Nintendo System Development
Defunct R&D division of Nintendo
title: "Nintendo System Development" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["nintendo-divisions-and-subsidiaries", "defunct-video-game-companies-of-japan", "video-game-companies-established-in-1997", "video-game-companies-disestablished-in-2015", "video-game-development-companies", "first-party-video-game-developers", "companies-based-in-kyoto-prefecture", "japanese-companies-disestablished-in-2015", "japanese-companies-established-in-1997"] description: "Defunct R&D division of Nintendo" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_System_Development" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Defunct R&D division of Nintendo ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Nintendo System Development Division |
| logo | File:Nintendo SDD logo.png |
| image_caption | The exterior of the Nintendo Development Center in Kyoto, Japan. It houses the Nintendo SDD, EAD, SPD and IRD R&D divisions. |
| native_name | 任天堂企画開発本部 |
| native_name_lang | ja |
| romanized_name | Nintendō Kikaku Kaihatsu Honbu |
| former_name | |
| type | Division |
| fate | Merged with Nintendo Integrated Research & Development |
| foundation | (as Nintendo Special Planning & Development) |
| location | Kyoto, Japan |
| defunct | |
| successor | Nintendo Platform Technology Development |
| key_people | Masaru Shimomura (General Manager) |
| industry | Video games |
| products | Nintendo Network services |
| Various video game titles and peripherals | |
| num_employees | ≈30 |
| parent | Nintendo |
| divisions | Network Development & Operations |
| Software Environment Development | |
| :: |
| name = Nintendo System Development Division | logo = File:Nintendo SDD logo.png | image = | image_caption = The exterior of the Nintendo Development Center in Kyoto, Japan. It houses the Nintendo SDD, EAD, SPD and IRD R&D divisions. | native_name = 任天堂企画開発本部 | native_name_lang = ja | romanized_name = Nintendō Kikaku Kaihatsu Honbu | former_name = | type = Division | fate = Merged with Nintendo Integrated Research & Development | foundation = (as Nintendo Special Planning & Development) | location = Kyoto, Japan | defunct = | successor = Nintendo Platform Technology Development | key_people = Masaru Shimomura (General Manager) | industry = Video games | products = Nintendo Network services Various video game titles and peripherals | num_employees = ≈30 | parent = Nintendo | divisions = Network Development & Operations Software Environment Development 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.
On September 16, 2015, SDD merged with Nintendo Integrated Research & Development (IRD), becoming Nintendo Platform Technology Development.
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. 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.
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.
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.
::data[format=table title="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 | Nintendo Channel | Nintendo DSi Shop | Nintendo Zone | Friend List | StreetPass | Nintendo eShop | Nintendo Video | Nintendo Zone | Swapnote Nintendo Letter Box PAL | WaraWara Plaza | Miiverse | Nintendo Network ID | Wii U Chat | Nintendo eShop | Miiverse | StreetPass Relay | Miiverse | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Online distribution | Wii | 2006 | Masaru Shimomura | Kiyoshi Mizuki | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Online distribution | Wii | 2006 | Masaru Shimomura | Kiyoshi Mizuki | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Online distribution | Nintendo DSi | 2008 | Masaru Shimomura | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Network interface | Nintendo DS Nintendo DSi | 2009 | Masaru Shimomura | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Friends list | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Masaru Shimomura | Kiyoshi Mizuki | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Network interface | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Masaru Shimomura | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Online distribution | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Masaru Shimomura | Kazuto Nakaya | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Video player | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Masaru Shimomura | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Network interface | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Masaru Shimomura | Fumihiko Tamiya | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Messaging | Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Masaru Shimomura | Daiji Imai | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Operating system (Miiverse) | Wii U | 2012 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Katsuya Eguchi (Nintendo EAD) Kouichi Kawamoto (Nintendo SPD) | Hisashi Nogami (Nintendo EAD) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Social network | Wii U | 2012 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Junya Kondo (Hatena) Yusuke Beppu (Nintendo NSD) | Hideto Yuzawa Yoshiomi Kurisu (Hatena) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Wii U | 2012 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Online chat | Wii U | 2012 | | Fumihiko Tamiya | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Online distribution | Wii U | 2012 | Kiyoshi Mizuki | Kazuto Nakaya | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Social network | Web browser | 2013 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Junya Kondo (Hatena) Yusuke Beppu (Nintendo NSD) | Hideto Yuzawa Yoshiomi Kurisu (Hatena) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Network interface | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 | Kiyoshi Mizuki | Masatoshi Yamazaki | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Social network | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 | Kiyoshi Mizuki Junya Kondo (Hatena) Yusuke Beppu (Nintendo NSD) | Hideto Yuzawa Yoshiomi Kurisu (Hatena) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ::
;Notes:
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.
::data[format=table title="List of online infrastructures developed by Nintendo SDD Software Environment Development Department"]
| Title | Genre(s) | Platform(s) | Year | Producer(s) | Director(s) | WiiConnect24 | Wii system software | Nintendo DSi Browser | Download Play | Nintendo eShop | Mario Kart 7 | Kid Icarus: Uprising | Nintendo Land | StreetPass Relay | Tomodachi Life | Mario Kart 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wii | 2006 | |||||||||||||||
| Wii | 2006 | |||||||||||||||
| Nintendo DSi | 2009 | |||||||||||||||
| Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
| Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
| Nintendo 3DS | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
| Nintendo 3DS | 2012 | |||||||||||||||
| Wii U | 2012 | |||||||||||||||
| Nintendo 3DS | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
| Nintendo 3DS | 2013 | |||||||||||||||
| Wii U | 2014 | |||||||||||||||
| :: |
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.
::data[format=table]
| 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 | ||
| Pocket 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
Notes
References
References
- link. Kyoto NP
- "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".
- "Nintendo Consolidates Its Game Development Teams". [[Wired (magazine).
- "Nintendo Reveals Restructuring Plans". [[IGN]].
- N-Sider.com. [http://www.n-sider.com/personnelview.php?personnelid=371 Satoshi Yamato Profile]
- NOM Magazine. [http://personaltrainerwalking.com/iwata-asks/section-1.html Iwata Asks: Personal Trainer: Walking]
- Nintendo. [http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/eshop/0/0 Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS: Nintendo eShop]
- Nintendo. [http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/swapnote/0/0 Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS: Swapnote]
- Nintendo. [http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/wiiu/miiverse/0/0 Iwata Asks: Wii U: Miiverse]
- Nintendo. [http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/streetpass-relay-points/0/0 Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS: StreetPass Relay Points]
- N-Sider.com. [http://www.n-sider.com/games.php N-Sider Database]
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::