Rumor: Nintendo to Unlock More 3DS Power for Developers

[heartgold]

Translated source:

According to reports running on the net, Nintendo would decide to unlock the ability to use the second core of the console for games.Previously reserved exclusively for the OS, 25% of it would now be used by developers.
Second, Nintendo would have found a way to make stereoscopic display much less strain on the CPU. These two points accumulated leads us to we expect a new generation of games more optimized. (Info found on the forum Gamekult) In a different area, it appears that the allocated size of the games eShop increase from 16 MB (DSiware) to 512 MB ​​(3DsWare) Nintendo also considering the possibility to patch the game via the eShop.

http://gamekyo.com/g...ticle21339.html

 

[spinal_cord]

Wow!! 25% more power!!!!!!!1111111eleven1, Now Imagine Nintendogs - Pokemon edition can have more polygons in them!!!!!

 

[Social0]

maybe they should focus more on unlocking more developers instead.

 

[Veho]

Why is an entire CPU core reserved for the OS?

 

[Pong20302000]

Why is an entire CPU core reserved for the OS?

background brain scanning

guess they where worried that if it wasnt locked off someone could dump data going through it?

 

[Dimensional]

Well, this will make the 3DS more appealing to consumers as well as developers. And updating/patching games via the eShop would mean something like the PS3 or 360 where the console reads the game header and finds some patch data on it's HDD. It can increase performance and other stuff, but at the same time it can still be very buggy. I still remember that update for my Need For Speed: Undercover. It gave me trophies, but it also made the game glitchy. I drive so far, and find the game decided to wait to load more of the map, so it pauses, and then I find myself in a wall, losing a race.

So hopefully Nintendo will know what to do and not screw this up. And game developers, if they are able to release updates/patches for their games through the eShop, should also make sure that their patches don't in fact make the game experience worse.

 

[yuyuyup]

Holding back 25% power in the first place is so retarded I worry if Iwata can safely cross the street without an adult

 

[FireGrey]

If they did this, then games will greatly improve on the 3DS.
Hopefully the OS could hold up though.

 

[Qtis]

Holding back 25% power in the first place is so retarded I worry if Iwata can safely cross the street without an adult

Actually an entire core, not just 25%. Now they're giving 25% of that single core to the gaming side (and take something away from the OS side). But then again this is bound to happen if the OS hasn't been optimized for perfection (something that hasn't been done ever in regards to coding ie. new patches/service packs/etc are released daily for different software).

Also before anyone gets great ideas of PS3/Xbox360 game patching levels, think these things through first:
1. Portable = power consumption has to be minimal to operate.
2. Data storage = No HDD on a 3DS.
3. Download sizes = Download a large patch via wireless = have to be stationed near a wlan =/= portable for that period?

But hopefully this does indeed make it possible to patch even small problems with games. Possibly some kind of added content?


-Qtis

 

[klim28]

I'm hoping this will fix the freeze and lags the Harvest Moon TTotTT is having right now.

 

[mr deez]

Presumably held back due to battery life. If true, the new 3d imaging process efficiency gains would offset use of the second core to keep battery life the same. I suppose the 3d update could mean better battery life in games not using the second core.

Also extra power on the cpu might not make such a difference with games so reliant on graphics chips these days.

 

[Erdnaxela]

Sounds...nice?
Well, I have to see how much this will benefit for developpers. Maybe for kingdom hearts 3D?
It's too late for RE : Revelations.

 

[berlinka]

does that also mean 25% more (quality)games?

 

[MR_COW]

Holding back 25% power in the first place is so retarded I worry if Iwata can safely cross the street without an adult

The PSP did the same exact thing.

 

[Maikel Steneker]

I love how great the 3DS firmware works. It's just so much smoother than a Wii or a PS3. If they can further optimize it without degrading the quality of the OS, that's great.

The thing I'm most worried about is the battery life. I'm not completely sure about this, but I would guess that the second core will need more power if it is used more. I'm not sure how the 3DS manages this, it might not be a problem at all.

 

[lostdwarf]

it is well known that the other CPU is dedicated to WIFI. not os.
this story is fake.

 

[awssk8er]

If that is true... It's stupid how they hold back power... Doesn't make any sense to me.

Also, the good news is, if Resident Evil: Revelations was made without this extra power, imagine what it's capable of.

 

[KingVamp]

Holding back 25% power in the first place is so retarded I worry if Iwata can safely cross the street without an adult

The PSP did the same exact thing.

I didn't know that.

I was actually doubting this when I first heard it. Someone even pin a time. (February or March)
Maybe I should stop doubting...

I hope the stereoscopic display effects aren't decrease while trying to increase battery power.

 

[heartgold]

it is well known that the other CPU is dedicated to WIFI. not os.
this story is fake.

OS is always running in the background which also takes up CPU cycles and it may be doing constant checks and alot more than we know. Second core is used for network communications features as well as running the main OS. Network communication runs along OS level to keep the system updated like street-pass, spot-pass etc...

 

[lostdwarf]

it is well known that the other CPU is dedicated to WIFI. not os.
this story is fake.

OS is always running in the background which also takes up CPU cycles and it may be doing constant checks and alot more than we know. Second core is used for network communications features as well as running the main OS. Network communication runs along OS level to keep the system updated like street-pass, spot-pass etc...

Fair enough.
Although I remember reading that OS is run on the main core, not this core. This core was supposed to be for WIFI and IR exclusively. (this is how the circle pad pro works by accessing the IR which is constantly running from the second core, as well as all streetpass and spotpass data)
The main core handles screens, LED lights, switches, both screens, mic, GPU, speakers and sensors.