Topic: Amiibo Predictions

This.

I'm glad it's optional for that reason. Again, I think you should view these amiibo as collectable toys, not as DLC.

I don't get why most people use Skylanders and Disney Infinity as a comparison to Amiibo while the Pokemon Rumble NFC is more of a closer match. Both are use with the Gamepad's NFC, they can be used as cpu helpers, both are not necessary in playing or enjoying the game, and they don't need to be together at all times to play. It's like comparing The Wonderful 101 to Pikmin just because you command a large group of characters at the same time instead of bayonetta with the whole gameplay.

Not sure this is really worth arguing over... But when you claim something is "exactly the same" when something definitely isn't... well.

Skylanders / Infinity - you buy the toy in order to unlock a character YOU play as, and yes level up and customize. For Example, "Oooh I want that Eagle-headed guy, I should BUY him so I can play as him and use all his cool eagle-y weapons." This creates a great demand to continuosly buy toys, thus enriching the game experience. When you buy the core Infinity game there is an awareness that "I'm not seeing everything there is. I need to buy more."

Amiibo - (as far as we know for Smash) - the toy comes with an AI version of the character that you can fight against, thus sort of training it? The key here is that you ALREADY have the character in the game, the toy simply comes with another version of the character that is AI controlled. Nothing new is unlocked. So when you say 'personal fighter'. it's actually a character you don't control at all - it's just a like weird tomogatchi NPC. It's a toy that holds AI data. Nintendo has straight up said we will not use the Amiibo's to unlock things. Where's the demand beyond "I like toys." How many of these will sell before people go "meh?" We shall see.

The difference between buying a Skylanders / Inifinity toy and then UNLOCKING a new character that you CONTROL and level up vs. buying an Amiibo toy that allows you to level up an AI character that AlREADY exists in the game is not 'exactly the same', and is actually quite fundamentally different. I understand the tech is the same, but they do not have the same functions.

I'm not trying to promote Skylanders or Infinity, as I actually think it's a fairly crappy way to hook kids into spending a lot of money when all the data is probably already in the game. BUT it's a great money-maker, which has proven to work REALLY well, which is obviously why Nintendo is jumping on board. But by making the toys optional with pretty minimal functionality (don't fighting games already come with AI bots? Why do I want a personal one?), it makes the toys rather pointless in my eyes.

Also, 12.99 for a little statue that doesn't move seems pretty high to me. If that NFC chip weren't inside, I imagine they would be like 5.99.

I think their usage in the new Smash Bros. isn't that bad of an idea. It seems to be completely optional and not giving you any real disadvantage if you don't use it.
If you play it with an amiibo it could bring a wholly new dimension and exclusive modes with it though. Maybe even increase your immersion.
I'm still not too interested in the Smash Bros. series though, so for now i don't see any reason to get any of these figurines.

Nevah! Bulldoze those dang kids to get a Pikachu! You know you want to

Not a prediction as much as a wish list: I'd like a new Rayman title that uses it in a similar fashion to the original Rayman Legends tech demo trailer and for Mega Man Universe to be released with the more ambitious goal of having the addition of Capcom themed toys you can buy for extra playable characters.

The toys are basically the same. Skylanders and DI are just statues just like the Amiibo. 2nd their usage in game is different anx a big reason for that is that Amiibo are opinional for for all their games currently. As Amiibos are available longer we will see more and more uses for them. 1 thing that bugs me is my DI figure collection is pointless if I am not playing DI. My Amiibo collection is going to work with Smash, Mario Kart, Captain Toad, Mario Party, and Yarn Yoshi all that is jist what is currently planned. We will most likely see Amiibo functionality in a lot more games. Amiibo have more value than Skylanders or DI because they can do more, Nintendo just doesn't force them to play a game currently. Nintendo will probably come out with a game (hopefully better than Pokemon Rumble) that will require the figures.

It isn't optional though if you want all the content to work that is on the disk.

