Nintendo System Development Explained

Nintendo System Development Division
Native Name:任天堂企画開発本部
Native Name Lang:ja
Romanized Name:Nintendō Kikaku Kaihatsu Honbu
Type:Division
Fate:Merged with Nintendo Integrated Research & Development
Foundation: (as Nintendo Special Planning & Development)
Location:Kyoto, Japan
Successor:Nintendo Platform Technology Development
Key People:Masaru Shimomura
(General Manager)
Industry:Video games
Products:Nintendo Network services
Various video game titles and peripherals
Num Employees:≈30[1]
Parent:Nintendo
Divisions:Network Development & Operations
Environment Development

commonly abbreviated as Nintendo SDD and formerly known as Nintendo Network Business & Development (NBD), Nintendo Network Service Development (NSD), and Nintendo Special Planning & Development (SPD), was a Japanese division located in the Nintendo Research Institute in Kyoto, Japan, until it moved to the Nintendo Development Center, also in Kyoto. The division consisted of a single development team that focused on software and peripheral development. SDD was composed of two development departments with different duties: the Network Development & Operations Department, which handled Nintendo Network service programming, in cooperation with Nintendo Network Service Database, and the Environment Development Department, which developed Software Development Kits (SDKs), among other technologies.[2]

On September 16, 2015, SDD merged with Nintendo Integrated Research & Development (IRD), becoming the Nintendo Platform Technology Development.[3] [4]

History

The Nintendo Special Planning & Development team originated from former Nintendo R&D2 staff, and was mainly responsible for ports and in-house development for low profile hardware, such as the Pokémon Mini and the Super Famicom Satellaview service. Most of the software developed by this group has remained domestic having hardly ever seen release outside Japan. The original general manager, Satoshi Yamato, produced all of the software which included in-house software for the Game Boy Advance, and the e-Reader.[5] The group also created mechanical devices and peripherals like the Pokéwalker and Pokémotion. The last general manager, Masaru Shimomura described the Mechanical Design Group as a small creative unit that has a hardware and a software team working jointly together to create innovative products.[6]

In 2008, Nintendo SPD was renamed to Nintendo Network Service Development. In 2011, the Nintendo NSD development team was consolidated into a division and was renamed to Nintendo Network Business & Development, appointing Masaru Shimomura as manager. Following the change, the Nintendo Network Business department was created. The department contained two different groups: the former Mechanical Design Group, which was responsible for developing software titles and peripherals, as well the new Network Planning Group, which was responsible for developing Nintendo Network services.

In 2013, the division renamed to Nintendo System Development Division. Nintendo consolidated the Network Planning Group into a department named Network Development & Operations Department which was responsible for handling Nintendo Network service programming in cooperation with Nintendo Network Service Database, and created the Environment Development Department', which developed Software Development Kits (SDKs), among experimental technologies. With the change, the Mechanical Design Group was dissolved.

On September 16, 2015, SDD merged with Nintendo Integrated Research & Development (IRD), becoming the Nintendo Platform Technology Development.[3] [4]

Network Operations & Development Department

Department Manager: Kiyoshi Mizuki

The Network Operations & Development Department was responsible for developing Nintendo Network services, in cooperation with the Nintendo Network Service Database. The department had two subgroups: the Network Software Development Group and the Application Group.

List of software and online infrastructures developed by Nintendo SDD Network Operations & Development Department
TitleType(s)Platform(s)Producer(s)Director(s)
Wii Shop ChannelOnline distributionWii2006Masaru ShimomuraKiyoshi Mizuki
Nintendo ChannelOnline distributionWii2006Masaru ShimomuraKiyoshi Mizuki
Nintendo DSi ShopOnline distributionNintendo DSi2008Masaru Shimomura
Nintendo ZoneNetwork interfaceNintendo DS
Nintendo DSi
2009Masaru Shimomura
Friend ListFriends listNintendo 3DS2011Masaru ShimomuraKiyoshi Mizuki
StreetPassNetwork interfaceNintendo 3DS2011Masaru Shimomura
Nintendo eShop[7] Online distributionNintendo 3DS2011Masaru ShimomuraKazuto Nakaya
Nintendo VideoVideo playerNintendo 3DS2011Masaru Shimomura
Nintendo ZoneNetwork interfaceNintendo 3DS2011Masaru ShimomuraFumihiko Tamiya
Swapnote[8]
Nintendo Letter Box PAL
MessagingNintendo 3DS2011Kiyoshi Mizuki
Masaru Shimomura
Daiji Imai
WaraWara PlazaOperating system (Miiverse)Wii U2012Kiyoshi Mizuki
Katsuya Eguchi (Nintendo EAD)
Kouichi Kawamoto (Nintendo SPD)
Hisashi Nogami (Nintendo EAD)
Miiverse[9] Social network2012Kiyoshi Mizuki
Junya Kondo (Hatena)
Yusuke Beppu (Nintendo NSD)
Hideto Yuzawa
Yoshiomi Kurisu (Hatena)
Nintendo Network IDWii U2012
Wii U ChatOnline chatWii U2012Fumihiko Tamiya
Nintendo eShopOnline distributionWii U2012Kiyoshi MizukiKazuto Nakaya
MiiverseSocial networkWeb browser2013Kiyoshi Mizuki
Junya Kondo (Hatena)
Yusuke Beppu (Nintendo NSD)
Hideto Yuzawa
Yoshiomi Kurisu (Hatena)
StreetPass Relay[10] Network interfaceNintendo 3DS2013Kiyoshi MizukiMasatoshi Yamazaki
MiiverseSocial networkNintendo 3DS2013Kiyoshi Mizuki
Junya Kondo (Hatena)
Yusuke Beppu (Nintendo NSD)
Hideto Yuzawa
Yoshiomi Kurisu (Hatena)
Notes:

