AstroGamer on 02 February 2014
Nintendo's Total Number of employees: 5,195 internal, 1,988 external (as of September 30, 2013)
Nintendo has 7 main inhouse software development teams 5 in Kyoto and 2 in Tokyo
Kyoto Software Development Group 1
Led by Hideki Konno
Current Project: Mario Kart 8
Recent projects: Mario Kart 7, Nintendogs+Cats, Nintendo DSi Sound, Mario Kart Wii
This group is responsible for Mario Kart and Nintendogs. It is probably just one team with part of the team that temporarily separates for Nintendogs. There probably isn't going to be anything coming out from this group after Mario Kart 8 for a while likely to be Mario Kart for their Next Gen Handheld.
Kyoto Software Development Group 2
Led by Hisashi Nogami
Current Project: Wii Sports Club
Recent projects: Wii Sports Club, Animal Crossing Plaza, Nintendo Land, Animal Crossing New Leaf
This group is the main force for Animal Crossing and the main Wii titles. There are likely two "teams" one that works on Animal Crossing and another that works on the Wii titles. The former is probably working on Animal Crossing U for Winter 2014 and the latter is probably trying to finish Wii Sports Club as fast as it can with a project on the backburner
Kyoto Software Development Group 3
Led by Eiji Aonuma
Current Project: The Legend of Zelda Wii U
Recent projects: Legend of Zelda A Link Between Worlds, Windwaker HD, Skyward Sword, Spirit Tracks
It's pretty clear this is the Zelda group. They likely separate into two "teams", one for the handheld and one for the console. Interestingly, Windwaker HD was directed by the guy who directed the DS ones while ALBW was directed by someone else
Kyoto Software Development Group 4
Led by Hiroyuki Kimura
Current Project: ???
Recent projects: Pikmin 3, New Super Luigi U, New Super Mario Bros. U, New Super Mario Bros. 2
I'm not really sure how this one is structured. I do know that NSMB2 was a separate team from NSMBU but unsure on the rest. I'm also unsure on what they are going to do next. Working on a next gen 2D mario seems a bit early so I don't think so but maybe. Likely working on something NFC related
Kyoto Software Development Group 5
Led by Tadashi Sugiyama
Current Project: ???
Recent projects:Steel Diver Sub Wars, Wii Fit U, Star Fox 3D, Steel Diver
This group is primarily dealing with Wii Fit and helping Vitei with Steel Diver. I expect if a new Star Fox is in development, these guys will have a hand in it. They could also be doing something NFC or something demonstrating Wii U GamePad
Tokyo Software Development Group 1
Led by Takao Shimizu
Current Project: ???
Recent projects: Nintendo 3DS Guide: Louvre( with indieszero), Photo Together with Super Mario, LoZ: Four Swords Anniversary Edition (w/ Grezzo), LoZ: Ocarina of Time 3D(w/ Grezzo)
This group supervises the Zelda remakes and does guides. If Majora's Mask 3D was being made, these guys would be codeveloping it.
Tokyo Software Development Group 2
Led by Yoshiaki Koizumi
Current Project: Next 3D Mario
Recent projects: NES Remix(1+2)(with indieszero), Super Mario 3D World, Flipnote Studio 3D, Super Mario 3D Land
These are where the Galaxy team is. Confirmed in an interview that they are working on the next Mario. Seems to use the gamepad a lot more. They have close to 100 employees
Software Planning & Development (SPD)
This is a division of the development group is led by the veterans but is filled with younger employees. There are 4 development group plus one in the SDD Department. Most of these groups don't seem to do their own projects but rather help with other projects' development
SPD Group 1
Led by Yoshio Sakamoto, Katsuya Yamano (supervisor)
Current Project:???
Recent Projects: Game & Wario (w/Intelligent Systems), Tomodachi Life, Kiki Trick, Rhythm Heaven Fever
These guys seem to be in charge of Tomodachi, Rhythm Heaven and non-Retro Metroid as well as a hand in the Warioware. It seems they have a main team with a Wario/Rhythm Heaven sub team.
SPD Group 2
Led by Hitoshi Yamagami
Current Project: X, Bayonetta 2
Recent Projects: Wonderful 101, Fire Emblem Awakening, Style Savvy Trendsetters, Pandora's Tower
It seems this group pitches a hand with Fire Emblem games and 2nd Party games
SPD Group 3
Led by Kensuke Tanabe, Keisuke Terasaki (sub-manager)
Current Project:???
Recent Projects: Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, Lego City Undercover, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Fluidity Spin Cycle
This group seems to pitch in with Western 2nd Party Development plus Paper Mario. maybe working on next Mario vs. Donkey Kong for Wii U
SPD Group 4
Led by Hiroshi Sato, Toshiharu Izuno
Current Project:???
Recent Projects: Mario Golf: World Tour, Mario Party Island Tour, Mario & Luigi Dream Team, Wii Party U, Mario Tennis Open
This team seems to help with the party games and Mario spinoffs. They've also helped iNis, Cing and Paon. Probably working with Nd Cube on Mario Party 10
Software Development Group
Led by Kouichi Kawamoto
Current Project:???
Recent Projects: Band Brothers P, Brain Age: Concentration Training
This team is fairly special to actually develop games on their own so we could see a new IP from them relatively soon or they are working on stuff for QoL
Nintendo Software Technology
This is the Western branch of Nintendo software development based in Redmond Washington
Led by Shigeki Yamashiro
Current Project: ???
