Nintendo European Research & Development

Last updated
Nintendo European Research & Development
FormerlyActimagine (2003–2011)
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Video games
FoundedMarch 2003;22 years ago (2003-03) (as Actimagine)
Headquarters115 rue Réaumur 75002, Paris, France
Key people
  • Alexandre Delattre (MD and CTO)
  • Jérôme Larrieu (Chief Science Officer)
Products
Revenue10,870,600 euro (2020)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
1,381,700 euro (2020)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Number of employees
75 (2023)
Parent Nintendo
Website www.nerd.nintendo.com

Nintendo European Research & Development (NERD) is a French subsidiary for Nintendo, located in Paris, which develops software technologies and middleware for Nintendo platforms. [1] This includes retro console emulators, patented video codecs, and digital rights management technology.

Contents

The organization originated as Actimagine ( /ˈɑːktɪmədʒiːn/ ) before taking the name Mobiclip. Its most notable customers includedNintendo, Sony Pictures Digital, and Fisher-Price. [2] Nintendo licensed Mobiclip compression technology for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS video game consoles, used by popular games such as Square Enix's Final Fantasy III and Konami's Contra 4 . Fisher-Price used its codec for its Pixter Multi-Media educational toy. [3] Sony Pictures Digital and Carphone Warehouse used Mobiclip software to deliver TV-like full-length movies on MicroSD memory cards for smart phones. Nintendo purchased the company in 2011 to create NERD.

History

Actimagine logo Actimagine.png
Actimagine logo

Actimagine/Mobiclip

Actimagine was established in March 2003 [4] by engineers Eric Bécourt, Alexandre Delattre, Laurent Hiriart, Jérôme Larrieu, and Sylvain Quendez, and CEO André Pagnac. [5] Despite being headquartered in Paris, Actimagine operated as a US company, with offices in Tokyo and Singapore. [6]

The company's patented product was the Mobiclip codec, which provided high video quality with low battery consumption. Actimagine entered the market as an alternative to Java programming for mobile. Developers could save time by developing in Flash, then converting to mobile with Mobiclip. [7]

It first licensed video compression technologies to Nintendo in 2004 in order to deliver up to 90 minutes of TV-like video on 32MB cartridges for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. [8] In 2005, Nintendo further integrated the technology into the company's development kits to support in-game video sequences. The first games to include this technology were 2005's Jump Super Stars and 2006's Metroid Prime Hunters . [9] [10] Fisher-Price also licensed Actimagine's video codec and software vector graphics renderer for its Pixter electronic device. [11]

In April 2006, Actimagine raised €3 million in equity financing from US venture capital firm GRP Partners. This first round of institutional fund raising enabled Actimagine to accelerate its business development in the US and Japan. [3] [6] In October, Adobe acquired Actimagine's vector graphics technology and incorporated it into Flash Lite. [12] [13]

At the end of 2006, the company officially launched its patented video codec, named Mobiclip. [14] [15] In 2007, Actimagine opened an office in California. [16] [17] [18]

In 2008, the company launched Mobiclip.com as a web-to-mobile video platform [19] [20] and released the first application delivering live TV on the iPhone, a year before Apple. [21] [22] In October 2009, Al Jazeera launched a mobile app powered by Mobiclip that provided high quality live viewing of the news channel in English and Arabic. [23] For the Nintendo 3DS, the company created a 3D video codec and developed software to help calibrate its camera. [1]

Sale to Nintendo

In October 2011, Mobiclip was acquired by Nintendo. [24] [25] The team was later renamed Nintendo European Research & Development, or "NERD." [1]

NERD developed a new emulator for 2016's NES Classic Edition. [26] It also worked on the 2017 Super NES Classic Edition and was instrumental in emulating the original console's Super-FX chip for games like Star Fox, Yoshi’s Island, and the previously unreleased Star Fox 2 . [27] In 2017, the United States branch was merged with Nintendo Technology Development. [28] In March 2020, NERD filed a patent for video upscaling through machine learning on behalf of Nintendo. [29] [30] In 2021, NERD assisted in the development of Super Mario 3D All-Stars , helping to emulate and optimize Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy . [9] [31]

Mobiclip video codecs

Mobiclip logo Mobiclip.png
Mobiclip logo

Mobiclip is a proprietary video codec that allows full motion video playback on low-power devices such as cell phones and handheld game consoles. [2] [32] The codec could scale up to high definition resolutions of 1920 x 1080 pixels at 24 frames per second. [6] [33] [34] It was developed with a completely different algorithm from the one used for other video codecs on the market, so it isn't subject to MPEG, MP3, or any other codec licenses. [3] [14] By 2007, Actimagine had partnered with Nokia to bring the codec to the 6680, 6630, N80, N90, N73, N93; Sony Ericcson on the M600i; Palm on the Treo 650 and 700; Motorola on the Moto Z8; [35] and HTC on its C310. [36] [37] Mobiclip is compatible with Windows Mobile, Linux, Symbian, and Palm OS. [4] [6] [15]

