Ah yes, that's for World 2 Level 3, of course.
Although Nintendo has yet to open its doors for a final DS related Q&A press conference, there have been some interesting morsels of information left in the wake of the DS developers’ conference. One of these refers to how game-saves will be handled by the new Nintendo console.
The GBA, to ensure that sufficient space for the game code itself is left on each cartridge, has sometimes had to use the age-old password technique. However, as many GBA owners will recognise, this is not the most convenient way to do things: especially with regards to entertainment on the move. You’ll have done well if you even remembered to put your GBA and a couple of games into your bag before leaving home, but how often do you remember to bring that bit of Kit-Kat wrapper which you scribbled your last code on?
An alternative to this, as favoured by Sony’s UMD-wielding PSP, is to use a separate memory card, or a memory stick in the PSP’s case. However, this leads to the inevitable whingeing over having to expend yet more currency in order to buy more peripherals so that you can actually play on your new machine. So, it’s welcome news that Nintendo DS games will come with a slice of dedicated Save RAM built-in to each cart, offering up to 64 kilobytes where required.
Obviously, where a game requires the full SRAM capacity, that will ramp up the cost of the game; but if it has kept down the cost of the console, or other games that don’t need so much memory, then it will likely be seen as a wise move on Nintendo’s part.
The GBA, to ensure that sufficient space for the game code itself is left on each cartridge, has sometimes had to use the age-old password technique. However, as many GBA owners will recognise, this is not the most convenient way to do things: especially with regards to entertainment on the move. You’ll have done well if you even remembered to put your GBA and a couple of games into your bag before leaving home, but how often do you remember to bring that bit of Kit-Kat wrapper which you scribbled your last code on?
An alternative to this, as favoured by Sony’s UMD-wielding PSP, is to use a separate memory card, or a memory stick in the PSP’s case. However, this leads to the inevitable whingeing over having to expend yet more currency in order to buy more peripherals so that you can actually play on your new machine. So, it’s welcome news that Nintendo DS games will come with a slice of dedicated Save RAM built-in to each cart, offering up to 64 kilobytes where required.
Obviously, where a game requires the full SRAM capacity, that will ramp up the cost of the game; but if it has kept down the cost of the console, or other games that don’t need so much memory, then it will likely be seen as a wise move on Nintendo’s part.
Companies:
Nintendo
Read More Like This
Comments
mrnull 22 Sep 2004 15:23
1/12
Well, it's both good and bad. I too hate having to write codes down, but enjoyed it as a kid. A code was something tangible, something you could trade with your friends or get out of magazines. I'd love to see some online save-swapping like we had on Dreamcast.
almondVanHelsing 22 Sep 2004 18:12
2/12
Won't this make the carts expensive and hence add to the cost of the games? Otherwise why haven't Nintendo done it before?
more comments below our sponsor's message
Kaxxx 23 Sep 2004 07:01
3/12
Personally i welcome it. May add to the production price slightly but i cant imagine it reflecting too much on the end rrp. Hopefully.
Saves buying a memory card at the end of the day.
Saves buying a memory card at the end of the day.
splynncryth 23 Sep 2004 07:12
4/12
The incresed production cost should be very, very small. This link is to a 64K SRAM part on Mouser's site (an electronics supplkier). The cost of this chip is about $5 for a single part. They usally have discounts for volume, and because you aren't buying from the factory, there is more of a markup. I suspect Nintendo will get similar parts for no more than $2 a chip if they use an expensive part.
If they use flash memory, I have seen serial chips of the same size go for under $1 each.
So Nintendo won't be paying an arm and a leg to put these chips in the carts. I just hope they don't try and make the consumer pay heavily for the feature.
If they use flash memory, I have seen serial chips of the same size go for under $1 each.
So Nintendo won't be paying an arm and a leg to put these chips in the carts. I just hope they don't try and make the consumer pay heavily for the feature.
Kaxxx 23 Sep 2004 07:47
5/12
One thing i wouldnt like to see is, say, £3-£4 being added to the price to hold these saves. I cant honestly imagine it but if you count up the cost from 5 games then you could be looking at paying £15 to £20 for save features.
The PSP using the standard Sony Memory Stick seems alot cheaper on paper. I bought ont for my digital camera a few months back, £27.50 for a 128mb stick. Theres more than enough there for everything you want and the cards now go up to over 1gb.
Overall, i think its another winner from Sony. Obviously with the PSP being a multimedia device it may need this size of storage but when i think about it what harm would a DS memory card or internal memory do?
The PSP using the standard Sony Memory Stick seems alot cheaper on paper. I bought ont for my digital camera a few months back, £27.50 for a 128mb stick. Theres more than enough there for everything you want and the cards now go up to over 1gb.
Overall, i think its another winner from Sony. Obviously with the PSP being a multimedia device it may need this size of storage but when i think about it what harm would a DS memory card or internal memory do?
Joji 23 Sep 2004 09:08
6/12
I think it's a good idea, but it's best we wait and see how it pans out. It beat's having to buy a memory stick like PSP though, and what happens when that fills up? Sony will make you shell out more cash for another most likely, just like their overpriced PS2 memory cards.
ryohazuki-san 23 Sep 2004 11:35
7/12
Personally, im always forgetting to take things with me when i go out and I would honestly say a PSP memory stick will definately be one of them. Having built in memory saves so much hassle, all you need is the game and handheld with you, but having another attachment with you will always get misplaced or forgotten. I like the idea, and dont mind the extra quid ontop.
tyrion 23 Sep 2004 11:45
8/12
Joji wrote:
>I think it's a good idea, but it's best we wait
>and see how it pans out. It beat's having to buy
>a memory stick like PSP though, and what happens
>when that fills up? Sony will make you shell out
>more cash for another most likely, just like
>their overpriced PS2 memory cards.
