Web Log: Nintendo launches Miitomo app

Nintendo has just launched its first mobile app, a social network based around the Mii characters. But it's not like Bebo's attempt to create a cartoonish social media space; Miitomo creates a personalised character based on a picture of you while allowing you to tweak voice and personality traits (movement, individuality, attitude, expressiveness).

This personalisation continued when the cartoon version of me began asking me about my favourite food, which escalated quickly into encouraging me to answer the question of the week “for a laugh” and compare this to other users. This question was: what do you do to relieve stress? Is this thinly disguised market research or just bad design?

Other users have taken to Twitter to share their answers and many are unprintable, although some are plain worrying, eg “I like to set fire to stuff” and “Scream endlessly into the void”. Goodbye Miitomo, it was . . . weird.

https://miitomo.com/en/