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darkcreap on 19 July 2015
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Soundwave said:
UncleScrooge said:

It's comforting to know you are always here to educate me, Soundwave :P It's funny you act like I don't get Nintendo needs to save resources: Of course they do and that's exactly why I think they'll do what I said in my original post. So to clarify I will list some ways in which Nintendo can save resources (and not have to "increase their workforce by 2x-3x") by having two architectually similar platforms - only in my humble opinion, of course:

- Virtual Console games will run on both platforms with one programming effort (resources needed cut by almost 50%) 

- Game engines that can be modified and used between both platforms

- Not having to learn coding "from scratch" twice (this is what Iwata has been saying multiple times)

- Cross-Releases for some games (when it makes sense. Some games are better suited for a home console only, etc.)

- Maximising productivity of their workforce: Programmers can code for both platforms without needing special training

They can even use some sort of framework for less demanding games: Program it once and use the framework to make it run on both platforms, instead of having to develop two native versions. Couple that with a unified account system and Nintendo's plans to integrate their software teams instead of having them do stuff seperately and that's a lot of resources saved. They also talked a lot about "collaborations" and I assume that means partnering up with external development studios to increase game output. 

I don't claim I know the truth, I'm just speculating. I assume your solution would be a Fusion console, right? But Nintendo never talked about a "Fusion" console and they don't have any plans to kill off either their home console or handheld line, so I assume they are going to maximise their game output by taking the aforementioned steps. It's perfectly fine if you disagree and think I have no idea what I'm talking about. But I distinctly remember when Nintendo talked openly about "Blue Ocean Strategy" and "Disruptive Products" and "Fun and motion in our next home console like you've never seen before" and instead of taking Nintendo's words at face value the internet speculated about all kinds of crazy things. In the end Nintendo was hiding its strategy in plain sight. 

Actually the quote on this from the late Iwata-san is fairly vague. He mentions there could be multiple SKUs, but then he mentions in the same quote that they may only need one singular device. We have no idea which direction they ultimately landed on. 


I remember Iwata-san giving numerous clues on architecture integration on Q&A meetings. Besides, they already have this Nintendo Web Framework. They used it to develop the latest Mario vs Donkey Kong game, which is available on WiiU and 3DS.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Web_Framework

I think that Nintendo's strategy is going to be:

-Provinding middleware frameworks to help developers develop a game with little to no changes from one platform to another. See the Nintendo Web Framework. Of course, being some kind of middleware I expect that only games with low requirements will fit here. It seems clear by now that they are targetting to offer a common framework to make it easy to publish on Smart devices and port to dedicated systems and vice versa.

-Provide a similar API and architecture for both the handheld and the home console. This is not some crazy rumour, it was said by Iwata-san at an investors meeting. See Q5:

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/140130qa/02.html

I quote:

It of course does not mean that we are going to use exactly the same architecture as Wii U, but we are going to create a system that can absorb the Wii U architecture adequately. When this happens, home consoles and handheld devices will no longer be completely different, and they will become like brothers in a family of systems.

Still, I am not sure if the form factor (the size and configuration of the hardware) will be integrated. In contrast, the number of form factors might increase. 

Furthermore, given that the New 3DS has the same button layout, has two "joysticks", a touch screen and an NFC reader, the only feature I see left out for now is being able to receive a video stream from a console. If those similarities don't speak about Nintendo's handheld incorporating WiiU gamepad functionality, what does?

-Giving sinergies to users by being present in several platforms. I think this is what they are thinking with the new membership service, which will cover not only Nintendo platforms but also smart devices:

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2015/150317/03.html