The question of whether or not Nintendo will develop games for iOS or Android remains as unresolved as ever, but they announced earlier this morning they’ll be bringing the Wii U-based Miiverse social network to smartphones this spring. And in what is likely an attempt to stoke the flames of rivalry between Android and iOS owners, they didn’t specify which operating systems it will launch on. Well played, Nintendo.
The question of whether or not Nintendo will develop games for iOS or Android remains as unresolved as ever, but they announced earlier this morning they’ll be bringing the Wii U-based Miiverse social network to smartphones this spring. And in what is likely an attempt to stoke the flames of rivalry between Android and iOS owners, they didn’t specify which operating systems it will launch on. Well played, Nintendo.
But before I get too ahead of myself here, let’s address what exactly the Miiverse is. As a social network, its core features revolve around connecting players and allowing them to communicate with each other. One of the most well-known and popular forms of communication is the many game and application-specific “communities,” where players can post statuses, drawings, and screenshots for others to see. There’s also a more traditional private messaging system.
The announcement of mobile access was part of a larger one surrounding the Miiverse’s expansion. In the future users will also be able to create their own communities, regardless of whether or not it’s for a game that already has a dedicated community. Sounds… message board-y, I suppose? Regardless, it seems likely this new functionality will show up in the app.
Miiverse will first be accessible on smartphones via browser, but Nintendo plans on rolling out a dedicated app shortly after. And from the sounds of it, the announced release window of spring was in reference to general mobile access, so it’s possible the app will launch sometime after. We’ll be sure to keep you in the loop, because the more people posting goofy drawings and statuses in the Funky Barn community, the better.
