Nintendo Software Planning & Development
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Native name
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任天堂 企画開発 |
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Romanized name
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Nintendo Planning and Development |
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| Industry | Video games |
| Predecessor | Nintendo R&D1, R&D2 |
| Founded | Kyoto, Japan (September 30, 2003) |
| Founder | Satoru Iwata |
| Headquarters | Kyoto, Japan |
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Number of locations
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1 (Kyoto, Japan) |
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Key people
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Shinya Takahashi (General Manager) Yoshio Sakamoto (Deputy Manager) Kensuke Tanabe (Executive Officer) |
| Products | Develops and co-produces various video game titles |
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Number of employees
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~70[1] |
| Parent | Nintendo |
| Divisions | Software Planning & Development Software Development & Design |
The Nintendo Software Planning & Development Division (Japanese: 任天堂 企画開発本部 Hepburn: Nintendō Kikaku Kaihatsu Honbu?, lit. Nintendo Planning and Development Division) (commonly abbreviated to Nintendo SPD) is a research, planning and development division housed inside the Nintendo Development Center in Kyoto, Japan. The division has two departments: Software Planning & Development Department, which primarily co-produces games with external developers; and Software Development & Design Department, which primarily develops experimental and system software. The division was created during a corporate restructuring on September 30, 2003 with the abolition of the Nintendo R&D1 and Nintendo R&D2 departments.
While several of the remaining Nintendo R&D1 designers reside in the division along with a staggered group of former Nintendo R&D2 and Nintendo EAD staff, the programmers and artists consist of a lot of new talent. The group has the task of independently developing innovative games, assisting other development teams on projects, and managing overseas production of first-party franchises.[2] Both SPD and SDD departments are currently split into four separate groups who work concurrently on different projects.[3]
Contents
History[edit]
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This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2014) |
Chronology[edit]
- 2003 - The division was created along with several development and production groups, each with its own manager and Shinya Takahashi as General Manager.
- 2013 - Yoshio Sakamoto was promoted Deputy Manager of the Software Planning & Development Department.
- 2014 - The division was moved from the Nintendo Central Office to the Nintendo Development Center.
Structural hierarchy[edit]
The General Manager of the Nintendo Software Planning & Development Division is Shinya Takahashi, assisted by both Keizo Kato, the Assistant Manager and Kensuke Tanabe, the Executive Officer. The division is split into two different departments: the Software Planning & Development Department, which is split into four separate groups, which is supervised by Deputy Manager Yoshio Sakamoto; and the Software Development & Design Department which is split into three separate groups, supervised by Deputy Manager Masaru Nishita. All of these groups work concurrently on different projects.[4] Collectively these officers are responsible for green lighting software titles, managing prototypes, allocating development resources, and managing budgets.
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| PG No. 1 |
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PG No. 2 |
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PG No. 3 |
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PG No. 4 |
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SDG |
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UIDG |
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CDG | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Technical Support Group |
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Sound Group | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Software Planning & Development Department[edit]
Deputy Manager: Yoshio Sakamoto
Production Group No. 1[edit]
Group Manager: Katsuya Yamano
The Production Group No. 1's is primary focus is the development and co-production of video game software and software applications for Nintendo home and handheld consoles in cooperation with second-party developers. The current Group Manager and main producer is Katsuya Yamano, assisted by Nintendo veteran developer Yoshio Sakamoto, with the directing and planning team including a collective of talented personnel. This development group typically has more than one project simultaneously in production, with emphasis on maintaining the Rhythm Heaven series and Friend Collection series and co-producing the WarioWare series with Intelligent Systems.
