Its first foray into the world of smartphone software, Nintendo will be closing atypical social networking app "Miitomo" on May 9, 2018.
As a survey-based friendship affirmation tool, "Miitomo" was not exactly the standard sort of social networking app.
Branched off from the even odder handheld console life simulation "Tomodachi Life" and using the humanoid avatars made popular through the ten-year old "Wii Sports" compilation, "Miitomo" represented a first step into smartphone apps for Japanese console giant Nintendo.
Better known for franchises like "Super Mario," "The Legend of Zelda," and The Pokemon Company's output, unexpected innovations have long been considered a hallmark of the video games company, and "Miitomo" was certainly an unusual approach to social networking.
But since launching "Miitomo," Nintendo has moved on to side-scrolling obstacle course "Super Mario Run," strategic combat adventure "Fire Emblem Heroes," and most recently "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp," each a discrete experiment in brand adaptation and mobile monetization.
"Miitomo" allowed players to speed up the acquisition of avatar clothing through the use of premium currency and Nintendo will refund unspent coins when the app is shut down in May.
It'll be the second Mii-oriented closure in six months, after Wii U and 3DS social network "Miiverse" was shuttered in early November 2017.
Nintendo's loyalty app (and Club Nintendo replacement) My Nintendo launched outside of Japan at the same time as "Miitomo" and is not affected by the decision to end the latter's time in active service.
As a survey-based friendship affirmation tool, "Miitomo" was not exactly the standard sort of social networking app.
Branched off from the even odder handheld console life simulation "Tomodachi Life" and using the humanoid avatars made popular through the ten-year old "Wii Sports" compilation, "Miitomo" represented a first step into smartphone apps for Japanese console giant Nintendo.
Better known for franchises like "Super Mario," "The Legend of Zelda," and The Pokemon Company's output, unexpected innovations have long been considered a hallmark of the video games company, and "Miitomo" was certainly an unusual approach to social networking.
But since launching "Miitomo," Nintendo has moved on to side-scrolling obstacle course "Super Mario Run," strategic combat adventure "Fire Emblem Heroes," and most recently "Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp," each a discrete experiment in brand adaptation and mobile monetization.
"Miitomo" allowed players to speed up the acquisition of avatar clothing through the use of premium currency and Nintendo will refund unspent coins when the app is shut down in May.
It'll be the second Mii-oriented closure in six months, after Wii U and 3DS social network "Miiverse" was shuttered in early November 2017.
Nintendo's loyalty app (and Club Nintendo replacement) My Nintendo launched outside of Japan at the same time as "Miitomo" and is not affected by the decision to end the latter's time in active service.
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