amiibo
amiibo is a brand of "Toys to Life" products[1] consisting of near field communication-based figurines that can have data read and written on them, used as add-ons to games with amiibo compatibility. Originally referred to internally under the working title "Nintendo Figure Platform" ("NFP") in development[1], the first line of amiibo, based upon Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, launched on the same day as Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the first amiibo-compatible game, and there are amiibo lines based upon various games and franchises[2], such as the Super Mario and Yoshi's Woolly World lines.
amiibo can be used with Wii U software by placing a figure on the 
near-field communicator built into the Wii U GamePad under the D-pad; the console must also be updated to at least version 5.3.0. A peripheral for the Nintendo 3DS has also been stated to be released in the fall of 2015 that will wirelessly connect to the 3DS to send and receive data[3]; the New Nintendo 3DS, however, features a built in near-field communicator on the bottom touch-screen. amiibo come with data already on them, but data can also be written on them by the hardware. Several figures will be compatible with multiple games; for example, the Super Smash Bros. line Mario figure can also be used in Mario Party 10.[4] Multiple games can read an amiibo's data, while only one game's data can be written to the figure at a time.[5]
In addition to figurines, a card format for amiibo has also been announced.[6] Additionally, an app has been released for the Wii U that allows players to unlock demos of certain NES and SNES titles by scanning an amiibo, titled amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits.[7]
| Game | Description | Read/Write or Read | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker | Upon scanning the Toad amiibo, "Pixel Toad" appears, hidden in each stage for the player to find. Every other amiibo increases the player's amount of 1-ups. |  This game only reads the data on the amiibo. |
| File:Box NA - Mario Kart 8.jpg | Mario Kart 8 | Compatible amiibo unlock 19 alternate costumes for Miis, giving them a racing suit based upon the character scanned. | This game only reads the data on the amiibo. |
| File:WiiU MarioParty10 pkg.jpg | Mario Party 10 | Scanning certain amiibo allows the player to access amiibo Party mode, in which the amiibo characters are used as game pieces to travel across the board; the player can also unlock special boards based upon the scanned amiibo to play on in amiibo Party. Touching other amiibo figures to the Wii U GamePad controller give the player Scratch Bonuses use to win Mario Party points to unlock in-game bonus content. |  This game both reads and writes data on certain amiibo, while it only reads data on other amiibo. |
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Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS | Once an amiibo is scanned in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, the player can play with them in a team battle or against them. They are referred as Figure Players (shortened as FP) in-game. They are actually being controlled by CPUs and players can train them, until they reach level 50. The player can customize their power, defense and speed values at their own will with the obtained custom parts. By playing as FPs, they may grow by level (which caps at 50) and change their strategy depending what their opponents usually do. During fights, they may obtain gifts such as Trophies and Gold, which are given to the player. | These games both read and write data on the amiibo. |
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Super Smash Bros. for Wii U | ||
| File:YoshisWoollyWorld NABoxart.jpg | Yoshi's Woolly World | Once an Yoshi amiibo is scanned in Yoshi's Woolly World, another Yoshi appears, which mimics the moves of the player. The player can also make a Yarn ball out of the Yoshi, and throw it like in multiplayer mode. Players can save one Yoshi design onto the Yarn Yoshi amiibo. Scanning any other amiibo unlock a Yoshi design based on the character.[8] | This game both reads and writes data on certain amiibo, while it only reads data on other amiibo. |
- One Piece: Super Grand Battle! X: Unlocks costumes based on amiibo scanned (compatible with Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi).
- Hyrule Warriors: Any non-The Legend of Zelda-based amiibo gives the player a random item, weapon, or Rupees. Up to five amiibo can be scanned per day.
- Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy +: Unlocks plane designs based on amiibo scanned (compatible with Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Bowser).
- Girls Mode 3: Unlocks outfits and accessories that are designed by the respective character (compatible with Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Toad, and Bowser).
- Skylanders: Super Chargers: Let's you use the playable characters Donkey Kong and Bowser. These amiibo are special in in that a switch on the bottom swaps them between amiibo mode and Skylander mode, for specific use.
amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits
- Main article: amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits
In a Nintendo Direct, a new game entitled amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits was announced as a free-to-play game in which tapping amiibo figures on the GamePad unlocks demos of classic games. These demos will be randomly chosen and assigned to the player's specific amiibo, and will allow the player 3 minutes to traverse through "gameplay highlights." By tapping an amiibo during the demo, the player can change the scene and also reset the timer.
Super Smash Bros.
Release dates
| Region | Wave | Release dates |
|---|---|---|
 North America
|
Wave 1 |
November 21, 2014 |
 Europe
|
Wave 1 |
November 28, 2014 |
 Japan
|
Wave 1 |
December 6, 2014 |
 Australia
|
Wave 1 |
November 29, 2014 |
Figure list
1 - Exclusively at Toys"R"Us at launch in North America.
2 - Exclusively at Best Buy at launch in North America.
3 - Exclusively at Target at launch in the United States; in the case of Rosalina, while originally planned to be exclusive in Canada, it was instead distributed in limited quantities to several retailers at launch after several stores were closed.
4 - Exclusively at GameStop (EBGames in Canada) at launch in North America.
