Nintendo Software Planning & Development
Template:Company-infobox Nintendo Software Planning & Development, often shortened to Nintendo SPD, was a division of Nintendo that focuses 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 disolved 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 performs many tasks; it either works independently on small, oftentimes unique, games, helps the development of a game alongside another team, or manages 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[2].
Mario games made by Nintendo SPD
Group No.1
Led by Yoshio Sakamoto, 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. Work done by the group was also the primary inspiration behind the Mii concept[3][4].
| Game | System | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| WarioWare: Twisted![5] | Game Boy Advance | 2004 |
| WarioWare: Touched![5] | Nintendo DS | 2004 |
| WarioWare: Smooth Moves[5] | Wii | 2006 |
| Bird & Beans | DSiWare | 2008 |
| Paper Airplane Chase | DSiWare | 2008 |
| WarioWare: Snapped![5] | DSiWare | 2008 |
| WarioWare: D.I.Y.[5] | Nintendo DS | 2009 |
| WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase[5] | WiiWare | 2009 |
| Game & Wario[5] | Wii U | 2013 |
| Rhythm Tengoku: The Best+[6] | Nintendo 3DS | 2015 |
Group No.2
Managed by Hitoshi Yamagami, Group No.2 worked on some of the titles in the Brain Age series, Dr. Mario series as well as other standalone titles, mostly for handheld systems.
| Game | System | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix[7] | Nintendo GameCube | 2005 |
| Dr. Mario & Puzzle League[5] | Game Boy Advance | 2005 |
| Super Princess Peach[8] | Nintendo DS | 2006 |
| Tetris DS | Nintendo DS | 2006 |
| Dr. Mario Online Rx[9] | Wii | 2008 |
| Dr. Luigi (game)[9] | Wii U | 2013 |
| Dr. Mario: Miracle Cure[9] | Nintendo 3DS | 2015 |
Group No.3
Managed by Kensuke Tanabe, Group No.3 has developed quite a few of the Mario spin-off series, including the Mario Strikers games and the Mario vs. Donkey Kong games. Its main purpose is to assist the development of coproductions with western developers.
| Game | System | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong[10] | Game Boy Advance | 2004 |
| Super Mario Strikers[11] | Nintendo GameCube | 2005 |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis[10] | Nintendo DS | 2006 |
| Super Paper Mario[5] | Wii | 2007 |
| Mario Strikers Charged[11] | Wii | 2007 |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again![10] | Nintendo DS | 2009 |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem![10] | Nintendo DS | 2010 |
| Donkey Kong Country Returns[12] | Wii | 2010 |
| Paper Mario: Sticker Star[10] | Nintendo 3DS | 2012 |
| Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon[11] | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 |
| Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move[10] | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 |
| Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze[12] | Wii U | 2014 |
| Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars[10] | Nintendo 3DS | 2015 |
Group No.4
Led by Hiroshi Sato, Group No.4 worked on some of the later games in certain Mario franchises, including Mario Party and Donkey Kong.
| Game | System | Release year |
|---|---|---|
| DK King of Swing[13] | Game Boy Advance | 2005 |
| DK Jungle Climber[13] | Nintendo DS | 2007 |
| Mario Party 8[14] | Wii | 2007 |
| Mario Party DS[14] | Nintendo DS | 2007 |
| Mario Party 9[15] | Wii | 2012 |
| Mario Party Island Tour[15] | Nintendo 3DS | 2013 |
| Mario Party 10[15] | Wii U | 2015 |
References
- ^ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedQ3 Investor Meeting - ^ 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?
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Co-produced with Intelligent Systems
- ^ Co-produced with TNX Music Recordings
- ^ Co-produced with Konami
- ^ Co-produced with TOSE Software Co.
- ^ a b c Co-produced with Arika
- ^ a b c d e f g Co-produced with Nintendo Software Technology Corporation
- ^ a b c Co-produced with Next Level Games
- ^ a b Co-produced with Retro Studios
- ^ a b Co-produced with Paon
- ^ a b Co-produced with Hudson Soft
- ^ a b c Co-produced with Nd Cube
