Miitomo

File:Miitomo_gameplay_screenshot.png

Miitomo served as a conversational app where users could communicate with friends by answering questions on various topics, such as favorite foods or current interests. Similar to Tomodachi Life, which some of the Miitomo development team also worked on, players used a Mii avatar which they could create from scratch or obtain from their My Nintendo account or a QR code, and gave it a computer generated voice and personality. Users could add friends to Miitomo by communicating directly with their device or by linking the app to their Facebook and Twitter accounts. By tapping their Mii, users could answer various questions which were shared with their friends, while tapping their thought bubble allowed them to hear answers from other friends. Users could visit, or be visited by, other friends and were able to answer certain questions that would only be shared with a specific friend. Players were also able to take pictures of their Mii, known as "MiiFotos", which could be shared with friends as well as posted online.{{cite web|last1=Vogel|first1=Mitch|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/10/this_is_how_nintendos_first_smartphone_game_miitomo_will_work|title=This Is How Nintendo's First Smartphone Game Miitomo Will Work|work=Nintendo Life|date=29 October 2015|accessdate=4 February 2016|archive-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203170201/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/10/this_is_how_nintendos_first_smartphone_game_miitomo_will_work|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Whitehead|first1=Thomas|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/02/miitomo_to_include_photo_mode_and_pre-registration_will_bring_platinum_my_nintendo_point|title=Miitomo to Include Photo Mode and Pre-Registration Will Bring 'Platinum' My Nintendo Point|work=Nintendo Life|date=3 February 2016|accessdate=4 February 2016|archive-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203184940/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/02/miitomo_to_include_photo_mode_and_pre-registration_will_bring_platinum_my_nintendo_point|url-status=live}}

Performing various actions in the app would earn "Miitomo Coins", which could also be obtained through in-app purchases. These coins could be spent on various clothing items that can be used to customize the user's Mii. Additional clothing items could be obtained through the "Miitomo Drop" minigame, which could be played by either spending "Miitomo Coins" or using Game Tickets earned through play. The app was tied into My Nintendo's rewards scheme, with users able to earn "Miitomo Platinum Points" by clearing missions such as changing their outfits daily or linking their accounts. Miitomo Platinum Points could be exchanged for special item rewards or additional Game Tickets, or could be combined with standard Platinum Points for other My Nintendo rewards.{{cite web|last1=Whitehead|first1=Thomas|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/11/nintendo_may_monetise_miitomo_through_outfits_and_is_still_aiming_for_new_styles_of_smart_device_games|title=Nintendo May Monetise Miitomo Through Outfits, and is Still Aiming for New Styles of Smart Device Games|work=Nintendo Life|date=4 November 2015|accessdate=4 February 2016|archive-date=3 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203165501/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/11/nintendo_may_monetise_miitomo_through_outfits_and_is_still_aiming_for_new_styles_of_smart_device_games|url-status=live}}

Miitomo was initially announced on October 25, 2015.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2015/10/29/nintendo-unveils-first-smartphone-game-live-blog/|title=Nintendo Unveils First Smartphone Game–Recap|author=WSJ Staff|work=WSJ|date=28 October 2015|accessdate=4 February 2016|archive-date=31 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131055719/http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2015/10/29/nintendo-unveils-first-smartphone-game-live-blog/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/28/9633272/nintendo-smartphone-game-miitomo|title=Nintendo's first smartphone release is a free-to-play game called Miitomo|author=Andrew Webster|date=29 October 2015|publisher=Vox Media|work=The Verge|accessdate=4 February 2016|archive-date=20 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120032807/http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/28/9633272/nintendo-smartphone-game-miitomo|url-status=live}} Nintendo partnered with DeNA to leverage their understanding of mobile platforms as part of Nintendo's push for development on mobile devices, who were responsible for the service's infrastructure and My Nintendo integration.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/nintendo-and-dena-team-up-to-bring-nintendo-to-smart-devices|author=Phill Cameron|date=17 March 2015|access-date=8 February 2016|work=Gamasutra|title=Nintendo and DeNA team up to bring Nintendo to smart devices}} The app was first released in Nintendo's home market of Japan on March 17, 2016, and was later released in Western territories on March 31, 2016.{{cite web|last1=Makuch|first1=Eddie|title=Nintendo's Miitomo Gets Release Date for Japan|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendos-miitomo-gets-release-date-for-japan/1100-6435564/|website=GameSpot|accessdate=March 17, 2016|archive-date=March 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315041748/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendos-miitomo-gets-release-date-for-japan/1100-6435564/|url-status=live}} The development team was headed up by Tomodachi Life{{'}}s core developers, under the supervision of Super Metroid director Yoshio Sakamoto. Additionally, Nintendo announced plans to update the app further beyond the launch period.{{cite web |last=Otero |first=Jose |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/31/5-things-we-learned-about-miitomo-and-nintendos-digital-future |title=5 Things We Learned About Miitomo and Nintendo's Digital Future |publisher=IGN |date=31 March 2016 |accessdate=5 April 2016 |archive-date=31 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331220212/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/31/5-things-we-learned-about-miitomo-and-nintendos-digital-future |url-status=live }}

