It probably won't affect games much, since games are designed to work in all DS versions.

But browsing, music/video playing, the camera resources... and who knows? Maybe Nintendo releases some exclusive app for the new DS. PictoChat or something?

I have the Opera browser, and pretty much never uses it since it's too damn slow. Hope the extra RAM helps it, though I'll never really know since I ain't buying the DSi...

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

@daftrok:

Since when do cartridge-based games have loading times? Are you high?

dagamer34

RAM will be used for everything:
1) To boost Web Surfing speed
2) To decrease load times in games, applications, etc.

I thought they were planning on making games that utilize the camera's features (aka DSi exclusive games)?

daftrok

Well, the built-in web browser could handle caching of flash movies or something.

Video recording/uploading/sharing

maybe an improved pico chat thing? with pics/video

I've never had "load lag" or anything similar on a DS game, but they might be able to squeeze out a higher throughput or something!

I'm pretty excited!

nachobel

Opera already uses a 16 MB RAM expansion via a GBA cart. That memory isn't as quick as the stuff built in to the system, but I doubt this will make a visible difference.

Picklesworth

If they can match the web browser features of the iphone at least - I am more than sold :))

StarControl

@Picklesworth:
The DSi doesn't have a GBA slot.

sugardeath

@masterage:
Look at Quake II on the N64 as well. I swear the thing had a minute load time sometimes.. Does Disgaea DS compress things, hence the load times? I know that was Q2's case, compressing everything to fit onto the cartdridge and therefore needing to uncompress them, hence the load times.

sugardeath

"What do you think the RAM will be used for?"

Nintendo wants to use location based software like they use in stadiums, museums and mass transit systems in Japan.

They have a DS system for the Seattle Mariners that does stuff like that already.

VakeroRokero

@dagamer34: Take one good look at Disgaea DS, dood.

masterage

@sugardeath:

I think Picklesworth was getting at the short lived Nintendo DS browser that had the GBA RAM expansion pack. Man that thing was slow..

PlasmaMachine

The RAM is probably the same as RAM expansion that comes with the Opera browser for the DS (lite).

Knirfie

The new DS is a huge disappointment for me. Not only are the upgrades pretty much useless to me, the battery life takes a huge hit. The bigger screens just means bigger pixels, and they're big enough at the moment. Lets face it, anyone who wants an MP3 player already has one. And I would only use the low resolution camera(s?) in games designed for them, which I probably wouldn't buy because it seems like just another gimmick.

So before I was annoyed that it's not coming to the UK until next year, but now that it's had time to settle in I just don't care anymore. Hopefully it will mean a price drop for the DS Lite. If not, I think I'm gonna give the PSP a go.

craig_16

@daftrok: I definitely agree about the internet browser needing more RAM. It will also result in better load times for games that need it. There may be some special "games" for the DSi using the cameras, but that's it.

cobaltage

@craig_16: Dude you hit all the right points. :D

CutePuppyz

@craig_16: I agree on all the points for the DSi. The only thing I can say is save the cash and skip the PSP. Its worse of then the DS, at least they are making games for the DS, albeit crappy/gimmicky ones but games non the less.

Unless you can read japanese and are willing to import or are looking for a very hackable platform, stay away from the PSP.

phate

@craig_16: What do you expect from a refresh?

In the last two decades, we've seen (at least) NES->NES toploader, SNES->SNES2, Genesis->Genesis 2->Genesis 3, PS1->PSOne, PS2->PS2 Slimline, GB->GB Pocket, GBA->GBA SP->GBA Micro, DS->DS Lite, PSP->PSP-2000->PSP-3000.

Apart from (arguably) the GBA->GBA SP transition (backlight), what past upgrades would lead you to believe that the DSi should offer more than it does?

emag

They already announced DSi only games, so I would expect the extra RAM would be used for that. There is no indication that the actual speed of the DSi is faster, but it could be a possibility.

Scaramanga

@cobaltage: Opera is on par with watching paint dry while having your feet hammered with a... hammer. Alot. So slow it was really a barely novel novelty that lasted all of a minute (after the few it took to load a page).

So that in itself will be great, I'd love to be able to do some slightly more robust browsing on my DS (hypothetically, it's not coming to my region).

J France

I use a ram expansion pack. Works wonders for random, small things. Web browser is obvious, but theres a few pieces of homebrew that are nice w/ some extra ram.

The DS port of Quake 2 requires the extra ram. Also, theres an Snes emu for DS that can take advantage of the ram too. So i'm sure they'll come up with TONS of DSi-only software that'll use the ram to its fullest.

WildWon

I think there's a chance even the CPU speeds may have been boosted at least a bit. I doubt a puny 66 MHz ARM9 and 33 MHz ARM7 are enough to feasibly power the cameras and increased browser performance even with all the RAM in the world.

Nintenboy01

Extra RAM is always good
RAM does more then just give Internet browser the room to load on and lower the loading times for games

i think it has more RAM cause the video and photo functions of the DSi

But i certainly hope a DSi would get dissected

TBM-Fan

@sugardeath: I think it's the sheer amount of things it has to load (Disgaea being one of the most customizable/random SRPGs games of all time). It might have to compress just to get it out the door, though...

Seriously, item world is a giant pain on the DS version...since it has to figure out every last opponent (which may or may not have moves from other classes at varying strengths) and randomize the stage.

masterage

Homebrew will certainly take advantage of that RAM! I know that some of the emulator authors have stated their difficulties with staying in the puny 4MB of RAM of the DS.

PigVenus