Topic: DS Hardware Expandability & GBA Cart Connectivity

[norebonomis]

from Nintendo.com (DS Overview)

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Nintendo DS makes a vast library of Game Boy® Advance games readily available. Developers could find ways to make new connections between GBA games and DS games. The GBA port could be used for new hardware, enormously expanding the functional expandability of the DS.

do you think we will get some cool new hardware packs or some cheesey gimmick like e-reader? and what do you think they mean by "connections between GBA games and DS games."?

[Ian Sane]

I know one thing's for sure.  Third parties won't do anything interesting with it if Nintendo doesn't.  If it's like the Cube/GBA connectivity we'll probably get a lot of "buy the GBA game and the DS game to unlock stuff" scenarios.  However I think it has tons of potential if used correctly.

I figure the success of using the GBA port for extra hardware will be dependant on the success of the DS itself.  Nintendo is making a lot of claims about innovation and new types of gameplay.  It remains to be seen if this new stuff is actually interesting and does change the way games are played.  If it does then that means that Nintendo is back in the creative groove and can create innovative products that people also want to buy.  If not, well if they can't create something worthwhile that uses the two screens or the touchscreen then they're not going to make an accessory that's worth a damn.

It's all very interesting and scary at the same time.  I actually find that many of their "failed" ideas this gen like the e-Reader or connectivity are in theory great ideas; Nintendo just didn't use them very well.  I think they'll do fine if they have game concepts planned out ahead of time and then create hardware to accomodate that instead of the other way around.

[Djunknown]

They could do something cute like what they did with the Zelda Oracles games when you play them on the GBA....

[XBR]

They could use DS cards as expansions to existing GBA carts, such as the 64DD was to games like F-Zero and Zelda 64, especially with its rewriteablity features.

[norebonomis]

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Originally posted by: XBR
They could use DS cards as expansions to existing GBA carts, such as the 64DD was to games like F-Zero and Zelda 64, especially with its rewriteablity features.

ooh! that idea gives me little tinglies! ^_^ of course the only reason i bought a gameboy was for loz:alttp and four swords, and i don't own any other gameboy games except zelda ones, and namco museam but i found that one it was a freebie. but ooh, i could imagine a continuation of alttp in three dimensional glory on the ds, that would be wicked awsome!

how about peripherals? like maybe using the gba slot for extended memory, for apps like mp3/video playback, or even internet browsing/e-mail? like being able to log onto nintendo.com forums from your ds? heh heh, neat little strategy if i do say so myself. of course there will be those of you who will start whinning about how a game console should just be for games. wah wah wah! shut the f*** up! :-P j/k i love you guys!

[jasonditz]

How about writable flash carts for storing downloadable content?

[KDR_11k]

You mean like warez?

[norebonomis]

i was at wal-mart last night and was observing all the different little things you can get for the gba, they even have an mp3 player, plus all this gba video stuff. it seems to me like the gba is pretty versitile. i think it'd be smart if when nintendo releases the ds, they make the gba open-source. with writable gba carts and stuff the ds would surely become an appliance that people could really have fun with. (i know this does not stick with the only-game philosophy, i don't follow that one sorry) i'm thinking downloadable AIM client for a gba cart, that could be used with the ds' wireless connectivity. and i think that the ds' built-in wireless functions could turn this device into a catalyst for connecting people. maybe even make nintendo #1 again.

i'm not sayting this is a good idea, but since this thing has a mic, isn't it possible that we could see it develop VoIP functionality too? witha nintendo-branded wireless headseat/mic? heheh, i really think the possibilities are there? any input from skeptics? but seriously, include some hard facts. not just statments like "nintendo will only make gaming devices" besides they are allready straying from that with pictochat.

what i am trying to say is... the technology is there why not go all out and connect the world? making the gba more opensource or even opening it up to more than game developers. the DS slot is still there for those great games that will undoubtedly be the main point of the ds. but the GBA slot gives nintendo the opportunity to appeal to an audience much larger than just the gaming market.