Playing against an AI that will level up and evolve it's fighting style based on previous battle experience is extremely neat. So I wouldn't call it useless. Also do note that playing against your own AI is JUST ONE OF THE features of the amiibo. There will be plenty more games coming that will utilize the amiibo. Either way I'll be buying all the figures (except the Fit Trainer). The quality of the figures alone are worth the price and the extra NFC feature is just a bonus in my eyes.

@DefHalan I don't have the link to any of the sources unfortunately. But I'm pretty sure I heard/read it from somewhere. Someone on here maybe able to confirm that.

@unrandomsam I concur. Fortunately all the features will be optional and will not hinder the core game play experience. I think the only On-Disc DLC that Nintendo has done is the Mario Golf game on the 3DS. I still remember people raging quite hard on that one.

And you are judging this product before we even know all the information.

As were the others on here predicting this would be a massive money maker for Nintendo. I am in the camp that thinks these wont catch on at all, unless there is a compelling reason to purchase them that hooks children and makes them want to buy multiple figurines. As of now there are none, unless you think that Nintendo will release a Mario game in the near future that requires someone to purchase a Luigi figurine to unlock him in-game.

Well I titled the thread "Amiibo predictions" so, yeah judging the product before we know all the info. is the point.

P-R-E-D-I-C-T-I-O-N-S

My prediction, per most things, is somewhere in the middle. I think it will do quite well but it's not the definitive answer for Wii U's success Nintendo's been searching for. And considering Wii U got back in the race solely because of a single game, I question if it's affect on Wii U will matter a ton.

But having stuff like Mario and Pokemon involved with it means there's a 99% chance it will succeed as a product. And the 1% is the very small possibility that they let the marketing team behind the Wii U's launch have an opinion ever again (which they shouldn't)

I personally think that it will definitely help to boost Nintendo's sales of certain games that the amiibo are compatible with. So far, we've only heard about their use in SM4SH which is a fighter that gets progressively better as you level it up and fight with it, which is pretty neat imo and something I will have a lot of fun with.

What people seem to forget though is the fact that other games will support the feature and not just Smash Brothers. Games like Mario Kart where they could act as DLC that unlock new car parts or possibly more characters. (Triforce glider anyone?).

What I'm trying to say is that they're definitely something to look forward to.

They will sell fine on their own, just from a figurine perspective. They look well-crafted. They won't sell well due to implementation into hardware, though, because none of them look worthwhile. Heck, most of the figures will probably just be for smash bros. Just look at stuff like Wii Fit Trainer.

It won't sell hardware, though. Most of the people that would want them probably already own a Wii U. And the fact that they are completely optional in software means nobody will buy it to unlock significant game content. If Nintendo makes a game like Skylanders, it could be different. But as of right now, there is no way Wii U numbers will go up from this. They'll go up from Smash Bros.

You might be looking at it the wrong way. You're focussing on kids, while you should be focussed on Nintendo Gamers/Fans. They wil, go out in masses to buy this stuff, Nintendo doesn't need to hook kids but ehir Hardcore fans. These figurines are of high quality, much better than skylanders or disney infinty. They are collecters items more so than toys and that's were their strength lies.

There is a market for them. I think that's pretty clear. Using your own disinterest in figurines as proof that they won't sell is pretty short-sighted. Belittling those who do take interest in figurines just makes you look like a Richard while still missing the point.

Yes, they'll sell just fine to the installed base. That's about 6.7 million potential customers, closer to 8-9 million around holiday season. Stockings are going to be lined with these things, and there's enough avid collectors of Nintendo merchandise to make these marketable for even those who don't have a Wii U.

The point of these really isn't to sell consoles. The point of them is to make money. They'll do that just fine. From Nintendo's perspective, if they can push the ticket price of Smash from $60 to $72, $84, or even higher for a portion of the customers... yeah, it's a good idea.

@kkslider5552000 Out of all seriousness, I'm really surprised those people get to keep their jobs.

1) Kids don't buy things. Their parents do.
2) You seem to be under the impression that the only possible use of these would be to unlock characters in game. Why?