Nintendo has an Amiibo problem that's only going to get worse. What can they do to fix it? Brian talks about the strange marketing and even stranger functionality of Nintendo's new NFC figurines, and what it could mean for the long-term viability of the platform.
The rejection is non-final (and even when such rejections are labeled as “final”, the process is far from over, given that there can be, at minimum, an appeal to the Federal Circuit).
Good, as they should! A game mechanic like that shouldn't be locked behind a patent, and Nintendo didn't invent it either.
Nintendo wants to keep wasting money on bullshit lawsuits, real smart in this economy. They should put that money aside for other game projects. On the other hand, I don't care if they waste it all either, and they are screwed in the future maybe that will teach them a lesson.
A new amiibo has its release date from Nintendo, and pre-orders have started revealing the price and how it's the most expensive figure ever.
Nintendo completed its share repurchase and set its secondary offering price at 8,347 yen ahead of March 16 delivery.
Calling it a problem?
The only issue I see with them is their inability to permanently store data for more than one game at a time.
But the upside is that they can be used to unlock new content for free in multiple titles, and their functionality will continue to be incorporated in future titles as well.
I don't see that as a problem.
I see that as free extra content in many games just from buying a figurine, rather than extra content in only one single game.
I get that some people don't like Amiibos, but to call them a problem, when they're anything but essential, demonstrates a mindset that is even more problematic in and of itself.
I agree with this article. But to take it a step further, Amiibos are just another example of Nintendo's philosophy of adding gimmicks to their products, instead of focusing on solid gaming features. These expensive little toys really don't add much to the gaming experience, they're just a way for Nintendo to try to make money by offering a few weak little DLC items for each figure. At $13 per figure, the value just isn't there at all.
I agree 100% with this. In short there is really no purpose for these things. They may 'work' with multiple games, but the way they operate is pretty basic compared to Skylanders and Infinity. With those games you play as the respective character you purchase. You level them up through your play through(s). Here you have companions that level themselves (SSMB only). The other compatibility is pretty basic, and frankly is a let down.
If the Amiibo would unlock those characters in MK8 the value and sell through would be off the charts. Unlocking an outfit for your Mii...is about the least amount of effort being applied.
Also something not mentioned is the hideous colored plastic that has been added. I knew when they showed the prototype figures and almost every one of them were in an airborne action pose that there would be issues. Unfortunately the remedy ruins the figures. Fox looks terrible with purple plastic, link is hideous with a yellow plastic piece anchoring the character. I also noted in every ad fir Amiibo they were using prototype images, and NOT final builds. This destroys collector appeal.
IMO, it will be interesting to see what happens with these. The potential is off the charts, but this first round is severely lacking. I know many loyalists will buy them all. I am still on the fence. If Nintendo had an Amiibo game where you would PLAY AS THE CHARACTER it would be a home run. As it stands this is a base hit at best.
Guys, stop being over skeptical and negative.
That's Foxtrots job.
Too early to tell. You act like the Smash Bros. functionality is the only major Amiibo functionality that will ever come out. Give them time to get their marketing out for each and every game. Each game has a certain amount of compatible Amiibo that unlock extra content. Hell, I'll just buy the Amiibo I want and see how many games I have that work with it. I get your point about not being clear about it, but right now there are only a few Amiibo, and currently their flagship Amiibo title is Super Smash Bros. Other games will have Amiibo advertisements when Nintendo deems it necessary. Nintendo has been around for well over 100 years, they know how to market their products. Will Amiibo be a success, yeah it probably will. But it will not kill Disney Infinity or Skylanders because it's not designed for that. If Nintendo saw value in making a Disney Infinity/Skylanders killer, then they would make one and then use the Amiibo for that. The Amiibos aren't designed to compete with Infinity and Skylanders, they are meant as new ways to receive content that is unattainable anywhere else. And any customers who don't do their research into the product have only themselves to blame if they end up getting the wrong thing. Even if they haven't done their research, as the guy in your example clearly didn't, there are people they can talk to at game stores that can help them.
Also, on your "Wii U name confusion" example. I think that's a cop out. Yeah, the marketing was bad and the name was pretty bad too. But, more than anything else, I think Nintendo was a victim of their own success. There was a Wii in pretty much every first-world household in the world last generation, keeping the Wii name tied to it was a smart business decision. In your example, that's just an uninformed who did not take the time to do research into things he does not understand.