Topic: Nintendo OS

So Iwata made some comments recently about future Nintendo platforms. I'm sure you can find them but I'll link if anyone asks. Basically what he said was that future platforms would be something like 'brother systems', and that they would share the same architecture. Not sure if that means easier ports but it sounds like he's more interested in having all Nintendo games be made for all Nintendo platforms. That doesn't sound like a single next-gen system to me, that sounds like an operating system.

With a unified operating system, Nintendo would never again have to worry about backwards compatibility. They would port every game to one virtual console service, and every future Nintendo platform would have access to it. They also wouldn't have exclusivity between their own platforms. All the good handheld games would also be playable on consoles, and all the good console games would be playable on handhelds. That means that they will all also have similar hardware, but I think if the baseline platform (the weakest version) is as powerful as a PS4 (pretty likely considering we have some time before these are released), then they won't really need to upgrade ever again. They'll also all have similar controls. While I think the system will use Wii Remotes, the main controller will be something similar to a gamepad, as that's what works with most of the older games, and that's what makes sense on the go.

With a unified operating system, Nintendo has a lot more hardware options than just Handhelds and Consoles as well. They could also make desktop units designed to work in the same place as your PC (not replace it, just have a switch for the HDMI input or something). They could make a tablet for larger screen gaming on the go. They could make a Laptop or a Phone. They could even make a Kiosk that charges people for time much like an Arcade Cabinet. Of course, this would mean Nintendo also has a lot more competition from a variety of sources, including Apple, Micorsoft PCs, Sony Laptops, and the new Steam OS.

What do you think? Sound like something Nintendo could pull off, or is it just too ambitious?

That's basically what Valve is doing. No I don't see Nintendo doing the same, Nintendo are a closed platform and that makes sense for them. However I do see them moving towards merging the software of the two both on the VC and beyond. That's not dissimilar to what Apple does with its various products and it's about what Sony does with theirs AFAIK. What I suspect we'll see from Nintendo is a blurring of the lines between handheld and home system as well as a blurring of the lines between console generations. That's what they all have to do really.

As for the hardware well that's all speculation as much as it ever is. It doesn't change anything either. Significantly more than two "pillars"? I doubt it. Nintendo's strategy of "three pillars" where there are two main ones and the occasional experiment works well. I don't see them changing that anytime soon.

This would definitely make development a lot easier for everyone.

We know nintendo is so great at making OSs.

my favorite OS made by Nintendo was the Gamecube OS it was simple and straightforward it only lacked apps(non retail digital stuff) in my opinion

im excited about this. i always thought it would be smart of nintendo to have their own type of framework or language to standardize development across systems, and even features between games. im sure they have something that to now, but sounds like it will become much more extensive.

i like the idea brought up that it can blur the lines between generations. like how we used to get the same games for ps1 and ps2, and as well with ps2 and ps3 a bit, but this time you would buy one version of the game, and later when you upgrade you get to then play it with better graphics.

They should call it NintendOS.

seeing how ridiculous the copyright things arte getting Microsoft will sue them for using DOS in the name

It's not DOS, though. It's dOS.

it was a joke if things worked that way many companies would get sued by having a single syllable in the name of a product

Considering how ridiculous lawsuits can get, I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to try.

@Bolt_Strike true some lawsuits are getting so crazy it gets hard to even believe...

well if dos is indeed copyrighted I would sue as well. Its one of the reasons Microsoft has to change the name of Skydrive to Onedrive.

They'd probably make you buy it again anyway if it was originally for a system Wii U or older, but for anything after that it may just be tied to your account, so it would be playable on any future Nintendo device as long as you can log into it.

The hardware still make an difference when its come to OS as well. That is why we have "drivers" for new hardware and etc. I'm not sure you can have one OS with minor updates over long term period of time. What if you need to make some major changes such as making from 32-bit OS to 64-bit OS. Do you guys understand the issues I trying to address?