Virtual Handheld for DS?

[hayes1516]

Just wondering if anyone else would be interested in a version of the Virtual Console for the DS? I think it would be a good idea. There are literally thousands of titles from different systems. The Game Boy, Game Gear, Atari Lynx could all be included. For those like myself who got the DSi and don't have an older DS, they could even include the Game Boy Advance titles.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone who wouldn't interested in a service like this, especially with the relatively weak DSiWare lineup so far. The only problem is, nothing like this has ever been mentioned by Nintendo (except to deny it), so we can only hope it's something that develops further down the road.

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by hayes1516

Just wondering if anyone else would be interested in a version of the Virtual Console for the DS? I think it would be a good idea. There are literally thousands of titles from different systems. The Game Boy, Game Gear, Atari Lynx could all be included. For those like myself who got the DSi and don't have an older DS, they could even include the Game Boy Advance titles.

I think its a fair assumption that most people would be in favour of this, however Nintendo's notoriously slow uptake on doing anything that people would be interested in is one factor.
A second one is that the DS is simply not up to emulating the full range of the current VC. It's not just the more powerful consoles; homebrew emulation on the DS is currently unable to emulate the Megadrive and SNES properly with the Megadrive not fitting the screen properly and the SNES suffering horrendous layering problems, given that homebrew emulation is often much more technically proficient than Nintendo's own this would seem to offer a partial explanation.
GBA emulation can't currently be done on DS either without an expansion of RAM (hence why the CycloDS can't do it) and as Nintendo has removed the only possible place it could have put a RAM expansion it also looks unlikely.

It looks like the next generation of Nintendo handhelds will be the only time we get to see a VC type service as the bottom line is that the DS just can't cut it at the moment.

[Ouenben]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

A second one is that the DS is simply not up to emulating the full range of the current VC. It's not just the more powerful consoles; homebrew emulation on the DS is currently unable to emulate the Megadrive and SNES properly with the Megadrive not fitting the screen properly and the SNES suffering horrendous layering problems, given that homebrew emulation is often much more technically proficient than Nintendo's own this would seem to offer a partial explanation.
GBA emulation can't currently be done on DS either without an expansion of RAM (hence why the CycloDS can't do it) and as Nintendo has removed the only possible place it could have put a RAM expansion it also looks unlikely.

It looks like the next generation of Nintendo handhelds will be the only time we get to see a VC type service as the bottom line is that the DS just can't cut it at the moment.

The DSi has double the processing power and 16mb of RAM though so the community should be able to make a GBA emulator for it before long and improve Megadrive/SNES emulation hopefully.

There is one GBA emulator on a flashcart called the Iplayer which has it's own internal processor and 16mb of RAM, I'm considering getting it for this so I don't need to lug my GBA around and because it's good at video playback and doesn't require video format converting.

I hope the homebrew community take advantage of the DSi's improved specs.

[kawaiipikachu]

Originally Posted by Ouenben

The DSi has double the processing power and 16mb of RAM though so the community should be able to make a GBA emulator for it before long and improve Megadrive/SNES emulation hopefully.

There is one GBA emulator on a flashcart called the Iplayer which has it's own internal processor and 16mb of RAM, I'm considering getting it for this so I don't need to lug my GBA around and because it's good at video playback and doesn't require video format converting.

I hope the homebrew community take advantage of the DSi's improved specs.

Whats there to prove that Nintendo wasted a lot of money on something thats only makes a quick buck .
The DSi have a different CPU nuber just like with the lite & i wouldn't be supprised if the DSi XL has its own unique CPU number .
Besides which why would the DSi need the extra processing power .
The standard DS works fine with the face traning camera attachment Which requires the full processing for the facial recognition .

The only correct thing you mention is that the DSi has 16MB of RAM which is in itself correct as the DSi actually have the double RAM .

[Refa]

Considering Rayman is on DSiWare and it previously was a GBA game (and PS1/Saturn), I think that companies have a legitimate precedent for being able to port GBA games (or at least PS1/Saturn games) to DSiWare, as long as they add some gimmicky camera function (Earthbound, anyone?).

[Betagam7]

Originally Posted by Refa

Considering Rayman is on DSiWare and it previously was a GBA game (and PS1/Saturn), I think that companies have a legitimate precedent for being able to port GBA games (or at least PS1/Saturn games) to DSiWare, as long as they add some gimmicky camera function (Earthbound, anyone?).

No one is denying that porting is a definite option. Emulation however is a different matter. The Virtual Console is, with a few exceptions, just a Rom factory with next to no effort involved and an often slapdash bare-basics approach. Porting would require actual effort which Nintendo has never seemed that keen on. Currently Nintendo can just slap ROM's on the service and make quick and easy money but properly porting would take more of an investment.

[Jogurt the Yogurt]

Originally Posted by Betagam7

No one is denying that porting is a definite option. Emulation however is a different matter. The Virtual Console is, with a few exceptions, just a Rom factory with next to no effort involved and an often slapdash bare-basics approach. Porting would require actual effort which Nintendo has never seemed that keen on. Currently Nintendo can just slap ROM's on the service and make quick and easy money but properly porting would take more of an investment.

I'd rather play the original versions of most VC games I have over ports with minor changes/updates.

I know the situation is completely different in EU, but just sayin'.

[hayes1516]

Originally Posted by Jogurt the Yogurt

I'd rather play the original versions of most VC games I have over ports with minor changes/updates.

I know the situation is completely different in EU, but just sayin'.

I completely agree. If I'm playing an old game, I want to play the old game, not an update or remake. Not that I am against such things. I enjoyed the updated Final Fantasy IV on the DS but the second Final Fantasy II for the SNES showed up on the VC I nabbed it because that is what I grew up with and it is the version that holds the memories for me.

Mostly what I would love would be a straight up ROM of old Game Boy games such as Super Mario Land or Pokemon Blue for example. Surely if the DSi has enough power in it to support DSiWare, then it could support the relatively small ROM sizes.

[Ouenben]

Originally Posted by hayes1516

I completely agree. If I'm playing an old game, I want to play the old game, not an update or remake. Not that I am against such things. I enjoyed the updated Final Fantasy IV on the DS but the second Final Fantasy II for the SNES showed up on the VC I nabbed it because that is what I grew up with and it is the version that holds the memories for me.

Mostly what I would love would be a straight up ROM of old Game Boy games such as Super Mario Land or Pokemon Blue for example. Surely if the DSi has enough power in it to support DSiWare, then it could support the relatively small ROM sizes.

DSi can easily handle Gameboy, GBC, NES and Master system games.

SNES, Megadrive and GBA are feasible but I doubt Nintendo have the motivation to get emulators working on DSi.

[Angelic Lapras King]

I'm certain it'll be a feature for 3DS to promote the system.

That is, unless Nintendo promote some sort of 3DSWare service. lol. XD

[Versus22]

Originally Posted by Jogurt the Yogurt

I'd rather play the original versions of most VC games I have over ports with minor changes/updates.

I know the situation is completely different in EU, but just sayin'.

I love orginals, rather than remakes/ports [excluding some], which is why I liked it when Nintendo made WiiWare and DSiWare because the classic games are just 'classic'. They're not new.

In favour of Virtual Handheld, at least we've seen Game and Watch, Dark Void, Chronos Twins, and few others. That's better than totally nothing.

Of course, everyone has their own opinions...

[Tommo58]

i'd be keen as to play old zelda titles that i missed out on. eg links awakening, oracle of season and oracle of ages. that would be awesome