Slashdot Mirror
How To Make the DS Even Better
Next Generation has up an interesting piece considering ways to make the ultra-successful Nintendo DS even better. Thoughts include streamlining the needlessly complicated 'friend code' system, adding internal flash ram to the device, and rolling out a virtual console system ala the Wii. Their best idea, I think, is to use the GBA slot on the system for a cartridge including all of these new elements: "The advantage over typical 'system upgrades', like the ram expansion for the N64 or the PS2 hard drive, is that this cartridge should have little direct effect on game software; it would simply transform the DS into a more useful and personal tool. Such an update would also weed out the necessity to offer a whole new DS model, further annoying people who felt forced to upgrade to the DS Lite - itself only a cosmetic adjustment."
just great I think, although what Nintendo would say?
but not officially. Companies like m3 and Flashloader make devices that plug in to the gba slot on the ds, fit flush, and either have a set amount of onboard flash, or have a slot for an SD card (regular for the original ds, mini or micro for the lite). You can run homebrew applications off of these, as well as listen to music (with the winamp equiv. in moonshell), and play emulated games (though some snes games won't run full speed due to the fx chip issue).
Now, this doesn't simplify the friends code issue, and it's definitely border line illegal, but it does exist.
How Jaded Are You?
If the DS in the US gets a browser that would basically make it kick so much more booty than it already does that I think even Batman might give it a slot in his belt.
And yes I agree with adding rumble to make it vibrate. Then Batgirl might give it a..yah...
I like basketball!!1!
Creating an 'internal drive' is a big no no, it opens up piracy way too much, even if you can already do it with non-licensed stuff. What would be cool is a 8-32 slot cartride that you could stuff all your DS games into so they would always be plugged in, the GBA slot might be able to fit this, then no more shuffling and carrying those little game carts around.
People felt forced to upgrade to the DS Lite? Bullshit. People CHOSE to upgrade. It's a better, smaller system. It's more comfortable to hold, the screen is a lot bright and more colorful, and it's just over-all a better system. I upgrade only because I wanted to, not because there was some social pressure or something. There was certainly no pressure from Nintendo.
"If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
a la Game Boy Camera. It should let you take pictures, movies, and talk online with "friends", and with the ability to talk through Skype.
I think it's a very good idea.
09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C1 bottles of beer on the wall. Take one down, pass it round... Oh, umm...
But then wouldn't it cost more?
You buy a 2nd one for your girlfriend and she'll shut the hell up so you can enjoy your DS even more!
Next question.
It should be soft and cuddly.
...with lots of firepower!
...and it should have telescopes! No, periscopes! No, microscopes!
Unlike the PSP, the DS has games that twice as many people find worth playing. The systems aren't even that far apart in price (PSP: $200, DS Lite + R4DS expansion card for playing media from microSD cards: $170), so game quality must be at least a major factor.
I know how to make the DS better! Three Screens! That is what makes it better than the PSP, isn't it?
All kidding aside, I'd say that the biggest issue that I have with it is the lack of WPA support for the wireless. In order to have wireless access, I need to either change the wireless settings on the router, or have a second router that uses WEP. I chose to have a second router that I only plug in when I want to play. The other issue that I've run into is that some public access points, such as at coffee shops, require a browser to connect to their service. There may be a workaround for it, in some cases, but it's still not that convenient to connect. I don't know if the browser "game" coming later will fix that, but it would be a good improvement. Overall, I think I'm happy with the DS, but it's not perfect.
warning: This post is likely to contain gobs of dripping sarcasm. Consume at your own risk.
For instance, WPA/WPA2 support would be nice.
GLaDOS for President 2016! "Well here we are again. It's always such a pleasure." -- GLaDOS, 2011
Would it be possible to include this capability with a firmware upgrade, or will it need new hardware (in which case us existing owners are out of luck)?
"Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
It's quite easy.
Take the Nintendo DS Lite
build the Play-Yan micro into it (mp3 audio and mp4 video support, but expanded to the DS screen size, also add JPEG viewer support) with built-in SD card slot
add Opera DS (with built-in Opera DS + RAM carts), so you don't have to carry DS+GBA carts to have Opera on the system.
Add basic PDA functions (address book, calendar) which can sync in standard files over USB2 which mounts as a regular drive, i.e. OS-independant.
Overkill/impossible? Aside from the JPEG viewer and PDA functions, you can already have it all, and all from official Nintendo hardware. It's just not built into the DS.
I'd like the DS to be able to communicate with the Wii (via Wi-Fi) in the same way a GBA communicated with the GameCube (via the connect cable). That way, if I'm playing a GameCube game (like Crystal Chronicles or Zelda:Four Swords) that, in the past, utilized GBAs as "controllers", I can have multiple players wirelessly connected through DSs instead. I think this feature would be very reasonable to add... it seems like it would mostly take a system update on the Wii (though that is just a guess).
An english language version of Opera is already on the shelves in the suburban shops in Australia - you could order it online and have it delivered by slow boat long before the release date. Since it's here the UK and a few other places probably have it too.
