The Future of Amiibo?

[Arc Quilava]

After the few announcements we've had on the subject of Amiibos, everyone seems to think they know exactly what they can do. But what if there's more? Amiibo is a unique opportunity for Nintendo, and there are many ways they could be used right now and in the future. The Amiibo(s) you buy this November might actually come with way more than you bargained for, updates to the current software might come at a later date, or perhaps the company still has more to share before they go on sale. There are always possibilities.

So where do you think Amiibo will go from here? What sorts of features would you like to see the figures obtain, which are the most likely? Will Amiibo be a lasting part of Nintendo's hardware, or will they remain a U gimmick? How much will they really impact Smash Bros. and other titles? There is a lot to think about - or I might be making a big deal out of short little gimmick that won't last past the year 2015. I think it's all up to us in the end, so please share!

 

[vaanrose]

One of the things I liked most about the Amiibos was that they'd be relatively future proof and work on all future titles that feature Amiibo support. A Smash Bros Mario would function exactly like a Mario Kart Mario or a Mario Party Mario. I wouldn't need to buy a dozen different Marios for every future Mario game.

Now we're finding out that while that's technically true, it also isn't.

Amiibos only have enough empty space for one single game save file. If you wish to use your Smash Mario Amiibo in, say, Mario Party, if the Mario Party Amiibo features require saving to the Amiibo figure, you'll have to overwrite your Smash save file. If you want to use the Amiibo features of both games concurrently, you'll have no choice but to buy another.

 

[Deadlybroth]

One of the things I liked most about the Amiibos was that they'd be relatively future proof and work on all future titles that feature Amiibo support. A Smash Bros Mario would function exactly like a Mario Kart Mario or a Mario Party Mario. I wouldn't need to buy a dozen different Marios for every future Mario game.

Now we're finding out that while that's technically true, it also isn't.

Amiibos only have enough empty space for one single game save file. If you wish to use your Smash Mario Amiibo in, say, Mario Party, if the Mario Party Amiibo features require saving to the Amiibo figure, you'll have to overwrite your Smash save file. If you want to use the Amiibo features of both games concurrently, you'll have no choice but to buy another.

What? Well... I guess most of my excitement for Amiibos just died...
Is there a way to save it to the system? Or is it gone forever?

 

[GideonSmash]

One of the things I liked most about the Amiibos was that they'd be relatively future proof and work on all future titles that feature Amiibo support. A Smash Bros Mario would function exactly like a Mario Kart Mario or a Mario Party Mario. I wouldn't need to buy a dozen different Marios for every future Mario game.

Now we're finding out that while that's technically true, it also isn't.

Amiibos only have enough empty space for one single game save file. If you wish to use your Smash Mario Amiibo in, say, Mario Party, if the Mario Party Amiibo features require saving to the Amiibo figure, you'll have to overwrite your Smash save file. If you want to use the Amiibo features of both games concurrently, you'll have no choice but to buy another.

If this is true I will be extremely disappointed and definately wonmt buy one

 

[YoshiandToad]

Well that's an obvious screw up. Let's hope Smash is the only one that uses it as a 'save file' then as I can see that being a major turn off for anyone who was genuinely invested in them.

If I buy a Yoshi amiibo(still pretty likely), I don't want to have to wipe off my fighter data in order to use it in Wooly World for example.

 

[Cloud Knight]

I know they were too good to be true, buy one amiibo use it in all games. chances are, you won't have to over right your save. to get the unlockables, you may only need to tap em in. but I guess if you want to fully use the ammibo, you will have to over write the save. unless the amino saves , are also stored on both console and amiibo.
But then again
#NintendoGottaEatToo
#NintendoGottaMakeMoney
So it doesn't surprise me too much If I'm right about the unlockable theory then yeah I'm willing to continue to collect them all
#AmiiboMon

 

[Khao]

One of the things I liked most about the Amiibos was that they'd be relatively future proof and work on all future titles that feature Amiibo support. A Smash Bros Mario would function exactly like a Mario Kart Mario or a Mario Party Mario. I wouldn't need to buy a dozen different Marios for every future Mario game.

