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[Oregano]

Wow... the idea of Nintendo leaving it's proprietary roots is hard to believe. Especially when Nintendo made all that noise with the new OS they were building and the frameworks to support it.

Having an Android underpinning to it just seems... farfetched.

but if my guess is right with the NX being a hybrid console that comes in mobile and home flavors... it might be the most sound way to do it while ensuring anyone can make / port games to it.

So i guess if it were to happen... it would be a heavily modified OS to ensure smoother Android support.

Well Nintendo already doesn't do everything from scratch. Their browsers for instance are customised versions of open source browsers.

 

[Reallink]

Tell that to Motorola fans after the Droid 1...who had to either deal with work around root methods or just had to wait til Motorola put their webpage up for unlocking your device. Just because it runs Android doesnt mean easy to hack. Look at the PS3 and 360...the PS3 started with Other OS...which could have lead to easier hacks, dont really know. They got rid of that and the PS3 didnt really get hacked until a few years ago. The 360 has been cracked open since day one. Neither one used Windows...one of the most pirated desktop OS's ever.

It became such a hassle many just got an easier to root phone. And that Moto improved their UI so much it wasnt really a need to modify it so much. Do some ppl realize you have to root or unlock Android devices first? Its not as easy as flipping a switch. Motorola made sure to remind ppl of that after the Droid 1. They dont come rooted, unlocked by default. Even Nexus devices you have to do an unlock method...a Nexus is basically a developer phone.

OtherOS was the key component in cracking the PS3, Sony removed it in direct response to "the scenes" work and use of it. Everything that happened surrounding otherOS and jailbreak FW was the same saga, there was no "years later".

 

[FrozenCell]

all that really matters is 1080p60

yet another underpowered turd will be DOA

also, why not cooperate with Sony on this handheld thing?

 

[thefro]

I also don't understand the "Wii U needs to last 5 years" thing. It's all about content and right now Wii U doesn't have much. I mean, you would be satisfied with another two and a half years of zero third party releases, less than ten retail games a year? Just so you can say the console lasted X amount of years? If a new Nintendo console can deliver us more content and faster, I want it to release ASAP because frankly the situation with Wii U totally blows and I'd rather not have another two and a half years of it.

You might want to check a release list because "zero third party releases" isn't very accurate right now.

I'm not going to claim third party support is strong but you can actually make a respectable release list between retail 3rd party games, indies, and Nintendo's output. It doesn't look like a dead platform at this point. Weak, but not dead.

 

[Wavebossa]

all that really matters is 1080p60

yet another underpowered turd will be DOA

also, why not cooperate with Sony on this handheld thing?

IF all that really mattered was 1080p60fps, the WiiU would be the only good selling system this gen.

Unless you mean running the same kind of games that PS4 and Xbox1 runs. But even they don't run 1080P and 60fps so... yeah sadly enough 1080p and 60fps don't matter that much to the console market.

Its 100% necessary to me (and probably you) but we are clearly in the minority

 

[Pixels]

I would be incredibly shocked if this were true.

 

[qko]

So if it uses android, would Google Cardboard work on the OS and/or games for NX?

 

[stan423321]

OtherOS was the key component in cracking the PS3, Sony removed it in direct response to "the scenes" work and use of it. Everything that happened surrounding otherOS and jailbreak FW was the same saga, there was no "years later".

That was in fact more complicated. First Sony started shipping OtherOS-less PS3s. This made hackers curious and made them find out some stuff. THEN Sony ripped OtherOS out of old PS3s. So, yeah, the OtherOS argument is not broken here.

 

[nynt9]

So if it uses android, would Google Cardboard work on the OS and/or games for NX?

You realize the cardboard headest requires you to put a phone inside it right?

 

[qko]

You realize the cardboard headest requires you to put a phone inside it right?

I do, but assuming the NX will have some mobile/handheld component, we don't know if what we know as the Wii U Gamepad will be smaller/lighter on the NX for something like Google Cardboard to work

 

[Graphics Horse]

Excellent news! Android is an incredibly robust OS, and I feel its use will allow them to employ their resources on the things that matter most for a gaming platform. I never had a big problem with Nintendo OSes' backend or frontend, but using a more mainstream and widely adopted solution seems like a much better option. They won't have to spend time and money on making things like media apps, which some people deem important, either.

It may also be what it takes to succeed in Japan. They have been attempting to bring many popular mobile games like P&D on 3DS lately, and making it easy for developers to port their games on NX could prove serviceable.



