Nintendo System Development

Defunct R&D division of Nintendo

Nintendo System Development Division

Native name

| 任天堂企画開発本部

Romanized name

| Nintendō Kikaku Kaihatsu Honbu
Formerly|

* Nintendo Network Business & Development
* Nintendo Network Service Development
* Nintendo Special Planning & Development

Company type| Division
Industry| Video games
Founded| 1997; 28 years ago (1997) (as Nintendo Special Planning & Development)
Defunct| September 16, 2015 (2015-09-16)
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
Software Environment Development

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 division of Nintendo. It was 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 Software 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 Nintendo Platform Technology Development.[3][4]

## History

[edit]

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, creating the Network Planning Group alongside it. 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 Network Software Development Group, which was responsible for developing Nintendo Network services. In 2012, the Software Environment Development Department was created, which developed Software Development Kits (SDKs), among experimental technologies.

In 2013, the division was renamed to Nintendo System Development Division. Nintendo consolidated the Nintendo Network Business Department into a department named Network Development & Operations Department which was responsible for handling Nintendo Network service programming in cooperation with Nintendo Network Service Database. 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

[edit]

Deputy 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 the Network Software Development Group.

List of software and online infrastructures developed by Nintendo SDD Network Operations & Development Department  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

1. ^ Co-developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development (EAD) and Nintendo Software Planning & Development (SPD).
2. ^ a b c Co-developed by Hatena, Nintendo Network Service Database (NSD) and Denyusha.
3. ^ Co-developed by Nintendo European Research & Development (NERD), Nintendo Technology Development (NTD) and Vidyo.

## Software Environment Development Department

[edit]

Deputy Manager/Producer: Takeshi Shimada

The Software Environment Development Department was responsible for developing online communication infrastructures and middleware tools. The department had the Application Group.

List of online infrastructures developed by Nintendo SDD Software Environment Development Department  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

[edit]

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

[edit]

1. ^ Japanese: 任天堂企画開発本部, Hepburn: Nintendō Shisutemu Kaihatsu Honbu

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 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 June 18, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
2. ^ "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 January 15, 2019.
3. ^ a b Kohler, Chris. "Nintendo Consolidates Its Game Development Teams". Wired. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
4. ^ a b Rad, Chloi; Otero, Jose. "Nintendo Reveals Restructuring Plans". IGN. Retrieved September 15, 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

Portal:

* Video games

* v
* t
* e

Nintendo development teams

Nintendo

Divisions|

* Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD)
* Technology Development Division (TDD)

| Former|

* Research & Development 1
* Research & Development 2
* Integrated Research & Development (IRD)
* Research & Engineering (RED)
* Entertainment Analysis & Development (EAD)
* Software Planning & Development (SPD)
* System Development (NSD)

|

Subsidiaries|

* 1-Up Studio
* iQue
* Mario Club
* Monolith Soft
* Next Level Games
* Nintendo Cube
* Nintendo European Research & Development
* Nintendo Pictures
* Nintendo Software Technology
* Nintendo Systems
* Nintendo Technology Development
* Retro Studios
* Shiver Entertainment
* SRD

Major affiliates|

* Bandai Namco
* Studios
* Camelot Software Planning
* Creatures Inc.
* Cygames
* DeNA
* Game Freak
* Genius Sonority
* Good-Feel
* Grezzo
* HAL Laboratory
* indieszero
* Intelligent Systems
* Jupiter Corporation
* Koei Tecmo
* Omega Force
* Team Ninja
* The Pokémon Company

| Former|

* AlphaDream
* Artoon
* Angel Studios
* Argonaut Games
* Cing
* DMA Design
* Factor 5
* Hudson Soft
* Left Field Productions
* Marigul Management
* Ambrella
* Noise
* Param
* Monster Games
* Rare
* Silicon Knights
* Skip Ltd.
* syn Sophia
* Vanpool

|

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