Nintendo Software Planning & Development
| Nintendo Software Planning & Development | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2004[1] |
| Defunct | September 16, 2015[?] |
| First Super Mario game | Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2004) |
| Latest Super Mario game | Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo Switch) (2018) |
Nintendo Software Planning & Development, often shortened to Nintendo SPD, was a division of Nintendo that focused on research, planning, and development. Shinya Takahashi was the deputy general manager of Nintendo SPD. The division itself was divided into four groups, labeled Group No.1, Group No.2, Group No.3, and Group No.4. Nintendo SPD was created shortly after Nintendo dissolved two of its other teams, Nintendo R&D1 and Nintendo R&D2. Several former staff members from R&D1, R&D2, and Nintendo EAD made up a large amount of the division's members, though there were many newcomers to the group. Nintendo SPD performed many tasks; it either worked independently on small, oftentimes unique, games, helped the development of a game alongside another team, or managed the production of first-party franchises. The division was primarily created to focus on co-productions and thus allow EAD's management to focus on internal projects.[1]
On September 14, 2015, Nintendo announced plans to merge the game development arm of SPD and Nintendo EAD into a new division known as Nintendo Entertainment Planning and Development, effective September 16, 2015.[2]
Super Mario games made by Nintendo SPD[edit]
Group No.1[edit]
Led by Yoshio Sakamoto and Katsuya Yamano, Group No.1 was responsible for developing most of the titles for the WarioWare series and all of the titles for the Rhythm Heaven series. Members of the team also created the Mii editor for the Wii.[3][4][5]
| Game | System | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| WarioWare: Twisted![6] | Game Boy Advance | 2004 |
| WarioWare: Touched![6] | Nintendo DS | 2004 |
| WarioWare: Smooth Moves[6] | Wii | 2006 |
| Bird & Beans | DSiWare | 2008 |
| Paper Airplane Chase | DSiWare | 2008 |
| WarioWare: Snapped![6] | DSiWare | 2008 |
| WarioWare: D.I.Y.[6] | Nintendo DS | 2009 |
| WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase[6] | WiiWare | 2009 |
| Rhythm Heaven Fever[7] | Wii | 2011 |
| Game & Wario[6] | Wii U | 2013 |
| Rhythm Heaven Megamix[7] | Nintendo 3DS | 2015 |
Notable members[edit]
Group No.2[edit]
Managed by Hitoshi Yamagami, Group No.2 worked on some of the titles in the Brain Age series and Dr. Mario series, as well as other standalone titles, mostly for handheld systems.
| Game | System | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix[8] | Nintendo GameCube | 2005 |
| Dr. Mario & Puzzle League[6] | Game Boy Advance | 2005 |
| Super Princess Peach[9] | Nintendo DS | 2006 |
| Tetris DS | Nintendo DS | 2006 |
| Wario: Master of Disguise[10] | Nintendo DS | 2007 |
| Dr. Mario Online Rx[11] | Wii | 2008 |
| Dr. Luigi[11] | Wii U | 2013 |
| Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure[11] | Nintendo 3DS | 2015 |
Notable members[edit]
- Masaki Tawara
- Azusa Tajima (now for NOA)
- Takao Nakano
Group No.3[edit]
Managed by Kensuke Tanabe, Group No.3 has developed quite a few of the Super Mario spinoff series, including the Mario Strikers, the Mario vs. Donkey Kong, and the Paper Mario series. Its main purpose is to assist the development of coproductions with western developers.
| Game | System | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Strikers[12] | Nintendo GameCube | 2005 |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis[13] | Nintendo DS | 2006 |
| Super Paper Mario[6] | Wii | 2007 |
| Mario Strikers Charged[12] | Wii | 2007 |
| Captain Rainbow[14] | Wii | 2008 |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again![13] | Nintendo DS | 2009 |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem![13] | Nintendo DS | 2010 |
| Donkey Kong Country Returns[15] | Wii | 2010 |
| Paper Mario: Sticker Star[13] | Nintendo 3DS | 2012 |
| Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon[12] | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 |
| Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move[13] | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 |
| Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D[15] | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 |
| Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[15] | Wii U | 2014 |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars[13] | Nintendo 3DS / Wii U | 2015 |
Notable members[edit]
Group No.4[edit]
Led by Hiroshi Sato, Group No.4 worked on some of the later games in certain Super Mario franchises, including Mario Party, DK, Mario & Luigi, and most Super Mario sports-themed games. The group has another development team, led by Toshiharu Izuno.