Actimagine managed to set a new standard by offering six hours of DVD-like video quality on a single battery charge. [6] Mobiclip displays consume just a quarter of the capacity of MPEG2 files and requires fourfold less processing power than H264. [38] On a Nokia N73, Mobilclip can play around seven hours of video, compared with just one and a half hours using MPEG4. [15]

It has been licensed by Paramount, Fox, Gaumont, and Columbia TriStar Films to deliver video on memory cards for mobile phones. [7] By the end of 2007, there were 25 full length movies available with Mobiclip. The Nokia N73 came with Spider-Man 2 and the Nokia N80 had The Da Vinci Code. The Sony Ericcson M600i came with Final Fantasy VII Advent Children . [37] [14] Carphone Warehouse used Mobiclip to deliver movies on smart phones. [38] Actimagine has also partnered with Gemplus, [39] Sharp Corporation, [33] Hungama, [40] France Television, [41] and Kingston Technology. [42]

Nintendo licensing

Nintendo selected Mobiclip as its main provider of video codec technologies on the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo 3DS. Major software titles used it for in-game cinematics, including:

List of technologies developed by NERD

Software Emulation

Other technologies

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Iwata Asks: Nintendo European Research and Development". Nintendo of Europe SE. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  2. 1 2 "Actimagine Chooses Rhozet for Mobile Transcoding Platform". blog.tmcnet.com. October 2, 2006. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Pelé, Anne-Françoise (July 18, 2006). "Actimagine raises $3.7 million". EE Times. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Pelé, Anne-Françoise (2008-02-07). "Actimagine joins Symbian partner program". EE Times. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  5. ↑ "Actimagine home page archive". Archived from the original on 9 January 2004. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "About Us". Actimagine. Archived from the original on 2025-09-08. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  7. 1 2 "Flash will compete Java in cellphones". GSMArena.com. May 4, 2004. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  8. ↑ "Actimagine Licenses Video compression Technology to Nintendo" (PDF). Actimagine.com. December 23, 2004. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Parreno, Ryan (2023-04-26). "Nintendo Job Opening Hints At Its Next Console - And "Cross-Platform" Features". Gameranx. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  10. ↑ Maragos, Nich (November 14, 2005). "Nintendo Selects Actimagine Video for GBA and DS SDKs". Archived from the original on 2025-01-14. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  11. ↑ "Actimagine, a new company in the field of display software for electronic toys" (PDF). Actimagine. October 10, 2005. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Adobe Buys Mobile Software Technology Developed by Actimagine". Adobe. October 11, 2006. Archived from the original on January 12, 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  13. ↑ Kawamoto, Dawn (October 11, 2006). "Adobe acquires mobile software technology". CNET. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
  14. 1 2 3 "ACTIMAGINE INTRODUCES Mobiclip To Turn Mobile Phones into HD Video iPods'" (PDF). Actimagine. December 11, 2006. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 Murphy, David (2006-12-13). "UK Launch for Mobiclip". Mobile Marketing Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  16. ↑ "Actimagine Opens First USA Office" (PDF). Actimagine. January 10, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  17. ↑ Murphy, David (2007-04-26). "Actimagine Hires MP3 Specialist". Mobile Marketing Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  18. ↑ Murphy, David (2008-01-17). "Actimagine Strengthens US Presence". Mobile Marketing Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  19. ↑ Ohlden, Anna (September 8, 2008). "Actimagine Showcases Live TV On Apple IPhone At CTIA Wireless San Francisco". Science 2.0. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  20. ↑ "Mobiclip". www.mobiclip.com. Archived from the original on 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  21. ↑ Christian D. "France 24 sur mobile grâce à Mobiclip.com d'Actimagine". Génération-NT. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  22. ↑ "Apple launches HTTP Live Streaming standard in iPhone 3.0". 9 July 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  23. ↑ "Al Jazeera launches app for Symbian and Windows Mobile". Comms Business. 2009-10-06. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  24. ↑ "Nintendo adquiere Mobiclip". Revogamers. Archived from the original on 2016-03-23. Retrieved 2012-10-05.
  25. ↑ Rose, Mike (February 12, 2012). "Nintendo acquires video technology company Mobiclip". Game Developer. Archived from the original on 2024-07-25. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  26. 1 2 Vogel, Mitch (2016-08-27). "NES Classic Edition Will Feature a Brand New Emulator Developed by NERD". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  27. 1 2 Wong, Alistair (2017-10-22). "How Star Fox 2 Made It Into The Super Nintendo Classic Edition". Siliconera. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  28. ↑ "Annual Report 2017 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017" (PDF). Nintendo. NERD Inc., a former consolidated subsidiary, was excluded from the scope of consolidation from the consolidated fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, since said company was dissolved due to the absorption-type merger with Nintendo Technology Development Inc., the surviving entity.
