What is the future of the Miis and what could be a good replacement for them?

[Deleted member 1273]

Miis are getting old quick, and I thought, what if they get replaced like the Xbox Live avatars?

If you don't know, Microsoft is replacing all the avatars with a more detailed and charismatic avatars in early 2018


Since Nintendo is softly letting the Miis die, which would be a good replacement for them?

I think the villagers are very very unique and good looking characters with high customisation options, yet they are very simple and iconic, so I think they would be great to replace the Miis.

What do you think? Do you think the Miis need a replacement at all? and if you do, which would be better?

I honestly would love a better Mii system, more complex and maybe close to what Microsoft is cooking however, maybe they don't need that much of a change but maybe a clean up and add some stuff and more options.

 

[Deleted member 1273]

I meant what could be* lol sorry

 

[Deleted member 11934]

Jesus I've never seen those. It's like Disney characters but without any soul. It's horrifying.

Anyway, yes, villagers are the way to go. From a designer's point of view, it's always better to not indulge in overdetailed branding, and since avatars are kinda users' brands, they need to be "less" to be more relatable.

 

[Jessie]

I like the look of Miis. Nintendo just needs more integration between Miitomo and the Switch.

We also need Tomodachi Switch.

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Rabbids of course

 

[Vilix]

I think it is a mistake for Nintendo to let Miis and Mii Verse go. It had a lot of potential and was actually quite fun. I hope they bring it back.

 

[Kovacs]

I'm confused why Animal Crossing is used as the example here? The Animal Crossing avatars are animal Crossing villagers and not Mii's. There was Mii mask that could be used but that was a clothing item rather than a Mii avatar.

 

[Deleted member 1273]

Jesus I've never seen those. It's like Disney characters but without any soul. It's horrifying.

Anyway, yes, villagers are the way to go. From a designer's point of view, it's always better to not indulge in overdetailed branding, and since avatars are kinda users' brands, they need to be "less" to be more relatable.

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I agree to some degree, they look some sort of lab designed? I dig them but not as much as I could be

 

[Deleted member 31092]

We're going to get clothes customization for Miis.

The Xbox stuff has no sould imo.

 

[Yoshimitsu126]

I think we moved on from avatar creation like Mii, Playstation Home, and Avatars. Dressing up Link and Mario is way more fun.

 

[Deleted member 1273]

I'm confused why Animal Crossing is used as the example here? The Animal Crossing avatars are animal Crossing villagers and not Mii's. There was Mii mask that could be used but that was a clothing item rather than a Mii avatar.

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Because one of the topics is to guess what could be a good replacement for the Miis, since they are kind of old and forgotten but the Villagers are pretty popular and they function to a similar level; cute representation of the player.

Taking into consideration that Animal Crossing is popular and is also a Nintendo based IP I thought it would be a good fit for an hypothetical replacement, sorry if it wasn't properly explained in the OP

I think we moved on from avatar creation like Mii, Playstation Home, and Avatars. Dressing up Link and Mario is way more fun.

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If I can get my cute wrestling Pink Link to represent me as my icon or character in future games I will be so happy

 

[Bufbaf]

I like the look of Miis. Nintendo just needs more integration between Miitomo and the Switch.

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Totally this. Would make Miis and Switch avatars way more interesting and also give Miitomo an actual reason to exist. Can't wrap my head around how they're missing this opportunity.

 

[Mega Man Zero]

Miis aren't going to be replaced with something else, just like Mario and Link aren't going to be replaced with something else. They're their own thing, and Nintendo will pull them out when they think they find a fitting game for them, like Miitomo.

 

[Deleted member 11934]

I agree to some degree, they look some sort of lab designed? I dig them but not as much as I could be

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I look at them and have flashbacks of Disney movies and Overwatch, they don't really tell me "I'm an original person! Yay" and also look original and "Xboxey"... Original avatars weren't amazing but they reached a point where they just fit in, these are a step back considering the Xbox and Microsoft branding and design language, that went into the flat/digital look for everything.

 

[Dunban]

Miis were old back in 2006.


Personally, I'd prefer to express the physical appearance of my avatar with a numerical sequence. A Mii code, if you will.

 

[Cosmonaut X]

Those Xbox avatars are horrendous.

I suspect Nintendo distanced themselves from Miis to an extent because of the issues with associating their new console too strongly with a failed system like the Wii U. I'd be happy for them to continue using them with some refinements and upgrades, as I think the more abstracted, simplistic approach to user avatars is far more effective than something like the Xbox avatars.

