Were there ever any developmental issues or disagreements between Nintendo and Ricoh, when it came to designing hardware?
I'd think that they went away from them because it just wasn't what they did.
Sanyo and Nintendo are the same company too, by the way. Not sure about today, but they were into the 90's.
Sanyo and Nintendo are the same company too, by the way. Not sure about today, but they were into the 90's.
I don't see anything in Wikipedia's article about Sanyo about deep partnerships between Sanyo and Nintendo. If anything, Sanyo was in a partnership with Sony to make Betamax and Video8 products. Have you a citation so that I can add it to the article?
psycopathicteen wrote:
Were there ever any developmental issues or disagreements between Nintendo and Ricoh, when it came to designing hardware?
Large Japanese companies never say bad things about their development & business partners, so even if they had had disagreements, you would never have heard about it.
I only have my fathers word, who's an electrician and worked at a TV repair business and in the 90's was talking with a rep and the representative said that Nintendo and Sanyo were the same company.
When it came to designing systems, how much of it was designed by Nintendo and how much was it by Ricoh?
How specific was Nintendo about what they wanted?
How specific was Nintendo about what they wanted?
psycopathicteen wrote:
Were there ever any developmental issues or disagreements between Nintendo and Ricoh, when it came to designing hardware?
I was there in the engineers meeting room back in 1983 in Japan when this happened. Boy those were some great times, and some really amazing nigiri. Everyone was in agreement, everyone had the same vision. There were never any disagreements, as such would violate true bushido code. I spent the rest of the evening with my fellow enjo kousai and the following morning the NES was born. This also gave me the opportunity to teach everyone at Ricoh how to say "pants" correctly.
This story is absolutely true. I was there. tepples was also there, but I'm not allowed to talk about that.
Ask my uncle who works for nintendo about this!
koitsu wrote:
This also gave me the opportunity to teach everyone at Ricoh how to say "pants" correctly.
I seem to remember reading a web page about a method of teaching proper English pronunciation to Japanese speakers by subtracting the final vowel from a katakana transliteration: ドグ - ウ = dog (DOGU - U = dog). I've also discovered that "ea" in five-vowel systems like those of Spanish, Italian, and Japanese is a decent approximation of the "short A" vowel in "pan". Combining these:
ペアンツ - ウ = pants (PEANTSU - U = pants)
PEANTSU is also an anagram of peanuts. Anagrams come second only to palindromes in terms of awesomeness. By that logic, one can come to the definitive conclusion that pants are awesome. If only I were wearing a pair right now...
rotInMilc wrote:
By that logic, one can come to the definitive conclusion that pants are awesome.
I respectfully disagree.
Isn't it a fashion faux-pas to wear plaid after the first quarter, though?
There's some info (not much) about the early relations between Nintendo and Ricoh here: http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/mario25th/vol2_page1.jsp
thefox wrote:
There's some info (not much) about the early relations between Nintendo and Ricoh here: http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/mario25th/vol2_page1.jsp
"Really, all I remember about the Famicom is handling complaints!" - Hiroshi IMANISHI
I could have a field day with this quote, and it's not even out of context.
Also, I hope I'm not the only one who reads aforementioned article and keys in on the word "license". You'll know when you get there. Folks should ask themselves just how much has changed in 25 years when it comes to "how it all works" (business, technical, etc.). Same shit, different decade.
koitsu wrote:
Folks should ask themselves just how much has changed in 25 years when it comes to "how it all works" (business, technical, etc.). Same shit, different decade.
Cases in point: Minecraft and Angry Birds.
rotInMilc wrote:
koitsu wrote:
Folks should ask themselves just how much has changed in 25 years when it comes to "how it all works" (business, technical, etc.). Same shit, different decade.
Cases in point: Minecraft and Angry Birds.
I was thinking more along the side of business things and overall evolution, but yes, the same point applies to general software and stuff. I have my own theories about it all (main one being it takes about 20-25 years for things to come full circle and repeat; nostalgia aspects, etc.). But yeah, Minecraft and Angry Birds. Might as well replace them with original 3D Wolfenstein (or Doom) and original Castles for the Apple II (I'm certain the latter kind of game exists on every console and home computer made, heh. :-) )
The business side of things though -- make sure you read *why* Nintendo (and Ricoh -- sounds like a combo of the two to me) went with the 6502 on the Famicom/NES. Business opportunity yes, but there's a confirmed deeper meaning: because nobody in Japan knew shit about the 6502. The same bullshit happens today, though in a roundabout way -- obfuscate what might get stolen, fear everyone (maybe justifiably?), etc. all in the good name of money.
Anyway sorry for turning a thread into somewhat of a sad realisation. I've had a rough night on a purely solo and personal level. I just got finished watching an entertainment-documentary film about computing from the mid-70s to the late 90s and it just reminds me how obsolete folks like myself am. Folks who adapt and change make it sound so easy, but there are those of us who do things best and feel comfortable in that role knowing what they know. I feel like it's all a dying breed. The article about Nintendo just reminded me of it all on a grand scale, that's all; not anyone's fault here.