| Team led by Hiroshi Sato and/or Toyokazu Nonaka | ||
|---|---|---|
| Game | System | Release year |
| Mario Party 6[16] | Nintendo GameCube | 2004 |
| Mario Party Advance[16] | Game Boy Advance | 2005 |
| Mario Superstar Baseball[17] | Nintendo GameCube | 2005 |
| Mario Party 7[16] | Nintendo GameCube | 2005 |
| Mario Hoops 3-on-3[18] | Nintendo DS | 2006 |
| Mario Party 8[16] | Wii | 2007 |
| Mario Party DS[16] | Nintendo DS | 2007 |
| Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games[19] | Wii/Nintendo DS | 2007/2008 |
| Mario Super Sluggers[17] | Wii | 2008 |
| Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games[19] | Wii/Nintendo DS | 2009 |
| Mario Sports Mix[18] | Wii | 2011 |
| Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games[19] | Wii/Nintendo 3DS | 2011/2012 |
| Mario Party 9[20] | Wii | 2012 |
| Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games[19] | Wii U | 2013 |
| Mario Party: Island Tour[20] | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 |
| Mario Party 10[20] | Wii U | 2015 |
| Team led by Toshiharu Izuno | ||
|---|---|---|
| Game | System | Release year |
| Mario Power Tennis[21] | Nintendo GameCube | 2004 |
| DK: King of Swing[22] | Game Boy Advance | 2005 |
| Mario Tennis: Power Tour[21] | Game Boy Advance | 2005 |
| Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time[23] | Nintendo DS | 2005 |
| Donkey Kong Barrel Blast[22] | Wii | 2007 |
| DK: Jungle Climber[22] | Nintendo DS | 2007 |
| Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story[23] | Nintendo DS | 2009 |
| Mario Tennis Open[21] | Nintendo 3DS | 2012 |
| Mario & Luigi: Dream Team[23] | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 |
| Mario Golf: World Tour[21] | Nintendo 3DS | 2014 |
Notable members[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "In 2004, we established the Software Planning & Development Division to relieve Mr. Miyamoto from handling the games co-developed with second parties to enable him to concentrate on internal development." Iwata, Satoru (February 17, 2015). Third Quarter Financial Results Briefing for Fiscal Year Ending March 2015 Q&A. Nintendo. Retrieved February 24, 2015)
- ^ Rad, Chloi, and Otero, Jose. Nintendo Reveals Restructuring Plans (September 14, 2015), IGN. Retrieved September 14, 2015
- ^ Yoshio's Sakamoto GDC '10 Keynote
- ^ CVG: Tomodachi Life: Can Nintendo's maddest game make waves in the west?
- ^ Official Miitomo website (June 30, 2016), Miitomo's Potential. Nintendo
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Co-produced with Intelligent Systems
- ^ a b Co-produced with TNX Music Recordings
- ^ Co-produced with Konami
- ^ Co-produced with TOSE Software Co.
- ^ Co-produced with SUZAK
- ^ a b c Co-produced with Arika
- ^ a b c Co-produced with Next Level Games
- ^ a b c d e f Co-produced with Nintendo Software Technology Corporation
- ^ Co-produced with skip Ltd.
- ^ a b c Co-produced with Retro Studios
- ^ a b c d e Co-produced with Hudson Soft
- ^ a b Co-produced with Namco Bandai Games
- ^ a b Co-produced with Square Enix
- ^ a b c d Co-produced with Sega
- ^ a b c Co-produced with NDcube
- ^ a b c d Co-produced with Camelot Software Planning
- ^ a b c Co-produced with Paon
- ^ a b c Co-produced with AlphaDream
