WSJ: Nintendo’s New NX Console to Go Retro With Videogame Cartridges

[SuperNova]

DM235 said:

Miyamotoo said:

Nintendo’s popular hand-held 3DS device uses cartridges that are roughly the size of a large postage stamp.

What's a postage stamp?  Is that a relic from the time of cartridges and dinosaurs?  Is that why they are comparing the size of the two?

Seriously though, I get it that they are child friendly, but I think most kids these days know how to download apps from the AppStore.

I think physical media is only partly about their kids demographic. There are rumors floatin around that Nintendo initially wanted to go all digital on the NX, but was deterred from that idea, fearing backlash from gamers. That backlash would not have come from their kids demographic, but from older gamers and collectors, that put high value on physcal media.

I think the Xone debacle was enough to deter anyone from attemping an all digital console for a while.

As far as cartriges go, they are actually way more cutting edge than optical media these days, and using them in a portable device makes sense.