Bit OT here, but I've never had much of a problem with the PS2's memory cards. I've had one since day one in the UK and I've only ever had one memory card.
Once I've played a game and either finished it or given up on it, I delete the save. Unless I know I'm gonna come back to it later like the SSXs or Tony Hawk games.
>I think it's a good idea, but it's best we wait
>and see how it pans out. It beat's having to buy
>a memory stick like PSP though, and what happens
>when that fills up? Sony will make you shell out
>more cash for another most likely, just like
>their overpriced PS2 memory cards.
Bit OT here, but I've never had much of a problem with the PS2's memory cards. I've had one since day one in the UK and I've only ever had one memory card.
Once I've played a game and either finished it or given up on it, I delete the save. Unless I know I'm gonna come back to it later like the SSXs or Tony Hawk games.
Kaxxx 23 Sep 2004 13:15
9/12
Joji, hopefully the memory sticks are the same as the standard Sony sticks. Going back to my earlier post.....it costs less for a Sony 128mb stick than a PS2 memory card. I doubt you are going to fill 128mb in saves too quick. Plus afterwards you can pop it back into your camera.
Joji 23 Sep 2004 14:01
10/12
I reply to you and Kaxxx, I feel Sony are taking the piss out of us with the memory stick, even if it's 128mb.
So why not a SD or Compact Flash card slot, in an age where most digital cameras and mp3 players have them? Because Sony are again imposing their tech on to you all ,as an extra because others are wisely dodging memory sticks for cameras, in favour of such cards available. They have no excuse when loads of other things use cards. Also if PSP read cards of somekind you might be able to playback your own content with ease.
Leaving the memory stick at home, and reaching a crucial point in a game, when you ain't at home spells disaster, right up there with my running out of power. I can see a lot of people doing this, as well as leaving the house looking like Robocop with so many bits bolted onto you just to play a game. It's clearly madness.
DS has the right idea using cards, and one which even Gameparks GP32 got right. Sony are just being difficult by not doing so.
So why not a SD or Compact Flash card slot, in an age where most digital cameras and mp3 players have them? Because Sony are again imposing their tech on to you all ,as an extra because others are wisely dodging memory sticks for cameras, in favour of such cards available. They have no excuse when loads of other things use cards. Also if PSP read cards of somekind you might be able to playback your own content with ease.
Leaving the memory stick at home, and reaching a crucial point in a game, when you ain't at home spells disaster, right up there with my running out of power. I can see a lot of people doing this, as well as leaving the house looking like Robocop with so many bits bolted onto you just to play a game. It's clearly madness.
DS has the right idea using cards, and one which even Gameparks GP32 got right. Sony are just being difficult by not doing so.
DoctorDee 23 Sep 2004 17:15
11/12
ryohazuki-san wrote:
>Personally, im always forgetting to take things
>with me when i go out and I would honestly say a
>PSP memory stick will definately be one of them.
Yeah I'm always forgetting stuff too. But if I had a PSP, I'd just leave the memory stick in it all the time. Problem solved.
Though, to be honest I'd be likely to leave the PSP (memory stick and all) at home.
>Personally, im always forgetting to take things
>with me when i go out and I would honestly say a
>PSP memory stick will definately be one of them.
Yeah I'm always forgetting stuff too. But if I had a PSP, I'd just leave the memory stick in it all the time. Problem solved.
Though, to be honest I'd be likely to leave the PSP (memory stick and all) at home.
Kaxxx 24 Sep 2004 07:15
12/12
Instant mugging i reckon. That thing would be far to much of an attraction to others to carry round methinks.
As for memory if you buy a 128/256mb memory stick for your PSP i dont see why you would need to take it out. They are small and could be easily lost or broken.
I think both Nintendos and Sonys answer to memory has to be appauled, both are practical for the handhelds needs. DS only really needs game saves as it is essentially dedicated to games. The PSP needs a multimedia format storage medium and their is nothing more practical than its inhouse memory stick. TBH i would rather have a memory stick becuase of its tough outer shell than a crap flimsy SD or MMC card. Price between them is also minimal if you shop around. (Mymemory.co.uk has decent prices) Hopefully however, like their digital camera range, they include the 16mb version for free, maybe doubtful by their past attitude to gamers but it may happen.
As for memory if you buy a 128/256mb memory stick for your PSP i dont see why you would need to take it out. They are small and could be easily lost or broken.
I think both Nintendos and Sonys answer to memory has to be appauled, both are practical for the handhelds needs. DS only really needs game saves as it is essentially dedicated to games. The PSP needs a multimedia format storage medium and their is nothing more practical than its inhouse memory stick. TBH i would rather have a memory stick becuase of its tough outer shell than a crap flimsy SD or MMC card. Price between them is also minimal if you shop around. (Mymemory.co.uk has decent prices) Hopefully however, like their digital camera range, they include the 16mb version for free, maybe doubtful by their past attitude to gamers but it may happen.