ES has been in works for over 10 years now, and while Shiki Okasaka (its main creator) has worked for both Nintendo and Google during that time, I believe it is mostly his own project. He founded his own company called Esrille in 2010, which is where ES, Escort (ES's web browser, also available on Linux) and all other under-the-hood technologies are being developed now. It's not quite clear what might come out of this, but it's definitely not going to be on NX (or any other mainstream system for the foreseeable future).

A long time ago I read something on here about how Nintendo was developing an open source OS and parts of it ended up in Android, was that the same thing as ES? I may have some details confused.

 

[QaaQer]

The misinformation and assumptions in this topic are astounding. I suppose this is what happens after years and years of fud about Android is perpetuated by people who have only ever used Apple products.

Did people automatically assume that the Xbox One would have shit-tons of piracy when Microsoft announced that its OS was based upon Windows? Comparisons to the Ouya? Jesus, come on.

Is there a word for posts thar rail against arguments not being made in a condescending and sactimounious way with a heaping helping of anger on the side?

 

[boymacwerter]

What if the NX is a new Nintendo controller that you can plug into your Smart Phone or Smart TV? It could even have a screen on it. That would allow Nintendo to use other people's hardware yet still control the design of both the controller and the software.

 

[AmyS]

Anybody and everybody is free to quote me, 'cos I always mean what I say and I always stick by what I say. If the Wii U doesn't get a FULL 5 years I will never again buy anything whatsoever from Nintendo - EVER.

That's all well and good, but do you realize Wii U, in its 2.5 years on the market, had sold the same amount as the Sega Dreamcast?
10 million Dreamcast - 9.2 million Wii U's as of the last round of figures.

That said, Wii U is probably getting 5 years, given Nintendo's next console likely won't be out til 2017.

 

[protomouse]

all that really matters is 1080p60

yet another underpowered turd will be DOA

also, why not cooperate with Sony on this handheld thing?

What would Nintendo gain from this?

 

[WolvenOne]

That's all well and good, but do you realize Wii U, in its 2.5 years on the market, had sold the same amount as the Sega Dreamcast?
10 million Dreamcast - 9.2 million Wii U's as of the last round of figures.

That said, Wii U is probably getting 5 years, given Nintendo's next console likely won't be out til 2017.

Earliest we could expect a new console from Nintendo is Holiday 2016, but that's if Nintendo REALLY rushed things. Also, that'd be close enough to 2017 for government work.

 

[Graphics Horse]

What would Nintendo gain from this?

They could help Nintendo build their first optical media based handheld.
Next system is coming winter 2016 for sure, but would they launch both a handheld and a console at the same time or stagger them?

 

[Mik317]

all that really matters is 1080p60

yet another underpowered turd will be DOA

also, why not cooperate with Sony on this handheld thing?

Just like the last 3 underpowered handhelds?

 

[WolvenOne]

They could help Nintendo build their first optical media based handheld.

*SLAP!!*

No!!!

No!!

Go and think about what you've done!

 

[jeff_rigby]

That's all well and good, but do you realize Wii U, in its 2.5 years on the market, had sold the same amount as the Sega Dreamcast?
10 million Dreamcast - 9.2 million Wii U's as of the last round of figures.

That said, Wii U is probably getting 5 years, given Nintendo's next console likely won't be out til 2017.

If it's using a AMD semi-custom mentioned in Investor relations talks then it's supposed to be out in 2016.

Kumar's comments
"I'm pleased to report we have those design wins," Kumar said, noting that the company had previously told investors to expect two new semi-custom designs from the company. "Those parts will get introduced in 2016 ... at least one will be beyond gaming."

 

[Ally of Justice]

Well, if this turns out real I'd be really surprised.
They've already mingled with Google through the upload of replays in Mario Kart and the supposed dropped functionality to do so in Smash Bros, although it's a little too far fetched to be believable at this point.

Android would seem certainly convenient, since it would be the cheapest, easiest way to implement whatever they're going to do with their new alliance with that mobile games company whose name I can't remember. And even better, it would be even easier and for indie studios they seem to support so much right now.

Have we ever seen a console not using a proprietary OS before? This would be a nice, although completely unexpected, precedent.

 

[nynt9]

Well, if this turns out real I'd be really surprised.
They've already mingled with Google through the upload of replays in Mario Kart and the supposed dropped functionality to do so in Smash Bros, although it's a little too far fetched to be believable at this point.

