Support NeoGAF

[duckroll]

http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO87370000Y5A520C1000000/

The Nikkei put up an editorial earlier today about Nintendo's partnership with DeNA. It's a pretty long article (and you need an account to read most of it, so unless you sign up that link is kinda useless), but most of it is about historical connections and basically an overview on the relationship.

The interesting part is that the article starts by discussing Nintendo's next platform - the one Iwata codenamed NX. They have an insider source who claims that the OS for the platform will be Android based, and that it is a paradigm shift for Nintendo business-wise. 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.

---

Edit: Please do not assume that the NX is an Ouya or a Smartphone. None of those things are implied. This is merely about the software architecture of the operating system.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

NX is trying to be a handheld lol

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Holy....

 

[Garou]

Ever since the original announcement I assumed NX to be something along the lines of Vita + Vita TV.

Let's see if they can compete with what Apple has in store for Apple TV.

 

[Bjoern the Smexy]

Nikkei has been right most of the time with stuff like this and it wouldn't surprise me at all if this was true because I suspected as much.

Wasn't Nintendo the one developing an OS, selling that to Google and Google made Android out of it?

 

[Father_Brain]

Well, that's pretty huge.

 

[zenosparadox]

Android-based? I wonder if Nintendo will be able to prevent widespread piracy which I imagine would be a very serious problem for them (unless all their new content is F2P).

 

[Enter the Dragon Punch]

Wasn't there a similar rumour for the Wii U floating around when it was Project Cafe?

I have my doubts.

 

[zroid]

Nikkei always seems to make these big claims which they later admit was mostly speculation :lol

 

[SephLuis]

Not sure what to think of that. Perhaps two OS in a system ? Or one heavily modified Android by Nintendo ?

 

[Nightbird]

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

 

[Saucycarpdog]

NINTENDO PHONEZ!!!!!

Spoiler

but seriously that would be impressive to see

 

[DJIzana]

Hmm... interesting.

 

[DVCY201]

So it's more mobile based. Oh boy.

 

[kunonabi]

Not really looking forward to this

 

[Sandfox]

Well this would be a very interesting shift.

 

[Spyder_Monkey]

So more Shield TV than PS4? Welp

 

[duckroll]

Nikkei always seems to make these big claims which they later admit was mostly speculation :lol

Not speculation. It specifically states an inside source, and they quote the source directly in the article.

 

[Dr. Feel Good]

http://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO87370000Y5A520C1000000/

The Nikkei put up an editorial earlier today about Nintendo's partnership with DeNA. It's a pretty long article (and you need an account to read most of it, so unless you sign up that link is kinda useless), but most of it is about historical connections and basically an overview on the relationship.

The interesting part is that the article starts by discussing Nintendo's next platform - the one Iwata codenamed NX. They have an insider source who claims that the OS for the platform will be Android based, and that it is a paradigm shift for Nintendo business-wise. 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.

But Nintendo has lost third parties since as early as the N64. Is that really the motivating factor for a paradigm shift? I mean Nintendo has historically been an awful operating system designer, maybe they need an already built backbone because they can't make a better one themselves?

 

[Gleethor]

Android based or straight up Android?

 

[HUELEN10]

No, my money is on ES.

http://code.google.com/p/es-operating-system/

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Es_(operating_system)

 

[-Horizon-]

Nintendo bought out by Google :T

 

[Gnub]

Makes sense. It allows for console and handheld platform unity.

Hopefully something like this pushes Android gaming deeper into viability. If Nintendo can pull this off they can create:

• Standard Android controller like the 360 pad is for PC
• High watermark for hardware for Android gaming
• Standard for cross buy

 

[Platy]

Nintendo Ouya

 

[themagicalkitsune]

This ... is gonna be interesting.

 

[Sandfox]

But Nintendo has lost third parties since as early as the N64. Is that really the motivating factor for a paradigm shift? I mean Nintendo has historically been an awful operating system designer, maybe they need an already built backbone because they can't make a better one themselves?

The Wii U has clearly hit an all time low and the Wii did pretty well on the third party front.

 

[chaosblade]

Nikkei has been right most of the time with stuff like this and it wouldn't surprise me at all if this was true because I suspected as much.

Wasn't Nintendo the one developing an OS, selling that to Google and Google made Android out of it?

Android is Linux-based, I think. Something about a Nintendo and Google deal does sound vaguely familiar though.

Anyway, using something based on Android (not just straight "Android" itself ripped out of a phone though) wouldn't really surprise me.

 

[Busaiku]

So it's gonna be worse than the DS situation.

 

[Crimsonclaw111]

Nintendo Ouya

Nintendohno.

Seriously though Android can be pretty flexible.

 

[plasmawave]

Slightly Mad Studios am cry.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Is this good or bad???

 

[vareon]

This is in line with what they said about NX (or Nintendo's next architecture) in general, no?

It doesn't mean people can just drop an apk and play on NX, I think.

 

[HUELEN10]

Not speculation. It specifically states an inside source, and they quote the source directly in the article.

Mind posting an excerpt through the google translator tool, or is said content paid and therefore not be able to be posted?

No one doubts you, but it would be nice to see it being elaborated upon at least.

It doesn't mean people can just drop an apk and play on NX, I think.

THIS

 

[RadioJoNES64]

Well I guess it's probably a cheap machine intended to play the few mobile Nintendo games that will come out.

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

Wow. That's a pretty big shift for Nintendo.

 

[ThoseDeafMutes]

Just before anybody freaks out, an android-derived OS doesn't imply that it's a tiny 69 dollar android box or something.

 

[Iacobellis]

What...

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Nintendo's plan to win back third parties is to get mobile third parties.

 

[puebla]

Feels like the end of an era.

 

[Ponn]

I've been guessing for awhile now Nintendo would move into a combined handheld/home console format of some sort but this sounds a little crazy to me. Nintendo Seal of Approval indeed.

 

[cardinalmind]

Nintendo beating Microsoft to the Games-as-a-Service (GaaS) model!

Seriously though, it is truly a paradigm shift for them if this is true. They usually need both to control hardware and software side of their stuff to offer a unique proposition to consumers, whether or not it might result to satisfactory results. Going to this seems like a move only made possible with a CEO with a tight grip on the board of directors, as how Iwata has put many of his colleagues there.

 

[catmario]

Aaaaand It'll be hacked within 5 hours.

 

[Dryk]

And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

 

[jmaine_ph]

Abort Mission...

 

[donutzsick]

holy shit if true...

 

[ILoveBish]

Hacked day -1.

 

[grandwizard]

Whaaat..

 

[Wishmaster92]

disgusting

 

[Hero_of_the_Day]

Aaaaand It'll be hacked within 5 hours.

This is why I find this hard to believe.

 

[Vampirolol]

Is this good or bad???

I don't know.