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NX dev kit software is shipping now - for console & handheld (WSJ)
News reported by 
(Editor)
October 16, 2015, 16:23
 
From the Wall Street Journal based on 'sources':

"TOKYO— Nintendo Co. has begun distributing a software development kit for its new NX videogame platform, people familiar with the matter said, suggesting the company is on track to introduce the product as early as next year.

The kit is used by third-party software developers to modify existing games for the platform or create new ones. Videogame console makers such as Nintendo like to have popular game titles ready when they start selling new devices.

Nintendo’s current flagship products are the Wii U, a console typically used in the living room, and the portable 3DS device. Both have been out for several years, leading analysts to predict that the Kyoto-based entertainment powerhouse will move fairly swiftly to bring out the NX.

“We are increasingly of the idea that Nintendo might launch the NX in 2016 because of the softness of 3DS and Wii U,” said David Gibson, an analyst at Macquarie Capital Securities.

A Nintendo spokeswoman said the company plans to disclose details of NX next year.

Square Enix Co. said in July that it planned to make the latest version of its blockbuster role-playing game Dragon Quest for the NX. That version, called Dragon Quest XI, is also planned for the 3DS and Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 4.

The exact shape of the NX hardware isn’t yet clear. People familiar with the development plans said Nintendo would likely include both a console and at least one mobile unit that could either be used in conjunction with the console or taken on the road for separate use. They also said Nintendo would aim to put industry-leading chips in the NX devices, after criticism that the Wii U’s capabilities didn’t match those of competitors.

Nintendo’s former president, Satoru Iwata, said in March that NX “is a platform dedicated for videogames.” Mr. Iwata died in July, and his post was assumed in September by Tatsumi Kimishima, a former banker who served as one of Mr. Iwata’s top lieutenants at Nintendo.

Mr. Kimishima is expected to carry forward the strategy of Mr. Iwata, a legendary figure for many videogame fans. In the months before his death, Mr. Iwata laid out plans to put Nintendo characters in games for mobile devices under a partnership with DeNA Co. and made a deal with amusement park operator Universal Parks & Resorts, which is part of Comcast Corp.

“Nintendo is no longer just a traditional videogame company,” said industry veteran Hirokazu Hamamura, a director at Kadokawa Dwango Corp., which publishes magazines about videogames."

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10/16/15, 16:23
 
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*little-girl-like squeals*

It doesn't matter how little I play games, honestly, because every time Nintendo talks about a new system I jump right back into little kid mode and am SO FREAKING EXCITED!

Ha ha, I don't even understand why, and I don't care. I'm going to just enjoy it.



Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 16:34
It's happening! It's happening!!!

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 16:54
This part sounds very un-Nintendo:

"They also said Nintendo would aim to put industry-leading chips in the NX devices, after criticism that the Wii U’s capabilities didn’t match those of competitors."

And what does "industry-leading" even mean? Are they going to put a GTX 980 in there and have it cost $800? Or do they just mean it's going to be more powerful than the PS4, which would still put it at ~ $400 which is also very un-Nintendo.

Still expecting this to be the less powerful than the PS4, probably similar to the Wii U.

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 17:20
@deathly_hallows

It will probably be on par with the PS4, but certainly not above. Then the PS5 will come out (why who knows, the graphical leaps are less and less now, and fewer games are releasing these days than ever) and the NX will be in the same spot as the Wii U.

And so on, until either the end of time or the end of Nintendo! Oh well. Still exciting. :)

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 18:05
@J.K. Riki
I dunno, my gut tells me they'll stick with their "withered tech" strategy and try to hit a low price point ($200 to $250), the whole idea that they'd "respond" to criticisms that they're not as powerful as the competition seems very odd to me.

We'll see though, maybe they've decided to get back in the ring with Sony and MS and go for that 3rd party support.

Also I think the PS5 is several years off, the PS4 is "good enough" for 1080P gaming, Sony won't need to release another console until 4K TVs become the norm. That suits me fine, I'm happy with the PS4 in term of graphics, although I wish developers would choose to hit 60 fps instead of settling for a choppy 20 (I'm looking at your FromSoft, get it together).

