Nintendo Mobile 3rd Party-All

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On March 17th, 2015 Satoru Iwata (RIP) announced that Nintendo (in a partnership with mobile developer DeNA) would make their first foray into developing games for mobile (Android & iOS) devices, thus ending a long-running history of developing software and games exclusively for their own platforms. This thread is a place to discuss this brave new time for Nintendo fans and the evolution of these new titles as they are released.

*Are you playing any of these games? If so, please add your GWJ name and friend code(s) to this Google Sheet*

Games Currently Available:

IMAGE(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Miitomo_logo.png)
Miitomo (Official Website)

Miitomo is a software toy with the goal of learning more about your friends. Your Mii will ask you questions each day, the answers of which are shared with your friends. You can also customize your Mii with a variety of outfits purchasable from the in-game store.

What’s it most similar to? The Wii’s Everybody Votes Channel or Splatoon’s Splatfest votes are probably the closest analogue due to the shared Q&A nature. And Animal Crossing with the focus on buying new clothes and items for your room.
What’s the price? Free, but with IAP boosters for the in-game currency
Where to get it? iTunes Google Play

IMAGE(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/b9/SuperMarioRunLogo.png)
Super Mario Run (Official Website)

Super Mario Run is an “auto-runner” based on the Super Mario series. Mario automatically runs through a series of 32 designed levels (not randomized as in many “inifinite runners”) where you are tasked with collecting coins while trying to reach the end of the level without dying before the timer expires. In addition, you can challenge other players in the Toad Rally mode to see who has the best “style” in an attempt to win Toads to help rebuild your personal Mushroom Kingdom.

What’s it most similar to? Classic 2D Mario games, but Toad Rally in particular is very reminiscent of the Coin Rush mode from New Super Mario Bros. 2
What’s the price? Free, but with a $9.99 one-time purchase for the remaining 29 levels.
Where to get it? iTunes Google Play

IMAGE(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f6/Fire_Emblem_Heroes_logo.png)
Fire Emblem Heroes (Official Website)

Fire Emblem Heroes is a social tactical RPG using simplified elements of the Fire Emblem series which makes for a more "bite-sized" experience. For example, maps and parties are smaller but the weapon triangle remains. The game features many characters from previous games in the series which you summon/recruit using a "gashapon" / blind-buy system.

What’s it most similar to? Fire Emblem obviously!
What’s the price? Free, but with IAP boosters for the in-game currency
Where to get it? iTunes Google Play

Upcoming Games:
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp (Official Website)
Possible Nintendogs game?
(Miyamoto recently made comments to the effect of Nintendogs possibly working better as a mobile title)

FAQ:
Q: I’ve got a friend code for where do I post it? Where can I see a list of friend codes for %Game%?
A: Right here!

Q: Hey, where’s Pokemon GO?
A: Go is handled by The Pokemon Company/Niantic and is separate from the Nintendo/DeNA deal. We also have a dedicated thread for it, so you should take any Pokemon Go discussion there.

Q: Are these coming to the Nintendo Switch?
A: Nothing definitive has been said at this time, but it seems unlikely as Nintendo would probably prefer you buy the new Mario game on Switch than keep playing Super Mario Run.

Q: What’s this Nintendo Account thing linked to these games?
A: This is Nintendo's latest unified account system which is primarily used to link the game to your My Nintendo account as well as backing up your progress so you can transfer it between devices.

Q: What's this My Nintendo thing linked to these games?
A: This is the replacement for the old Club Nintendo rewards program. You can earn additional items in the games by linking your Nintendo Account to the game and completing specific in-game challenges and goals. These points can also be used to earn discounts on software for the Wii U and 3DS along with other minor perks. More information can be found on the My Nintendo website.

Man, all it took was a few consecutive Toad Rally race losses to really sour me on the mode. It doesn't help that I wasn't really in the mood for it, but I didn't want to lose my Christmas gift tickets to the cap. At least now I don't care about the cap at all. Put away all my buildings too. Ungrateful green bastards can freeze for all I care.

The pink/purple/black coin hunts are still fun at least.

Nintendo really should cull out the runs with a big surge of coins towards the end. Those especially suck to run against.

Q: Are these coming to the Nintendo Switch?
A: Nothing definitive has been said at this time, but it seems unlikely as Nintendo would probably prefer you buy the new Mario game on Switch than keep playing Super Mario Run.

I believe it's likely their mobile titles will be on Switch.

Vargen wrote:

Man, all it took was a few consecutive Toad Rally race losses to really sour me on the mode. It doesn't help that I wasn't really in the mood for it, but I didn't want to lose my Christmas gift tickets to the cap. At least now I don't care about the cap at all. Put away all my buildings too. Ungrateful green bastards can freeze for all I care.

