Analyst surprised by Nintendo's monetization in Miitomo

Coming from a Wired interview with Tokyo-based game industry analyst Serkan Toto...

“I personally was surprised. In Miitomo, you have $78 ‘micro’-transations, a mini-game with pachinko mechanics you need to pay for to play, a shop that is one of the main menu points, and avatar items inside that shop that cost the equivalent of $5 or more. Using this app is a first indication, there will be no Nintendo softness as far as mobile monetization is concerned.

Investors in particular were asking themselves if Nintendo would use the typical monetization methods Japanese mobile games use, because of the company’s family- and kid-friendly image. And yes, Nintendo seems to be open to whale hunting. For example, Miitomo doesn’t use a splash screen urging young users not to overpay—some Japanese top mobile games do have it.”