Miitomo, Nintendo's first game for smartphones, was launched in Japan on March 17. The app proved to be very popular right from the start, reaching more than 1 million users in just three days since it was released.

The release of Miitomo in Japan meant that the app would soon be coming to the United States, with the exact date of its Western launch recently revealed to be March 31.

What is Miitomo all about, and is it worth all the hype surrounding it?

Customizing Mii Characters

According to Nintendo, Miitomo is a free-to-start social experience that allows users to initiate unique conversations with their friends using Mii characters. These characters were first introduced by Nintendo in the Wii gaming system as avatars, which can be customized using a wide variety of physical attributes to mirror the users' physical forms.

The same depth of customization for Mii characters in the Wii is applied in Miitomo, with the addition of using a smartphone camera in creating the avatar. Other ways to customize Mii characters in Miitomo include giving them nicknames, changing how they speak and move, and adding new looks through costumes and accessories purchased through the game's shop.

Miitomo Conversations

Once users are happy with their Mii characters, they can begin to add their friends by connecting their Miitomo apps or by linking the app to their Facebook or Twitter accounts. Once that is done, conversations can be initiated, with the app asking fun questions that transform discussions into a playful experience.

The answers that friends give will be shared with each other, and responses could be in the form of written comments, picture, or a heart.

Other Miitomo Features

The app contains a fun minigame called the Miitomo Drop, wherein the user drops a Mii character into a playing field. The character then bounces around as it falls towards different platforms. The player will could win prizes depending on where the character lands.

Playing Miitomo Drop requires Miitomo coins, which can be acquired by playing the app, by purchasing them, or by using game tickets from daily bonuses.

In addition to Miitomo Drop, the app also allows users to create images named Miifotos. Through Miifotos, Mii characters may be inserted into images by combining backgrounds, fonts and stamps. Users can even use pictures taken by their smartphone as the background for a Miifoto, and once done, it can be shared on social media.

How To Preregister

For those who are interested in downloading Miitomo once the game becomes available can preregister by creating a Nintendo Account on the app's official website before March 31.

Preregistered users will receive an email once the app is ready to be downloaded. In addition, they will also get Platinum Points, which can be used for the new My Nintendo rewards program that will be launched alongside Miitomo.

Users who signed up for the program will be able to accumulate points as they interact with Nintendo products and services. They will get Gold Points upon buying digital games and Platinum Points when interacting with Nintendo apps and services. The points can then be redeemed for a variety of rewards, including games, in-app items, downloadable content and discount coupons to Nintendo's eShop.