Nintendo to launch first smartphone game and new rewards system this March

Miitomo, Nintendo’s first foray into smartphone gaming is coming this March and along with it is ‘My Nintendo’ customer loyalty online service, the company said via a release.

My Nintendo will replace old Club Nintendo rewards program and will offer more services. The system once in place, it will have platinum points and gold points which can be earned by doing special tasks on its smartphone apps and Nintendo consoles. These points can be availed for discount coupons and digital content from eShop games.

Miitomo

The Miitomo app, uses Nintendo’s ‘Mii’ avatar characters, will be a social app where you interact with your friends. You could ask questions or converse that you would not do normally when you talk to people in real life.

The app has been localized into eight languages and for starts will be available in 16 countries. The pre-registration for Miitomo start from 17 February. A free to start at first, Nintendo has not specified what in-app purchases will be or what will they cost. The game will be available both on Android and iOS.

“Miitomo is a uniquely entertaining mobile experience that only Nintendo can deliver,” said Nintendo of America, executive VP sales and marketing, Scott Moffitt. “Featuring Mii characters, users will be able to interact with their friends in an entirely new way that transforms communication into a form of play.”

With the first app/game out this March, Nintendo plans to add four additional titles by March 2017 and 100 million members of My Nintendo at the earliest. There has been a lot of media attention around the game since this being Nintendo’s entry in smartphone. The company for long has ruled the handheld systems with its DS and 3DS consoles but mobile ecosystem will be something new for it. The time will tell have well they have adapted to it.

There no new news on its NX console, but the the company does plan to reveal more details about it later this year.