Toad Rally runs can be weirdly unfun to lose. I say "weirdly" because Nintendo probably could have made a few minor tweaks to make that not be the case.

On the "select opponent" screen, I'm also invariably only offered opponents with more toads than me (which roughly correlates to skill level) -- often many more. Like, I've got around 1000 toads right now, and my opponent selection is typically players with 1200-5000 toads.

It effectively works out to a mode where the difficulty slider is locked at "difficult." It's an interesting design decision on Nintendo's part.

Phew. Finally unlocked the rest of Super Mario Run with a Christmas gift card. Can't wait to play through the rest of the tour levels!

Good thread.

I enjoyed Miitomo a lot and still pop in from time to time.

Did the 3 free levels of Mario Run on my wife's iPad but can't justify $10 there and on Android. Guess I'll wait

garion333 wrote:
Q: Are these coming to the Nintendo Switch?
A: Nothing definitive has been said at this time, but it seems unlikely as Nintendo would probably prefer you buy the new Mario game on Switch than keep playing Super Mario Run.

I believe it's likely their mobile titles will be on Switch.

That seems to go against the grain of what they've been saying lately to the press about Mario Run. And to be honest I don't think there's a lot of sense in putting watered-down experiences like Pokemon Go and Mario Run on the same platform where you're trying to sell the full-fat versions of those franchises.

Miyamoto @ Time wrote:

And then I think also there was a period, certainly for many years, our devices were the first sort of computing or interactive entertainment devices kids came into contact with. And that would be the first place where they experienced games. But now as more and more parents are giving hand-me-down phones to their kids, kids are often times coming into contact with games on smart devices at earlier and earlier ages. We wanted to be able to reach those kids on those devices so that they’ll be able to experience our games and those characters there, but then when they want to play a more in-depth experience they’ll gravitate towards our devices to do that.

And then also I think we’ve seen this with Pokémon Go, there are a lot of adults that, as they’ve gotten older, they’ve gravitated away from even purchasing gaming machines but they’re carrying a smartphone around with them. And all of a sudden, with Pokémon Go they’re reconnecting with Pokémon and playing Pokémon again. Our hope is with Super Mario Run that we’ll be able to reconnect with a lot of people that grew up playing Mario and that they’ll come back and want to play some more of our games on our platforms as well.

(Source)

Reggie @ CNET wrote:

Development for Super Mario Run is different than development for Nintendo Switch [the company's all-new Wii U successor, coming in March 2017]. With Switch we're going to have a variety of input devices, a variety of ways for you to interact with the game. Here, it's all the screen. So it's a different type of development challenge. But at the core, our developers are looking to create content that you really can't get anywhere else, you can't experience anywhere else...that's a core philosophy that's going to continue.

(Source)

Stele wrote:

I enjoyed Miitomo a lot and still pop in from time to time.

I started popping back into it over the holiday after I'd finish up my Mario Run time for the day. It's not a bad app, but I'm really hoping they'll add friend codes to it because the whole needing Facebook or Twitter to really make the most of it kinda sucks.

Did the 3 free levels of Mario Run on my wife's iPad but can't justify $10 there and on Android. Guess I'll wait

Yeah, in your case I don't think it's worth taking a gamble right now on whether or not paying for it on iOS will unlock on Android. Hopefully they'll clarify that once we're closer to the Android launch.

shoptroll wrote:

Yeah, in your case I don't think it's worth taking a gamble right now on whether or not paying for it on iOS will unlock on Android. Hopefully they'll clarify that once we're closer to the Android launch.

I kind of doubt it, unfortunately, given that it currently takes a semi-hack to even apply your $10 unlock to a second iOS device.

shoptroll wrote:
garion333 wrote:
Q: Are these coming to the Nintendo Switch?
A: Nothing definitive has been said at this time, but it seems unlikely as Nintendo would probably prefer you buy the new Mario game on Switch than keep playing Super Mario Run.

I believe it's likely their mobile titles will be on Switch.

That seems to go against the grain of what they've been saying lately to the press about Mario Run. And to be honest I don't think there's a lot of sense in putting watered-down experiences like Pokemon Go and Mario Run on the same platform where you're trying to sell the full-fat versions of those franchises.

Fwiw I don't see Pokemon Go as a part of this discussion. That's a whole different can of worms and it being on Switch is nigh impossible.

I'm not sure which titles they'll put on the Switch but I'm sure some will make it.

Reggie, especially, is going to emphasize the difference of Mario Run to anything planned for the Switch. That's his job. He wants you to get hyped for the Switch by playing Mario Run. A year or two from now though? Mario Run will likely be on the Switch, maybe with some tweaks or enhancements (two player mode??), but most certainly with controller input instead of just touch screen.