I have yet to play a handheld that was anywhere as ergonomic as a console controller. The Logitech PS2 controller I have is amazing, so are the GCN controllers and the 360 controllers. Even the Wiimote/nunchuck, which I (although very excited) was worried was going to be hard to hold, I don't have any problem playing with for hours on end. But handhelds are still in the stone age, as far as ergonomics are concerned. They're slightly better than an NES controller... but wow, that's not saying much.
It's a tough one, how do you make a handheld that's ergonomic enough to play for hours on end, while at the same time being regularly enough shaped to be able to fit in a small space.
Multiplayer Gaming (defined): Sitting around, discussing single-player games with my friends, at the bar.
It may be too late for the DS to gain all these things in an official way (Though a special cartridge would be a possibility) but at the very least I hope Nintendo can keep these in mind for their next portable.
Give me a hug!
Whether or not there is some sort of god, I'm not supposed to say/god is a word and the argument ends there-Smog
They already have a great all-purpose pad... the Virtual Console Controller. Simply make a plug for that, and allow games to recieve data from the device.
But this won't happen, for a number of reasons. First off, the plug for the VCC is HUGE, so there'd have to be an adaptor, which gets more complicated than Nintendo is comfortable with. Secondly, it'd kill the whole purpose behind the DS: the touch screen. Before you know it, game manufacturer's would be slipping back into old habits and have analog control as the primary input. In a perfect world, we'd see both input styles, used side by side, but Nintendo is trying to wein game developers off their old habits by not providing them with the old input devices, and so far, it's worked like a charm.
I think by next generation, however, developers will be comfortable enough with the touch screen interface, that Nintendo can bring back analog sticks, and I expect to see a pair of them on the next handheld (Nintendo is insistant about being equally attentive to the needs of left-handed people, especially since some of their primary developers are left handed). It's not impossible to imagine the inclusion a fairly standard, though small, analog stick with indentations in the clamshell to house them when closed.
But I think it would be best if, for a handheld, they started with a simple controller, like the VCC, and then designed the screen into that form so that the basic feel is similar to that of a normal game controller. Obviously, they'd have to make it wider to accomidate for the screen(s). As it is, the buttons are just too damn close to the edge of the moulding, so that you have to balance the unit on your fingers. I have fairly small hands, but even it's uncomfortable for me. The Lite is slightly better, for some reason, and my left hand doesn't end up falling asleep after 5 minutes like it did with the Phat.
Multiplayer Gaming (defined): Sitting around, discussing single-player games with my friends, at the bar.
While I agree with many of the points the article raised, I have (I think) some more important ones.
1) 802.11g with WPA encryption. Nintendo's official response to this is pretty much "go screw yourself!" but I'm prevented from using many wifi features due to using WPA on my WLAN.
2) Better use of wifi technology. The initial menus should show any DS users in range and what game they're playing when the system boots. Then you should be able to ask to join their game (provided you insert the right cart) by touching one of the games. That main boot menu is unused most of the time because people simply hit the button that starts the game they have inserted. I've seen so many people with a DS on the train when I have mine in my bag, but I can never tell what game they're playing and it's kind of annoying for me to ask them to quit so I could give them a game. Conversely, if a message scrolled past saying "Steve wants to join your game, press START to allow it" (without interrupting their play) they would probably allow it and we might even strike up a conversation afterwards. We can already play strangers on Nintendo WFC, why can't we do it with some agility in ad-hoc play?
3) Don't lock-up the OS when I pop out the cart. This is ridiculous. The system menus boot from ROM and I should be able to swap games without crashing the initial menu system. This is a requirement for point 2 to work. There are interrupts that fire when a cart is removed, but the DS firmware doesn't seem to handle them.
4) The DS browser is very slow due to lack of system memory. An official way of expanding the memory (like a mini SD slot or *officially supported* mini-SD expansion cart for the GBA slot) would be a nice feature.
5) Improve the sound quality, I have no problem with the visuals but the sound quality isn't really good enough for MP3s on headphones. 44khz sampling rates at 16bit would be nice.
6) Allow me to download demos of games with the browser and stream mp3 audio like web radio.
7) Give me a custom avatar to store in my personal data instead of making me draw a different one in every game.
8) Keep everything else as it is and don't try to turn it into a PDA.
How about making PDA software? It's pocket-sized, has a stylus, includes an on-screen keyboard program, and has Wi-Fi support. It's everythign I've wanted in a PDA - except it has no PDA software.
I know it isn't going to happen. And I know most people don't care. But I still want it. :)
A slot 1 flash card like the R4, Supercard DS One, M3 Simply, etc. Then you can turn the DS into a PDA, play MP3s, stop carrying game carts around, etc.
Just give it an extra 256MB of RAM and use a virtual console-like service and let us download N64 games. Perfect Dark over Wi-Fi!
A man chooses, a slave obeys - Andrew Ryan.
WHO NEEDS SHIFT WHEN YOU HAVE CAPSLOCK/ DAMN1