amiibo

amiibo
250px amiibo brand logo
Release year: 2014 Manufacturer: Nintendo Compatible: Wii U New Nintendo 3DS Nintendo 3DS (requires NFC Reader/Writer) Model no.:

amiibo are a line of "toys-to-life" product created by Nintendo and comprable to produces like Skylanders or Disney Infinity, using near-field communication technology to communicate with compatible systems and be used for or unlock content in any compatible games. Although originally launched as figures, amiibo cards were later released starting with Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer. The line was originally launched for use with Wii U software, while Nintendo 3DS support was later added.

History

Nintendo have attempted similar concepts to the amiibo platform in the past. The first was the Nintendo 64 Controller Pak, which allowed players to save data onto a small cartridge that fitted in serial port on the bottom of the controller and could save special data onto it. The data on the Controller Pak could be accessed by any console playing the game. The Nintendo 64 Transfer Pak allowed select Game Boy and Game Boy Color games to connect to corresponding Nintendo 64 titles and unlock content in either game; Nintendo would later try this concept again with the Nintendo GameCube - Game Boy Advance link cable. Finally, a more similar example is the e-Reader, a peripheral device for the Game Boy Advance released in 2001 that could scan special cards to unlock content in games. The e-Reader, however, was a financial failure.

Nintendo was approached by Toys for Bob and its parent Activision, who wanted to make a deal with Nintendo to be a partner their in-development Skylanders franchise, though Nintendo would turn the deal down.

In 2013, Nintendo would first experiment with making use of the Wii U GamePad's NFC features in games with Pokemon Rumble U, which was released alongside a series of Pokémon figurines in a similar method to other games using this style of figure.

During their financial briefing in March 2014, Nintendo revealed their in-development NFC figurine platform, codenamed "NFP" ("Nintendo Figure Platform" or "NFC Featured Platform"), stating that the figures would be compatible with multiple games and that they would feature data that would tell the system what the figure is, as well as that more information would be revealed at E3 2014. During their Nintendo Digital Event that year, Nintendo fully unveiled the product line, now called "amiibo", with the debut of the first figures in the Super Smash Bros. series.

Functionality

To use an amiibo with a Wii U console, the amiibo must be placed on the NFC sensor built-in to the Wii U GamePad; the console itself must be updated to at least version 5.3.0. For Nintendo 3DS systems, the system must be updated to at least version 9.6.0; Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL, and Nintendo 2DS require the Nintendo 3DS NFC Reader/Writer to use amiibo, while New Nintendo 3DS systems feature an NFC sensor built in to the bottom screen.

When an amiibo is registered for the first time, the player can personalize their amiibo by designating an owner and giving them a nickname. amiibo have data written on them, which can be read and recognized by software to be used in various ways in games. Certain games can also write data onto amiibo via the hardware. Although multiple games can read the data on an amiibo, the amiibo can only hold data from one game at a time; to have data from another game written on it, the existing data must be deleted. An amiibo can be used on any person's console or handheld, though the data on the amiibo is unique to that figure and is recognized as such by the hardware.

Nintendo-produced amiibo series

Super Smash Bros.

This section is a short summary of the Super Smash Bros. amiibo. SmashWiki features a more in-depth article.

The Super Smash Bros. line is the first line of amiibo to be released, based upon Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U and released alongside Super Smash Bros. for Wii U on November 21, 2014. Seven waves have been released (nine in PAL territories, since two waves were split into two), consisting of a total of 52 figures released, while another wave has been confirmed, and the remaining fighters have been confirmed to be receiving amiibo, accounting for the entirety of the Super Smash Bros. roster of playable characters.

