For Nintendo, today is the start of the holiday season for its fans, as the company announced that the first 12 amiibo interactive figures are now available for pre-order. They are priced at $12.99 each.
The first 12 characters available for pre-order are Mario, Peach, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Pikachu, Kirby, Fox, Marth, Villager, and Wii Fit Trainer. Nintendo says there are more on the way in the future.
First revealed at E3 2014, Amiibo are figurines that make use of NFC (near-field communication technology) to act as a veritable memory card for compatible games. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U will be the first game with full integration of amiibo functionality. In it, each figure will store its own unique stats and fighting style, and will evolve as they are played.
Other games will support amiibo too, however, including Mario Kart 8, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, Mario Party 10, and Yoshi's Woolly World, with more to come. Details regarding amiibo functionality with these games will be revealed "shortly," Nintendo says. As will the actual launch date of the amiibo figures.
