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[ThoseDeafMutes]

Exactly. When nVidia just revealed their Shield Pro Android TV device.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XO7AK1U/?tag=neogaf0e-20

$300 for a monster.

It may not be using mobile-derived hardware at all, android runs on a variety of architectures including x86 via the tiny atoms powering the ZenPhone range. Conceptually it could be ported to anything. So while I do think Nintendo will trend towards something not mega powerful, it needn't be an ultra-low voltage set top box type thing.

 

[Ooccoo]

Bad news if true

 

[Ponn]

Everybody freaking THE FUCK OUT about this must either be too young to remember or don't know that then Dreamcast runs

Spoiler

(is compatible with)

Windows CE.

And that was a pretty big deal back then too. This more so because of Nintendo's attitude towards a closed system and their approach to third parties. The implications something like this would mean could be a huge shift for them and the way they operate.

Honestly though thats why i'm taking it with a megaton of salt. I just don't see Nintendo going this route, its really unbelievable to me.

 

[EatChildren]

Makes sense that the Nintendo NX Tablet runs Android.

 

[BiggNife]

I know it's not Android 100%, but even Android based sounds a bit ridiculous. The shareholders must be making the upper management hot under the collar more so than usual for this to be true

Why does it sound ridiculous, if you don't mind me asking?

Nintendo building on something that is already pre-established makes sense. Most people just didn't think Android was on the table because of it's reputation of being open and Nintendo's long history of "closed gardens."

 

[Memorabilia]

Ehh... I'd wait and see what it is before jumping to doom and gloom.

I didn't mean it to sound doom & gloomy. If anything, with mobile being as huge as it is this will likely have a nice positive impact on Nintendo's bottom line. My sentiments are more in reference to Nintendo's unique approach & console focused nature being watered down with all the mobile crap & monetization schemes that suck the soul out of gaming. At any rate, I agree we should take a wait n see. Its just that this idea sounds so...meh. We shall see I suppose.

 

[Panda Rin]

I don't see Nintendo moving away from their core franchises, nor do I see them moving to mobile being a bad thing. For all we know, Nintendo might make mobile game worthwhile. If this is true, Nintendo is opening up to other options which is a good sign.

 

[The Abominable Snowman]

This is bad. Android has a huge Piracy Problem, and I think the last thing Nintendo wants is bad sales because of that. They better have a Solution for that

Yes, we saw how badly piracy killed the Wii, GBA and DS. As we all know, those three platforms were Nintendo's least profitable, rite?

 

[duckroll]

Oh wow the guy was right lol

Maybe he was the inside source all along!

 

[Alchemy]

Good. One of the biggest problems for all console manufacturers is releasing a new piece of hardware with a different OS and then needing to play catch up for getting media applications like Netflix. Using an established OS with lots of existing software support is the correct decision to make, regardless of the hardware being mobile or a console. Thats why Microsoft moving their consoles to regular Windows is smart, and why I'm a little worried about Sony in the future.

 

[HUELEN10]

SHIT

SHIT SHIT SHIT

If this is true, we are going to have to eat crow.

Damn it Nintendo. Use something else for Pete's sake. Go FreeBSD.

Or I suppose they could use Blackberry's QNX as Apple does...

Look it up.

 

[Nothing1016]

I've been saying for a while that Nintendo's next handheld should just be a tablet. That's clearly where the market is going. Seems like the easiest way to get a ton more 3rd party support while they continue to develop their own software.

It's gonna be more then a tablet. If NX is more of an OS, then it could be a home console, tablet, handheld, set top box, or any other form factor. Then they could just update the internals in differing intervals depending on the form. They will effectively get rid of the need to reinvent their console every 5-6 years.

(I might be a little too optimistic)

 

[Roo]

Hacked day -1.

Like.. Seriously.
If they think they had a hard time with Wii they're in for a treat if the new console is based on Android.

 

[Kurt]

Why should this be bad?
It doesnt mean that the console would be mobile gaming jased. It does mean that it would get a huge 3th party support.

 

[victreeb3l]

I want to publish apps for the NX..

 

[HUELEN10]

Maybe he was the inside source all along!

http://youtu.be/kbkFY9ugxR4

 

[Faustek]

Exactly. When nVidia just revealed their Shield Pro Android TV device.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XO7AK1U/?tag=neogaf0e-20

$300 for a monster.

You do know that it doesn't mean it'll be mobile hw based.
Android can basically run on everything between the heavens and the earth.

 

[Acosta]

Nintendo Tablet here we go.

Good luck with the security.

 

[GamerSoul]

Android based more than likely. Going the Apple route of taking BSD/UNIX and making "Darwin" as their base. AKA: Taking Android, removing a lot of Google stuff for the sake of piracy protections and making Nintendo focused "edits" to the Linux kernal/OS.

Yep, i think so too. it would be interesting to see how Nintendo would work with an Android Linux kernel. A company i worked for also used the android OS but since they made their own hardware, they had to customize the linux kernel to work with said hardware.

 

[brianmcdoogle]

Terrible news if true.