Super Mario
Release dates
| Region | Wave | Release dates |
|---|---|---|
| North America
|
Wave 1 Wave 2 |
March 20, 2015 May 29, 2015 |
| Europe
|
Wave 1 | March 20, 2015 |
| Japan
|
Wave 1 | March 12, 2015 |
| Australia
|
Wave 1 Wave 2 |
March 21, 2015 May 30, 2015 |
Figure list
| Figures | Wave | Compatible Mario-related games | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | EU | JP | AU | MK8 | SSB3DS | SSBU | CT:TT | MP10 | YWW | |
 Bowser |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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 Luigi |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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 Mario |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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 Mario - Gold Edition12 |
1 | N/A | N/A | 2 |
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 Mario - Silver Edition[13]3 |
2 | N/A | N/A | 2 |
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 Peach |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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 Toad |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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- | - |
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 Yoshi |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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1 - Exclusively at Walmart at launch in United States.
2 - Exclusively at EB Games at launch in Australia.
3 - Exclusively at Target at launch in Australia.
The official Japanese Mario Party 10 website shows game pieces for Donkey Kong, Wario, and Rosalina in the style of Super Mario amiibo, appearing in amiibo Party mode.[14] It is unknown at this time if these will be released as actual amiibo, or if these are only variants that are accessible in the game.
Yoshi's Woolly World
This section is about an upcoming product. Editors must cite sources for all contributions to this section. Edits that do not follow this standard may be reverted without notice.
Unlike other amiibo, the Yoshi's Woolly World amiibo are made of yarn rather than plastic, with an NFC chip and scan point in the underside rather than having a base with the chip in it.
Release dates
| Region | Wave | Release dates |
|---|---|---|
| North America
|
Wave 1 | Fall 2015 |
| Europe
|
Wave 1 | June 26, 2015 |
| Japan
|
Wave 1 | July 16, 2015 |
| Australia
|
Wave 1 | June 25, 2015 |
Figure List
| Figures | Wave | Compatible Mario-related games | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | EU | JP | AU | MK8 | SSB3DS | SSBU | CT:TT | MP10 | YWW | |
 Green Yarn Yoshi |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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 Pink Yarn Yoshi |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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 Light Blue Yarn Yoshi |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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Controversy
The availability of certain amiibos have been subject to criticism. For example, the Target exclusive shipments of the Rosalina & Luma amiibo have been more than likely ceased permanently, limiting the availability of the amiibo in the U.S. and forcing consumers who wish to purchase the amiibo to rely on imports or to pay other people who have them.[15] Immediately following the preorder release of the Wave 4 amiibo, GameStop servers experienced a major overload and shut down temporarily for nearly an hour. The incident has been met with intense criticism and frustration by fans who wished to purchase the amiibo.[16] John Vignocchi, the executive producer of Disney Infinity, another game that uses NFC figures, has stated "[An intentional shortage] is irresponsible and rude to your hardcore fans.", referring to the amiibo shortages.[17] Satoru Iwata has noticed the issue and has apologized for it; he has promised that more will be manufactured to meet the demand in the future.[18] The amiibo cards, which are confirmed to be released in the near future, are intended to address the amiibo figurine shortages.[19]
Gallery
Concept art for the Nintendo 3DS peripheral.
Prerelease versions of Super Smash Bros. amiibo.
- Mario kart 8 amiibo.jpg
The Mario Kart 8-compatible amiibo and Mii suits.
Trivia
- The word "new" in the new Nintendo 3DS logo is stylized similarly to the amiibo logo.
External links
- Official North American webpage
- Official European webpage
- Official Australian webpage
- Official Japanese webpage
References
- ^ a b Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2015 - Q & A. Nintendo (February 17, 2015). Retrieved February 20, 2015.
- ^ Seedhouse, Alex (November 21, 2014). Nintendo teases plans for future amiibo series beyond Super Smash Bros. Nintendo Insider. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
- ^ Nintendo (Nintendo of America). (April 1, 2015.) Nintendo Direct 4.1.2015. YouTube. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- ^ amiibo compatibility chart on the official amiibo webpage on Nintendo of America's website.
- ^ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/11/nintendo_outlines_confusing_amiibo_save_data_limitations
- ^ Nintendo Direct: 4.1.15. Nintendo of America (April 1, 2015). Retrieved May 26, 2015.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMedqo8mLaQ
- ^ NintendoWiiUUK (May 26, 2015). Yoshi's Woolly World - Cute amiibo patterns! (Wii U). YouTube. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
- ^ a b c Line-up on the official Nintendo of America amiibo webpage.
- ^ a b https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/598110488195629056
- ^ a b Smash Direct 14.06
- ^ amiibo list on the Japanese amiibo webpage
- ^ amiibo by Nintendo - Mario - Silver Edition - Super Mario. Nintendo. Retrieved on May 14, 2015.
- ^ http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wiiu/abaj/party/amiibo.html
- ^ Groux, Christopher. "Nintendo Wave 1 And 2 Target Amiibo Discontinued: Link, Kirby Are Rare? Rosalina, Luma Cancel Confirmed?". Design & Trend. (Feb 28, 2015). Web. Retrieved June 1, 2015
- ^ The Newest Amiibos Are Sold Out, And Fans Are Upset Klepek, Patrick. Kotaku. (April 03, 2015). Web. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
- ^ Disney Infinity Producer Brands amiibo Stock Shortages "Irresponsible And Rude" McFerran, Damien. Nintendo Life. (June 9, 2015). Web. Retrieved June 9, 2015
- ^ Iwata says he's not retiring from hosting Nintendo Direct events, apologizes for amiibo shortages. GoNintendo. (May 31, 2015). Web. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
- ^ Amiibo in the Form of Cards Coming This Year Pitcher, Jenna. IGN. (Feb 17, 2015) Web. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