Wave 1	Wave 2	Wave 3	Wave 4	Wave 5	Wave 6	Wave 7	Wave 8
Donkey Kong Fox Kirby Link Mario Marth Peach Pikachu Samus Wii Fit Trainer Villager Yoshi	Captain Falcon Diddy Kong Little Mac Luigi Pit Zelda	Bowser Ike King Dedede Lucario Mega Man Meta Knight Rosalina & Luma Sheik Shulk Sonic	Charizard Greninja Jigglypuff Lucina PAC-MAN Robin Wario	Dark Pit Palutena	Bowser Jr. Dr. Mario Ganondorf Mii Fighter 3-pack (Mii Brawler, Mii Gunner, Mii Swordfighter)* Olimar Retro 3-pack (Duck Hunt, Mr. Game & Watch, R.O.B.)* Zero Suit Samus	Falco Mewtwo	Lucas
Wave 9
Roy Ryu R.O.B. (Famicom colors)

* - Released individually in other regions.

Super Mario

This section is a short summary of the Super Mario amiibo. Super Mario Wiki features a more in-depth section.

The Super Mario series is the second series of amiibo to be released. The series released alongside Mario Party 10, on March 20, 2015, and consists of six main amiibo. The Super Mario line is also the first line to feature limited edition amiibo; Mario - Gold Edition was released alongside the other amiibo (exclusively at Wal-Mart in North America), while Mario - Silver Edition was released later, on May 29, 2015.

Standard figures		Special figures
Bowser Mario Luigi Peach Toad Yoshi		Mario - Gold Edition Mario - Silver Edition

Splatoon

The Splatoon amiibo series consists of three amiibo released alongside the game in May 2015. While the Inkling Boy and Inkling Girl amiibo are both available individually, the Inkling Squid amiibo is available only in the Splatoon three-pack set.

Figures

• Inkling Boy
• Inkling Girl
• Inkling Squid

Yoshi's Woolly World

This section is a short summary of the Yoshi's Woolly World amiibo. Super Mario Wiki features a more in-depth section.

The Yoshi's Wooly World amiibo are unique in that they are made out of yarn rather than plastic, and have the chip built in to the bottom of the figure itself rather than having a base. Three amiibo ware released alongside the game, based upon three colors of Yoshi (green, pink, and light-blue). A "Mega Yarn Yoshi", a larger variant of the standard Green Yarn Yoshi, has also been announced, which will be released in November exclusively at Toys "R" Us.

Figures

• Green Yarn Yoshi
• Light Blue Yarn Yoshi
• Pink Yarn Yoshi
• Mega Yarn Yoshi

Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary

This section is a short summary of the Mario 30th Anniversary amiibo. Super Mario Wiki features a more in-depth section.

Two special amiibo have been released for the thirtieth anniversary of Super Mario Bros., both depicting an 8-bit Mario in both his classic and modern color schemes.

Figures

• 30th Anniversary Mario - Classic Color
• 30th Anniversary Mario - Modern Color

Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash

Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash was released alongside a single amiibo of the Chibi Robo character. In North America the amiibo has been released exclusively in a bundle pack with the game.

Animal Crossing

This section is a short summary of the Animal Crossing amiibo. Nookipedia features a more in-depth article.

amiibo Cards

Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer was to be released alongside the first series of amiibo Cards, released in series rather than waves, and the first line of amiibo to not be released as figures. Each pack contains six cards, while copies of the game all come with one. The first wave has been released with the launch of the game in each region with 100 total cards, with a second series initially confirmed to be printed in September in Japan but postponed to a later date.

Figures

In addition to the amiibo Cards, a set of Animal Crossing amiibo figures will be released alongside Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival. Eight amiibo will be released alongside the game (Digby being exclusively in a bundle with the game at launch), while the rest will be released later.

Figures

Wave 1		Wave 2
Cyrus Digby Isabelle K.K. Slider Lottie Mabel Reese Tom Nook		Blathers Celeste Mr. Resetti Kicks

Pokkén Tournament

First print copies of the game will come with a special Shadow Mewtwo amiibo card that, when scanned by the game, will unlock Shadow Mewtwo as a playable character.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD

A Wolf Link amiibo will be released alongside this game in a bundle pack.

