It's not that much bigger than the HQ. The building doesn't take up the whole red box haha.
This is a satellite view from April:
Looks like they fixed the parking lot problem with the new HQ
It's not that much bigger than the HQ. The building doesn't take up the whole red box haha.
This is a satellite view from April:
This cuts so deep.Here's what Nintendo Australia looks like.
All their buildings look depressing?
What's with the air raid sirens and the zombie shutters?
Looks like 2 headquarters duct taped together
Well in truth, this was all signed off years before the release of the Wii U. But in fairness it sounds like difficulties were pinpointed in the 3DS/Wii U development process which in some sense vindicates the new building...Nintendo so rich they can have a floundering console and still build new headquarters.
This basically confirms a handheld/console hybrid for next generation to me.
That looks like it's about the same size other than the parking lot... You'd think to futureproof it they would build it bigger and/or taller. Sure, they have space to build more buildings if need be, but isn't the point to have everyone under the same roof?
Holy shit, that old HQ looks so depressing. That's where they made all their games?
Currently the only staff moving to the new building will be the handheld and console R&D staff, around 1500 people. Nintendo is keeping the old building.
It's a wonder so many people fit in the old building to start with. I wonder just how many developments teams are located there. Now with the 1500 gone that leaves room for development teams to expand and grow.
I remember having the same thought seeing their current HQ. It does look rather drab for such a creative company. But you also have to remember, it's also a very conservative, careful company.
They have 1500 emplyees just doing engineering and R&D? Sounds like an insanely large number.
This is a satellite view from April:
Currently the only staff moving to the new building will be the handheld and console R&D staff, around 1500 people. Nintendo is keeping the old building.
It's a wonder so many people fit in the old building to start with. I wonder just how many developments teams are located there. Now with the 1500 gone that leaves room for development teams to expand and grow.
When Iwata announced the merging of the handheld and console hardware teams, he specifically said they were not doing this. Just that they would have similar architechtures for easy sharing of assets between platforms. Here is the quote:
"What we mean by integrating platforms is not integrating handhelds devices and home consoles to make only one machine. What we are aiming at is to integrate the architecture to form a common basis for software development so that we can make software assets more transferrable, and operating systems and their build-in applications more portable, regardless of form factor or performance of each platform."
Makes more sense, that's why I said R&D in general lol. Plus we know that the hardware R&D guys go into software development sometimes.Errr... no. 1500 is the total amount of people that can work in the building, not the Hardware teams. There's roughly 300 people working in Hardware R&D (at least, according to that IGN article, based on that Nikkei article).
1 500 people would be pretty insane just for Hardware R&D. Nintendo is not THAT big...
Ah, thanks for the quote. If there's something I have a hard time understanding is people's obssession with that unified console idea. It's just terrible.
It's not that much bigger than the HQ. The building doesn't take up the whole red box haha.
This is a satellite view from April:
What is the point if its barely bigger? It looks like they are building something smaller on the terrain too though.
What is the point if its barely bigger? It looks like they are building something smaller on the terrain too though.
What is the point if its barely bigger? It looks like they are building something smaller on the terrain too though.
How many stories will the new one be? Maybe it's the same area on the floor, but higher?
red is the new building, blue is the old one. im sure employees will be happy they have bigger windows and no longer have to bunk bed their desks due to space.
Here's what Nintendo Australia looks like.
holy shit. they definately need a much higher HeadcountThe last official Nintendo combined engineer count was ~900, which they divulged about three years ago. Keep in mind this is official NCL employees and doesn't include their off shoot staff from SRD, IS, Mario Club, and subsidiaries.
Nintendo had their internal R&D split into two Kyoto buildings. Central HQ (Nintendo EAD, Nintendo IRD, SRD) and Kyoto Research Institute (Nintendo SPD, Intelligent Systems, Mario Club). This third new building houses around 1500 employees. Meaning, we don't know if Nintendo will be completely evacuating the R&D from the other 2 buildings, to place them all here.
Iwata announced the intent was to create efficiency and expand ALL R&D at Nintendo. Not just hardware.
For someone like me who lives in Italy, the concept of seeing such a project being completed basically in time is...complex. :lol
As someone who lives in Saudi, trust me I know the feeling.
What is the point if its barely bigger? It looks like they are building something smaller on the terrain too though.
What is the point if its barely bigger? It looks like they are building something smaller on the terrain too though.
The point is that it's their third building in Kyoto alone. Specifically for R&D. More is better.
The last official Nintendo combined engineer count was ~900, which they divulged about three years ago. Keep in mind this is official NCL employees and doesn't include their off shoot staff from SRD, IS, Mario Club, and subsidiaries.
Nintendo had their internal R&D split into two Kyoto buildings. Central HQ (Nintendo EAD, Nintendo IRD, SRD) and Kyoto Research Institute (Nintendo SPD, Intelligent Systems, Mario Club). This third new building houses around 1500 employees. Meaning, we don't know if Nintendo will be completely evacuating the R&D from the other 2 buildings, to place them all here.
Iwata announced the intent was to create efficiency and expand ALL R&D at Nintendo. Not just hardware.
Deep underground they are building a secret lab that will ensure Yamauchi's immortality.
Oh I see. I thought every Japanese Nintendo employee would move to the new building.
Nope, it is an addition, not a replacement.
This basically confirms a handheld/console hybrid for next generation to me.
When Iwata announced the merging of the handheld and console hardware teams, he specifically said they were not doing this. Just that they would have similar architechtures for easy sharing of assets between platforms. Here is the quote:
"What we mean by integrating platforms is not integrating handhelds devices and home consoles to make only one machine. What we are aiming at is to integrate the architecture to form a common basis for software development so that we can make software assets more transferrable, and operating systems and their build-in applications more portable, regardless of form factor or performance of each platform."
I remember Iwata making that quote and I still think they're going to go ahead with a hybrid system where you can use the controllers separately as their own portable system. I'm sure the concept was at least on their radar when they planned the office merge, and I don't see what's so terrible about it. It doesn't affect revenue streams at all, and helps Nintendo avoid software droughts.Ah, thanks for the quote. If there's something I have a hard time understanding is people's obssession with that unified console idea. It's just terrible.
maybe they should be located in Akihabara (gaming district) in Tokyo ?
I'd imagine they will keep old building as well
(or will it get torn down?)
So will Iwata and Miyamoto move to the new building or stay?
What's included in that 900 count exactly?
Oh, and by the way, the building is 7 stories + 1 basement.
Does anybody know when they moved into their current building??
The 3DS is already 3 years old as of next month. IMHO, we'll get at least a DSi style reimagining in 2 years, if not a successor system. I'm betting on a successor.
Holy shit, that old HQ looks so depressing. That's where they made all their games?
It's also a Japanese building for a Japanese company. They seldom go for flash, they go for designs that can withstand earthquakes and is functional. No point having an interestingly shaped building if it's going to fall over at the first quake
A new building? Isn't that a sign that they are doing fine despite the doomsday-ish apocalyptic-ish talk about WiiU's failure?
I guess haters will have to wait a few more generations to play Nintendo games on their stupid smartphones eh?