I think that it's possible Iwata meant that they could port the WiiU API to their new system. It's possible in theory, although I don't know if it'll have many advantages beyond backward compatibility. And I'd argue BC is valued a lot higher on GAF compared to the general market.It's really going to depend on how they've been writing Wii U games. Iwata has made a point to say that Wii U software was being created in a way that it can be easily folded into their next system, so I'm starting to think that means they are writing to the metal as little as humanly possible, so there's fewer calls directly to the hardware architecture that need to be re-written and it can be "translated" to whatever NX hardware is through a software wrapper. (am I understanding this right? If I'm not, I need someone to correct me)
This has nothing to do with eachother. Their mobile games will be on ios/android.This has probably been brought up but where does this leave iOS support? Ifnthey go this route are their mobile games likely to be Android exclusive?
piracy won't be that big of a deal once all the games are F2P anyway
Yep thats very true.Android is, for sure, much better than any console or handheld OS available right now.
If this turns out to be true, I can only see it as a good thing.
How reliable is this source?
Literally the most reliable source when it comes to Nintendo leaks. It's as good as confirmed if you ask me.
Yeah that'll really bring back the quality third party support. If anything they'll treat it just like the Wii and use it as a dumping ground with a deluge of low quality games in a attempt to take advantage of it being on Android.
If anything this is Nintendo's swan song. But no worries I certainly won't waste time on another Nintendo console after the disappointment that is the WiiU and how underwhelmed I feel in regards to the 3DS I have sitting next to me with a layer of dust on it. I've faced facts that Nintendo has lost it and this is just another sign. Ouya 2.0 incoming.
Literally the most reliable source when it comes to Nintendo leaks. It's as good as confirmed if you ask me.
There aren't many credible sources of Nintendo's Japanese branch, but Nikkei's usually got a pretty good track record. In the last few years, they've leaked most 3DS hardware iterations, as well as various other smaller elements. While this news isn't a sure thing yet, since there have been things that did not come true, but I don't know if that was due to inaccurate information or information that simply changed. As things stand I think it's pretty safe to proceed with the assumption that this news is accurate.How reliable is this source?
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.
Yes, their move onto mobile was clearly to solidify their traditional platforms, not a necessity because of the remarkable decline of their fortunes on handhelds and consoles.
Companies typically go one foot forward to go two feet back, right?
Literally the most reliable source when it comes to Nintendo leaks. It's as good as confirmed if you ask me.
Not sure how NX running on Android will solve Nintendo's 3rd party problem.
It's an internet forum, so when in doubt, assume the latter.I've completely lost the ability to tell the difference between a genuine lack of knowledge and concern trolling.
I think that it's possible Iwata meant that they could port the WiiU API to their new system. It's possible in theory, although I don't know if it'll have many advantages beyond backward compatibility. And I'd argue BC is valued a lot higher on GAF compared to the general market.
The succes of PS4 and even xboxOne shows the market doesn't care about BC, they even use the whole remaster thing as a marketing opportunity to re-release games from previous gen (& nintendo is doing the same now to a certain degree with their Wii games on eshop).
This news isnt all bad for me, i havent owned a nintendo system since the gamecube but im more tempted with this news.
Make an android game box that supports all those media apps that are allready there and have a handheld that runs the same games and ill buy both.
When Nintendo talks about 3rd party support, they don't refer to stuff like Witcher, Metal Gear Solid, Elder Scrolls and GTA, they refer to games like Just Dance, Puzzle & Dragons and Clash of Clans.i'm confused about the third party argument.. How having an android platform would help big multi titles to be on NX ? If they wanted to go the third party route, the thing they would need is basically a copy of XBO or PS4 architecture/os so they can dev those games on it without effort. (and i'm not even sure that would be enough...)
I'm most likely wrong but from what I've readI know nothing about anything technological so I kind of love threads like these - they're genuinely enlightening.
I'm curious about the Wii U OS talk - could someone explain in relatively layman terms why it's archaic? Is it a 'too obscure to adapt to' thing, or is it a case of being inefficient, or what?
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2015/150317/03.htmlIwata said:Last year, an unprecedented thing in the history of the Japanese video game market happened: Five titles for Nintendo 3DS sold more than two million copies each in the latter six-month period of 2014. As this record-breaking incident attests, video game software sales have been progressing smoothly on dedicated video game hardware even after smart devices have become widespread in this country.
...