In 2013, Katsuya Yamano was promoted Group Manager, effectively taking Yoshio Sakamoto's place as he was promoted to Department Manager.[citation needed]
- Notes
| Title | Genre(s) | Platform(s) | Year | Producer(s) | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WarioWare: Snapped![co-produced 1][24] | Action, puzzle | Nintendo DSi (DSiWare) |
2008 | Katsuya Yamano, Toshio Sengoku[a] |
Taku Sugioka[a] |
| Atsumeru Egaocho[co-produced 1][25] lit. Smile Collection Book |
Nintendo DSi (DSiWare) |
2009 | Katsuya Yamano, Takeshi Ando[a] |
Ryuichi Nakada, Takeshi Ando[a] |
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| Card Hero: Speed Battle Custom[co-produced 1][26] | RPG | Nintendo DSi (DSiWare) |
2009 | Yoshio Sakamoto | N/A |
| Face Training Mini[co-produced 1][27] | Nintendo DSi (DSiWare) |
2009 | Katsuya Yamano | Ryuichi Nakada | |
| Metroid: Other M[co-produced 2] | Action-adventure | Wii | 2010 | Yoshio Sakamoto, Yosuke Hayashi[d] |
Takehiko Hosokawa |
- Notes
- ^ a b c d Development co-operation for Intelligent Systems.
- ^ Development co-operation for Team Ninja.
Production Group No. 2[edit]
Group Manager: Hitoshi Yamagami
The Production Group No. 2's primary focus is the production and co-development of video game software for Nintendo home and handheld consoles in cooperation with Japanese third-party developers. The Group Manager and main producer is Hitoshi Yamagami, with the directing and planning team including a collective of talented personnel. This development group typically has more than one project simultaneously in production, with emphasis on maintaining the F-Zero series with Suzak, the The Legendary Starfy series with Tose, the Fire Emblem series with Intelligent Systems, the Dr. Mario and Endless Ocean series with Arika, the Fossil Fighters series with Red Entertainment, the Style Savvy series with Syn Sophia and the Xenoblade Chronicles series with Monolith Soft.
| Title | Genre(s) | Platform(s) | Year | Producer(s) | Director(s) |
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| Yakuman DS lit. Mahjong DS |
Puzzle (Majhong) | Nintendo DS | 2005 | Hitoshi Yamagami | Azusa Tajima |
| Tetris DS[28] | Puzzle | Nintendo DS | 2006 | Hitoshi Yamagami | Masaki Tawara |
| Yosuke Ide's Health Mahjong DSi[29] | Puzzle (Majhong) | Nintendo DSi (DSiWare) |
2009 | Hitoshi Yamagami | N/A |
| Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day[co-developed 1][30] | Edutainment | Nintendo DS | 2005 | Hitoshi Yamagami | Kouichi Kawamoto |
- Notes
- ^ Co-developed with the Software Development & Design Department.
- Notes
- ^ a b c d Development co-operation for Tose.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Development co-operation for Game Freak.
- ^ a b Co-developed by Creatures Inc..
- ^ a b c Development co-operation for Suzak.
- ^ a b c d e f g Development co-operation for Intelligent Systems.
- ^ Co-developed by Konami.
- ^ a b c Co-developed by Ganbarion.
- ^ a b c d e Co-developed by Syn Sophia, formerly Aki Corporation.
- ^ a b c d Co-developed by Red Entertainment.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Co-developed by Arika.
- ^ a b c Co-developed by Monolith Soft.
- ^ Co-developed by Treasure.
- ^ Co-developed by Mistwalker and AQ Interactive.
- ^ Co-developed by Platinum Games.
- ^ Co-developed by Valhalla Game Studios.
| Title | Genre(s) | Platform(s) | Year | Producer(s) | Director(s) |
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| Drill Dozer[developed 1][supervised 1] | Action, platform | Game Boy Advance | 2005 | Junichi Masuda (Game Freak) | Ken Sugimori (Game Freak) |
| Pokémon Conquest[developed 2][supervised 2] | Action, platform | Nintendo DS | 2005 | Hisashi Koinuma (Tecmo Koei) Toshio Miyahara |
Osamu Mieda (Tecmo Koei) |
- Notes
- ^ Developed by Game Freak.
- ^ Developed by Tecmo Koei.
Production Group No. 3[edit]
Group Manager: Kensuke Tanabe
Responsible for overseeing the development of titles by overseas and outhouse teams from the Metroid Prime series, Battalion Wars series, Super Mario Strikers series, Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, Excite series, Paper Mario series, Fluidity series and Donkey Kong Country series.
