K
kittens
Unconfirmed Member
What does SoC mean? I've been playing games for 25 years and have been on this forum for ten and have never heard that term, lol.
.the "low power" part has me worried already.
Wasn't the N64 the last time that the architecture of a Nintendo console was partly developed in the USA?
Not really surprised anyway, with NERD also helping on the software side in Europe, and Japan getting more network developers.
And lol at people being surprised/outraged that an architecture should use less power than being a monster. Always been Nintendo's philosophy, being a powerful console like the Gamecube or not.
What does SoC mean?
http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/how-nintendo-3ds-made/1/0Iwata said:These days it's called that because all systems necessary for running a game system are placed on a single semiconductor chip
Didn't we have hints that they already had some ideas about the next handheld architecture though? Don't remember the thread, but apparently it was already pretty concrete (not talking about something officially announced by Nintendo), and Iwata lately talked about the 3DS successor might not be too far off.
Would mean they're backing off on some points.
Sweet, thanks.System on a Chip
https://nintendo.taleo.net/careersection/10000/jobdetail.ftl?job=140000005E&src=SNS-10380
Low power and SoC design experience would be a plus.
Sweet, thanks.
I still have no idea what that means, lol.
I'm surprised they don't have this sort of thing locked down or established already.
Gamecube.
GCN was NTD in Redmond as well. Hell, they had Factor 5 working on the HW!
I think some of the things lined up in the job description could be for future projects beyond the next one, which could be iterations of the new tech but with perhaps a different gpu vendor, similar to how different Android systems have different gpu vendors.
If they plan to use relatively new mobile parts in their next handheld, they would have a ton of options these days compared to previous generations, and could settle on one quite late in the process.
There's Qualcomm, NVIDIA, AMD, or putting together their own via ARM + PowerVR or a similar combination. Intel is also trying to get into this market.
Err, it's almost inevitable a 3DS successor will come in 2016, though.
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.
Apple is able to release smart devices with various form factors one after another because there is one way of programming adopted by all platforms. Apple has a common platform called iOS. Another example is Android. Though there are various models, Android does not face software shortages because there is one common way of programming on the Android platform that works with various models.
The point is, Nintendo platforms should be like those two examples. Whether we will ultimately need just one device will be determined by what consumers demand in the future, and that is not something we know at the moment.
However, we are hoping to change and correct the situation in which we develop games for different platforms individually and sometimes disappoint consumers with game shortages as we attempt to move from one platform to another, and we believe that we will be able to deliver tangible results in the future.
Most vendors even go so far as to offer IP licenses if you want to customize their chips internally or integrate them with other vendors' parts in a relationship that doesn't already exist, but I imagine they're going to have the vendor do it for them given they're not Apple or an OEM themselves like Qualcomm or NVIDIA licensing ARM CPUs.I'm pretty sure this is also because once again, they'd like some custom stuff. Not necessarily as much as before, but it's always useful, especially if they work with chip manufacturers on this.
Well, it's certainly good that they have someone on the ground in the country where a lot of these chips are designed and can easily communicate to them what they want.Nirolak, getting any "good vibes" from this or is Nintendo doomed?
Err, it's almost inevitable a 3DS successor will come in 2016, though.
Someone call Julian Eggebrecht.
the "low power" part has me worried already.
Can someone educate me, what is SoC?
The most important question is backwards compatibility, this new chip should have no problem, no?
Correct. I wouldn't be surprised though if this particular job posting concerns that console for emerging markets they have talked about a bit. I would assume they already have the architecture for the Wii U successor pretty much locked down, unless they are planning something really special for the Wii U in 2015, hardware wise.Not surprising. We've known they've been working on it for a while. Nintendo has often said that they begin work on the next hardware when they release the newest one.
Err, it's almost inevitable a 3DS successor will come in 2016, though.
As I just wrote, this is probably just a replacement for Tat Iwamoto who left in June. Whatever they're currently working on is already well underway, Nintendo selected an as-of-yet undisclosed vendor for their next SoC in late 2013 or early 2014. Their current engineering leads have ties to Nvidia and Qualcomm - not that this necessarily means much...I'm surprised they don't have this sort of thing locked down or established already.
What I was thinking. This doesn't have to mean that the architect will start work immediately after joining Nintendo, he/she could assume a similar role until heavier duties must be carried out.this seems a bit late. Maybe they mean the one after the next
As I just wrote, this is probably just a replacement for Tat Iwamoto who left in June. Whatever they're currently working on is already well underway, Nintendo selected an as-of-yet undisclosed vendor for their next SoC in late 2013 or early 2014. Their current engineering leads have ties to Nvidia and Qualcomm - not that this necessarily means much...
"Wii U Too" on the way?
The most important question is backwards compatibility, this new chip should have no problem, no?
Where the hell is QOL?
I'm pretty surprised they're actually hiring this position out of the US.
Didn't we have hints that they already had some ideas about the next handheld architecture though? Don't remember the thread, but apparently it was already pretty concrete (not talking about something officially announced by Nintendo)
As I just wrote, this is probably just a replacement for Tat Iwamoto who left in June. Whatever they're currently working on is already well underway, Nintendo selected an as-of-yet undisclosed vendor for their next SoC in late 2013 or early 2014. Their current engineering leads have ties to Nvidia and Qualcomm - not that this necessarily means much...
If you stop playing games from discs it's almost completely silent.
It's about as loud as my PS4. It's hardly quiet regardless of power intake.
This job listing is interesting with AMD's recent announcement of another semi-custom design win. Big question will be if Nintendo is going x86 or staying POWER architecture. I assume AMD could do either for them.
I'm pretty surprised they're actually hiring this position out of the US.
Where the hell is QOL?
Not me. I really prefer low power. For portables it extends battery life, and for home consoles it keeps them running cool and quiet.
Low power and SoC design experience would be a plus.
The candidate is expected to have good architectural insights and the ability to apply that for setting future graphics direction for Nintendo.
This job listing is interesting with AMD's recent announcement of another semi-custom design win. Big question will be if Nintendo is going x86 or staying POWER architecture. I assume AMD could do either for them.
Depends if AMD is building them an x86 core or POWER core.