Android would seem certainly convenient, since it would be the cheapest, easiest way to implement whatever they're going to do with their new alliance with that mobile games company whose name I can't remember. And even better, it would be even easier and for indie studios they seem to support so much right now.

Have we ever seen a console not using a proprietary OS before? This would be a nice, although completely unexpected, precedent.

As mentioned earlier in this thread, Dreamcast was based on Windows CE.

And the OP says the OS will be "Android-based", PS4 OS is based on FreeBSD so it could be similar to that. Android-based doesn't necessarily mean it will be recognizably similar to an Android phone for an end user.

 

[WolvenOne]

Well, if this turns out real I'd be really surprised.
They've already mingled with Google through the upload of replays in Mario Kart and the supposed dropped functionality to do so in Smash Bros, although it's a little too far fetched to be believable at this point.

Android would seem certainly convenient, since it would be the cheapest, easiest way to implement whatever they're going to do with their new alliance with that mobile games company whose name I can't remember. And even better, it would be even easier and for indie studios they seem to support so much right now.

Have we ever seen a console not using a proprietary OS before? This would be a nice, although completely unexpected, precedent.

Just because it's Android, doesn't mean it isn't proprietary. Companies have modified Android into proprietary custom OS's before, chances are Nintendo would do something similar.

 

[Mihos]

So if it uses android, would Google Cardboard work on the OS and/or games for NX?

No not at all... Android is just an OS, you can run it on a high end PC with all the peripherals and power you can dream up, or you can run it on a raspberry pi using nothing but a shell. Just look at what Carmack did at the kernel level on the Note 4 to enable insanely low latency VR on a phone architecture, as an example.
I think people are just so tied into Android being for phones using Google play store (and are probably half stuck into the Apple/Google love fest) that they skip all capacity for reason. It can be as locked down or as open as you want it to be. You can make it so open that it can be downloaded and compiled any way you want, or lock that shit down so tight that even your own users have trouble doing even the simplest of tasks. This doesn't mean it will have anything to do with the google play store. The OS itself is not any more inherent to piracy than anything else, it has to do with how it is implemented.

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

What would Nintendo gain from this?

Hardware that isn't terrible.

 

[Seiru]

Hardware that isn't terrible.

What does using Android (whatever that means) have to do with hardware?

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

What does using Android (whatever that means) have to do with hardware?

Nothing.Did you read what I was replying to?

 

[Seiru]

Nothing.Did you read what I was replying to?

Sorry! I feel like double quotes should be a thing on here

 

[cleveridea]

Base Android is Linux

Everything on top of that is optional.

Personally, I wouldnt be surprised if Google work with Nintendo as the hardware partner for a games platform, which potentically could be (or include) VR

Google have all these VR initiatives and a content partner (go pro) but no hardware partner. At google IO they mentioned how youtube is adding a VR channel so with that & cardboard (1 million users already) they are lacking a hardware partner

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

Sorry! I feel like double quotes should be a thing on here

It really should be.

 

[Koren]

They could help Nintendo build their first optical media based handheld.

When even Sony recognized with Vita that optical media is a stupid idea on portables, I find that hard to belive.

Should there be a change from solid-state carts, Nintendo has patents on holographic storage, which seems a far better solution.

 

[Acinixys]

I only care about one thing

If its Android based can I buy and play Pokemon on my phone?

All that matters

 

[Hakai]

Hardware that isn't terrible.

They seem to be doing better at the handheld market than Sony ever did.

 

[deadlast]

If it's using a AMD semi-custom mentioned in Investor relations talks then it's supposed to be out in 2016.

After watching the PS4 and XBO unfold. I think 2016 will be an internal year and 2017 will be a customer year.

 

[AniHawk]

They seem to be doing better at the handheld market than Sony ever did.

well not really. the psp did better than the 3ds (more hardware and software sold)

i doubt nintendo needs sony to do better in the handheld space though.

 

[AetherZX]

IF all that really mattered was 1080p60fps, the WiiU would be the only good selling system this gen.

?

It only has two of those.

 

[BumblebeeCody]

Damn right it should!

 

[JMDSO]

well not really. the psp did better than the 3ds (more hardware and software sold)

i doubt nintendo needs sony to do better in the handheld space though.

The PSP got stomped by the DS, which was released at the same time. Not sure why you're comparing the PSP to the 3DS.

