Topic: DSiWare - Virtual Console

I ask all of you who wish to reply, please be courteous and hear me before you post!

Riddle me this? Why would Nintendo produce a new DS with an SD card option without a direct access feature like with see on the Wii? It seems silly to go through the same motions and troubles they seen with the Wii. Whether they did not anticipate the volume of downloads or any other reason.

Riddle me this? Why would Nintendo reps promise a Virtual Console for handhelds, documented as it is on the web, but documented no the less?

Riddle me this, what do you think the chances are that Nintendo will allow us to link our DSi to our Wii? Allow us to share a certain amount of Virtual Console games between the two? If you look at the PS3 and the PSP, any PS1 classic can be shared to the PSP at no additional cost.

Look at the specs:

DSi

1. CPU: The DSi has two ARM architecture CPUs; ARM9 and ARM7.[54] The main CPU is clocked at 133 MHz.
2. RAM: 16 MB of RAM (four times as much as previous models)
3. Storage: 256 MB of internal flash memory with an SD card (up to 2 GB) and SDHC card (up to 32 GB) expansion slot

N64

1. CPU: NEC VR4300 clocked at 93.75 MHz
2. RAM: 4 MB of RAM (technically speaking, it shares room with the CPU)
3. Storage: None

SNES

1. CPU: Nintendo-custom 5A22 processor clocked at a maximum of 3.58 MHz
2. RAM: 128 kB (kB way less than MB)
3. Storage: None

NES

1. CPU: Ricoh based on a MOS Technology 6502 core clocked at a maximum 1.79 MHz
2. RAM: 2 kB (kB way less than MB)
3. Storage: None

Sega Mega Drive

1. CPU: Motorola 68000 16/32-bit processor clocked at 7.67 MHz
2. RAM: 156 kB (kB way less than MB)
3. Storage: None

Sega Master System

1. CPU: Zilog Z80A processor clocked at a maximum 3.579545 MHz
2. RAM: 64 kbit (kB way less than MB)
3. Storage: None

Sega Master System

1. CPU: 8-bit HuC6280A processor clocked at a maximum 7.16 MHz
2. RAM: 64 kbit & 8 kB (kB way less than MB)
3. Storage: None

The system will need to enough ram to load the data from the entire game into memory, well, there is no N64 game over 16 MB and the other titles are very low, some NES games are around 20 kB.

If you look at it, it may make sense with the hardware upgrades. There is enough power to push the system and emulate the current VC.

At any rate, just an idea, unfounded by any source. What do you think?

EDIT:

N64 polygons per second

1. Fast3D microcode: < ~100,000 high accuracy polygons per second.
2. Turbo3D microcode: 500,000–600,000 normal accuracy polygons per second.However, due to the graphical degradation, Nintendo discouraged its use.

Nintendo DSi polygons per second

1. 120,000 high accuracy polygons per second.

As you can see, the DSi can handle the poly per second of the N64 as the higher poly count is discouraged, but it exceeds the normal poly count of the N64.

I still believe we'll see a DSi Virtual Console at some point, maybe not emulating stuff like N64 games, but at the very least offering up the classic GB/GBC/GBA games. But right now Nintendo is pushing DSiWare and that's what they want to focus on. They did leak information about a DSi Virtual Console at one point and then backed off, but it's just too easy given the hardware of the DS to not make these classic GB games available. It's a cash cow in waiting.

There are quite a few N64 games over 16MB, even so, the DSi could never emulate the N64. For a platform to properly emulate a system, the host system needs to be 7 times more powerful than the system being emulated. Any of the other systems could be easily emulated on the DSi.

I agree, I think they are pushing the DSiWare, but I would think the offerings would be more that what we have so far. Japan is stacked with DSiWare. I know with WiiWare, titles like World of Goo and FF Crystal Chronicles: My life as a king stick out along with quirky titles like Defend your castle and Swords and Soilders. I guess I am complaining on the subject, but after ponying up the money for the DSi, I want more already. I love it, don't get me wrong, but I would like to at least know more that the fact some time we will see why they packed it with more hardware, it just has me so curious.

Edit: You are right on the size, it was 64, not 16 MB cart size.

Yeah, I just don't think the DSi could accurately emulate the Nintendo 64. You just need so much horsepower to emulate a console like that.

I believe the DSi can emulate the GameCube.
runs

Who said anything about just emulating?It's Nintendo we are talking about! If they can make SM64DS then they can easily port some 64 games to DSiWare.

I don't doubt they can remake them, but we're not seeing many N64 ports, or at least we haven't to date. And the Virtual Console would be about emulation, not porting. Ports would likely be sold at retail given the amount of development time and money they would cost to produce.

it could play games from nes, snes, and several other classics, but i think they will only allow handheld games avalible for the dsi virtual handheld

This will not happen until after the SD card menu... And that won't happen until they get 250000+ in DSi/Ware downloads.

i think the features are future proof to allow room for improvement. the dsi is a different beast in its own right. cameras, touch screen,dsiware. so many cool features: http://www.gamestock.co.uk/dslite-vs-dsi

I emailed them this is what they said

[Hello,

Thank you for emailing us. I would like to take the time to thank you for your valuable feedback. Rest assured, I have forwarded it to the appropriate department for further review. That said, at this time we are not planning a Virtual Console-style service for the Nintendo DSi. If you’re a fan of Game Boy games, we suggest using a Game Boy Advance SP as we still support and are able to repair them if necessary.

Sincerely,

Travis Parton
Nintendo of America Inc.

Nintendo's home page: http://www.nintendo.com/

Power Line (Automated Product Info): (425) 885-7529

- Original Message -

From: "*****************" <*****************>
Received: 9/4/09 4:08:11 PM PDT
To: Nintendo <[email protected]>
Subject: Webform: Nintendo DSi > Other

Just throwing this out there I know it probably been asked a million times but here it is do you plan on making a Virtual Handheld on the Dsi. Also I have some legit reason why its an excellent idea. Okay I belong to a Nintendo Dedicated forum called nintendolife.com and I am all ways hearing people say that if Virtual Handheld was released the Dsi would be an instant buy. Also think about virtual console and how much money that makes. I mean come on its foolproof. I would love to replay some classic gameboy or gameboy color games on my Dsi I mean think of how great that would be. Plus many developers are going retro and using 8-bit graphics in there games and it looks great. Nintendo I truly believe Virtual Handheld would be a win-win. By the way if you ever get a chance check out nintendolife.com for proof of my first and key point.
-Thank You]
He said my message would be emailed to the appropriate department for review so maybe they will consider my suggestions doubt it but hey why not

That's what I thought when the VC idea was thought about.
If SM64DS could run like that, with better frame rate (compare Bowser on the old SMB64 to SM64DS and you see what I'm saying.), then it's a good possibility.