Or maybe they'll decide to keep it on mobile, I don't know, depending on how well their mobile titles push sales to the Switch. I just don't think they're against putting mobile titles on the Switch, even if their sales pitch currently says so. If Nintendo's mobile products perform like most other one-off mobile titles then Mario Run will be a flash in the pan. That means it won't be generating enough money and/or putting enough eyeballs onto the Switch to keep it solely on mobile.

Something I didn't consider is that the WSJ article was talking about the NX and it having the ability to play mobile titles when Pokemon Go was super hot. Of course the Switch will have the capability to play mobile titles, the question remains what ones and when, if ever, will Nintendo release them? That remains to be seen, but from what Reggie is saying they won't be putting on them at launch, that's for sure. Later on though...absolutely, depending on performance of everything. Maybe they'll kill mobile development a few years down the road when it doesn't have the intended effects. I think they're return on Pokemon Go and Pokemon 3DS sales told them they didn't need to put mobile titles on Switch, but it remains to be seen if Mario Run has the same sort of impact.

Fwiw, your wording in the OP is probably the most correct way to put it. Nintendo definitely wants you to buy a Switch and play (a proper) Mario on it.

garion333 wrote:

A year or two from now though? Mario Run will likely be on the Switch, maybe with some tweaks or enhancements (two player mode??), but most certainly with controller input instead of just touch screen.

And this is where you lose me: Why does it need to be on Switch? What does putting it on Switch add to the experience? We're practically guaranteed to have a 2D Mario game on the Switch, so what purpose does Mario Run serve on that platform? A low-cost entry point to Mario? In which case, couldn't they just put out a 3-4 level demo of the new 2D game? A hefty sale on the new game or the VC re-releases of nearly every 2D Mario game ever made?

shoptroll wrote:
garion333 wrote:

A year or two from now though? Mario Run will likely be on the Switch, maybe with some tweaks or enhancements (two player mode??), but most certainly with controller input instead of just touch screen.

And this is where you lose me: Why does it need to be on Switch? What does putting it on Switch add to the experience? We're practically guaranteed to have a 2D Mario game on the Switch, so what purpose does Mario Run serve on that platform? A low-cost entry point to Mario? In which case, couldn't they just put out a 3-4 level demo of the new 2D game? A hefty sale on the new game or the VC re-releases of nearly every 2D Mario game ever made?

I thought that was obvious: money.

And software release filler.

And being able to bring your save data and play Nintendo games on as many devices as possible.

It all comes down to what they think will fit best and give them the results they want monetarily. Granted, Mario Run might not be that title* as much as Animal Crossing or even Fire Emblem as those games have characters and experiences that can be brought from game to game and add to that series' value. Animal Crossing Happy Home Designer Mobile would be a great tool for Animal Crossing Switch.

Miitomo could fit very well into the Switch, assuming there's not some baked in version of it as the Mii creator. I wouldn't be surprised in the least to see that your Miitomo progress can be brought to Switch. All those outfits, and more importantly, your Mii and your friend list. Perhaps this is the compatibility we will be seeing and not so much direct ports.

I get why they're saying what they're saying. Buy and play our mobile titles on mobile as they probably won't be on Switch. Dammit, Nintendo, you know us weirdos will buy em on every platform you put them on.

I realize I'm a bit pie in the sky about all this, and maybe a little cynical over how game companies try to maximize sales, but I assume Nintendo will attempt to take any angle they can find, which is why I think if Mario Run significantly dries up on mobile we'll definitely see a Switch version as a cash-in. I don't mean that in a bad way.

*One of the interesting tidbits of info Miyamoto mentioned is that a one button Mario was discussed during Mario Wii's development. He also points out there that as titles have gone on they're a bit more complicated than the older titles and Mario Run is meant as to maybe ease them in to other Mario titles, which would potentially also be true if they ported it to the Switch.

Pre-registration for Android Super Mario Run is live

(Source)

garion333 wrote:

And software release filler.

Won't be as necessary now that they're not splitting their development effort across two platforms. Also, if they're actually planning on rolling out 2-3 titles for mobile that's not really that much extra filler considering the scope of the apps released so far.

And being able to bring your save data and play Nintendo games on as many devices as possible.

In which case they'd be better off putting the apps on PC and Sony/MS systems (which probably won't happen).

I wouldn't be surprised in the least to see that your Miitomo progress can be brought to Switch. All those outfits, and more importantly, your Mii and your friend list. Perhaps this is the compatibility we will be seeing and not so much direct ports.

I expect the Miitomo outfits will carry over to Switch. There's already infrastructure in place for attaching a Mii to your Nintendo Account so I think that's a given as well. Not sure which friend list you're talking about though. Nintendo Account already allows authentication via several social networks, that's not specifically a Miitomo thing.