amiibo-compatible software

Nintendo 3DS

Game	Compatibility	amiibo features
Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer	Read	Scanning cards allows the character to visit the home the player is designing.
Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash	Read/Write	Tapping the Chibi Robo amiibo turns Chibi Robo into "Super Chibi Robo", enhancing his battery life, speed, and power. When a stage is beaten the player's score can be saved to the amiibo to level it up.
	N/A	Tapping any other amiibo gives the player in-game coins.
Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.	Read	Tapping the Fire Emblem characters allows them to be added into the game.
Fire Emblem Fates	Read	Tapping the Fire Emblem characters adds them into the game; they can be faced as opponents and join the party when defeated.
New Style Boutique 2: Fashion Forward	Read	Unlocks clothing based upon the character scanned.
Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam	Read/Write	Scanning the amiibo of Mario characters makes available cards that give various effects in battle.
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games	N/A
Katachi Shinhakken! Rittai Picross 2	Read	Scanning compatible amiibo unlocks puzzles based around that character.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS	Read/Write	The character is inserted into the game as a "Figure Player" (FP). Players can train the figure by battling against or with it, allowing it to level up and learn. Data is shared between both this game and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D	Read	Tapping Shulk gives the player tokens to unlock bonus features.

Wii U

Game	Compatibility	amiibo features
amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits	Read	Tapping any amiibo unlocks a demo of one of several NES and SNES games at random.
Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival	N/A	Scanning the Animal Crossing amiibo figures allows players to play as that character.
	Read	The Animal Crossing amiibo cards can be used in minigames.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker	Read	Scanning the Toad amiibo allows the player to access a hide-and-seek game in which they must find "Pixel Toad" in a given level. Scanning any other amiibo gives the player 1-Up Mushrooms.
Hyrule Warriors	Read	Scanning Link unlocks the Spinner weapon. Scanning the other The Legend of Zelda characters unlocks a random weapon for that character. Scanning any other amiibo unlocks random items.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse	Read	Scanning Kirby lets the player use the Star Dash indefinitely. Scanning King Dedede increases Kirby's health. Scanning Meta Knight increases Kirby's attack power.
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games	N/A
Mario Kart 8	Read	Scanning a compatible amiibo unlocks a costume for Miis based upon the character.
Mario Party 10	Read/Write	Allows access to amiibo Party mode; compatible amiibo are used as game pieces and unlock a board based on the character.
	Read	Unlocks a scratch ticket to win Mario Party Points.
Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash	Read/Write	Scanning compatible amiibo inserts the character into the game as a trainable CPU.
Splatoon	Read	The Splatoon amiibo unlock twenty extra missions for each amiibo which can give the player exclusive equipment.
Star Fox Zero	N/A	N/A
Super Mario Maker	Read	Scanning the 8-bit Mario amiibo adds a "Big Mushroom" which makes Mario giant. Scanning other characters adds them into the game as a "Mystery Mushroom" power-up, which when collected turns Mario into that character.
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U	Read/Write	The character is inserted into the game as a "Figure Player" (FP). Players can train the figure by battling against or with it, allowing it to level up and learn. Data is shared between both this game and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS.
The Legend of Zelda (Wii U)	Read	Data saved onto the Wolf Link amiibo in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD can be carried over into this game.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD	Read/Write	The Wolf Link amiibo is compatible with this game. Data can be saved onto it which can be carried over into the brand new The Legend of Zelda game for Wii U.
	N/A	This game is also compatible with the amiibo for other The Legend of Zelda characters.
Yoshi's Woolly World	Read/Write	The Yarn Yoshi amiibo unlock "Double Yoshi" mode, in which the player controls two Yoshi characters.
	Read	Scanning most other amiibo unlocks a Yoshi pattern based upon the character scanned.

Reception

Amiibo have been received well by critics and in sales. As of March 12, 2015, over 3.5 million amiibo have been sold worldwide. By the end of 2014, over 5.7 million amiibo were shipped worldwide, and as of May 8, Nintendo have reported to have shipped over 10.5 million worldwide.

External links

• amiibo on Wikipedia
• amiibo on Bulbapedia
• amiibo on Fire Emblem Wiki
• amiibo on Inkipedia
• amiibo on Super Mario Wiki
• amiibo on SmashWiki
• amiibo on Zelda Wiki