also i think that while other consoles (psp, ngage, xob, psx) give the option to double as media centers (audio/video) it isn't ideal because of storage etc. then again it would be freaking awsome if you could access your entire library of mp3s from your home console's hard drive wirelessly with your wireless (gaming) handheld. of course wifi speeds aren't fast enough yet to STREAM video. there are other options for online connectivity. i hope that whatever nintendo decides to do they do it right because they are too good of a company to fail against these  crazy sonys and microsofts. (nokia HAH!)

[KDR_11k]

In case you haven't noticed, there's already a large homebrew/opensource scene for the GBA, the device is recommended as an entry level console for aspiring game makers. There are even competitions to make GBA games.

[Chode2234]

They have writeable gba carts and homebrew dev kits and all of that, KDR is right it is a huge hobby and there is a huge internet presence where you can download sprites and share code etc.  PGC should run a story about it or something...?

[norebonomis]

could either of you two give me some links? like what kind of code would i have to learn? and where i can buy these writable gba carts?

[Koopa Troopa]

C and Assembly. The basic rule-of-thumb is: if you don't know the answer to that question, you're not ready to program games. I mean you no offense, of course. Learn C well, and then worry about the GBA (but be prepared for Assembly as well).

[Blackknight131]

I dont know if Im right about this, but were probaly not allowed to give links to places that sell peripherals such as flash carts for GBA...seeing as how they are not official Nintendo peripherals and on top of that likely often utilized for piracy reasons...

*google* Oop, sorry....must be something I ate... =\

-Blackknight131

[Koopa Troopa]

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*google* Oop, sorry....must be something I ate... =\

::changes BlackKnight's diaper::

Hehehe

[KDR_11k]

I don't think we're allowed to go more in-depth on the homebrew issue, maybe Google can help you.

[Chode2234]

Perhaps I should re-read the rules again, but I see nothing really wrong with talking about homebrew games, in fact I remember PGC running a story about OOT2d (oot2d.com) sometime back.  However, I agree that there are many issues such as piracy and the like that can come into the discussion, but as for homebrew's I see nothing wrong.  

In fact I hear a lot of ideas for homebrew games, meldavid could actually have his game with Miyamoto-san vs. link, and someone else could actually make a game with Mario shooting hookers (although I doubt it would be a good idea).  I don't want to say go rip off nintendo and violate their copyrights, but don't always look to them to feed you the latest and greatest, maybe you should (and now with the proper tools you can) make it yourself.  Even if it is a failed attempt at least you will learn a lot and gain a ton of respect for the masters of the art like Miyamoto-san.

but yeah, do a google search and look at the sites for homebrew games they should give you infinitely more magnitudes of information than we can.  But I don't think we should be afraid of talking about making our own video games unless Stalin is the new editor and chief of PGC.  Its a legitimate extension of being a true fan and patron of video games.

[KDR_11k]

If you just want to make a game go for the PC first. The GBA is popular as a challenge for experienced programmers, not a newbie training ground.
The problem is that homebrew dev involves tools that can be abused by pirates and I think we're not allowed to talk about those. Either way, if ayou want to know more about GBA development, you should check the respective sites, Grey Ninja is the only one with GBA coding experience on this board.

[Koopa Troopa]

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Perhaps I should re-read the rules again, but I see nothing really wrong with talking about homebrew games, in fact I remember PGC running a story about OOT2d (oot2d.com) sometime back.

That is a PC game, not a GBA game.

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Grey Ninja is the only one with GBA coding experience on this board.

Not the only one


Anyway, as has already been said, google will tell you everything you need to know.  I will say: You don't need re-writable carts or any of that jazz to homebrew. Which is just as well since it is money better saved, seeing your "game" on an actual GBA is little more than a novelty; it is fun, but ultimately useless.