Nintendo Integrated Research & Development Division,[a] commonly abbreviated as Nintendo IRD, was a Japanese developments division that handled everything related to producing Nintendo's console hardware and associated peripherals. Originally established in the 1970s with engineer Genyo Takeda acting as manager, Nintendo Research & Development No. 3 Department[b] and part of the Manufacturing Division, the department was responsible for various hardware technologies and even developed several arcade and console titles. In 2000, as technology evolved into the 3D era, Takeda's group spun-off and established itself as a division into Integrated Research & Development Division, and began spending longer periods of time researching and testing the various and rapidly evolving hardware that would power Nintendo's next generation of consoles.
 Nintendo's logotype, used until 2016 | |
 Exterior of the Nintendo Central Office in Kyoto, where the IRD division was housed until 2014 | |
Native name | 任天堂総合開発本部 |
|---|---|
Romanized name | Nintendō Sōgō Kaihatsu Honbu |
| Company type | Division |
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 1970, as Nintendo Research & Development 3 2000, as Nintendo IRD |
| Founder | Genyo Takeda |
| Defunct | September 16, 2015 |
| Fate | Merged with Nintendo System Development |
| Successor | Nintendo Platform Technology Development |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Genyo Takeda (General Manager) Satoru Okada (RED General Manager) |
| Products | Various Nintendo video game consoles |
| Parent | Nintendo |
| Divisions | Integrated Research & Development Research & Engineering Department |
The Nintendo IRD Division was broken up into two departments: the Integrated Research & Development Department (or IRD), which focused on the development of Nintendo home video game console hardware and associated peripherals, and the Research & Engineering Development Department (or RED), which focused on the development of Nintendo handheld video game console hardware and associated peripherals. Both departments were split into several sub-groups. Unlike the software departments, the hardware groups generally worked together on most projects.
On February 16, 2013, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo Research & Engineering Department (or RED), the former hardware group specialized in all engineering and technological aspects of Nintendo's handheld development, was absorbed into Nintendo IRD Division.[1][2][3] On September 16, 2015, IRD merged with the Nintendo System Development division, becoming the Nintendo Platform Technology Development.[4][5]
History
editIn December 1980, Genyo Takeda was promoted to manager of the Nintendo R&D3 department.[6]
Hardware developed
editGeneral Manager: Genyo Takeda
The Integrated Research & Development Department (or IRD) was the hardware development team responsible for all of Nintendo's home video game consoles and associated peripherals. The department was split into five different groups who worked together on most projects, with each group generally focusing on a different aspect of product design. The manager, Genyo Takeda, and most of the chief engineers originated from the Nintendo R&D3 hardware division.
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ Steve, Dent. "Nikkei: Nintendo to launch unified console and handheld division by February 16th (update: confirmed)". Engadget. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
That's why it's allegedly bringing the brain power from all its divisions together to inaugurate the unified division by February 16th of this year -- transferring in 130 console and 150 handheld engineers, to start.
- ^ "Report: Nintendo to Restructure Hardware Divisions". IGN. 2013-01-15.
- ^ "Nintendo Confirms Hardware Development Reorganization". IGN. 2013-02-01.
- ^ Kohler, Chris. "Nintendo Consolidates Its Game Development Teams". Wired. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ^ Rad, Chloi; Otero, Jose. "Nintendo Reveals Restructuring Plans". IGN. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
- ^ "Nintendo's Genyo Takeda Announced As 2018 Lifetime Achievement Recipient". Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
