By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

I will not quote because I don't think it will be usefull. To make the thread easier, I will comment on a certain opinion, in which some tend to believe that 1)N64 was a failure due to the choise of cartridge format and 2) it wouldn't be a failure if It had CD-Format.

First of all, as the history already has proved if N64 was about to be with CD, it wouldn't be a regular CD, but a mini disc, as Nintendo chose to do with their first non cartidge console. Secondly, if they had decided to use a normal CD, I still believe that this kind of CD format, would be a Nintendo patent, which would once again have many many restrictions (for example, lower capacity, or more cost due to a development which would prevent it to be copied).

We know that even from the NES days Nintendo was very rigorous against 3D parties. You have seen the documentaries I will not add anything to that. So, we have a strategy where Nintendo always finds ways to utilize their business to satisfy their strategy, a strategy that unfortunately doesn't seem to be very popular among the developers. So, this is the first step to starting weaken your brand name, among game developers and the public. This is something you see untill today. Even when Nintendo decided to make a console with a regular CD-format, this ended up to be a highly underpower machine, compared with what developers really needed that time to make their games. And not only that, they decided it to be a family machine, in which you can play golf or tennis. So, when me as a developer know that this company has this history behind them, why do I have to feel obligated to bring my games to their machine?

Guys, I know that everyone here would like to see Nintendo's consoles to be way more popular. I feel very dissapointed that the majority of the gamers, decided not to support N64 or NGC. But, that's the reality and we can't change it. It's a wishful-thinking to say that just with a CD format, N64 would be the winner of this generation. How many consoles does Nintendo have with sales over that 100 million? Only one and not cause of the format and with many games absent. With the CD format, N64 would have been for sure a winner in Japan. But, the other regions would be a risk, because they are not dedicated to Nintendo, as much as Japan is.

I would easily begin another comparison to prove that format is really pointless to discuss for a console victory. DS vs PSP. PSP with a cd format had way more good looking games and could handle heavier graphics and generally more content. But, it lost. On the other hand, PSV used also cartridges but it lost again. So, what I say, is that we have to think more deeply and more carefully all the factors, that can contribute to a victory for a console. Even with CDs, if Nintendo had promoted N64 as a kid machine in which you can play Mario, Kirby and Pokemon, I really don't see any chance of victory against a fresh machine, where you can play as an adult and don't feel ashame for this. You can understand what I mean. It's not strange that the NGC was in the third position, even for 2 millions to Xbox.

One last thing. When Sony decided to enter the console business they had one target. To bring a whole new experience to the gaming community which untill that day was not existent and wide the community of the players. And they achieved. Nintendo always had one target. To promote their contend, their product to the community, especially their fans. And they achieved too.