Nintendo's Wii U and 3DS consoles haven't performed badly so far, but there's a real sense that they may not match their predecessors' huge success. According to a Nikkei report, however, the company plans to merge both divisions into a single unit in a month's time, and will invest 30 billion yen (about $340 million) in a new Kyoto development facility to be opened by the end of the year. The structural shift is intended to speed up development by allowing the previously separate divisions to share knowledge and technology
From Gonintendo
unifying console and portable divisions
first organizational restructure in the company since 2004
130 employees from Nintendo's console development team will join 150 employees from its handheld division
will be established February 16
new development building is due for completion at the end of the year
Nintendo hopes the move will encourage further connectivity between console and portable devices
this includes the implementation of handheld devices as console controllers
also includes the ability to continue playing their console game on their handheld when away from the couch
"In an effort to create more innovative and attractive products, Nintendo Co. will combine the development segments for its home video game consoles and handheld game devices.
The decision comes on the heels of recent releases of the Nintendo 3DS portable system in February 2011 and the Wii U home console last month. With more people using their smartphones and tablets for entertainment via the Internet, including games and videos, Nintendo aims to come up with next-generation game systems that will turn heads.
The two teams will eventually be integrated and the segment will be organized by function, such as circuits, mechanisms and design.
Game system development projects are becoming larger and taking longer to complete as the machines become more advanced. Nintendo apparently has its sights set on speeding up these projects by sharing development processes for consoles and handheld devices where possible and by reassigning personnel depending on the situation. It sees interactions between engineers as a potential hotbed of new ideas.
Such functions are already available with the Wii U, but Nintendo likely hopes to better streamline its products by tapping into such online services as Twitter and video sites."
Have to say while this was a kind time coming was hoping to see a major shift in development Studios Organization.
Also not sure how accurate but someone posted a site on neogaf called Kyoto reports talking about the different games the Nintendo outfit is working on.
It's like, I just love a cowboy
You know
I'm just like, I just, I know, it's bad
But I'm just like
Can I just like, hang off the back of your horse
And can you go a little faster?!
Forums
Topic: Nintendo establishing "unified development headquarters" on 2/16
Posts 1 to 2 of 2
This topic has been archived, no further posts can be added.