- 1 Co-produced with Retro Studios.
- 2 Co-produced with Kuju Entertainment.
- 3 Co-produced with Next Level Games.
- 4 Co-produced with n-Space.
- 5 Co-produced with Nintendo Software Technology.
- 6 Co-produced with Monster Games.
- 7 Co-produced with Intelligent Systems
- 8 Co-produced with Curve Studios
- 9 Co-produced with TT Fusion
Production Group No. 4[edit]
Group Manager: Hiroshi Sato
Responsible for overseeing the development of titles by external Japanese teams from the Mario Party series, Donkey Kong series and Wii Party series.
- 1 Co-production with Eighting.
- 2 Co-production with Nd Cube.
- 3 Co-production with Cing.
- 4 Co-production with Hudson.
- 5 Co-production with INiS.
- 6 Co-production with Camelot.
- 7 Co-production with Paon.
- 8 Co-production with AlphaDream.
Software Development & Design Department[edit]
Deputy Manager: Masaru Nishita
The Nintendo Software Development & Design department is an experimental software development team assembled by Nintendo Co., Ltd. president Satoru Iwata.[35] The team was originally assembled as a System Service Task Force that would develop all the unique internal system software for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii.[36] The team was responsible for all the additional Wii Channels,[37] the Nintendo DSi system software and more recently, the Nintendo 3DS system software. Nintendo SDD also went on to develop several innovative retail games. The philosophy behind development was to think out of the box and create unique software in a timely manner with smaller development resources. The development staff was composed of Koichi Kawamoto, who was the original programmer of WarioWare, and Shinya Takahashi, who was a longtime designer at Nintendo EAD. The development group was instantly vindicated with their smash hit Brain Age.[38] The development division has gone on to be the driving force behind the Touch Generations line on the Nintendo DS. The development team has also been responsible for developing several subsequent WiiWare and DSiWare software.
Software Development Group[edit]
Manager/producer: Kiyoshi Mizuki
Responsible for developing software from the Jam with the Band series, Brain Age series and additional Touch! Generations titles with partner developers.
- 1 Co-production with Namco Bandai Games.
UI Development Group[edit]
Manager/producer: Kazunobu Shimizu
Responsible for developing additional Wii Channels, the Nintendo DS/DSi General Interface and the Nintendo 3DS General Interface.
| Title | Year | Platform(s) | Director | Producer |
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| Nintendo DS General Interface | 2004 | NDS | Tomoaki Kuroume | |
| Photo Channel | 2006 | Wii | Kouichi Kawamoto | Tomoaki Kuroume |
| Weather Channel | 2006 | Wii | Kouichi Kawamoto | Tomoaki Kuroume |
| News Channel | 2006 | Wii | Kouichi Kawamoto | Tomoaki Kuroume |
| Internet Channel | 2006 | Wii | Tomoaki Kuroume | |
| Everybody Votes Channel | 2007 | Wii | Tomoaki Kuroume | |
| Check Mii Out Channel | 2007 | Wii | Tomoaki Kuroume | |
| Nintendo DSi General Interface | 2009 | DSi | Yoshihiro Matsushima | Tomoaki Kuroume |
| Nintendo 3DS General Interface | 2011 | 3DS | Ryutaro Takahashi | Tomoaki Kuroume |
| Internet Browser (Nintendo 3DS) | 2011 | 3DS | Tetsuya Sasaki | Tomoaki Kuroume |
| Internet Browser (Wii U) | 2012 | Wii U | Munetaka Tsuda | Tomoaki Kuroume |
Character Design Group[edit]
Manager/producer: Hiroji Kiyotake
Responsible for managing and developing characters for Nintendo SPD/SDD internal and external projects.
Sound Group[edit]
Group Manager: Kenji Yamamoto
Responsible for managing and developing music and sounds for Nintendo SPD/SDD internal and external projects.