Actually, 6502 was used in pre-Famicom japanese arcades, although it was rare, 8080 and Z80 were more common.
koitsu wrote:
I was thinking more along the side of business things and overall evolution, but yes, the same point applies to general software and stuff. I have my own theories about it all (main one being it takes about 20-25 years for things to come full circle and repeat; nostalgia aspects, etc.). But yeah, Minecraft and Angry Birds. Might as well replace them with original 3D Wolfenstein (or Doom) and original Castles for the Apple II (I'm certain the latter kind of game exists on every console and home computer made, heh. 
)
The business side of things though -- make sure you read *why* Nintendo (and Ricoh -- sounds like a combo of the two to me) went with the 6502 on the Famicom/NES. Business opportunity yes, but there's a confirmed deeper meaning: because nobody in Japan knew shit about the 6502. The same bullshit happens today, though in a roundabout way -- obfuscate what might get stolen, fear everyone (maybe justifiably?), etc. all in the good name of money.
Anyway sorry for turning a thread into somewhat of a sad realisation. I've had a rough night on a purely solo and personal level. I just got finished watching an entertainment-documentary film about computing from the mid-70s to the late 90s and it just reminds me how obsolete folks like myself am. Folks who adapt and change make it sound so easy, but there are those of us who do things best and feel comfortable in that role knowing what they know. I feel like it's all a dying breed. The article about Nintendo just reminded me of it all on a grand scale, that's all; not anyone's fault here.
)The business side of things though -- make sure you read *why* Nintendo (and Ricoh -- sounds like a combo of the two to me) went with the 6502 on the Famicom/NES. Business opportunity yes, but there's a confirmed deeper meaning: because nobody in Japan knew shit about the 6502. The same bullshit happens today, though in a roundabout way -- obfuscate what might get stolen, fear everyone (maybe justifiably?), etc. all in the good name of money.
Anyway sorry for turning a thread into somewhat of a sad realisation. I've had a rough night on a purely solo and personal level. I just got finished watching an entertainment-documentary film about computing from the mid-70s to the late 90s and it just reminds me how obsolete folks like myself am. Folks who adapt and change make it sound so easy, but there are those of us who do things best and feel comfortable in that role knowing what they know. I feel like it's all a dying breed. The article about Nintendo just reminded me of it all on a grand scale, that's all; not anyone's fault here.
Yeah. I gave a couple examples of things that are proving the paradigm may not be as gilt as the "big boys" may thing. Will they ever learn from their mistakes? It seems humanity never, ever learns from its mistakes. Why should gaming be any different?
Being a bit of an old fogey of sorts myself, I can relate to what you're saying. I remember watching the text-adventure documentary "Get Lamp" after a friend had it drop-shipped to me. It was a real roller-coaster of emotions for me. Seeing the roots of the genre, and its ultimate fading into the sunset as a mainstream gaming archetype... it was beyond poignant.
It seems that the ones in control of things will always assert their control in the most bizarre ways, while the ones who want to create and innovate get left in the dust. Everyone else asks for more of the same. Guess who never fails to give it to them time and time again.
rotInMilc wrote:
koitsu wrote:
Folks who adapt and change make it sound so easy, but there are those of us who do things best and feel comfortable in that role knowing what they know. I feel like it's all a dying breed. The article about Nintendo just reminded me of it all on a grand scale, that's all; not anyone's fault here.
Being a bit of an old fogey of sorts myself, I can relate to what you're saying. I remember watching the text-adventure documentary "Get Lamp" after a friend had it drop-shipped to me. It was a real roller-coaster of emotions for me. Seeing the roots of the genre, and its ultimate fading into the sunset as a mainstream gaming archetype... it was beyond poignant.
Koitsu describes so well how I feel about technology in general. I'm much more comfortable *not* adopting the latest trend, instead "doing it the way I did it before" because I know it works. I'm much more drawn to 2D games. I *loved* the text adventure genre and even went so far as creating a couple myself with friends...mostly on paper that I still have...and still plan *someday* to commit to electrons.
I'm actually repulsed by the constant craving of today's technophiles for "the latest gadget". It sickens me to think how many people will be throwing away perfectly good working iPhone 4's in order to be "the cool guy" with the new iPhone 5. Not to mention the environmental impact of all this churn.
In similar vein, I'm repulsed by the drive for "bigger" everything. I helped to design the navigation system of the Airbus A380, all the while thinking to myself "this thing is just plain ridiculous!" A job is a job, though...
I'm pretty proud to be an old fogey already stuck in his ways. Sometimes it's useful...for example...convincing people that the newest whiz-bang processor isn't necessarily the best choice for a product.
Anyway, rotInMilc, I'll definitely be looking into the "Get Lamp" documentary. Thanks!
cpow wrote:
It sickens me to think how many people will be throwing away perfectly good working iPhone 4's in order to be "the cool guy" with the new iPhone 5.