 

[Trago]

from a hardware standpoint they could do a ton of different things, I just wonder if this will also be a sign of where their gaming business will go, especially for a handheld. That's the interesting/concerning (depending on where you stand) part is for me. Will this be a Nintendo branded tablet? How will that affect their storefront/pricing models?

Pretty much think what Nvidia is doing with their Shield line of devices and apply that to Nintendo.

 

[Kriken]

Why does it sound ridiculous, if you don't mind me asking?

Nintendo building on something that is already pre-established makes sense. Most people just didn't think Android was on the table because of it's reputation of being open and Nintendo's long history of "closed gardens."

I think it's more the initial shock of reading "Android OS" and thinking of smartphonesand Ouya, reading TDM posts gives a bit more clarity

 

[woxel1]

Hilarious news if true.

 

[Crayolan]

Seriously though, I never thought I'd see Nintendo using something they don't have full control over. Not really sure if this is a good or bad thing.

On the bright side, this makes it more likely that the NX is a handheld as I thought.

 

[Trevelyan9999]

The article says "Android Based" so that means it has a lot of what makes Android, Android but is not just the OS from Smart Devices ported over. I expect tight Nintendo anti-piracy coding to be in effect and a closed box, not "open" like current Android.

I pretty much expected this personally, no matter if the NX is a console or handheld since Nintendo said it would need to be a one account user operating system to link multiple devices.

 

[Compsiox]

ok I'm singling you out because I have seen your posts before and I actually liked some of your input. Just a FYI so here goes.

How come? I don't see this changing anything. It's not like they'll be calling Google and trying to hit them up for Android O or whatever it will be called when they are ready to reveal the hardware.

I just think that such a platform would change the way we think of Nintendo. That this could lead to changes in their priorities as a company.

 

[The Abominable Snowman]

I think this is a futuristic and AWESOME move that has made me excited again for the next console. I've said for years I was waiting for an Android console manufacturer that actually treated the platform like it was theirs, and not mobile parts shoved into a set top box with a weird app of sponsored games. With Microsoft moving Windows 10 and Xbox into the same 'house' this actually gives Nintendo NX extra leverage over the PS4 and arguably Xbox One as the Android OS is very developed but doesn't have any identity past F2P apps and copycat games. Nintendo will be there to give it a theme and identity that Android gaming has been sorely lacking

 

[Faustek]

VABAM

Hi duckroll, can I ask you for the tiny favor of adding to the OP that this doesn't mean Ouya/Mobile Phone? People will just come bye and post strange things otherwise ^^

I just think that such a platform would change the way we think of Nintendo. That this could lead to changes in their priorities as a company.

Their priorities has always been to make money and how would that change? We have to remember that even if Nintendo goes the Mobile route down the road it would probably still be Japanese and in Japan they aren't whale hunting* as those in the west.
Can't find the link since I don't remember the name but instead they had 5x as many people(I think it was) that spent a bit of money and that made up for the "whales" the west hunts for.


*They hunt real whales, not that small % of people that spends tons of cash on f2p games.

 

[Blobbers]

I can't wait to see which of these routes Nintendo takes:

1. revolutionizes the android landscape by producing full games for full prices (whatever full price here is), no nonsense approach, maintains that Nintendo Seal of quality, polish, fairness and whatnot

2. succumbs to the allure of the mobile conventions and starts making (see: giving licenses) games with microtransactions up the ass and all the other baggage of bullshit that comes along with going mobile. Nintendo franchises + mobile bullshit would be a heartbraking sight.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Why should this be bad?

That's what I'm wondering. Iwata recently said their venture into mobile development has also made the company more passionate than ever to continue creating traditional video game experiences. I don't see how this would affect that in any way.

 

[HUELEN10]

Seriously though, I never thought I'd see Nintendo using something they don't have full control over.

Wrong, they DO have full control over it. Linux is free, as in beer and MUH FREEDOMS; fork it and do what you want with it, including closing the fork.

 

[OmegaDL50]

A lot of assumptions about form factor and hardware specifications are going to be presented by people who don't have any real understanding about what they're talking about.

The Android being the OS is exactly that. The OS as in Operating System software.

It has no reflection on what kind of hardware is being used.

You could have hardware as powerful as the PS4 or a gaming PC but still have Android as an OS.

What OS being used doesn't say anything about the hardware running it.

 

[KnockOneOff]

Well if this is true I give it 6 months till it's cracked right open

 

[Sandfox]

I just think that such a platform would change the way we think of Nintendo. That this could lead to changes in their priorities as a company.

All of that has already happened tbqh. Nintendo has changed quite a over the past few years.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Hi duckroll, can I ask you for the tiny favor of adding to the OP that this doesn't mean Ouya/Mobile Phone? People will just come bye and post strange things otherwise ^^

How do you know that it doesn't mean that? We don't know anything other than what Nikki is reporting. No need for preemptive damage control. As of now this is all speculation. Let's speculate. It's fun.