- List of composers
- Kenji Yamamoto - Metroid series, Famicom Tantei Club Part II, Excite Truck, Donkey Kong Country Returns
- Minako Hamano - Metroid series, Wario World, Daigasso! Band Brothers, Brain Age series, Donkey Kong Country Returns
- Ryoji Yoshitomi - Metroid II: Return of Samus, Wario Land, Wario Land 4, WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!
- Masaru Tajima - F-Zero: Maximum Velocity, Excite Truck, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Donkey Kong Country Returns
- Masami Yone - Super Mario Bros. Deluxe, Super Mario Advance, Rhythm Heaven series
- Daisuke Shiiba - Tomodachi Collection, Fossil Fighters, Kiki Trick
- Shinobu Nagata (née Tanaka) - Mario Kart DS, Brain Age Express, Brain Age: Concentration Training, Kiki Trick
- Daisuke Matsuoka - Donkey Kong Country Returns, Tomodachi Life
- Akito Nakatsuka
Notes and references[edit]
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2009) |
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ 任天堂の新開発棟が始動 ゲーム機、ソフト生む拠点. http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/ (in Japanese). Kyoto NP. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
- ^ N-Sider. Nintendo Revolution FAQ
- ^ Cassidy, Kevin. NCL Team Structure work in progress. June 7, 2006. Retrieved October 26, 2007.
- ^ Cassidy, Kevin. NCL Team Structure work in progress. June 7, 2006. Retrieved October 26, 2007.
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1, Intelligent Systems (2004-10-14). "WarioWare: Twisted!". Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo), Ryoichi Kitanishi (Intelligent Systems) / Chief Director: Goro Abe (Nintendo) [...] Hardware Design: Masahiko Ota [...] (Nintendo RED)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1, Intelligent Systems (2004-12-02). "WarioWare: Touched!". Nintendo DS. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo), Ryoichi Kitanishi (Intelligent Systems) / Chief Director: Ryuichi Nakada (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2005-09-13). "Play-Yan". Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Kazuhiko Taniguchi (Nintendo RED), Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo) / Director: Takuma Matsunada (Nintendo RED)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1, Intelligent Systems (2006-12-02). "WarioWare: Smooth Moves". Wii. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo), Ryoichi Kitanishi (Intelligent Systems) / Chief Director: Goro Abe (Nintendo)
- ^ J.P. Room Recordings, Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2003-08-03). "Rhythm Tengoku". Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Mitsuo Terada (Tsunku) (J.P. Room Recordings), Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo) / Director: Kazuyoshi Osawa (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1, Intelligent Systems (2007-08-02). "Face Training". Nintendo DS. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Katsuya Yamano (Nintendo), Toshio Sengoku (Intelligent Systems) / Director: Ryuichi Nakada (Nintendo), Takeshi Ando (Intelligent Systems) [..] Hardware Design: Takaki Fujino [...] (Nintendo RED)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2007-11-20). "Nintendo DS Digital TV Tuner". Nintendo DS. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo) / Director: Noriyuki Sato (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2008-12-24). "Birds & Beans". Nintendo DSi. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto, Teruki Murakawa (Nintendo) / Director: Hiroshi Momose (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2008-12-24). "Paper Airplane Chase". Nintendo DSi. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto, Teruki Murakawa (Nintendo) / Director: Hiroshi Momose (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1, Intelligent Systems (2007-12-20). "Kousoku Card Battle: Card Hero". Nintendo DS. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo) / Director: Hiroshi Momose (Nintendo)
- ^ TNX Music Recordings, Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2008-08-31). "Rhythm Heaven". Nintendo DS. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Mitsuo Terada (Tsunku) (TNX Music Recordings) / Director: Kazuyoshi Osawa (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1, Intelligent Systems (2009-04-29). "WarioWare D.I.Y.". Nintendo DS. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo), Toshio Sengoku (Intelligent Systems) / Chief Director: Goro Abe (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1, Intelligent Systems (2009-04-29). "WarioWare D.I.Y. Showcase". Nintendo DS. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo), Toshio Sengoku (Intelligent Systems) / Chief Director: Goro Abe (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2009-06-18). "Tomodachi Collection". Nintendo DS. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo) / Director: Ryutaro Takahashi (Nintendo)