Now we're finding out that while that's technically true, it also isn't.

Amiibos only have enough empty space for one single game save file. If you wish to use your Smash Mario Amiibo in, say, Mario Party, if the Mario Party Amiibo features require saving to the Amiibo figure, you'll have to overwrite your Smash save file. If you want to use the Amiibo features of both games concurrently, you'll have no choice but to buy another.

That's probably exactly why the amiibos will be used to unlock content in Mario Kart and Hyrule Warriors rather than interact with the game and exchange data, no save needed there.

 

[NinjaWaddleDee]

Okay guys, let me just clarify a couple things on this topic. According to Nintendo's official Japanese website, the amiibo "data overwriting" only happens when you use an amiibo on a game that both detects AND writes data to a figure. If you use an amiibo on a game such as Mario Kart 8 for instance, it will only detect your amiibo and unlock something in game for it. Currently there are ZERO games announced so far besides Smash Wii U that write save data on an amiibo, and I doubt another one will be released for a while.

The current line-up of amiibo games looks like they will only "detect" the figures and use them to unlock bonuses in the games. So it looks like you won't have to delete your smash data for a quite a while. These things can't be perfect and have unlimited data storages on them. Which one would you rather do, buy another Mario figure for 13 bucks, or erase a couple hours of save data on one? I would rather just erase the save data.

 

[vaanrose]

Okay guys, let me just clarify a couple things on this topic. According to Nintendo's official Japanese website, the amiibo "data overwriting" only happens when you use an amiibo on a game that both detects AND writes data to a figure. If you use an amiibo on a game such as Mario Kart 8 for instance, it will only detect your amiibo and unlock something in game for it. Currently there are ZERO games announced so far besides Smash Wii U that write save data on an amiibo, and I doubt another one will be released for a while.

The current line-up of amiibo games looks like they will only "detect" the figures and use them to unlock bonuses in the games. So it looks like you won't have to delete your smash data for a quite a while. These things can't be perfect and have unlimited data storages on them. Which one would you rather do, buy another Mario figure for 13 bucks, or erase a couple hours of save data on one? I would rather just erase the save data.

We don't know what the Amiibo functionality will be in Captain Toad, Wooly World, or Mario Party.

Mario Kart and Hyrule Warriors have one thing in common those other games do not. They were produced before Amiibos were a thing. Their Amiibo functionality is literally a last minute gimmick shoved it to sell the toys.

The future games in the line, however, will be able to build and include Amiibo functionality from the beginning. It's very likely future games will have even more in-depth use of the toys than Smash Bros will.

At least half the cast isn't likely to have a future game any time soon. That's something, I guess?

 

[LancerStaff]

I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo makes an Amiibo data management app in the future. Don't exactly need it right now, do we?

 

[TiersAreReal]

I really think they should have launched with a Nintendo version of Skylanders for the Amiibo figures. As it is now, Smash CPUs that you can only use to fight against, costumes for your Mii in MK8, and a weapon in Hyrule Warriors just don't do much for me. Maybe they'll blow me away with something in 2015, but I can't say I'm impressed with them as of the moment.

 

[Forever 9]

I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo makes an Amiibo data management app in the future. Don't exactly need it right now, do we?

Yes, there has to be a way up load/save specific character data/moves etc. onto the Wii U, lets say for whatever reason you no longer have your Amiibo, you'd be able to still have access to your previous data or whatever.

But nonetheless, it'll be great for Nintendo to keep on producing these figurines. There's definitely a fan base for Nintendo memorabilia regardless of what it is, and hopefully they start to produce other 'Amiibo' related figures for different games. I can totally see how far Nintendo can stretch their market with this. I mean, people might just buy them as a collectible or for the sake of having their favorite Nintendo game character as a figurine.

I'm probably going to purchase the Samus Amiibo even thought I don't use Samus in Smash 4.