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 18:24
console and a handheld not going to hit a $250 price point....so getting two systems could justify a $400-$500 pice tag might as well load the thing up with the best tech to justify the price.

awhile ago I wished they would do a tiered strategy based off things Iwata said about them sharing the same OS but I'm only getting part of my wish so far. I wanted PC to run the same OS so then Nintendo could release PC games (already said they were going to along with mobile games) and that would have been how they beat the ps4 and xbox1 graphically. All games scaleable graphics so you buy one game and could maybe play it on 3 platforms? Is that even possible?

Anyways you gotta remember new president who didn't support the Wii U so he would likely want a high powered system

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 18:45   Edited:  10/16/15, 18:58
@Wellsy529

Yeah, he didn't think the Wii U would succeed but considering how far into development the NX probably was, I doubt that whatever direction the NX is taking is not due to the new president either.

Anyway, I'm curious about this. It's a bit odd seeing a new system already and that it's playing catch up to the "big guys" but of course I've always been a Nintendo fan and I doubt this'll change it. Though if this is both a handheld and a home console, does that mean they're essentially killing off the 3DS and Wii U in one go? That's a bit scary.

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 18:58
@deathly_hallows

Well what they're responding to is a lack of sales, not what anyone says. They don't care about any words but the ones spoken by bottom lines. ;)

If the Wii U was as successful as the Wii, they'd absolutely keep going with their current strategy. But it's had a really rough time. They know something has to change. Will it be the power level? No clue. Maybe they'll go back to the GCN days and try a little harder with combining tech and purple lunchboxes. That WAS only two generations ago. :)

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 19:05
Systems sold separately, don't you think?

It's time though. Good to see they're prepared.

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 20:27
Glad to see this report even though, really, it isn't saying much at all. Sounds like more rumours and vague ideas, basically stuff we've already heard a bunch of already.

Like the bit about more modern tech, of course. My single favorite bit of NX news ever was when Iwata said "NX is for videogame lovers". Can't wait to see what his vision was. 2016 gonna be a hype year.

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 20:34
I hope this is true. Being able to take my console game with me portably would be fantastic.

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 21:33
It better have a built-in smoke machine and allow me to speak to crustaceans.

I consider this to be rumours, so I'll wait until we get some solid info until I get hyped or disappointed. Or both. Dishypepointed.

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 21:42
In unrelated news, Monolithsoft is urgently mass-recruiting 3d artists. :)

(link)

Posted by 
 on: 10/16/15, 21:49
This isn't just something posted on a random website or an "anonymous" forum member, this is the Wall Street Journal. I'm not saying any of it is fact, but it does seem more credible than any old rumour out there, so some of it could be true.

A release in November 2016 keeps looking likely.

Posted by 
 on: 10/17/15, 00:46
@Mop it up

That's true in this case but be aware that people can host what are essentially blogs on Wall Street Journal's website. It never hurts to scrutinize the source. Here though it is by a major tech contributer so it's probably legitimate.

Posted by 
 on: 10/17/15, 02:11
Gamedadgrant looks different.

Posted by 
 on: 10/17/15, 09:06
Now there's reports from supposed insiders claiming this thing is super powerful? Beyond PS4, by a decent margin.

Huh. Now I have no idea what to think.

Posted by 
 on: 10/17/15, 13:47
Not going to believe anything. Not yet. Not because I don't think the reports are accurate, I just don't want to get my hopes up. Things change, too. We were getting amazing reports about Project Cafe early on as well, and a lot of those didn't pan out. It sounds very encouraging, but I'm not going to set myself up for disappointment.

Posted by 
 on: 10/17/15, 17:15
So Nintendo's gonna release both a console and handheld at the same time? When was the last time they did that? GBA and GCN? Kinda?

carlosrox said:
Gamedadgrant looks different.

THIS ISN'T EVEN MY FINAL FORM...!

Posted by 
 on: 10/17/15, 20:39
It would be a pleasant surprise if this released holiday 2016. But at the same time, I would absolutely NEED backwards compatibility, since I don't plan on moving away from Smash Bros or Splatoon for a very long time.

Posted by 
 on: 10/17/15, 20:40
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