Nintendo System Development
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Defunct | September 16, 2015 |
| Fate | Merged with Nintendo Integrated Research & Development to form Nintendo Platform Technology Development |
| Headquarters | Kyoto , Japan |
Key people | Satoshi Yamato (first general manager), Masaru Shimomura (final general manager), Kiyoshi Mizuki (Deputy Manager, Network Operations & Development Department), Takeshi Shimada (Deputy Manager/Producer, Software Environment Development Department) |
| Products | Nintendo Network services, Software Development Kits (SDKs), peripherals such as Pokéwalker and Pokémotion, Wii Shop Channel, Nintendo eShop, Miiverse, StreetPass |
| Parent | Nintendo |
, widely recognized as Nintendo SDD and previously known under the names Nintendo Network Business & Development (NBD), Nintendo Network Service Development (NSD), and Nintendo Special Planning & Development (SPD), functioned as a division within Nintendo. Situated initially at the Nintendo Research Institute and later relocating to the Nintendo Development Center in Kyoto, it consisted of a unified team dedicated to both software and peripheral creation. SDD was organized into two main departments: the Network Development & Operations Department, which handled programming for Nintendo Network services in conjunction with the Nintendo Network Service Database, and the Software Environment Development Department, tasked with producing Software Development Kits (SDKs) along with associated technologies.
On September 16, 2015, SDD combined forces with Nintendo Integrated Research & Development (IRD), resulting in the establishment of Nintendo Platform Technology Development.
History
The origins of the Nintendo Special Planning & Development team trace back to former members of Nintendo R&D2, primarily engaged in porting projects and internal development for specialized hardware such as the Pokémon Mini and the Super Famicom Satellaview service. The majority of their software releases were limited to the Japanese market. The first general manager, Satoshi Yamato, was responsible for overseeing software development including titles for the Game Boy Advance and the e-Reader. Additionally, this group created peripherals like the Pokéwalker and Pokémotion devices. The final general manager, Masaru Shimomura, characterized the Mechanical Design Group as a compact creative unit that merged hardware and software teams to drive product innovation.
In 2008, the division formerly known as Nintendo SPD was rebranded as Nintendo Network Service Development (NSD), incorporating a new Network Planning Group. By 2011, NSD evolved into a division named Nintendo Network Business & Development under Shimomura’s leadership. This structure included the Nintendo Network Business Department, which housed two groups: the Mechanical Design Group, responsible for software titles and peripherals, and the Network Software Development Group, focused on Nintendo Network services. The following year, 2012, saw the creation of the Software Environment Development Department to concentrate on SDKs and experimental technological advancements.
In 2013, the division adopted the name Nintendo System Development Division (SDD). At this time, the Nintendo Network Business Department was reorganized into the Network Development & Operations Department to oversee both Nintendo Network programming and management of the Nintendo Network Service Database. The Mechanical Design Group was disbanded during this restructuring.
Ultimately, on September 16, 2015, SDD merged with Nintendo Integrated Research & Development (IRD) to form what is now known as Nintendo Platform Technology Development.
Network Operations & Development Department
Deputy Manager: Kiyoshi Mizuki
This division collaborated with Nintendo Network Service Database to create Nintendo Network services and contains the Network Software Development Group.
| Title | Category | 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 | 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 Nintendo Letter Box PAL |
Messaging system | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Masaru Shimomura |
Daiji Imai |
| WaraWara Plaza[1] | Operating system (Miiverse) | Wii U | 2012 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Katsuya Eguchi (EAD) Kouichi Kawamoto (SPD) |
Hisashi Nogami (EAD) |
| Miiverse[2] | Social network service | Wii U | 2012 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Junya Kondo (Hatena) Yusuke Beppu (NSD) |
Hideto Yuzawa Yoshiomi Kurisu (Hatena) |
| Nintendo Network ID | Wii U | 2012 | |||
| Wii U Chat[3] | Online chat service | Wii U | 2012 | Fumihiko Tamiya | |
| Nintendo eShop | Online distribution platform | Wii U | 2012 | Kiyoshi Mizuki | Kazuto Nakaya |
| Miiverse{{refn|} |
- Notes
Software Environment Development Department
Deputy Manager/Producer: Takeshi Shimada
The Software Environment Development Department was responsible for creating online communication systems and various middleware solutions, including work within the Application Group.
| 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
Prior to its disbandment in 2013, the Mechanical Design Group was engaged in developing both software titles and hardware peripherals for Nintendo gaming systems.
...| 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 |
- ↑ Co-developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development (EAD) and Nintendo Software Planning & Development (SPD).
- ↑ Co-developed by Hatena, Nintendo Network Service Database (NSD), and Denyusha.
- ↑ Co-developed by NERD, NTD, and Vidyo.
- Articles with short description
- Nintendo divisions and subsidiaries
- Japanese video game companies no longer operating
- Video game firms founded in 1997
- Video game firms closed in 2015
- Video game development studios
- First-party game developers
- Companies located in Kyoto Prefecture
- Japanese companies that ceased operations in 2015
- Japanese companies founded in 1997
- Japanese companies disestablished in 2015