NERD Watch - is Nintendo European R&D working on an engine?

Van Canavi · 09-25-2013

For those who don't know, NERD, formerly Mobiclip, is Nintendo's first and only research division in Europe. They created the most commonly used video codec for DS back in the day, but they also developed the 3D video codec for 3DS (supposedly one of the most efficient 3D video codec out there), worked on the Wii U browser in some capacity, and they eventually ported the Mobiclip codec, or a higher quality version thereof, to Wii, which was used for the cutscenes in Other M and maybe other games.

But they don't just do codecs. From a recent Iwata Asks, we know that they're also toying with GPGPU stuff and cloud computing, but there are no further details on those research projects (of course). The whole company seems to be very secretive, which is pretty much expected for a Nintendo subsidiary. So I dug through Linkedin to see who's working there. These are some of the employees who joined NERD after Nintendo took over:

Janos Boudet, R&D project manager. Former head of 3D R&D at Eugen Systems. Specializes in rendering technologies. Joined NERD in 2012.
Bertrand Augereau, software engineer. Former 3D engine developer at Eugen Systems. Specializes in rendering technologies. Joined NERD in 2012.
Sébastien Guido, research engineer. Former research engineer at Eugen Systems. Joined NERD in 2012.
Aurélien Pocheville, lead software engineer. Former engine developer at Wizarbox. Joined NERD in 2011.
Florent Boutin, research engineer. Former software engineer at Wizarbox. Joined NERD in 2012.
Francois Francken, lead software engineer. Former lead engineer at Wizarbox. Joined NERD in 2013.
Sébastien Ray, support engineer. Former software engineer at Lumiscaphe and graphics programmer at Darkworks. Specializes in rendering technologies. Joined NERD in 2012.
Fabrice Rappe, support engineer. Former senior consultant at Mega International and level designer at Darkworks. Joined NERD in 2013.
Lots of engine developers. They've also hired a couple of web technology engineers, mostly former Apside staff, but we all know they do web stuff so that isn't all that important I guess.

optimuswhat · 09-25-2013

Better WiiU social capabilities?

Rexx · 09-25-2013

They better do something or the WiiU is going to be forgotten when the next consoles release.

optimuswhat · 09-25-2013

Posted by Rexx

They better do something or the WiiU is going to be forgotten when the next consoles release.

F-Zero?
Classic Zelda esque game?
Mother 3?

Nah...

09-25-2013	1
Van Canavi Guest Posts: n/a	NERD Watch - is Nintendo European R&D working on an engine? For those who don't know, NERD, formerly Mobiclip, is Nintendo's first and only research division in Europe. They created the most commonly used video codec for DS back in the day, but they also developed the 3D video codec for 3DS (supposedly one of the most efficient 3D video codec out there), worked on the Wii U browser in some capacity, and they eventually ported the Mobiclip codec, or a higher quality version thereof, to Wii, which was used for the cutscenes in Other M and maybe other games. But they don't just do codecs. From a recent Iwata Asks, we know that they're also toying with GPGPU stuff and cloud computing, but there are no further details on those research projects (of course). The whole company seems to be very secretive, which is pretty much expected for a Nintendo subsidiary. So I dug through Linkedin to see who's working there. These are some of the employees who joined NERD after Nintendo took over: Janos Boudet, R&D project manager. Former head of 3D R&D at Eugen Systems. Specializes in rendering technologies. Joined NERD in 2012. Bertrand Augereau, software engineer. Former 3D engine developer at Eugen Systems. Specializes in rendering technologies. Joined NERD in 2012. Sébastien Guido, research engineer. Former research engineer at Eugen Systems. Joined NERD in 2012. Aurélien Pocheville, lead software engineer. Former engine developer at Wizarbox. Joined NERD in 2011. Florent Boutin, research engineer. Former software engineer at Wizarbox. Joined NERD in 2012. Francois Francken, lead software engineer. Former lead engineer at Wizarbox. Joined NERD in 2013. Sébastien Ray, support engineer. Former software engineer at Lumiscaphe and graphics programmer at Darkworks. Specializes in rendering technologies. Joined NERD in 2012. Fabrice Rappe, support engineer. Former senior consultant at Mega International and level designer at Darkworks. Joined NERD in 2013. Lots of engine developers. They've also hired a couple of web technology engineers, mostly former Apside staff, but we all know they do web stuff so that isn't all that important I guess.
	Edit

09-25-2013	2
optimuswhat Speed Demon Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,288	Better WiiU social capabilities?

09-25-2013	3
Rexx User Registered Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 4,626	They better do something or the WiiU is going to be forgotten when the next consoles release.