The limitations of the Mii design "palette" also encouraged a lot of creativity in terms of creating likenesses, and I'd like to see that remain. Perhaps the best way forward with the Mii system would be to keep the limitations on facial features etc., but expand the cosmetics you can use to "dress up" your Mii a la Miitomo, and encourage sharing and Mii exchange with a more robust Mii app.

 

[John Konstantin]

I never liked Miis, I associate them to the worst side of Nintendo (the prominent One during Wii Dark ages). But tbh I think the new ones of Xbox are even worst, so maybe I just don't care about the stuff. If they really need a substitute I'd suggest using Wind Waker art style

 

[Stuart]

I'd like 2D animated characters, from the Nintendo repertoire to pick. A bit like Microsoft Office had with the various helpers.

 

[SeacatsAndCicadas]

NetNavis

 

[Dekuman]

Those Xbox avatars are horrendous.

I suspect Nintendo distanced themselves from Miis to an extent because of the issues with associating their new console too strongly with a failed system like the Wii U. I'd be happy for them to continue using them with some refinements and upgrades, as I think the more abstracted, simplistic approach to user avatars is far more effective than something like the Xbox avatars.

The limitations of the Mii design "palette" also encouraged a lot of creativity in terms of creating likenesses, and I'd like to see that remain. Perhaps the best way forward with the Mii system would be to keep the limitations on facial features etc., but expand the cosmetics you can use to "dress up" your Mii a la Miitomo, and encourage sharing and Mii exchange with a more robust Mii app.

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Because the Wii U was such a failure I suspect most people still know Miis from the Wii or the 3DS, probably mostly the Wii.

I don't think the distancing is due to Wii U's failure but the company refocusing back on the core games market. Miis are too closely tied to casual Nintendo and could still come back for their casual games.

 

[Cosmonaut X]

Because the Wii U was such a failure I suspect most people still know Miis from the Wii or the 3DS, probably mostly the Wii.

I don't think the distancing is due to Wii U's failure but the company refocusing back on the core games market. Miis are too closely tied to casual Nintendo and could still come back for their casual games.

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Point. Perhaps it would have been better to say that Nintendo deliberately moved away from the Wii approach with Switch, where they hadn't with Wii U - where they revisited Wii Sports, reused Miis, reused Wii Remotes etc. etc. - or 3DS and Miis were a casualty of that distancing. They reused some of the good ideas from Wii/Wii U/3DS, but carefully repackaged or with the emphasis shifted.

 

[Zero-ELEC]

Miis are great, they should just expand on those, allow more stuff.

 

[Wiped]

Miis are great and I hope they don't die. I see a lot of them in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch

 

[SatoAilDarko]

They already updated the options for Miis in the Mii Maker in Switch. They also brought those updates to Miitomo a few months ago. You can see your Miitomo Mii and clothes in My Nintendo and Super Mario Run.

At the Nintendo World Championships the participants were represented by Miis on the scoreboard.

Miis aren't dying. They just aren't focused on now.

If they want to improve customization they've already produced hundreds on unique clothing and accessories for Miis in Miitomo and still have new clothes come out every few days.

 

[Trrzs]

Miis are great, they are very simplistic but unique at the same time. Miitomo was the overhaul Miis needed, with all those clothes available your Mii can not only look like you, but also have a bit of your personality through clothing. Nintendo just need to allow us to use our Miitomo's Mii on the Switch, and I'm sure that's the plan.

 

[Neoxon]

If Nintendo was gonna get rid of Miis, they would have done it with the Switch. The Miis have taken on a life of their own beyond the Wii brand. As for how to use them better, Mega Man Zero hit the nail on the head.

Miis aren't going to be replaced with something else, just like Mario and Link aren't going to be replaced with something else. They're their own thing, and Nintendo will pull them out when they think they find a fitting game for them, like Miitomo.

Click to shrink...

 

[MrNewVegas]

Swatchells. Sick Nintendo style name. Fits well with Switch. Cross promo with swatch watch. BOOM.

 

[TyraZaurus]

Don't replace them.

Adding detail and stuff just makes them venture into uncanny valley.

They're memorable and cute the way they are.

 

[Dekuman]

Point. Perhaps it would have been better to say that Nintendo deliberately moved away from the Wii approach with Switch, where they hadn't with Wii U - where they revisited Wii Sports, reused Miis, reused Wii Remotes etc. etc. - or 3DS and Miis were a casualty of that distancing. They reused some of the good ideas from Wii/Wii U/3DS, but carefully repackaged or with the emphasis shifted.