Albeit not required, users who linked their Nintendo Account to Miitomo enjoyed benefits such as cloud-saving. The app was released alongside the My Nintendo service respectively in all supported countries. Miitomo first launched in Japan on March 17, 2016, and by the end of the month, the app became officially available in all sixteen countries that were eligible for "My Nintendo's pre-registration period.{{efn|Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States}}{{cite web |last=Whitehead |first=Thomas |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/03/my_nintendo_and_miitomo_to_launch_in_the_west_on_31st_march |title=My Nintendo and Miitomo to Launch in the West on 31st March |publisher=Nintendo Life |date=29 March 2016 |accessdate=7 April 2016 |archive-date=8 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408204532/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/03/my_nintendo_and_miitomo_to_launch_in_the_west_on_31st_march |url-status=live }} The app later became available in Mexico, Switzerland, and South Africa on June 30, 2016, and in Brazil on July 28, 2016.{{cite web|author=Matheus de Lucca|title=Miitomo já está disponível no Brasil para Android e iOS|url=http://br.ign.com/miitomo/33373/news/miitomo-ja-esta-disponivel-no-brasil-para-android-e-ios|website=br.ign.com|date=28 July 2016|language=Portuguese|accessdate=28 July 2016|archive-date=29 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729165837/http://br.ign.com/miitomo/33373/news/miitomo-ja-esta-disponivel-no-brasil-para-android-e-ios|url-status=live}} An update in November 2016 added five new features, enabling users to send messages to friends, customize their rooms, share their outfits with the world in "Style Central", publicly answer questions in "Answer Central", and allow for the creation of "Sidekick" Mii characters, which have their own rooms.{{cite web|url=https://miitomo.com/en/ver2/|title=Five New Features of the Big Update!|work=Miitomo|accessdate=10 November 2016|archive-date=10 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110173043/https://miitomo.com/en/ver2/|url-status=dead}} Along with the major update, Miitomo launched in forty additional countries{{efn|Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Botswana, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Madagascar, Malta, Mauritius, Republic of Moldova, Namibia, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Rwanda, Seychelles, Singapore, Suriname, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In Aruba, Rwanda, and Zambia, the app was available only via Google Play since these countries had no official store on iOS at the time.}} on the same day without any official announcements.{{cite web |url=https://miitomo.com/en/countries/ |title=Miitomo: Availability by country |publisher=Nintendo |accessdate=9 December 2016 |archive-date=17 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217130235/https://miitomo.com/en/countries/ |url-status=dead }}

In January 2018, Nintendo announced that the game would be discontinued, with its servers being shut down on May 9, 2018.{{cite web|title=Nintendo is shutting down Miitomo|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/24/16930822/nintendo-miitomo-closing-down-date|website=The Verge|date=24 January 2018|accessdate=25 January 2018|archive-date=25 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125030944/https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/24/16930822/nintendo-miitomo-closing-down-date|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Glagowski|first1=Peter|title=Pour one out for Miitomo, which shuts its doors after today|url=https://www.destructoid.com/pour-one-out-for-miitomo-which-shuts-its-doors-after-today-502093.phtml|website=Destructoid|date=8 May 2018|accessdate=9 May 2018}} Nintendo also stated that a browser-based Mii Maker tool would be created in late May following the discontinuation of Miitomo, the likes of which could be used to transfer and save Mii characters created within the app.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/platform/amp/2018/5/2/17311122/online-mii-maker-miitomo-shutdown|title=Nintendo plans online Mii Maker, following death of Miitomo|website=Polygon.com|date=2 May 2018|accessdate=20 May 2018|archive-date=17 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517223210/https://www.polygon.com/platform/amp/2018/5/2/17311122/online-mii-maker-miitomo-shutdown|url-status=live}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 72/100{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/miitomo/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad|title=MIITOMO iOS|website=Metacritic|accessdate=August 16, 2020|archive-date=June 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615123717/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/miitomo|url-status=live}}

| PG = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/069642/miitomo-to-miitomo-to-youtomo/|title=Miitomo - To Miitomo to Youtomo|author=Sophia Aubrey Drake|date=April 6, 2016|website=Pocket Gamer|accessdate=August 16, 2020|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108145204/https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/069642/miitomo-to-miitomo-to-youtomo/|url-status=live}}

| USG = 4/5{{Cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/miitomo-ios-review-that-tiny-tomodachi-life|title=Miitomo iOS Review: That Tiny Tomodachi Life|author=Nadia Oxford|date=April 1, 2016|website=USgamer|accessdate=August 16, 2020|archive-date=April 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409075003/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/miitomo-ios-review-that-tiny-tomodachi-life|url-status=dead}}