Environment Development Department

The Environment Development Department was responsible for developing online communication infrastructures and middleware tools.

List of online infrastructures developed by Nintendo SDD Environment Development Department
TitleGenre(s)Platform(s)Producer(s)Director(s)
WiiConnect24Wii2006
Wii system softwareWii2006
Nintendo DSi BrowserNintendo DSi2009
Download PlayNintendo 3DS2011
Nintendo eShopNintendo 3DS2011
Mario Kart 7Nintendo 3DS2011
Nintendo 3DS2012
Nintendo LandWii U2012
StreetPass RelayNintendo 3DS2013
Tomodachi LifeNintendo 3DS2013
Mario Kart 8Wii U2014

Mechanical Design Group

Manager/Producer:

The Mechanical Design Group was responsible for developing software titles and peripherals for Nintendo video game consoles, until it was dissolved in 2013.

TitleYearPlatform(s)DirectorProducer
Satellaview1995HardwareMasaru ShimomuraSatoshi Yamato
BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge1996SatellaviewToshiaki SuzukiSatoshi Yamato
BS Marvelous Time Athletics1996SatellaviewEiji AonumaSatoshi Yamato
BS Marvelous Camp Arnold1996SatellaviewYoshinori TsuchiyamaSatoshi Yamato
Nintendo Power (cartridge)1996SNES
GB
BS F-Zero Grand Prix1997SatellaviewToshiaki SuzukiSatoshi Yamato
1997SatellaviewYoshinori TsuchiyamaSatoshi Yamato
Pokémon Pikachu1998Hardware
Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS1999Hardware
Poket Hello Kitty1999Hardware
Mobile Adapter GB2001HardwareMasaru ShimomuraSatoshi Yamato
Pokémon Party Mini2001Pokémon MiniShinya KawadaSatoshi Yamato
Pokémon Pinball Mini2001Pokémon MiniYoshikazu MoriSatoshi Yamato
Sakura Momoko no Ukiuki Carnival2002GBAToru OsawaSatoshi Yamato
Pokémon Race Mini2002Pokémon MiniShinya KawadaSatoshi Yamato
Pokémon Shock Tetris2002Pokémon MiniShinya KawadaSatoshi Yamato
Pokémotion2003HardwareShinya KawadaSatoshi Yamato
Mario Party-e2002e-ReaderToru OsawaSatoshi Yamato
Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter2004GBA
Slide Adventure MAGKID2007NDSKazunobu ShimizuShinya Kawada
2008NDSNaoya MorimuraShinya Kawada
2008NDSHirotaka WatanabeYoshinori Tsuchiyama
Pokéwalker2009HardwareMasaru ShimomuraJunichi Masuda
Hitoshi Yamagami
Discography Credits[11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ja:任天堂の新開発棟が始動 ゲーム機、ソフト生む拠点. http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/top/article/20140618000032. Kyoto NP. Kyoto NP. 22 June 2014. Japanese. https://web.archive.org/web/20140618030452/http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/top/article/20140618000032. 18 June 2014. dead.
  2. Web site: 任天堂、現状の開発組織体制は4本部+QOL事業開発本部…大企業病にならない本部同士の連携が重要. GameBusiness.jp. ja. 2019-01-15.
  3. Web site: Kohler. Chris. Nintendo Consolidates Its Game Development Teams. Wired. 15 September 2015.
  4. Web site: Rad. Chloi. Otero. Jose. Nintendo Reveals Restructuring Plans. IGN. 15 September 2015.
  5. N-Sider.com. Satoshi Yamato Profile
  6. NOM Magazine. Iwata Asks: Personal Trainer: Walking
  7. Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS: Nintendo eShop
  8. Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS: Swapnote
  9. Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Wii U: Miiverse
  10. Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS: StreetPass Relay Points
  11. N-Sider.com. N-Sider Database