Nintendo's first official iOS game, Miitomo, made its long-awaited debut in the Japanese App Store yesterday.

As promised, the company's first foray into smartphone apps is a free-to-play social title in which players can create and customise their own avatars, known as Miis, which can communicate with other Miis on the social network.
Miitomo

Apart from the social angle, the main incentive to play is to earn points which can be exchanged for discounts on console and handheld games, console themes and other rewards through the company's new loyalty program, My Nintendo, which also launched in Japan alongside the game.

MacRumors sister site Touch Arcade has posted its first impressions on Miitomo, which is currently limited to the Japanese App Store but expected to roll out to most countries by the end of the month.

If you simply can't wait, Touch Arcade has also posted a helpful guide explaining how to download games from other regions.

Nintendo has promised more games for smartphones, some of which are expected to be pay-to-download. Registrations have also gone live for Nintendo's new multiplatform account system, Nintendo Account, which connects PC, Nintendo hardware and smartphone users, and enables the transfer of game data between mobile and console games.

Update: Nintendo has announced that Miitomo launches in the U.S. and "several other countries" on March 31.

Top Rated Comments

adamneer Avatar
101 months ago
How is anyone supposed to play this game while timidly holding both their hands over their mouth and giggling?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iLoveDeveloping Avatar
101 months ago
Well, that was a waste of time for Nintendo. You can earn points to get discounts on physical games and consoles?! God they really don't get it, do they... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Narcaz Avatar
101 months ago
Their approach is so bad. Even if they still want to continue their "outdated" hardware business, they could at least throw a bone to their loyal customers. Port a few selected SNES/N64 games to iOS/TV OS, sell your own special MFI Bluetooth controller and make a ridiculous high profit without killing your own consoles. They could even get away with the subscription model, but no. Miitomo? Seriously?!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0098386 Avatar
101 months ago
Mii not downloading this...

There now follows an extremely obvious post stating extremely obvious things:

They should release everything they own on Android and iOS except titles for their most recent, currently-selling devices/consoles. It would be retro-gaming heaven, a promotional super-win, and they'd make a big pile of money too. With the performance of mobile devices they could probably just make an emulation app/container that would work for almost everything that isn't one of their current devices.
They already do... on the 3DS. You can buy NES, SNES, Gameboy games, as well as the occasional classic Sega port. If you were lucky enough to get an Ambassador 3DS you also have about 10 GBA games. On top of that it can play any DS or 3DS cartridge so there's a load of content available for it.

Why won't Apple let me install iOS on the Galaxy S7?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordQ Avatar
101 months ago
"Oh, you wanted a port of any Pokémon version? Here, Miitomo" —Nintendo
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
0098386 Avatar
101 months ago
Their approach is so bad. Even if they still want to continue their "outdated" hardware business, they could at least throw a bone to their loyal customers. Port a few selected SNES/N64 games to iOS/TV OS, sell your own special MFI Bluetooth controller and make a ridiculous high profit without killing your own consoles. They could even get away with the subscription model, but no. Miitomo? Seriously?!
Wouldn't their "loyal customers" be loyal and already own their hardware and games?
[doublepost=1458217232][/doublepost]
Well, that was a waste of time for Nintendo. You can earn points to get discounts on physical games and consoles?! God they really don't get it, do they... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Let's try and stop this early. They're not doing what *you* want them to do, but what they're doing is working.

http://vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/Best_selling_game_franchises
http://time.com/3850264/nintendo-sales-wii-u-3ds-universal-studios/
http://metro.co.uk/2014/12/08/nintendo-profits-triple-as-amiibos-bring-in-1-billion-in-revenue-4978231/
http://arstechnica.co.uk/gaming/2015/07/nintendo-records-a-surprising-profit-with-strong-software-and-amiibo-sales/

(But yes they've had some poorly performing products, and some outstanding ones like the Wii, DS, 3DS in recent years. The Wii U on the other hand... ehhh)
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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