- ^ TNX Music Recordings, Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2011-08-21). "Rhythm Heaven Fever". Wii. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Mitsuo Terada (Tsunku) (TNX Music Recordings) / Director: Ko Takeuchi, Masami Yone (Nintendo)
- ^ McWhertor, Michael. "Nintendo Trademarks Wii Relax In The U.S. Too". http://kotaku.com/. Kotaku. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2012-01-19). "Kiki Trick". Wii. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Katsuya Yamano (Nintendo) / Director: Noriyuki Sato (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2013-04-18). "Tomodachi Life". Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo) / Director: Ryutaro Takahashi (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 1, Intelligent Systems (2013-03-28). "Game & Wario". Wii U. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo), Toshio Sengoku, Naoki Nakano (Intelligent Systems) / Director: Goro Abe (Nintendo), Naoko Mori (Intelligent Systems)
- ^ Intelligent Systems, Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2008-12-24). "WarioWare: Snapped!". Nintendo DSi. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Katsuya Yamano (Nintendo), Toshio Sengoku (Intelligent Systems) / Chief Director: Taku Sugioka (Intelligent Systems)
- ^ Intelligent Systems, Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2009-04-22). "Atsumeru Egaocho". Nintendo DSi. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Katsuya Yamano (Nintendo), Takeshi Ando (Intelligent Systems) / Director: Ryuichi Nakada (Nintendo), Takeshi Ando (Intelligent Systems)
- ^ Intelligent Systems, Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2009-07-29). "Card Hero: Speed Battle Custom". Nintendo DSi. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yoshio Sakamoto (Nintendo)
- ^ Intelligent Systems, Nintendo SPD Group No. 1 (2009-09-09). "Kaotore Mini (Face Training Mini)". Nintendo DSi. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Katsuya Yamano (Nintendo) / Director: Ryuichi Nakada (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 2 (2006-03-20). "Tetris DS". Nintendo DS. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Hitoshi Yamagami (Nintendo) / Director: Masaki Tawara (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 2 (2009-02-25). "Yosuke Ide's Health Mahjong DSi". Nintendo DSi. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Hitoshi Yamagami (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 2, Nintendo Software Design & Development (2009-12-29). "Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day". Nintendo DS. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Shinya Takahashi, Hitoshi Yamagami (Nintendo SPD) / Director: Kouichi Kawamoto (Nintendo Software Design & Development)
- ^ Tose, Nintendo SPD Group No. 2 (2004-08-05). "Densetsu no Stafy 3". Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Yasuhiro Minamimoto (Tose), Hitoshi Yamagami (Nintendo) / Director: Akio Imai (Tose), Azusa Tajima (Nintendo)
- ^ Suzak, Nintendo SPD Group No. 2 (2004-10-21). "F-Zero: Climax". Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Hitoshi Yamagami (Nintendo) / Director: Yutaka Hirata (Suzak), Azusa Tajima (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo SPD Group No. 2, Intelligent Systems, Tose (2005-09-13). "Dr. Mario & Puzzle League". Game Boy Advance. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer: Takehiro Izushi (Nintendo), Ryoichi Kitanishi (Intelligent Systems), Yasuhiro Minamimoto (Tose) / Director: Azusa Tajima, Masaki Tawara (Nintendo), Toshihiro Nishii (Intelligent Systems), Makoto Uemura (Tose)
- ^ Tose, Nintendo SPD Group No. 2 (2006-04-13). "Densetsu no Stafy 4". Nintendo DS. Nintendo. Scene: Staff credits.
Producer:Yasuhiro Minamimoto (Tose), Hitoshi Yamagami (Nintendo) / Director: Azusa Tajima (Nintendo)
- ^ Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS
- ^ Nintendo Magic. Inoue, Osamu.
- ^ Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Wii Channels
- ^ Nintendo. Iwata Asks: Brain Age
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