Wii U System Update 5.3.0 Adds amiibo Settings

Next Mario Kart 8 dlc update.

Guess what!? If you scan a Skylander in, the system says, humourously, "This is not an Amiibo", and the giants even light up!!! This proves that Amiibo use the EXACT same technology as Skylanders.

Hmm, I don't seem to have the update, is it only in America right now?

OH JESUS it updated while the system was off! Darnit Nintendo! xD

Hearing the news that each amiibo can only read and write to ONE game at a time is just so depressing. Currently Smash Bros. Wii U is the only game this happens with, the others only use the figure to unlock stuff in-game but the scenario is that should another game with read/write amiibo functionality be released, you'd have to decide whether you ERASE your Smash amiibo data to use your figure in the other game.

Limits like this really sap my interest in the figures, can't we have a way to 'backup' amiibo save data at least? I don't see an option for it in the amiibo settings, how can Nintendo not realise it yet that people aren't going to be happy about having to delete their Smash amiibo fighter to use the figure in another read/write game.

I would like to see amiibo costumes on our Miis, Nintendo! Please!

@Folkloner Who says that's true?!?

@PvtOttobot its been reported on a few websites, hopefully something they will rectify

@PvtOttobot I didn't know NFC/RFID tech was exclusive to Nintendo... (Being sarcastic here.) Lots of things use RFID. When I scan my bus card it says the same, so it's not like Nintendo copied Skylanders' tech or anything.

@ILoveYourMom I didn't say it was...
_{Watch the insults and profanity please — TBD}

@BensonUii apparently in MK8 when an amibo is scanned you unlock the outfit your mini in the game, quite impressive but I would like that to spread to Miiverse too

@ILoveYourMom I don't recall anyone asking for your irrelevant and useless opinion.

@wolvesboy

Yeah I meant on the Wara Wara Plaza and on Mii creation. So we can use it on Wii Sports Club too and Nintendo Land.

Anyway, IGN is reporting amiibos aren't Region Locked™. They were able to use their American amiibis on their Japanese Wii U.

@Folkloner At first it seems a disappointing prospect given that one of the big selling points of amiibo when it was first announced is the functionality to hold save data. However, we're forgetting that this current line of figures is designed more or less for Smash. This means that while for certain characters and figures this might present a problem in future titles (Mario, Luigi,Bowser etc amiibo functionality is going to pop up all over the place in time) many of these characters probably won't see much use outside of their first compatible game. Also, even when the figurines are given use in more titles, it might not always be necessary to write save data onto the figures in every game, like what we're seeing with Mario Kart and Hyrule Warriors.

Don't forget the stability peeps . Oh, got to love that stability, mmmmm.

@SanderEvers
i doubt 4k is enough to record player's infos, fight style, habits, behavior, ... at least not in a significative level, so i bet there is more than 4k memory in an amiibo

But stability is filler..

The stability is the real star of this update.

@Iggly Something we can all agree with

Now I have the stability I need in life, thanks Nintendo!

My system is stable

@NintendoMan94 - Smash amiibo's will work with Hyrule Warriors, MK8 whether they have Smash data on them or not because in those games their just used to unlock features. If Nintendo decide to make dedicated Mario Kart figures that unlock more than just costumes then that's such an inelegant solution as you have then have multiple types of the same figures that do different things.

The way to do it would be to produce ONE amiibo per character and sell a powered 'amiibo backup device' separately so you can save data held on amiibo's for the long term - meaning you wouldn't

(a) Have to erase data on an amiibo to use it in anothr read AND write game
(b) Optionally produce additional dedicated amiibo figures for other games.

I know you aren't saying it but if anyone can say why the current set up is superior to the one i outlined above, i'd love to hear it.

@SanderEvers

(1) I understand why the amiibo figures can only hold a small amount of data but that's all the more reason to have produced a powered, physical amiibo backup device for long term storage of that data so you shouldn't 'have' too opt to delete it or not in the first place.

(2) You say you'll have to buy other dedicated amiibo to read/write to different games. If that's true then why did Nintendo say that to use the Smash amiibo (with save data on it) with a different read/write game then you'll have to erase the data already stored on it.

That alludes to at least the existence of or possibility that other read/write games will utilize the Smash amiibo figures.

@Folkloner Since there is currently only 1 game that writes to the amiibo at the moment, a backup/transfer feature isn't necessary in the OS. IIRC, Nintendo always make the OS updates for a functionality close to when it's actually needed. (For example: the amiibos were announced at E3, but the OS update to support it arrives just one week before it's needed.) But it would sure be nice to get a backup/restore feature confirmed by Nintendo in advance.

@Folkloner "If Nintendo decide to make dedicated Mario Kart figures that unlock more than just costumes then that's such an inelegant solution as you have then have multiple types of the same figures that do different things."

Why? The designs and poses of the characters are wildly different between games, so it only makes sense to have e.g. a Smash Bros. Mario, a more normal Mario like in the main series or MK and a Paper Mario

Got to buy Smash Wii U at ToysRus at launch if i want a free Amiibo before they get sold out on Black Friday

@BensonUii also a great idea!

Post-update, MK8 doesn't seem to work with my Wiimotes. You can "Press A" on the title screen, but cannot select single or multiplayer on the next screen. Can anyone else confirm?

Is that Mario amiibo from the photo real? I like the red base and his happy waving stance a whole lot better than the kamehameha wave brown based Mario.

I second what rjejr said about the Mario figure.

Now we just need an update that provides an Amiibo Plaza and games!

I wonder, how much does it takes for the update to be installed?

Is it quickly, or takes quite a bit of time?

I suppose the best way Nintendo could work around the memory limitations of the amiibo would be to have stats saved in the game's saxe file. That way you can copy your data to an amiibo should you chose to use your stats on a friends WiiU. Then you can update the stats saved at home.

That's cool they're touching ground before the release, set to play from the get go.

I'm not bothered by the data limit on the amiibo right now since only one that we know of currently will use the read and write. I'll worry like the rest when the time comes and there is no system backup or alt. amiibos for the 2nd software that utilize the two.

@dragontelex You must have accidentally pressed "A" with a different controller. I've tried and the Wiimote works perfectly just like before the update.

STABILITY!

Oh good lord! The stability jokes will never end.

@PvtOttobot Rubbish.. It proves that the WiiU can recognise the hardware, nothing else.

@Folkloner Don't get depressed just buy another Amibo, jeez theres plenty to choose from!!

@jboy1807 ...ummm no. I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask for an amiibo save data back up system/device so I shouldn't have to delete my Smash amiibo data to use the figure in a future read/write game.

I'm not asking for much, forcing a user into a position where they must decide to lose their save data, buy the same figure again, or a different one altogether is at best, inelegant and not consumer friendly, and at worst, a cynical money grab.

You should be calling Nintendo on their flawed system not making excuses for them.

I think your being pretty greedy and too quick to jump to conclusions to be honest. This 'flawed system' hasn't even been released yet! Good lord, give Nintendo a tiny slither of a chance here will you??