 

[Felensis]

I wonder if it's true if Android is capable of displaying proper graphics? I mean, I don't play mobile games, but those I see from time to time can't even compare to Wii U graphics.

I can imagine that they use android for the next handheld while using a dedicated os for the home console, but both with x86 hardware since their already were reports about Nintendo using AMD CPUs next time, no?

 

[wonzo]

rip

http://superpowered.com/androidaudiopathlatency/

Most Android apps have more than 100 ms of audio output latency, and more than 200 ms of round-trip (audio input to audio output) latency. To give you a quick example from the Oscar winning film Whiplash, it’s like the drummer is dragging by a half beat behind the band!

Some specific examples on how audio related applications suffer from roundtrip audio latency greater than ~10 ms:

- Games: sound effects, such as explosions or gun sounds lag behind by a few frames. Game audio is then “detached” from visuals, making for poor user-experience, preventing immersive gaming experiences.

- Virtual reality (VR): when the viewer turns his head, the audio “follows” too late, destroying the 3D audio experience. Check the Paul McCartney Google Cardboard app for an example. Google is on the verge of leaving billions in revenue in VR opportunities for Apple.

 

[GamerSoul]

Everybody freaking THE FUCK OUT about this must either be too young to remember or don't know that then Dreamcast runs

Spoiler

(is compatible with)

Windows CE.

Really? Wow. I wrote a research paper on Windows CE for a class and i never came across this. But then again i was surprised to learn just how many embedded systems ran CE.

 

[Trago]

Seriously though, I never thought I'd see Nintendo using something they don't have full control over. Not really sure if this is a good or bad thing.

On the bright side, this makes it more likely that the NX is a handheld as I thought.

Part of me thinks that that them wanting to preserve their back catalog and make it readily available is part of the reason. VC library on Android, you buy a game cross buy/save with the handheld and console.

This is all making more sense now.

 

[FearMyWrench]

I don't think this is possible just given numerous major issues that would have to be worked around. (e.g. piracy concerns) Just the general loss of complete and total control I can't see Nintendo giving up.

 

[hatchx]

Nintendo is pretty anti-piracy so I wouldn't worry too much there.

And the WiiU OS is so crappy, I actually look at this like good news. Nintendo makes brilliant games, not operating systems. As long as they get to make their unique hardware decisions and keep their games under one platform, it's all good to me.

 

[crinale]

Like duckroll said the Dragon Quest the article referring to (to be released to PS4) is DQH2 indeed and SE confirmed it. Anyway, the article brought it up as just an example of how WiiU quickly lost third party support (article uses rather harsh word for it), and the damage caused Nintendo management to go full 180.
And since I'm not to literate about computer OS I don't know what's so bad about being android-based..

 

[Compsiox]

All of that has already happened tbqh. Nintendo has changed quite a over the past few years.

How so? They haven't cared about 3rd party support since Pre N64. I don't recall any major changes in their ways.

 

[Nirolak]

Is this good or bad???

Well, Android is an actually good OS, so it's a huge step up from the existing one.

 

[HUELEN10]

I wonder if it's true if Android is capable of displaying proper graphics?

Stopping you right there; that's like asking if Windows is capable of proper graphics, or OS X is capable of proper graphics. Flawed question.

 

[Mariolee]

WELL SHIT

This needs to be true just for how much crow eating there would be. I felt like the OP in that thread laid out an extremely well made case and everyone initially just shitted on him without fully backing up why.

 

[BigJonsson]

I'll wait for the Cyanogen edition

 

[Cheerilee]

Unless it is Nintendo saying, it is still a rumor. Doesn't matter if it is Nikkei or IGN or anybody else.

Hideaki Anno: "Anime will be dead in 5 years"

That doesn't say it's a fact. It doesn't have to say "rumor" in the headline. It means "Hideaki Anno said a thing." You can judge for yourself how much weight you want to put into his words.

The source goes on to say that when third parties abandoned Nintendo's WiiU one by one, it caused turning point in the company. So while they have had a philosophy of developing their own software and hardware concepts internally for all these years, they are now prepared to embrace a more open platform with Android, to allow developers more flexibility in making content that can also be on smartphones and tablets.

I really expected Nintendo's response to go in the opposite direction and be "We need to ensure that we never have to depend on anybody ever again." I expected them to make a "Nintendo platform" like we've only joked about, with increased first party content capable of sustaining the platform (or trying to), and actual indifference to any third party that isn't working directly with Nintendo.

 

[Theanine3D]

I find this incredibly unlikely, but if it's true, then I give props to Iwata. This would make it MUCH easier for third party developers to port things over to the NX.

I wonder how such a machine would handle physical retail games though? Are retail disc-based Android games even a thing?

Also, FYI, this may open up the NX to UE4 support. UE4 supports Android already pretty well, and it's improving all the time.

 

[jwhit28]

That's what I'm wondering. Iwata recently said their venture into mobile development has also made the company more passionate than ever to create traditional video game experiences. I don't see how this would affect that in any way.

Exactly, why compete with mobile when you can embrace it and use it along side traditional Nintendo offerings?