintendo eShop. The promotion is currently planned through 2014.

Both configurations offer a wealth of one-of-a-kind entertainment experiences, including an online gaming community called Miiverse™ and the new Nintendo TVii application. Using the touch screen on the GamePad controller, Nintendo TVii users will be able to browse programming from sources they subscribe to, including cable and satellite channels, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube and even their recorded TiVo shows – all from a single starting point.

The selection of third-party games on the way for Wii U will include some of the industry’s biggest names and most beloved franchises. Activision is set to bring several of its leading properties to Wii U during the launch window, including Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants™ and TRANSFORMERS PRIME™. Other third-party games coming soon to Wii U include Assassin’s Creed® III, ZombiU™, Rayman Legends® and Just Dance® 4 from Ubisoft, Madden NFL 13 and Mass Effect™ 3 from Electronic Arts, Scribblenauts™ Unlimited and Batman: Arkham City™ Armored Edition from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two from Disney Interactive.

“The integrated second screen of the GamePad creates new possibilities for how games can be played, and further reflects the innovation Nintendo has poured into the Wii U,” said Eric Hirshberg, Activision Publishing’s CEO. “We’re excited for our fans to experience the biggest franchises, like Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Skylanders Giants and Transformers Prime, in new ways made possible on Wii U.”

So what part of this has all of you excited? Who’s camping out with me?