}}

In Japan, Miitomo had one million users within three days of its launch, overtaking the instant messenger Line as the most downloaded free app on the Japanese App Store.{{cite web|last1=Strom|first1=Steven|title=Miitomo Reaches 1 Million Users in Japan|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/20/miitomo-reaches-1-million-users-in-japan|website=IGN|date=20 March 2016|accessdate=March 21, 2016|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108143811/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/03/20/miitomo-reaches-1-million-users-in-japan|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Peckham|first1=Matt|title=Nintendo's Miitomo Is Already Monstrously Popular|date=21 March 2016|url=https://time.com/4265747/nintendo-miitomo-ios/|publisher=Time|access-date=March 21, 2016|archive-date=21 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321152710/http://time.com/4265747/nintendo-miitomo-ios/|url-status=live}} In the week after its initial launch, Nintendo's shares grew by eight percent following the success of the app.{{cite web|last1=Kharpal|first1=Arjun|title=Nintendo shares spike 8% on first smartphone app success|date=22 March 2016|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/22/nintendo-shares-spike-on-first-smartphone-app-success-miitomo.html|publisher=CNBC|accessdate=23 March 2016|archive-date=25 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325070521/http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/22/nintendo-shares-spike-on-first-smartphone-app-success-miitomo.html|url-status=live}} In less than 24 hours after its worldwide launch on March 31, the app had three million users globally, and also rose to the top of the U.S. App Store, overtaking Snapchat.{{cite web|last1=Grubb|first1=Jeff|title=Miitomo hits No. 1 on U.S. iOS App Store in less than 24 hours|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/03/31/miitomo-hits-no-1-on-u-s-ios-app-store-in-less-than-24-hours/|website=VentureBeat|date=31 March 2016|accessdate=April 1, 2016|archive-date=6 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406093630/http://venturebeat.com/2016/03/31/miitomo-hits-no-1-on-u-s-ios-app-store-in-less-than-24-hours/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Skrebels|first1=Joe|title=Miitomo Hits 3 Million Worldwide Users|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/01/miitomo-hits-3-million-worldwide-users|website=IGN|date=April 2016|accessdate=2 April 2016|archive-date=1 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401145610/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/04/01/miitomo-hits-3-million-worldwide-users|url-status=live}} Miitomo later had 1.6 million downloads within its first four days in the United States.{{cite web|last1=Grubb|first1=Jeff|title=Nintendo's Miitomo racks up 1.6M downloads in its first 4 days in the U.S|url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/04/08/nintendos-miitomo-racks-up-1-6m-downloads-in-its-first-4-days-in-the-u-s/|website=Venture Beat|date=8 April 2016|accessdate=8 April 2016|archive-date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413070629/http://venturebeat.com/2016/04/08/nintendos-miitomo-racks-up-1-6m-downloads-in-its-first-4-days-in-the-u-s/|url-status=live}} By April 2016, Miitomo had a user base of over 10 million users with 300 million conversations between friends and 20 million screenshots taken within the app itself.{{cite web|author=Nintendo Japan|title=Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ended March 2016|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/160428/05.html|website=Nintendo.co.jp|accessdate=28 April 2016|archive-date=13 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513140724/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/160428/05.html|url-status=live}}

Later observations conducted by SurveyMonkey, however, found that only a quarter of the people who had downloaded it regularly opened the app by May 2016, using it half as much as Candy Crush Saga and Clash Royale.{{cite web|last1=Seppala|first1=Timothy|title='Miitomo' players are apparently abandoning Nintendo's app|url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/05/26/nintendo-miitomo-ghost-town/|website=Engadget|date=26 May 2016 |accessdate=27 May 2016|archive-date=26 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526150905/http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/26/nintendo-miitomo-ghost-town/|url-status=live}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://miitomo.com/}}

{{Nintendo mobile games}}

{{Tomodachi Series}}

{{Portal bar|Video games|2010s|Telephones}}

Category:2016 software

Category:Products and services discontinued in 2018

Category:Android (operating system) software

Category:Communication software

Category:Internet properties established in 2016

Category:Cross-platform software

Category:Discontinued iOS software

Category:IOS software