Nintendo seems poised to take the world gaming market by storm. No, we are not talking about the company's upcoming console, the Nintendo NX. We are talking about Nintendo's hyper-popular debut smartphone app in Japan, the addictive Miitomo, which is set for a U.S. release later this week.
That's right. Nintendo fans in the West might have felt a little bit left out when the app debuted exclusively in Japan on March 17, with only a promised "March" release date for territories outside the Asian nation. As March drew to a close, numerous fans speculated that the release of the social network/game hybrid app was to be delayed in the West.
As it turns out, Nintendo was simply saving the release for the last day of the month, as the gaming giant has announced that the app will be coming to the U.S. and other territories on Thursday for Android and iOS device.
The game, which was so popular in Japan that it reached a million downloads within the first 72 hours in the app store, was a runaway hit, with the game gaining widespread acclaim among gamers.
Though Miitomo is a lighthearted entry into the competitive market of mobile gaming, the app has managed to make itself notable by utilizing several novel approaches to gaming. Among these, of course, involves the game's iconic avatars, fondly called Miis.
Miis are the players' avatars, and all interaction in the game is done through the Miis. Because the Miis themselves feature very intensive levels of customization, each player in the entire Miitomo universe is unique. Thus, interaction with other Miis during gameplay becomes an almost addictive experience.
Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of sales and marketing, said that the launch of Miitomo in the United States is a significant first step for the gaming giant as it attempts to make it mark in the mobile gaming world.
"With Miitomo, Nintendo takes its first step into the world of smart devices. Miitomo brings the special Nintendo charm and polish that people around the world love to an entirely new format and audience," he said.
Further encouraging the hype that is already surrounding the game's U.S. release, Nintendo also announced that interested players who wish to pre-register before March 31 will be receiving special in-game treats from the gaming giant. These treats will be in the form of Miitomo Platinum Points, which players can use to purchase downloadable content, in-app items and other special deals.
As far as one could see, considering the anticipation for the game's release, it would be safe to say that Nintendo definitely still has it.
