NX: Why are cartridges good?
- Page 1 of 1
I have seen people saying that Nintendo going back to cartridges is a good thing.
Can someone please explain why.
IIRC, one of the reasons why FFVII was only on the PS was because CDs could hold more data than cartridges. Also, they cost a lot more to make and cost more to buy.
Can someone please explain why.
IIRC, one of the reasons why FFVII was only on the PS was because CDs could hold more data than cartridges. Also, they cost a lot more to make and cost more to buy.
Well, the various types of flash memory have gotten pretty cheap over the years. If they go that route, I'm sure they have it figured out in terms of pricing. They can't seriously expect the market to accept NX games that are 10-20$ more than what the competition is selling them for.
Even Nintendo isn't that delusional anymore. I wouldn't worry about it.
As for the benefits ... proprietary format (maybe), faster access times (potentially faster reads & writes as well), smaller packaging, the usual.
Even Nintendo isn't that delusional anymore. I wouldn't worry about it.
As for the benefits ... proprietary format (maybe), faster access times (potentially faster reads & writes as well), smaller packaging, the usual.
Cartridges were always sort of an SSD. Because they are solid state memory.
The big advantage of optical has been that it allows for much larger amounts of data for a fraction of the cost.
Because compared to a simple pressed plastic disk, memory chips are expensive, and so is circuitry and so is all the cartridge assembly around if.
And back in the day, this was true even for insanely different amounts of data. A 650-700MB CD that ran on the PlayStation was much cheaper to manufacture than a N64 cart that could hold, at best, 64MB.
But if the cost has come down enough to be neglectable then a return to solid media can be beneficial.
I don't think there will be an advantage in terms of running the games, though. Because of the whole physical vs digital thing of nowadays, the games must perform basically the same running off the console's hard disk or off media. It's not acceptable otherwise.
What it can enable is a more compact format, fewer moving parts in the console since no optical drive, potential stronger protection against piracy AND, the main reason for it I think, it would be that Nintendo's home console and handheld could share the same media, which falls in line with their hinting that from now on games will be some sort of universal binary that can run in different hardware.
The big advantage of optical has been that it allows for much larger amounts of data for a fraction of the cost.
Because compared to a simple pressed plastic disk, memory chips are expensive, and so is circuitry and so is all the cartridge assembly around if.
And back in the day, this was true even for insanely different amounts of data. A 650-700MB CD that ran on the PlayStation was much cheaper to manufacture than a N64 cart that could hold, at best, 64MB.
But if the cost has come down enough to be neglectable then a return to solid media can be beneficial.
I don't think there will be an advantage in terms of running the games, though. Because of the whole physical vs digital thing of nowadays, the games must perform basically the same running off the console's hard disk or off media. It's not acceptable otherwise.
What it can enable is a more compact format, fewer moving parts in the console since no optical drive, potential stronger protection against piracy AND, the main reason for it I think, it would be that Nintendo's home console and handheld could share the same media, which falls in line with their hinting that from now on games will be some sort of universal binary that can run in different hardware.
By jts Go To PostI don't think there will be an advantage in terms of running the games, though. Because of the whole physical vs digital thing of nowadays, the games must perform basically the same running off the console's hard disk or off media. It's not acceptable otherwise.That's debatable though, if you include loading times. But yeah, with more and more games installing and running off the consoles' included HDDs, which will eventually become SSDs (one hopes), the point is moot.
they look too nerdy
at least with CDs you can pretend they're Die Hard or something or at worst you can easily hide them
so no sale
at least with CDs you can pretend they're Die Hard or something or at worst you can easily hide them
so no sale
By Zabojnik Go To PostThat's debatable though, if you include loading times. But yeah, with more and more games installing and running off the consoles' included HDDs, which will eventually become SSDs (one hopes), the point is moot.I mean, I’m not sure how’s the XB1, but the PS4 already runs games exclusively off the HDD, so the performance of its BD drive is already not important or relevant, gameplay-wise. The BD just serves as a means to load all that game data into the HDD, so the performance will be the same weather it’s a digital game, or a physical one.
If the NX still runs the games straight off the media, and if this media is significantly faster than its own HDD (or whatever kind of internal memory it will have), then the digital game sales will suffer. But, if this cartridge media is fast and the NX has a comparably fast internal memory (a.k.a. a nice SSD) so that downloaded games perform equality fast, then this will either hinder its upgradeability or internal storage amount. I’m thinking 500GB is already what should be the baseline memory for a console. An SSD that size is still too costly for mainstream console gaming, I think.
I wish PS4 ran more games off of the HDD
Would much prefer longer install times to the fucking thing sounding like an Airbus every time the disc drive is in action
Would much prefer longer install times to the fucking thing sounding like an Airbus every time the disc drive is in action
By Hitch Go To PostI wish PS4 ran more games off of the HDD
Would much prefer longer install times to the fucking thing sounding like an Airbus every time the disc drive is in action
I thought it did, isn't the disc just for checking the DRM?
My PS4 rarely sounds loud.
By Shanks D Zoro Go To PostI thought it did, isn't the disc just for checking the DRM?Most games don't do full installs afaik
My PS4 rarely sounds loud.
If they do, fuck knows why mine is so loud a lot of the time
By Hitch Go To PostMost games don't do full installs afaik
If they do, fuck knows why mine is so loud a lot of the time
Where do you store it? I always have kept my consoles out and they have always run beautifully. Even my Fat ps3 is still pretty quiet.
By Shanks D Zoro Go To PostWhere do you store it? I always have kept my consoles out and they have always run beautifully. Even my Fat ps3 is still pretty quiet.Should be enough room, 6-8 inches between it's back and the wall
By Hitch Go To PostShould be enough room, 6-8 inches between it's back and the wall
Maybe it is just me. My laptop is noisy as fuck, so maybe everything kist sounds so quiet next it.
AFAIK, all PS4 games full install and the drive only spins for DRM checks and stuff.
Likely that noise is just fan noise.
Likely that noise is just fan noise.
We saw the same speculation for the Xbone and nothing came of it. People are saying flash memory and SSDs still won't be cheap enough for another generation at best.
By P S Y C H Go To Postwait, nintendo is going back to cartridges?nintendo never left cartridges.