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For sure, I think it is deliberate. They kept just enough of the Mii interface around to make existing users feel comfortable while not putting them center stage. Our NNID is still tied to Mii icons (at least mine is) so there's that. I think it will become more of a menu/UI feature in the future rather than the center stage they took during the Wii and early part of the Wii U/3DS era

 

[Parthenios]

Miis are great and Nintendo shouldn't replace them. They do need an update with more styles and clothing options.

 

[Hieroph]

I'm still playing Miitopia and I love the Miis. We need more of them!

It's cool how Miitopia gives the Miis a bunch of new expressions and stuff.

 

[TheMisterManGuy]

Nintendo has yet to develop a Switch game that really would facilitate the use of Miis outside of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and even then, that's a Wii U port. When Nintendo finds a good use for them on Switch, they'll whip them out again. Not every Nintendo game needs to use them just because they're there.

 

[Deleted member 3815]

Since Nintendo is softly letting the Miis die

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Says who? Mii are a solid Nintendo IP and I don't really see Nintendo retiring them.

They do need an update with more styles and clothing options.

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They're getting there as they have added new options that didn't exist in the original Mii creator on the Wii.

 

[Ninjadom]

I'm surprised it took so long for a game like Miitopia to come out on the 3DS.

 

[Hieroph]

I'm surprised it took so long for a game like Miitopia to come out on the 3DS.

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It had the Streetpass / Mii games from the beginning and now there's a huge selection of them. They're basically like a lite version of Miitopia. And then there's also Tomodachi Life.

 

[Knight in Shining Armani]

Leave 'em in the trash where they belong.

 

[Tribal_Cult]

Introducing Nintendo's Fursonas

 

[Gun Dog]

Whatever they do, I hope they're not creepy like those new Avatars.

 

[Matesamo]

Man we loved the Mii's Back in the day. The first time we played Wii Bowling and there were various friends cheering us on in the background was great. I still do the Wii Fit U and my character runs past various friends and family members Miis and it still makes me smile.

 

[Hieroph]

Man we loved the Mii's Back in the day. The first time we played Wii Bowling and there were various friends cheering us on in the background was great. I still do the Wii Fit U and my character runs past various friends and family members Miis and it still makes me smile.

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Yeah, things like this are why there should be better ways to share Miis on current devices and new applications to use them in, besides Miitopia. Making and using Miis was quick and easy in 2006, surely it shouldn't be any harder in 2017?

They're getting there as they have added new options that didn't exist in the original Mii creator on the Wii.

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It's also great that Wii era Miis are forward compatible. You can import an old Mii and give them a new hairstyle that wasn't available on Wii or something. Doing the same thing again should be relatively easy.

 

[Tribal_Cult]

I think the Miis were purposefully let die on a hill by Nintendo and I don't understand why to be honest. They work perfectly fine in my opinion and don't need much of an improvement, maybe they could just be upgraded visually a bit and that's it.

 

[Djawed]

Mii faces are fine. I'd like more proportionate variety. Clothing is the more obvious one.

 

[Polioliolio]

I don't know what the answer is. Lose the Miis (or at least upgrade their tech to not look so... 2005.. I don't mean make them more detailed, but the outlines on some of features floating off the face don't always look great..) and instead, as your picture atop inspires, use Animal Crossing styled people, but you can create your own features fully.

 

[oni-link]

Replace them with squids

 

[Deleted member 1273]

Replace them with squids

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MYMAN.GIF x10000

 

[Richietto]

There is nothing wrong with Mii's. Still as cute and simple as ever. Microsofts are terrible. I see no reason to replace them.

 

[Deleted member 3815]

I think the Miis were purposefully let die on a hill by Nintendo and I don't understand why to be honest.

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Except that isn't the case as they released Miitopia a 3DS game starring the Mii, you can use a Mii as your icon on the Switch, MyNintendo heavily uses the Mii, Miitomo is still on mobile app store.

Mii aren't going anywhere nor are they left to die by Nintendo, they are just treated the same like any other Nintendo IP.

 

[Axe]

Mii's aren't going anywhere. I think they've temporarily been put on the backburner though while Nintendo has been focusing on the Switch's launch and first year. And none of the games they've released for Switch, sans Mario Kart, could particularly accomodate them anyway.

 

[Deleted member 1273]

I think they could use some rework, add more features and maybe clothing could be cool

 

[Axisofweevils]

I'm stunned how little integration there is between the Switch and Miitomo. "Win this outfit and decorate your room, which only people playing the app can see."