As people continue to become more and more connected, gaming companies are trying to
find new ways to interact and engage with users. Whether it’s through addictive apps
or social networking, there’s no question that people love to share things and love
playing games even more. They also love to share their habits when it comes to
playing games.

Due to the ease with which users are now provided, the gaming industry has gained enormous popularity today. People can play online games that pay real money on their mobile phones without having to open their computers or laptops. Not that it is a bad thing; in fact, it is surprising that the industry has such a strong influence on each of our lives.

Social gaming and sharing platforms are big business, so it’s not necessarily a
surprise that a company like Nintendo would be looking to get in on the action. As
social apps, particularly on mobile devices, have continued to increase in
popularity, Nintendo decided to try its hand at the genre with its first official
mobile app, Miitomo. The game, if you can call it that, is basically a social
network that played off of the Mii avatars first popularized by the Wii console.
While the game received a lot of buzz at the time of its release, it has failed to
sustain the same level of interest two months later. Unfortunately, user
engagement has bottomed out, as nearly half of users don’t return to the app
regularly. That’s a sharp contrast to the only 20 percent of users that don’t come
back for a game like Clash Royale.

Much of the problem with Miitomo could be chalked up to its lack of actual gameplay.
The title has been described as both a social networking service and a
“conversational app” that lets its users connect and talk with friends by answering
various questions. While it seems cute on the surface, some have accused Nintendo’s
intentions of being a bit more mercenary. One critic even called it “a
brilliant data-mining app” but not one that’s necessarily long on content.

If Nintendo had included even the most basic of gaming features, it probably
wouldn’t be experiencing the lack of user engagement it’s facing today. Much smaller
companies have experienced great success through social gaming by adapting
traditional casual games and pastimes into the social realm, see for instance this bingo cash reviews. These types of games already have a fan base and are featured in some of the most famous movies as well, making it easier for the companies to attract people into playing their games. Known first for its actual bingo halls, Gala Bingo took the classic game to the web as a way for people to play together online. With
plenty of live rooms and games going on, players can interact in real-time with up
to hundreds of other people while they play. The result is a platform that
incorporates the best of both conversation and gaming. If Miitomo included something
like this or even just a basic card game for people to play together, it would have
probably helped make people stick around longer. People today have severely limited
attention spans as it is, so there has to be some kind of hook to reel them in.

We’re confident that Nintendo will find a way to turn things around. This is a
completely new wheelhouse for them and there are bound to be some bumps along the
way. This is only the first of five mobile apps that are planned to come out by 2017
and once the company gets back to its bread and butter (aka fun and addictive
gameplay), we’re sure the fans will come around.