 

[jmizzal]

well not really. the psp did better than the 3ds (more hardware and software sold)

i doubt nintendo needs sony to do better in the handheld space though.

but the 3ds and psp isnt the same gen, not really fair to compare the two against each other. 3DS had to go up against the smart phone boom. PSP did well but not as well as DS.

 

[Empyrean Heaven]

Don't you think Nintendo themselves might provide that assistance?

And they are utterly terrible at doing so. That's one of the biggest reasons 3rd parties aren't developing for Nintendo anymore. Nintendo goes out of their way to cultivate these relationships, and then when it comes time to give they take a shit in their hands. Nintendo still has good relationships with Namco and Sega and fairly good ones with Capcom and Squeenix (at least the non-Eidos parts), but EU and NA publishers aren't going to give them the time of day anymore. They've been burned one too many times, and they aren't fooled anymore. They're fucking done.

 

[Vic]

Base Android is Linux

Everything on top of that is optional.

Personally, I wouldnt be surprised if Google work with Nintendo as the hardware partner for a games platform, which potentically could be (or include) VR

Google have all these VR initiatives and a content partner (go pro) but no hardware partner. At google IO they mentioned how youtube is adding a VR channel so with that & cardboard (1 million users already) they are lacking a hardware partner

The kernel is Linux but the environement/distribution being Android this is an important distinction. They could have only used the Linux kernel and build everything on-top from the scratch, but if they're going with Android, they're hoping to leverage many functionalities of the platform. I can't really take a guess since I'm not quite familiar with how Android works.

 

[Ally of Justice]

As mentioned earlier in this thread, Dreamcast was based on Windows CE.

And the OP says the OS will be "Android-based", PS4 OS is based on FreeBSD so it could be similar to that. Android-based doesn't necessarily mean it will be recognizably similar to an Android phone for an end user.

Of course it doesn't need to be recognizable as Android, but if the base of it is Android, there's a nice chance and opportunity. I mean, if the environment is Android, despite not having the same interface that we all know, there could be access to the functionality of an Android-based system and everything it comes with it.

 

[Interceptor]

Hardware that isn't terrible.

Like the Wii U?

 

[WolvenOne]

Of course it doesn't need to be recognizable as Android, but if the base of it is Android, there's a nice chance and opportunity. I mean, if the environment is Android, despite not having the same interface that we all know, there could be access to the functionality of an Android-based system and everything it comes with it.

Depends how closely the OS ends up resembling vanilla Android OS's. Android Kindle Fire tablets uses a proprietary version of Android, and there are some compatability issues here and there.

Thing is though, even proprietary this should make porting things from Phone to NX relatively easy.

 

[Panda Rin]

Like the Wii U?

I wouldn't call the Wii U's hardware terrible, but certainly underwhelming and below average.

 

[BengaBenga]

I very much welcome this. Nintendo is an incredible game developer and manages to create very efficient hardware, but OS and storefront wise it's absolutely horrendous. Granted, the WiiU is a lot better than the 3DS, but everytime I open the 3DS webshop I cringe at the fact this even exists in 2015. It's also ridiculously slow. And WiiU is better, but still pretty outdated.

Running on an Android based OS will likely ensure it gets frequent updates, all apps are available, everything looks coherent and account based system will be simple to implement. Using such a mature OS will also simplify the (hopefully) handheld/console integration.

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

They seem to be doing better at the handheld market than Sony ever did.

Salesdo not equal quality,and I will fight anyone who says the 3DS hardware is anything but pure shite. Not just in power. Even the ergonomics are mindblowingly terrible. They might be able to sell systems on the popularity of their big franchises, but that doesn't mean their hardware isn't awful and doesn't mean a joint venture with Sony wouldn't make for a much better system.

Also even if you're purely talking sales the 3DS performed worse than PSP.

 

[OmegaDL50]

Is there a word for posts thar rail against arguments not being made in a condescending and sactimounious way with a heaping helping of anger on the side?

You mean statements being made that caused Nirolak to make this very post on page 2 - http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=165973241&postcount=239

Beyond that point you still have people miss it and even throw a few Ouya Nintendo meme images in this thread.

The amount of people that confuse Android for a hardware platform rather then a Software based Operating System it is are surprisingly more then I was led to believe based on this thread alone.

 

[Obliterator]

I've been thinking for a bit this may happen. With them getting into the mobile space it kind of makes sense for it to run Android that way there can be ports of their phone games on whatever the NX is without much work.

 

[Interceptor]

Salesdo not equal quality,..

Funny, if you mention the PS4 it suddenly is.