1. Third-generation videogame development kits
     Nintendo Entertainment System  

2. Fourth-generation videogame development kits
     Super Nintendo Entertainment System  

3. Fifth-generation video game development kits
     Playstation    Nintendo 64/64DD  

4. Sixth-generation video game development kits
     Dreamcast    Xbox  

5. Seventh-generation video game development kits
     Xbox 360    Playstation 3    Nintendo Wii  

6. Eighth-generation video game development kits
     Xbox One    Playstation 4 & Playstation Vita    Nintendo Wii U    Nintendo 3DS/XL/New Nintendo 3DS/XL  

7. References

8. External links

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This will be subject to deletion six months after it is last edited by a human.

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Game development kits (GDK) are specialized hardware used to create commercial videogames. They may be partnered with game development tools, special game engine licenses, and other middleware to aid video game development. GDKs are typically not available to the public, and require game developers to enter an agreement, partnership, or program with the hardware manufacturer to gain access to the hardware. As game console generations pass, development kits often get sold through websites like eBay without repercussions. This is often because the console manufacturers discontinue certain development programs as time passes.

Third-generation videogame development kits

Nintendo Entertainment System

For most of the NES' lifespan, there was no official development kit. Game developers creating games for the NES would have to make their own development kits, such as Rocket Science Production with their "NES Mission Control" development system. At least two programs were used in conjunction with the NES Mission Control hardware; NESTEST.EXE which would be used to test and debug the development hardware, and HST.EXE which would be used for communication between a computer and the NES development hardware.^[1]

Fourth-generation videogame development kits

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

The Super Nintendo Entertainment system used specialized EPROM cartridges for development^[2], as well as various software. Similar to the NES, developers often made their own development software or relied on middleware made by other developers.^[3][4]

Fifth-generation video game development kits

Playstation

The are several variations of the Playstation One development kit used for game creation. One variation of the development kit had only three components^[5], while the Playstation 1 Ultimate Development Kit included up to 26 components, including the complete Net Yaroze development kit.^[6]

The Net Yaroze version of the development kit was unique in that it had some features removed and added compared to the official (complete) Playstation One development kit. The Net Yaroze hardware was designed for hobbyists, while official developers would have access to the official Playstation One development kits.^[7] There was also a blue version of the Playstation One made for developers that would read burned discs to allow quick testing of imaged builds of their videogames. While there were official Playstation-branded CD-Rs that could be used with the blue Playstation, regular CD-Rs were also compatible with the system.^[6]

Nintendo 64/64DD

The Nintendo 64 development kit consisted of multiple components, both for the N64 and its add-on, the N64DD. The main hardware used in N64 game development was the Partner-N64 Development Kit^[8], and used tall cartridges for game development/testing rather than the short cartridges that were sold with retail games. Another hardware component in N64 development was the NU64 Flash Gang Writer, which allowed developers to copy data from one cartridge to multiple cartridges simultaneously. This device was primarily used to create press and test copies of games, and also relied on tall cartridges instead of short retail cartridges.^[9]

Sixth-generation video game development kits

Dreamcast

Sega Dreamcasts were unique in that they used "GD-ROM" discs; giga discs that held 1GB of data. This was slightly more than a typical CD, but less then a DVD. While GD-ROM burners were used by some developers, since the Dreamcast was compatible with CDs and since most games didn't take up 1GB of data at the time, GD-ROMS remained uncommon as developers opted to use the more-easily accessible CDs for their disc media.^[10]

Xbox

When developers were creating software for the original Xbox, a prototype of the controller was used in the early development kits. This controller was slimmer, had elongated sides, and used a USB cable instead of an Xbox port-compatible cable.^[6]

Seventh-generation video game development kits

Xbox 360

Microsoft manages the Xbox 360 Tools and Middleware Program, which licenses development kits (hardware and software) to professional software developers working on tools and technologies for games. Access to this program requires good industry references, prior experience in games tools and middleware development, and signing a non-disclosure agreement.^[11]

Playstation 3

The Playstation developer program allows registered developers to publish their games across the Playstation Network, making their games accessible on the Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita, and Playstation TV all through one program.^[12]

Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii development kit was a bundle of the "NDEV" hardware - a big black box full of debugging/testing hardware that looks nothing like the slim white Nintendo Wii consoles sold to consumers - and a disc containing the developer software tools.^[13]

Eighth-generation video game development kits

Xbox One

Microsoft maintains multiple developer programs for people wanting to develop games for their platforms; ID@Xbox for Xbox One game development, and the Windows Dev Center for Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Xbox One game and application development.

• The ID@Xbox program allows qualified game developers to self-publish their games to the Xbox One, as well as access free middleware and use two development hardware kits for free.^[14]
• The Windows Dev Center allows developers to create apps and games on Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10 platforms as part of the Universal Windows Platform system.^[15]

Playstation 4 & Playstation Vita

The Playstation developer program allows registered developers to publish their games across the Playstation Network, making their games accessible on the Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Playstation Vita, and Playstation TV all through one program.^[12] The Playstation 4 development kits were known as "Orbis", though this was just a codename.^[16] Academic institutions can register to receive PS4 development kits for educational use, and are not region-restricted unlike regular Playstation Developer Program members.^[17]

Nintendo Wii U

Nintendo maintains an independent developer program for both the Nintendo Wii U and the New Nintendo 3DS/3DS XL. However, these programs are separate: the Wii U Developer program provides software licenses for middleware (such as Unity 3D Pro) and the ability to order the Wii U development hardware.^[18] Games and applications published through this program are considered "third-party" and do not belong to Nintendo, allowing independent developers to publish their games on multiple different platforms. However, this development program only facilitates publishing games through the Nintendo Wii U eShop, rather than through typical retail avenues.

The Nintendo Wii U development hardware is comprised of a system called "CAT-DEV", with its accompanying peripherals such as the Display Remote Controller (presumably the Wii U's GamePad^[19]) and sensor bar. ^[20]

Nintendo 3DS/XL/New Nintendo 3DS/XL

Like the Wii U Developer program, the New Nintendo 3DS Developer program allows developers to access software licenses for middleware (such as Unity 3D Pro) and the ability to order the New Nintendo 3DS development hardware. It might be worth noting that Unity 3D, a common and popular game engine, is not usable to create games for the Nintendo 3DS. This is because the older Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL platforms have weaker hardware and are much more difficult to develop for compared to the new handheld consoles.^[21]

There is also a new Nintendo Developer Program coming in the future that will allow developers to have one developer account for both Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS/XL and New Nintendo 3DS/XL development.^[22] It also provides access for tool/middleware developers and publishers so that everyone involved in the game development process can collaborate more efficiently. Publishers in this new program can release their games physically, as opposed to the eShop-only restriction in the current Nintendo developer programs. ^[23]

Strangely, some 3DS development kits cannot play retail games.^[6]

References

External links

• http://www.warioworld.com/ - (General Nintendo Developer website)
• https://wiiu-developers.nintendo.com/ - (Nintendo Wii U Developer website)
• https://developer.nintendo.com/home - (Nintendo Developer Portal)
• http://www.xbox.com/en-US/developers - (Microsoft Xbox One Developer website)
• https://dev.windows.com/en-us/programs - (Microsoft Universal Windows Platforms Developer website)
• https://www.playstation.com/en-us/develop/ - (Playstation Developer Program website)

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