  29. ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (2021-10-01). "Patent Reveals Nintendo Is Working On Upscaling Technology". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  30. ↑ "Deux brevets Nintendo pour de l'upscaling basé sur de l'intelligence artificielle". Puissance Nintendo (in French). October 2, 2021. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  31. 1 2 "NERD Develops the Nintendo GameCube Emulation Technology Used in Super Mario 3D All-Stars". Nintendo European Research & Development. 11 February 2021. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  32. ↑ Woitier, Chloé (2018-08-05). "Ces pépites du jeu vidéo en France : Nerd, l'atout français de Nintendo". Le Figaro (in French). Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  33. 1 2 "Sharp Microelectronics and Actimagine Collaborate to Boost SoC Video Capabilities; Video Decompression Rates Increase Fourfold with Same Power Use". www.design-reuse.com. February 14, 2006. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  34. ↑ "Handset MMI gains new multimedia engine: News from Digital Airways". old.electronicstalk.com. June 21, 2005. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  35. ↑ "Motorola Leverages Ecosystem Strength to Create Ultimate Mobile Entertainment Experience for MOTO Z8" (PDF). Actimagine. November 5, 2007. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  36. ↑ "3GSM 2007: Enjoy Video Everywhere with Actimagine MobiclipTM video codec: Mobile, Internet and TV convergence made easy" (PDF). Actimagine. February 12, 2007. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  37. 1 2 "Sony Ericsson and Actimagine release Mobile Cinema, exclusively on the new M600i by Sony Ericsson" (PDF). Actimagine. August 2, 2006. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  38. 1 2 Wilson, Caroline (November 13, 2007). "DVD quality movies on your mobile phone - Mobiclip from Actimagine". www.gadgetspeak.com. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  39. ↑ "Gemplus and Actimagine to Collaborate on Rich Multimedia Content on Multimedia SIM" (PDF). Actimagine. May 16, 2006. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Hungama Mobile selected Mobiclip™ Video Codec to Make Bollywood Mobile" (PDF). Actimagine. February 19, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  41. ↑ Garros_2008_in High_Definition_via_Internet.pdf "Roland Garros 2008 in High Definition via the Internet" (PDF). Actimagine. June 5, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2025.{{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  42. ↑ "Kingston Technology and Actimagine to Provide Mobile Media Solutions for Smartphones" (PDF). Actimagine. April 5, 2006. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Dragon Quest - Instruction Booklet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-08-08.
  44. 1 2 Hagues, Alana (2023-04-26). "Nintendo Subsidiary Hiring Engineer For "Current And Next-Generation" Platforms". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  45. ↑ "実写映画化も発表！ 『レイトン教授と悪魔の箱』は映画級の作品に - ファミ通.com". Famitsu. August 29, 2007. Archived from the original on February 22, 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  46. 1 2 3 4 Audureau, William (2016-11-10). "La Nintendo Mini Classic, la console rétro venue de France". Le Mond (in French). Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  47. ↑ "Nintendo Releases the Nintendo Classic Mini: Nintendo Entertainment System". Nintendo European Research & Development. 11 November 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  48. ↑ "Nintendo Releases the Nintendo Classic Mini: Super Nintendo Entertainment System". Nintendo European Research & Development. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  49. ↑ "NERD Provides Emulation Technology for the Nintendo Entertainment System™ Nintendo Switch Online". Nintendo European Research & Development. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  50. ↑ "NERD Provides Emulation Technology for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System™ Nintendo Switch Online". Nintendo European Research & Development. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  51. ↑ "NERD Provides Emulation Technology for Game Boy™ - Nintendo Switch Online". Nintendo European Research & Development. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
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  53. 1 2 "Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy and GBA support leaks with 40 games". Metro. 2022-04-19. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  54. 1 2 "NERD Provides Support for Nintendo 64™ – Nintendo Switch Online and SEGA Mega Drive™ – Nintendo Switch Online". 26 October 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
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  56. ↑ Orland, Kyle (2022-04-19). "Leaked Game Boy emulators for Switch were made by Nintendo, experts suggest". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  57. ↑ "NERD Contributes to Remastering Effort in Pikmin 1+2 for Nintendo Switch™". Nintendo European Research & Development. 2024-10-24. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  58. ↑ "NERD Creates a High Speed, High Quality Nintendo DS Emulator for Wii U". Nintendo European Research & Development. June 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  59. ↑ "NERD Teams Up With Hardware Experts in Japan to Deliver 'Super-Stable 3d' on the New Nintendo 3DS". Nintendo European Research & Development. 2014-10-01. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
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  63. ↑ "NERD Develops Several Key Enabling Features for Ring Fit Adventure". Nintendo European Research & Development. 2019-10-18. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  64. ↑ "Q & A Summary" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-11-24.
  65. ↑ "NERD Provides Expertise and Several Key Software Technologies Fueling Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit". Nintendo European Research & Development. 2020-10-16. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  66. ↑ "NERD Provides Filtering Expertise and Improves Robustness of Gesture Tracking in Nintendo Switch™ Sports". Nintendo European Research & Development. 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  67. ↑ "NERD Develops Tools Used to Help Produce Animations in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom". Nintendo European Research & Development. 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  68. ↑ "NERD Provides the Texture Compression Technology Used in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom". Nintendo European Research & Development. 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
  69. ↑ "NERD Develops Part of the Rendering System and the WYSIWYG Tools Used to Produce Caves, Sky Islands and Other Terrain Elements in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom". Nintendo European Research & Development. 2024-06-24. Retrieved 2025-12-07.
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