Nintendo unifying handheld and console dev structure in new headquarters
Update: Bumped to the front page. Posted more details below along with translations from Nikkei’s article.
Nintendo’s handheld and console development divisions have been maintained as separate entities. Next month, however, the two will be unified in a new headquarters location.
Apparently this move will be the first large-scale development structural change in nine years.
The reasons for unification certainly make sense. Developers from both fields will be able to share know-how, basic skills, and optimize development. Nintendo is additionally looking to increase the link between handhelds and consoles, raise affinity with the Internet, and develop revolutionary hardware.
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.
– 130 employees from the console team joining 150 employees from the handheld team
– Move is taking place on February 16
– New building will be completed next year
– Will be right next to Nintendo’s current headquarters in Kyoto
– Nintendo also hopes to have game data sharing so players can continue playing their console game on their handheld when away from the couch
– While this is already starting with Wii U, “Nintendo likely hopes to better streamline its products by tapping into such online services as Twitter and video sites.”
