I doubt Nintendo would design a console that they themselves would struggle to get the most out of. They have to know that there'll be no third party support.
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Nikkei: Nintendo's NX platform will use an Android OS
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Knightmarre
Member
Makes sense considering the situation they are in.
……forgetit
Member
Wrong thread, but to answer your question, paint the ground and go over enemy paint a lot.
Spyder_Monkey
Banned
Say what you will but Nikkei has a pretty good track record when it comes to this stuff. Honestly, between Iwata's "third pillar" comments and DeNA's partnership, I wouldn't be surprised if this really is a smaller console they're working on in conjunction with the.Wii U/3DS.
Who said Wii U would use Android?
Yeah, I could imagine something as simple as an HDMI stick with a Controller.
What a huge cringe fest, you should read more and post less in here until you know what's actually the state of the info we may have. Also, I'm pretty sure ten million isn't "no one", but whatever. Im sure the Wii U sales has a lot to do with this topic.
There's a reason it was not enabled by default in 4.4, it wasn't ready.
The guy who made that doesn't work for nintendo anymore, apparently.
Also making an OS 10 years ago (when the basis for Wii / WiiU OS and 3DS OS was written) and making a multitasking 64bit OS that runs on multiple cores, with memory management, suspending, background voicechat & networking etc in 2015 is imo beyond nintendo's scope. None of their competitors are writing their own console OS from scratch (sony uses FreeBSD for PS3/PS4 and Vita, MS builds upon Windows 8)
Or does nobody remember how slugish even the WiiU OS was in the beginning?
Writing an OS like that can cost about 1.5-2 year to run well and would need nintendo's top software engineers. They would have to do all debugging, documentation, writing all API's, a developer friendly software SDK etc within that timeframe...
Or they could just choose android OS (AOSP) as a basis, implement strong encryption and alter it so it doesn't run APK. Those 1.5 years can be used to run their own technical framework on top of this solid, linux based OS. Any innovations that would come to mobile within the next few years (Mobile VR, next-gen social networks, dunno) can be implemented easily because of it's broad use architecture.
It's also well documented and a prototype that would run stable can be given to internal dev studio's within months instead of a year, giving them more to building launch software..
Pretty much. I'm no Android expert, but it sure seems that every concern brought up that would deter game development has been addressed in 5.0 - and for as much as the latest updates may be really slogging down older Android devices, it seems like a pretty big boon to dedicated platforms. Of course, who cares really?
At the end of the day, Nintendo doing this would already put it miles ahead of the custom OS they are using now. Now it's up to them to decide how they want to customize it and use it. Could be great, or they could screw it up.
Hellraider
Member
Literally the first time I've heard this.
DCharlie
And even i am moderately surprised
i full expect NX to be a hybrid machine - a portable that plugs into your TV.
Thing is - if you have a Shield/Droid/etc - you are probably doing this already - the Shield is a really elegant way of doing the whole thing as the controller just works so well and the mini HDMI out makes connecting a breeze.
Ultimately, Nintendo need to start taking "VC" / their back catalogue as a serious selling point to a new level - an N-Tunes or an NinFlix, something like that.
However, given that the world and it's dog is seemingly moving towards tablets/phablets/etc then a risk mitigating move maybe to create a "platform" for Nintendo on Android (and laterly iOS)
The selling point of NX is that it's the "premium way to enjoy the games as they are meant to be" - perhaps via the controller pairing a la the shield (and if the price is subsidised then even better) - retro should run everywhere (it usually does on Android as it is!), native "NX" games may be locked for some time etc.
Thing is - if you have a Shield/Droid/etc - you are probably doing this already - the Shield is a really elegant way of doing the whole thing as the controller just works so well and the mini HDMI out makes connecting a breeze.
Ultimately, Nintendo need to start taking "VC" / their back catalogue as a serious selling point to a new level - an N-Tunes or an NinFlix, something like that.
However, given that the world and it's dog is seemingly moving towards tablets/phablets/etc then a risk mitigating move maybe to create a "platform" for Nintendo on Android (and laterly iOS)
The selling point of NX is that it's the "premium way to enjoy the games as they are meant to be" - perhaps via the controller pairing a la the shield (and if the price is subsidised then even better) - retro should run everywhere (it usually does on Android as it is!), native "NX" games may be locked for some time etc.
Huh? I have never heard of that.
And the reason why this rumour make a lot of sense is because of integration between mobile and console development within their team + Iwata comment about basing software purely on hardware is not scalable enough these days. Hence unify OS for both mobile and non mobile machine might be a better choice.
That apparently came from a (to me) unknown french blog - hardly the same as Nikkei.
http://www.nintendo-town.fr/index.p...a-propos-de-la-wii-u&catid=84:wii2&Itemid=183
It was discussed here back in the days. Most people in that thread are banned now it seems; I survived
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=212723
Ironically, the guy who wrote Nintendo ES made the gamecube OS, and worked for google later (linkedin) - at the time neogaf user wsippel claimed (source unknown) parts of ES were used in android. He has his own company now http://www.esrille.com/
Recent Android has OpenSLES. You don't even have to use the AudioTrack class.
Anyway who knows exactly what the modified OS would be like.
I don't understand why people think Nintendo would use Android and then do something like making NX a hybrid console. I think NX being a unified platform across a series of devices is far more likely and logical. A hybrid console would just be pointlessly expensive and not as good at either thing as a dedicated device.
If they really do use Android, I could see there being NX phones, a normal handheld, a cheap TV box, and possibly a higher-end console, all running the NX platform.
