Nintendo System Development

Nintendo
System Development Division

Former type	Division
Industry	Video games
Successor	Nintendo PTD
Founded	1997
Defunct	September 16, 2015 (2015-09-16)
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

The Nintendo System Development Division (or SDD) was formerly known as Nintendo Network Business & Development (or NBD), Nintendo Network Service Development (or NSD), and Nintendo Special Planning & Development (or SPD), 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 Environment Development Department, which developed Software Development Kits (SDKs), among other technologies.

On September 16, 2015, SDD merged with Nintendo Integrated Research & Development (IRD), becoming the Nintendo Platform Technology Development.^[2][3]

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

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.^[6][3]

Network Operations & Development Department

Department Manager: Kiyoshi Mizuki

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.

Notes

Environment Development Department

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

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.

Discography Credits^[11]

References

1. ↑ 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/ (in Japanese). Kyoto NP. Retrieved 22 June 2014.  External link in |website= (help)
2. ↑ Kohler, Chris. "Nintendo Consolidates Its Game Development Teams". Wired. Retrieved 15 September 2015. 
3. 1 2 Rad, Chloi; Otero, Jose. "Nintendo Reveals Restructuring Plans". IGN. Retrieved 15 September 2015. 
4. ↑ N-Sider.com. Satoshi Yamato Profile
5. ↑ NOM Magazine. Iwata Asks: Personal Trainer: Walking
6. ↑ Kohler, Chris. "Nintendo Consolidates Its Game Development Teams". Wired. Retrieved 15 September 2015. 
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

Nintendo development teams International headquarters and distributors Divisions Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD) Platform Technology Development (PTD) Business Development Division (BDD) Subsidiaries Japan 1-UP Studio Nintendo Network Service Database (NSD) Monolith Soft Nd Cube North America Nintendo Software Technology (NST) Nintendo Technology Development (NTD) Retro Studios Europe Nintendo European Research & Development (NERD) China iQue Affiliated Creatures DeNA DigiPen Game Studios Game Freak Genius Sonority HAL Laboratory Intelligent Systems The Pokémon Company WarpStar Former Research & Development 1 Research & Development 2 Research & Engineering Department (RED) Entertainment Analysis & Development (EAD) Software Planning & Development (SPD) Integrated Research & Development (IRD) System Development (SD)