Nintendo System Development Division,[a] 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]
 | |
Native name | 任天堂企画開発本部 |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Nintendō Kikaku Kaihatsu Honbu |
| Formerly |
|
| Company type | Division |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1997 (as Nintendo Special Planning & Development) |
| Defunct | September 16, 2015 |
| Fate | Merged with Nintendo Integrated Research & Development |
| Successor | Nintendo Platform Technology Development |
| Headquarters | Kyoto, Japan |
Key people | Masaru Shimomura (General Manager) |
| Products | Nintendo Network services Various video game titles and peripherals |
Number of employees | ≈30[1] |
| Parent | Nintendo |
| Divisions | Network Development & Operations Environment Development |
On September 16, 2015, SDD merged with Nintendo Integrated Research & Development (IRD), becoming the Nintendo Platform Technology Development.[3][4]
History
editThe 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
editDepartment 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.
| Title | Type(s) | Platform(s) | Year | Producer(s) | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wii Shop Channel | Online distribution | Wii | 2006 | Masaru Shimomura | Kiyoshi Mizuki |
| Nintendo Channel | Online distribution | Wii | 2006 | Masaru Shimomura | Kiyoshi Mizuki |
| Nintendo DSi Shop | Online distribution | Nintendo DSi | 2008 | Masaru Shimomura | |
| Nintendo Zone | Network interface | Nintendo DS Nintendo DSi | 2009 | Masaru Shimomura | |
| Friend List | Friends list | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Masaru Shimomura | Kiyoshi Mizuki |
| StreetPass | Network interface | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Masaru Shimomura | |
| Nintendo eShop[7] | Online distribution | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Masaru Shimomura | Kazuto Nakaya |
| Nintendo Video | Video player | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Masaru Shimomura | |
| Nintendo Zone | Network interface | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Masaru Shimomura | Fumihiko Tamiya |
| Swapnote[8] Nintendo Letter Box PAL | Messaging | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Masaru Shimomura | Daiji Imai |
| WaraWara Plaza[co-developed 1] | Operating system (Miiverse) | Wii U | 2012 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Katsuya Eguchi (Nintendo EAD) Kouichi Kawamoto (Nintendo SPD) | Hisashi Nogami (Nintendo EAD) |
| Miiverse[co-developed 2][9] | Social network | Wii U | 2012 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Junya Kondo (Hatena) Yusuke Beppu (Nintendo NSD) | Hideto Yuzawa Yoshiomi Kurisu (Hatena) |
| Nintendo Network ID | Wii U | 2012 | |||
| Wii U Chat[co-developed 3] | Online chat | Wii U | 2012 | Fumihiko Tamiya | |
| Nintendo eShop | Online distribution | Wii U | 2012 | Kiyoshi Mizuki | Kazuto Nakaya |
| Miiverse[co-developed 2] | Social network | Web browser | 2013 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Junya Kondo (Hatena) Yusuke Beppu (Nintendo NSD) | Hideto Yuzawa Yoshiomi Kurisu (Hatena) |
| StreetPass Relay[10] | Network interface | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 | Kiyoshi Mizuki | Masatoshi Yamazaki |
| Miiverse[co-developed 2] | Social network | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Junya Kondo (Hatena) Yusuke Beppu (Nintendo NSD) | Hideto Yuzawa Yoshiomi Kurisu (Hatena) |
- Notes
Environment Development Department
editThe Environment Development Department was responsible for developing online communication infrastructures and middleware tools.
| Title | Genre(s) | Platform(s) | Year | Producer(s) | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WiiConnect24 | Wii | 2006 | |||
| Wii system software | Wii | 2006 | |||
| Nintendo DSi Browser | Nintendo DSi | 2009 | |||
| Download Play | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | |||
| Nintendo eShop | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | |||
| Mario Kart 7 | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | |||
| Kid Icarus: Uprising | Nintendo 3DS | 2012 | |||
| Nintendo Land | Wii U | 2012 | |||
| StreetPass Relay | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 | |||
| Tomodachi Life | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 | |||
| Mario Kart 8 | Wii U | 2014 |
Mechanical Design Group
editManager/Producer:
The Mechanical Design Group was responsible for developing software titles and peripherals for Nintendo video game consoles, until it was dissolved in 2013.
| Title | Year | Platform(s) | Director | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satellaview | 1995 | Hardware | Masaru Shimomura | Satoshi Yamato |
| BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge | 1996 | Satellaview | Toshiaki Suzuki | Satoshi Yamato |
| BS Marvelous Time Athletics | 1996 | Satellaview | Eiji Aonuma | Satoshi Yamato |
| BS Marvelous Camp Arnold | 1996 | Satellaview | Yoshinori Tsuchiyama | Satoshi Yamato |
| Nintendo Power (cartridge) | 1996 | SNES GB | ||
| BS F-Zero Grand Prix | 1997 | Satellaview | Toshiaki Suzuki | Satoshi Yamato |
| Excitebike: Super Mario Cup Battle | 1997 | Satellaview | Yoshinori Tsuchiyama | Satoshi Yamato |
| Pokémon Pikachu | 1998 | Hardware | ||
| Pokémon Pikachu 2 GS | 1999 | Hardware | ||
| Poket Hello Kitty | 1999 | Hardware | ||
| Mobile Adapter GB | 2001 | Hardware | Masaru Shimomura | Satoshi Yamato |
| Pokémon Party Mini | 2001 | Pokémon Mini | Shinya Kawada | Satoshi Yamato |
| Pokémon Pinball Mini | 2001 | Pokémon Mini | Yoshikazu Mori | Satoshi Yamato |
| Sakura Momoko no Ukiuki Carnival | 2002 | GBA | Toru Osawa | Satoshi Yamato |
| Pokémon Race Mini | 2002 | Pokémon Mini | Shinya Kawada | Satoshi Yamato |
| Pokémon Shock Tetris | 2002 | Pokémon Mini | Shinya Kawada | Satoshi Yamato |
| Pokémotion | 2003 | Hardware | Shinya Kawada | Satoshi Yamato |
| Mario Party-e | 2002 | e-Reader | Toru Osawa | Satoshi Yamato |
| Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter | 2004 | GBA | ||
| Slide Adventure MAGKID | 2007 | NDS | Kazunobu Shimizu | Shinya Kawada |
| Personal Trainer: Walking | 2008 | NDS | Naoya Morimura | Shinya Kawada |
| Cooking Guide: Can't Decide What to Eat? | 2008 | NDS | Hirotaka Watanabe | Yoshinori Tsuchiyama |
| Pokéwalker | 2009 | Hardware | Masaru Shimomura | Junichi Masuda Hitoshi Yamagami |
Discography Credits[11]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ 任天堂の新開発棟が始動 ゲーム機、ソフト生む拠点. Kyoto NP (in Japanese). Kyoto NP. Archived from the original on 18 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
- ^ "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 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-01-15.
- ^ a b Kohler, Chris. "Nintendo Consolidates Its Game Development Teams". Wired. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ^ a b Rad, Chloi; Otero, Jose. "Nintendo Reveals Restructuring Plans". IGN. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ^ N-Sider.com. Satoshi Yamato Profile
- ^ NOM Magazine. Iwata Asks: Personal Trainer: Walking
- ^ Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS: Nintendo eShop
- ^ Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS: Swapnote
- ^ Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Wii U: Miiverse
- ^ Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS: StreetPass Relay Points
- ^ N-Sider.com. N-Sider Database