Recent Projects: Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the move, Wii Street U, Crosswords Plus, Wii U Chat (with NERD and Vidyo)
It's unknown what they are going to work on next. Maybe Mario and Donkey Kong again ifthe demo was any indication. Probably QoL stuff too. I think they probably have a hand in NA's Virtual Console though I can't be too sure. That may just be Treehouse. Based in Redmond, Washington.
Integrated Research & Development (IRD)
The main hardware division that recently merged with handheld division, the Research & Engineering Development. It originally had 4 teams for each division.
Nintendo Technology Department
The western counterpart to IRD, it also develops development kits for 1st and 3rd Party. Based in Redmond, Washington.
Nintendo European Research and Development (NERD)
Based in Paris, France, it was formerly Mobiclip famous for its Actimagine Video codec which was commonly used for displaying videos of mobile and Nintendo devices. Developed Wii U Chat with NST and Vidyo and the Wii U Browser
Nintendo System Development(SDD) Formely Nintendo Network Service Database
This was formerly Wii no Minna, an entertainment channel for Japan. Then, with the introduction of the eShop, they turned into this and have been converted to Nintendo Network maintenance and programming. they also help with third party online infrastructure. They were renamed in 2013. Currently has >100 employeesThey really should beef this up much more at least in talent. they developed Miiverse and the eShop
1st Party Studios
1-UP Studio(formerly Brownie Brown)
# of Employees: 25
Current Project:???
Recent Project: Super Mario 3D World , Fantasy Life (with Level 5, Super Mario 3D Land, A Kappa's Trail, London Life in Professor Layton and the Last Specter(Level 5)
It consists of many ex-Square Co., Ltd. 2D artists including two people who had worked on the Mana series. Underwent a infrastructure change last year and changed into 1-UP Studio. This studio is mostly a co-development team now so don't expect to get a game from them soon.
HAL Laboratory
# of Employees: 143
Current Project: ???
Recent Projects: Kirby Triple Deluxe, Kirby's Dream Collection, Kirby's Return to Dreamland, Kirby's Mass Attack, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Face Raiders (3DS)
Originally was a developer of games for MSX and Commodore VICS-20 in 1980s then switched over to Nintendo once they came around and succeeded . They mostly make Kirby games now so they could be working on a Kirby Wii U game though they have a surprising amount of employees for the rate of games they do.
Creatures Inc.
# of Employees 82
Current project:???
Recent Project: Pokepark 2, Pokedex 3D, Pokemon Ranger Guardian Signs, Spin Six, helped with Pokemon X & Y
It's the successor to Ape Inc. but has been working on Pokemon stuff for a while, particularly the 3D Models of Pokemon. If Pokken is a really thing, its likely these guys are helping. They could also be doing that Pokemon Detective game
Intelligent Systems
# of Employees: 130
Current Project: Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem
Recent Projects: Daigasso! Band Brothers P, Game & Wario, Paper Mario Sticker Star, Crashmo, Fire Emblem Awakening, they also make a variety of middleware tools for Nintendo
Intelligent Systems likely has many teams and has released the most games for each Nintendo system of any Nintendo Studio. They are likely working on a few more games including probably a new Paper Mario.
Monolift Soft
Two studios, one in Tokyo and the other in Kyoto
# of Employees: 108(as of March 31, 2013)
Tokyo Studio
Current Project: X
Recent Projects: Xenoblade Chronicles, Disaster: Day of Crisis, Project X Zone, Super Robot Taisen OG Saga: Endless Frontier EXCEED
Originally founded by former Square employees after Chrono Cross and Xenogears after recieving an Investment from Namco. In 2007, Namco sold 80% of its hold to Nintendo and the remaining 16% in 2010. Their main focus seems to be their own original RPGs so it seems they'll mostly be busy with X for the rest of 2014 and maybe start a new IP after it is done
Kyoto Studio
# of Employees: 30(as of July 2013)
Current Project: ???
Recent Projects: Legend of Zelda: A Link Between World, Pikmin 3,Animal Crossing New Leaf
The Kyoto studio is mostly an art studio supplying art assets for Nintendo games. While they did show concept art when hiring a little while ago, I don't think they have any programmers. Founded in July 2011, after Nintendo's acquistion of the studio
Nd Cube
# of Employees:???
Current Project:???
Recent projects: Mario Party: Island Tour, Wii Party U, Mario Party 9, Wii Party, Tube Slider, FZero: Maximum Velocity
Originally former in 2000, the Studio had a mass exodus in 2006. In 2010, Nintendo bought 98% of the remaining shares in a addition to the 78% they had already owned. Studio is filled with former Mario Party devs after Hudson's purchase by Konami. We're likely to see a Mario Party 10 from these guys, hopefully a bit more like the early entries.
Retro Studios
# of Employees: 51-200
Current project: ???
Recent Projects: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, assisted Mario Kart 7
They were originally made of former Acclaim employees in 1998 and attempted 4 original projects that were quickly cancelled in favor of Metroid Prime. Since they are done with Tropical Freeze, the have started their next game already indicated by the frequent Job postings. As for what the project is, there hasn't been signs as from that Metroid pin at VGX.
