The Kyoto-based company has promised to bring hits like Super Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong to smartphones, helping to boost its share price 33 per cent past year.
Nintendo is launching the "Miitomo" app in Japan on Thursday featuring its customizable characters called Miis. After you set up or import your Mii, you answer a set of "conversation starter" questions which are then gradually shared within your Nintendo Network friend list.
Nintendo is finally coming to the smartphone, but it's not exactly the kind of app you'd expect from a company known for its games and consoles.
The Japanese company has struggled as Sony Corp and Microsoft Corp outpaced it in console sales, while the three companies are also fighting off a trend toward cheap – even free – downloadable games for smartphones and other mobile devices.
Users can look at their friends' answers to these questions and commment on them, all the while earning coins to spend on clothes and other equipment.
The virtual reality and augmented reality hardware industry is expected to reach US$110 billion by 2025, Alibaba cited Goldman Sachs Group Inc research as saying.
"Miitomo" users can add real-world friends' Miis to the app by finding them through social networking apps.
He outlined four main areas of operation for Nintendo: Dedicated game consoles, smartphone apps, licensed merchandise and partnerships like a tie-up with Universal Studios to put Nintendo characters in theme parks.
"Miitomo" forgoes numerous features of Tomodachi Life" and mostly focuses on festooning avatars. NeoGAF users and Dr. Serkan Toto immediately noticed the Miitomo Drop minigame in the app, which is basically a pachinko machine that rewards players with new clothing for their Mii.
Kotaku reports that you don't need a Nintendo Account to sign in, but having one allows you to sync your profile across devices and complete missions to score points.
Source: Finally! Nintendo releases its first smartphone game
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