Of course, the challenge of asking our consumers to purchase dedicated video game hardware has become harder now that smart devices have widely spread. However, we recognize that our business model of producing both video game hardware and software is effective even today, and we do not share this pessimistic view of the future for dedicated video game systems.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/130131/05.htmlIwata said:Last year we also started a project to integrate the architecture for our future platforms. What we mean by integrating platforms is not integrating handhelds devices and home consoles to make only one machine. What we are aiming at is to integrate the architecture to form a common basis for software development so that we can make software assets more transferrable, and operating systems and their build-in applications more portable, regardless of form factor or performance of each platform. They will also work to avoid software lineup shortages or software development delays which tend to happen just after the launch of new hardware.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/library/events/140130qa/02.htmlIwata said:Still, I am not sure if the form factor (the size and configuration of the hardware) will be integrated. In contrast, the number of form factors might increase. Currently, we can only provide two form factors because if we had three or four different architectures, we would face serious shortages of software on every platform.
To cite a specific case, 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.
Iwata said:Nintendo has strong views on how we should run our company.
We consider ourselfs above all a game based entertainment company.
We believe other people who make videogame systems see themself first
as technology companies.
This is an important distinction.
I'm curious about the Wii U OS talk - could someone explain in relatively layman terms why it's archaic? Is it a 'too obscure to adapt to' thing, or is it a case of being inefficient, or what?
When Nintendo talks about 3rd party support, they don't refer to stuff like Witcher, Metal Gear Solid, Elder Scrolls and GTA, they refer to games like Just Dance, Puzzle & Dragons and Clash of Clans.
Thank christ someone isn't flipping out hereThe conclusion-jumping in this thread is hilarious.
Nintendo basing their next OS on a mature, extensively documented and widely-supported architecture is certainly a very good thing.
I've completely lost the ability to tell the difference between a genuine lack of knowledge and concern trolling.
stop lying
Nintendo is already balls deep in mobile game design with F2P and timers. Wii U Eshop is already an open marketplace where quality control is non-existent. Those, btw are not bad things. Why would they design a system around regressing?Assuming they are using Android as the base for their NX platform, I see Nintendo here taking in the good traits of mobile and fixing the disadvantages that mobile as a gaming platform has, namely the inability to charge more than pittance for games and the lack of quality control. Mobile is much more than just phones. It is stuff like tablets, watches, and set top boxes. By coming at a 'mobile' platform with the mindset, ideas, and legacy of a console maker, Nintendo could actually make NX a premiere gaming platform because they aren't going to let rampant clones and ripoffs on their marketplace and will be able to charge higher prices for their games while having a platform that is about as easy to develop for as making a game for Android would be. NX could be a platform that is as easy to develop for as Android, but with higher quality games than mobile could ever have because the model does not support it.
This has probably been brought up but where does this leave iOS support? Ifnthey go this route are their mobile games likely to be Android exclusive?
I think people need to stop worrying about and talking about Android. NX will not run Android. It will not resemble Android. It will have very little to do with Android outside of share some common APIs and a kernel.
It will instead run on a heavily modified variant of AOSP, which will allow the OS to be compiled on various architectures quickly (AOSP currently supports x86, ARM and MIPS) and share basically all code with style changes for different screen sizes and resolutions.
For developers it means that engines will be able to get support up and running quicker for NX since it'll require less work to change existing Android and/or FireOS compilers to NX compilers than write them from scratch. It'll allow developers to compile once, run everywhere, meaning no separate console/handheld version. It'll allow developers to only have to undergo one round of classification in each region since it'll be NX platform rather than console and handheld.
For end users it likely means nothing. It will probably look like an evolved version of the 3DS/Wii U OS and most people won't even notice that AOSP runs under the hood. After all, how close is the PS4 to BSD and how close is the XBO to Windows (outside of the aesthetic)?
Besides, this can give us fun guessing the SoC for each NX device, since if OHA rules apply to these platforms that means all the common mobile SoC's are off the table
i'm confused about the third party argument.. How having an android platform would help big multi titles to be on NX ? If they wanted to go the third party route, the thing they would need is basically a copy of XBO or PS4 architecture/os so they can dev those games on it without effort. (and i'm not even sure that would be enough...)
I'm all for one only handled console that wold replace both 3ds and wiiu, but the android route.. i'm not sure right now how that can benefit them.. I really don't see their game being playable on any android platform that makes no sense. So they won't be using that open patform thing, so.. what's the point..
GET OUT OF MY MIND! AHHHH...stop lying
Fantastic. Though with Nintendo I can see them fucking up the frontend still.