What Nintendo's Developing: Internal and External Studios

[DanneSandin]

What Nintendo's Developing: Internal Studios

EDIT: Well, that's some good timing.

Many know of Nintendo's games, but not what studios they have to develop them. Despite this, many like to predict what game announcements will be made soon. This is basically impossible to do well without knowing what tools Nintendo has to work with, and so I began this blog series about Nintendo's studios: their pasts, their present, and their potential futures. Yesterday I talked about Nintendo's external first party studios, so today, we'll move on to the internal groups. The history here is a bit odd, and the current model isn't set in stone, but nonetheless, let's begin.

Nintendo used to be split up into several R&D groups - four, to be precise. Midway through the Gamecube era, and shortly after Iwata became president, they experienced a massive restructuring, officially splitting up their main software development into 5 different groups titled "Entertainment and Analysis Division", or "EAD". These groups are watched over by Shigeru Miyamoto, while each individual group has their own director.

Entertainment and Analysis Group 1

Watched over by Hideki Konno, EAD1 is most famous for the Mario Kart franchise. Ever since the DS title, they've been the sole developers of the series, aside from Mario kart 7, which was co-developed with Retro Studios. Their first title was actually Nintendogs for the DS back in 2005, and they also worked on Nintendogs + Cats for the 3DS back at the system's launch. And that's about it. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that this is the team that's probably slaving away at Mario Kart Wii U right now, though I wouldn't be surprised if a downloadable title or a new Nintendogs game comes from this team at some point in the near future.

Entertainment and Analysis Group 2

Officially, this the team that works on the experimental hardware showcase games such as the Wii Sports series, the Wii play series, and Nintendoland. They've also made all the Animal Crossing titles since Wild World. Here's the thing, though: every interview and comment made by any of the developers or by Iwata seems to indicate that all of the experimental hardware titles were made by one team, and all of the Animal Crossing games are made by another, despite both technically being made by EAD2. This means, of course, that some of of the groups have multiple teams working on it.

Nevertheless, EAD2 is probably working on the confirmed Animal Crossing DLC, and possibly a Wii U AC sequel, as well. Wii Sports U, Wii U Play, Nintendoland 2, or something else along those lines is probably in the works, as well. If Nintendoland has any DLC on the way, that's being developed, too.

 Entertainment and Analysis Group 3

EAD3 is, quite simply, the Zelda team. Led by Eiji Aonuma, this team has been cranking out the Zelda titles since 2004. Aside from helping with Link's Crossbow Training, and potentially supporting Dillon's Rolling Western a bit, they've done nothing but create all of the main series titles in Nintendo's fantasy series. Originally, they had two teams inside the group: a handheld team and a console team. After Spirit Tracks wrapped up production, the handheld team moved over to help with Skyward Sword. Whether the entirety of the team did that, though, is unlikely, and they certainly didn't need the ENTIRE team up until SS released. Chances are, they've been working on a new handheld entry to the series for a some time now, though whether they have help from outside sources is up for debate.

And then there's the console team (I've been saying the "team" a lot, haven't I?), who has been confirmed to be making the Wii U entry to the franchise. The director of Skyward Sword did say he would try and make the next game in only 3 years, so we'll see if he lives up to his promise; though if he does, the handheld team's size probably dwindled because of it, making outside help on the handheld front even more likely.

 Entertainment and Analysis Group 4

EAD4 is led by Takashi Tezuka (who, for the record, helps Miyamoto oversee all the studios), and is mainly responsible responsible for the New Super Mario Bros. franchise. Their first game was back in 2004 with a remake of Super Mario 64 for the DS, followed up with Yoshi's Touch and Go and New Super Mario Bros. A couple of "Big Brain Academy"s were made by them as well, with the job of making the Wii remakes of Pikimin falling to this group, followed up by New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

In 2011, Nintendo took a large group of their newest developers and sent them to 'Mario Cram School", where they quickly learned how to properly design Mario levels. These devs ended up being the creators of New Super Mario Bros. 2, along with a few senior designers from the team. Most of these aforementioned senior designers, however, were working on New Super Mario Bros. U, attempting to get it out in time for the Wii U's launch. Apart from all of this, they've also supposedly been creating Pikimin 3. Unfortunately, there's literally no proof that this is true. Still, of all of Nintendo's official EAD studios, 4 makes the most sense to be developing Pikimin - it's possible that at the moment, there are 3 different teams in the group.

If that's the case, what's coming next? If one team filled with new members to the company finished NSMB2 in August and has finished releasing DLC since then, the second team finished NSMBU in November, and the final team is nearing completion of Pikimin 3, what's next? Well, here's what I personally predict. For all I know, though, they're working on yet another NSMB game.

Anyways, part of team 2 has been working on NSMBU DLC, which has both been confirmed, and probably will be revealed soon. The rest of the team has joined team 1 and are working on..... something. A Donkey Kong Country game? A new IP? Star Fox? It could really be anything, and I'm very excited to see what comes from the new, young minds at Nintendo, especially if they have the senior designers from team 2 to help them along. Team 3 is, of course, working on Pikimin 3, and some, if not all, of the team will probably work on some DLC after the release. After that, it's once again up in the air - Pikimin 4, Pikimin 3DS, F-Zero, Star Fox, new IP, Ice Climbers, Balloon Fight. Who knows?

Entertainment and Analysis Group 5

Aside from offering some support to second parties with games like Steel Diver and Star Fox 64 3D, this team has made Wii Fit, Wii Fit Plus, and is making Wii Fit U. That's it. I doubt anything else interesting will come of this group, at least not in it's current form. I can't wait for Wii Fit U+ 2, though.

Entertainment and Analysis Tokyo groups 1&2

EAD Tokyo is a large studio that technically has 2 groups, but really has 1 1/4. After every major project, it seems the majority of one team just switches over to the other half of the studio, leaving the rest to co-develop games with second parties and create apps. For example, look at the release schedule for the two teams.

Team 1: DK Jungle Beat in 2004, Mario Galaxy in 2007, a DS guide in 2010, helped Grezzo with OoT 3D and Four Swords in 2011. Team 2: Flipnote studio and DK Jungle Beat New Play Control in 2008, Super Mario Galaxy 2 in 2010, Super Mario 3D Land in 2011. Clearly, the majority of the group moved over to team 2, leaving the rest of team 1 to work on boring things. Why? I have absolutely no idea. Nevertheless, at the moment, only one team at EAD Tokyo is actually doing anything.

So what is it they've been doing since Mario 3D Land? As much as I'd like to say a new Donkey Kong, they're probably making the 3D Mario game for Wii U. It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out. If we're lucky, though, they expanded into two full fledged teams, and we'll get something other then the inevitable Mario. We'll see, I suppose.

Nintendo Software Planning & Development

SPD is Nintendo's other software making collection of teams in-house, but they typically don't make their own games; instead, they help second and external first party studios create titles, and make sure they live up to Nintendo's seal of quality. There are five different SPD groups, all of them specializing in different types of games. But quite simply, there's no need to analyze these guys. Apart from potentially making another Rythm Heaven, everything they'll make will be covered by other studios.

Aside from teams working on hardware, this is it. Surprisingly uninteresting, in my opinion - most groups have very predictable and not altogether exciting futures. With several likely rumors of a restructuring and expansion going around a while back, though, if we're lucky Nintendo's internal group of dev teams will start to get more crazy. I guess in the end, all we can do is wait and see. That said, second parties are easily going to be the most fun blog to do. Thanks for reading, and sound off below!

 

http://www.ign.com/blogs/81jono81/2013/01/15/what-nintendos-developing-internal-studios