He also points out there that as titles have gone on they're a bit more complicated than the older titles and Mario Run is meant as to maybe ease them in to other Mario titles, which would potentially also be true if they ported it to the Switch.

There are parts of Mario Run I can easily see them bringing into the next proper Mario game. Things like the Star power-up auto-grabbing nearby coins as you run by, the wider move-set (vaulting over 1 block tall obstacles and enemies, mantling, the mid-air spin to adjust your momentum/hang-time, etc.), removing the concept of "lives" entirely instead of feeding you a ludicrous number of 1-ups, etc.

I'm all for the removal of lives. We had some discussion about that a couple years ago. There's so much to collect in a level they've become quite pointless to me and I'd rather they focus on coin collecting.

Though, really, you still have lives in Super Mario Run, you just don't accumulate more of them.

garion333 wrote:

Though, really, you still have lives in Super Mario Run, you just don't accumulate more of them.

Right. I could see them doing something like Mario Run where you effectively get three attempts at a level before you're booted back to the map. They'd probably do something where each stage gets a special icon if you managed to have a "perfect run" where you get through it once without dying.

Could also see them keeping the bubble rewind thing too which seems more forgiving than kicking you back to the last checkpoint in the stage.

So, dropping $10 on Mario Run was worth it, although not for the reason I expected: my son (5) got really into it for a few days before hitting a difficulty ceiling, but it made him really excited to play Super Mario 3D World and all our other Mario games. And he's coming back to them with some confidence gained from Run.

For my part, I burned myself out trying to get all the black coins - gets really frustrating after awhile - and Toad Rally just made me upset. Losing Toads when you fail against someone - and not being able to truly tell their skill level before taking them on - felt overly punitive to me.

I guess it comes down to what I'm looking for when I sit down with a mobile game, something calm that gives a sense of progress gained. Which is why I uninstalled Run and I'm back to Pokemon X and Animal Crossing on my 2DS for commutes.

I've been playing a fair amount of Toad Runs. The game does still only offer me opponents with more Toads than I have, except the 20% or so of the time that one of you folks shows up as an opponent choice.

I unlocked Toadette. Her undocumented ability seems to be to steal a few of the opponents' cheering Toads during the final scoring tally, giving you a slight score boost for free.

Super Mario Run will be available for Android sometime in March.

Also, details for the Fire Emblem (Fire Emblem Heroes) game came out today. Game will be available for iOS (as confirmed by NoA which contradicts the below trailer) and Android on 2/2.

Well both games have a page on the Play Store where you can pre-register. I assume this alerts you when it finally releases.

I registered for the iOS alert. I got it about 8 hours after I already downloaded Super Mario Run.

There's some kind of "Choose Your Heroes" pre-release web event going on for the Fire Emblem game? I'm not really sure what the deal is, despite having given it a try today:

https://events.fire-emblem-heroes.com/

WolverineJon wrote:

There's some kind of "Choose Your Heroes" pre-release web event going on for the Fire Emblem game? I'm not really sure what the deal is, despite having given it a try today:

https://events.fire-emblem-heroes.com/

It's a vote to decide which characters will get alternate costumes first I believe. If you've got a My Nintendo account you can also get 200 platinum points just for participating once.

New Mario Run updates adds 'Easy' mode and decreases the number of Toads lost when you lose in Toad Rally

Also, the financial numbers issued yesterday says the app has been downloaded about 78 million times with around 4 million users paying for the full unlock.

We Played Fire Emblem Heroes for 1 Hour - Hands-On Preview

Hands-On Gameplay Impressions! Pricing, Summoning Details and More

Hmm, I think I'm a little more excited for Fire Emblem Heroes after checking out those previews.

Still a little wary of it being a FTP game. Feeling a little burned out on those. But I love some Fire Emblem, so I'll definitely be trying it ou. Still, would much rather have it be a more regular Fire Emblem, but on mobile!

Oh well. Looks cool. I'll still play it for a while.

I'll be getting it, although my hopes aren't super high, because of the freemium "features."

Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised!

I will be picking it up as well. If it is good that makes it two for two for Nintendo freemium games.

For anyone giving Fire Emblem Heroes a go today, be sure to link your My Nintendo account. There's a one-time reward in My Nintendo which will give you 10 summoning orbs for free.

What time do apps usually release?

Hands-On from AppSpy

Played Fire Emblem Heroes for about 30mins.

PVP has a limited stamina mechanic.

I summoned some heroes and have no idea how to change my team to switch heroes.

It feels a bit clunky as in mistakes on swiping and taking actions is going to happen a lot. It might be just me being clumsy though.

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