• Images
• Videos
• Documents
• Books
• Articles

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, 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.⁷⁸

Network Operations & Development Department

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.

Software Environment Development Department

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.

Mechanical Design Group

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

Discography Credits¹⁸

Notes

References

1. Japanese: 任天堂企画開発本部, Hepburn: Nintendō Shisutemu Kaihatsu Honbu /wiki/Japanese_language ↩

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. https://www.gamebusiness.jp/article/2015/02/20/10584.html ↩

3. Kohler, Chris. "Nintendo Consolidates Its Game Development Teams". Wired. Retrieved September 15, 2015. https://www.wired.com/2015/09/nintendo-ead-spd-merge/ ↩

4. Rad, Chloi; Otero, Jose. "Nintendo Reveals Restructuring Plans". IGN. Retrieved September 15, 2015. http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/09/14/nintendo-reveals-restructuring-plans ↩

5. N-Sider.com. Satoshi Yamato Profile http://www.n-sider.com/personnelview.php?personnelid=371 ↩

6. NOM Magazine. Iwata Asks: Personal Trainer: Walking http://personaltrainerwalking.com/iwata-asks/section-1.html ↩

7. Kohler, Chris. "Nintendo Consolidates Its Game Development Teams". Wired. Retrieved September 15, 2015. https://www.wired.com/2015/09/nintendo-ead-spd-merge/ ↩

8. Rad, Chloi; Otero, Jose. "Nintendo Reveals Restructuring Plans". IGN. Retrieved September 15, 2015. http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/09/14/nintendo-reveals-restructuring-plans ↩

9. Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS: Nintendo eShop http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/eshop/0/0 ↩

10. Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS: Swapnote http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/swapnote/0/0 ↩

11. Co-developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development (EAD) and Nintendo Software Planning & Development (SPD). /wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_Analysis_%26_Development ↩

12. Co-developed by Hatena, Nintendo Network Service Database (NSD) and Denyusha. /wiki/Hatena_(company) ↩

13. Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Wii U: Miiverse http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/miiverse/0/0 ↩

14. Co-developed by Nintendo European Research & Development (NERD), Nintendo Technology Development (NTD) and Vidyo. /wiki/Nintendo_European_Research_%26_Development ↩

15. Co-developed by Hatena, Nintendo Network Service Database (NSD) and Denyusha. /wiki/Hatena_(company) ↩

16. Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS: StreetPass Relay Points http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/streetpass-relay-points/0/0 ↩

17. Co-developed by Hatena, Nintendo Network Service Database (NSD) and Denyusha. /wiki/Hatena_(company) ↩

18. N-Sider.com. N-Sider Database http://www.n-sider.com/games.php ↩