Unless the rechargeable battery is near its end of life, or a user wants to run one of the apps that will take full advantage of an iPhone 5 but scale poorly to previous hardware. This has already happened with the iPhone 4: games targeted for it run poorly on an iPhone 3GS or even an iPod touch 4. How many people sold their Game Boy Color when the Game Boy Advance came out?
tepples wrote:
How many people sold their Game Boy Color when the Game Boy Advance came out?
Like koitsu said...same shit different decade.
tepples wrote:
Unless the rechargeable battery is near its end of life, or a user wants to run one of the apps that will take full advantage of an iPhone 5 but scale poorly to previous hardware. This has already happened with the iPhone 4: games targeted for it run poorly on an iPhone 3GS or even an iPod touch 4. How many people sold their Game Boy Color when the Game Boy Advance came out?
There are always legitimate reasons for upgrading... but still, it doesn't negate the fact that...
rotInMilc wrote:
Everyone else asks for more of the same. Guess who never fails to give it to them time and time again.
Really, how many iPhones do we really need before we get something more than a minor revision tacked-on and marketed as the "LATEST AND GREATEST BUY TODAY BECAUSE THE MODEL WE RELEASED YESTERDAY IS OBSOLEEEEEEEETE!!!"?
Game Boy Color -> Game Boy Advance -> Nintendo DS is one thing.* iPhone, iPhone without Flash support, and iPhone that is jailbreak-proof is something entirely different.
* Not that I endorse Nintendo's business practices, but at least you can consider their upgrades more noteworthy on average.
I'm glad I'm not the only one to hate apple.
That, and that again. Note that many of my friends on capus fall right into this category, in the end it's just a waste of money for them. I have the same simple cellphone since 5 years I'm perfectly satisfied with it and I'm not going to replace it as long as it works.
Quote:
I'm actually repulsed by the constant craving of today's technophiles for "the latest gadget".
That, and that again. Note that many of my friends on capus fall right into this category, in the end it's just a waste of money for them. I have the same simple cellphone since 5 years I'm perfectly satisfied with it and I'm not going to replace it as long as it works.
How to be the greatest inventor who ever lived!
step 1: take a really prehistoric and primitive invention, such as something that was invented in 2010
step 2: give it more memory
step 3: give it a faster processor
Congradulations, your now the greatest inventor who ever lived!
step 1: take a really prehistoric and primitive invention, such as something that was invented in 2010
step 2: give it more memory
step 3: give it a faster processor
Congradulations, your now the greatest inventor who ever lived!
thefox wrote:
There's some info (not much) about the early relations between Nintendo and Ricoh here: http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/mario25th/vol2_page1.jsp
A very interesting article. I found I had some pictures of both men back (1988/89) when they were handling the SFC development and (non-) release:
http://www.chrismcovell.com/secret/misc/IMG_1087.jpg
Uemura: http://www.chrismcovell.com/secret/misc ... 216-1a.jpg
psycopathicteen wrote:
How to be the greatest inventor who ever lived!
step 1: take a really prehistoric and primitive invention, such as something that was invented in 2010
step 2: give it more memory
step 3: give it a faster processor
Congradulations, your now the greatest inventor who ever lived!
step 1: take a really prehistoric and primitive invention, such as something that was invented in 2010
step 2: give it more memory
step 3: give it a faster processor
Congradulations, your now the greatest inventor who ever lived!
You forgot step 4: Leave out important features and partially implement them over time with new releases
and
step 5: Make it a "black box" and claim jailbreaking voids the warranty.
Riches await you.
In fact. the most effective method is to skip all steps 1-5 and just:
Step 6: Make it a more fancy case and presume that it is a new product.
Occasionally:
Step 7: Take away or nerfing some of the features of the original not because of cost-cutting measures but to convince that it is cooler this way (like reducing the size of screens in handheld devices*, removing backward compatibility and removing physical media support to name a few, GBM and PSP Go anyone?).
*Your mileage may vary on this as reducing the size of a device is often a selling point.
Step 6: Make it a more fancy case and presume that it is a new product.
Occasionally:
Step 7: Take away or nerfing some of the features of the original not because of cost-cutting measures but to convince that it is cooler this way (like reducing the size of screens in handheld devices*, removing backward compatibility and removing physical media support to name a few, GBM and PSP Go anyone?).
*Your mileage may vary on this as reducing the size of a device is often a selling point.
Isn't there a new PSP comming out now WITH a UMD drive, but without the wifi chip, so you can't play multiplayer??
Seems like this has become standard to all bigger electronic companies.
Seems like this has become standard to all bigger electronic companies.
Grumskiz wrote:
Isn't there a new PSP comming out now WITH a UMD drive, but without the wifi chip, so you can't play multiplayer??
Coming soon from Sony -- the SONY PSP NO-GO!