If they really do use Android, I could see there being NX phones, a normal handheld, a cheap TV box, and possibly a higher-end console, all running the NX platform.
Wolfgang Jr
Banned
N(intendo) X(cross) platform
I'll buy any system that gets a Splatoon 2.
maquiladora
Member
The difference is that Nikkei is reporting this.
the official name is spla2n
Amazon uses Android as the basis for the Fire tablet (current forked from a version of Android 4).
It isn't the most crazy thing in the world and would allow Nintendo to keep its relatively secured garden and open the flood gates for Android ports if they chose to do so.
This news seems weird, but from a practical standpoint it is a good idea. I'm just curious what it means for any sort of BC. The optimist in me things that the system level functions in say the 3DS (Streetpass!) could be replicated easily enough.
It isn't the most crazy thing in the world and would allow Nintendo to keep its relatively secured garden and open the flood gates for Android ports if they chose to do so.
This news seems weird, but from a practical standpoint it is a good idea. I'm just curious what it means for any sort of BC. The optimist in me things that the system level functions in say the 3DS (Streetpass!) could be replicated easily enough.
Graphics Horse
Member
Splatwon?
Android as an OS can be heavily modified to Nintendo's needs & has support for all the major engines (so devs will have an easier time making games). Plus it can be scaled from a big console to a small portable, which is good given Iwata's desire for a "two consoles, one OS" approach for the NX. Think of the NX not as a single system, but as a platform. Android will just be the one working behind the scenes to make that happen if this pans out.
Interceptor
Banned
You mean Spla2oon.
Plinko
Wildcard berths that can't beat teams without a winning record should have homefield advantage
Hmmm...they rarely come right out and say "no," so I guess that's that.
By the way, this is new news so it should probably be a new thread.
Given that they don't usually comment on this stuff that's a pretty solid no.
It's a spokesman, not Reggie / Iwata, especially Iwata. So...I don't know. Remember: when the Seaman rumour was denied, Iwata himself did it. This is a spokesman...I mean, remember when a UK spokesman said E3 2015 would have been only about 2015 titles? It wasn't true, since the focus at E3 will be up to early 2016 (and it doesn't mean there won't be anything at all outside early 2016 either). So, don't know.
Broken Joystick
At least you can talk. Who are you?
I remember when Miyamoto said there would be no new 3DS revision/successor at E3 and then like a week later the 3DS XL was revealed. It's only confirmed when the damn thing ships.
Welp, it's usually "we don't comment on rumor".
Bjoern the Smexy
Member
How often did "a Nintendo spokesman" claim a rumor to be false only for it to turn out true in the end?
DSi XL and 3DS XL revisions were two of those, I believe.
Not saying I doubt the WSJ article. But I more strongly believe Nikkei's track record of reporting about rumors that turn out to be true.
Hellraider
Member
Do we really have to do this every single time? Rumour could be true, rumour could be not. What a spokeperson says is irrelevant. If something is not officialy announced from the company, it will by default be "not true".
Actually, looking back at the thread about Iwata denying Seaman's rumour, there's a small excursus of Nintendo v.s. japanese press. Seeing that, it makes me think more that them denying it with a spokesperson actually confirms it
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=464386
Unlike the usual vague "we do not comment on rumor and speculation" or "what was said was misinterpreted" they just flat out denied it.
Nintendo said:
Whatever Nintendo does, I hope they let us nintendofy the hell out of the OS. I liked the Wii U menu layouts and it's sounds, but once game centric themes came out for 3ds with menu music, folder icons, and cursor movement sounds, I really wanted Wii U to do the same. I hope their OS is more customizable on their next console.
We are not planning it. The report is false because we already adopted it....
We are not planning it. The report is false because we already adopted it....
Hellraider
Member
Check Mpl90's post.
Every single one of those Nintendo only calls it some variation of rumor or speculation and actually dodges saying yes or no. There's no other way to take "There is no truth to the rumors".
I would like to be wrong though it would very interesting to see Nintendo use android.
McHuj
Member
Ninja Scooter
Member
Is it possible they could be doing so much building on and skinning of android that by the time it's done they don't consider it android? I mean whenever this thing is announced I'm not expecting them to come out there with an android logo plastered all over the place.
Nokia also shot down and basically dissed the idea of ever using Android. I believe BB also denied it.
A few years later....Nokia X was born. And they released an Android tablet a year or 2 ago. BB set it up so it can run Android apps. MS is also putting lots of apps on Android now after basically dissing Google with Scroogled.
Not saying I dont believe that WSJ article but still....anythings possible at this point.
This is what I'm thinking. They could be building up so much from it that it might just be considered it's own OS to the general layman, kinda like Chrone OS. To a developer it might feel like Android, but you're right in that we're not gonna see the Android logo anywhere even if they are using it as a base.
It's possible they might also be denying it to avoid speculation that they're making a smartphone/tablet and not a dedicated game system, which has already happened in this very thread. Don't want the stockholders to stark thinking that Nintendo is transferring to mobile. That's the only reason we heard of the NX so early in the first place.
Which version of android are you comparing it too? Almost every major manufacturer has their own skin on it each with their own myriad of performance problems. Vanilla android has been nothing but speedy in my testing though.
jhmtehgamr20xx
Banned
The problem is Nintendo just isn't very good at developing an OS compared to Microsoft or Sony, and especially compared to Google. They got into that game too late and are paying the price. They should put away their pride and utilize an OS that has lots of features and been proven time and again on the market, customizing it for their particular needs.
That way they can focus more on what they're actually good at: making games.
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