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Forums - Gaming - NX To Use ROMs Rather than Optical Discs?

spemanig said:

"So, particularly with digital downloads now and the idea that you're downloading the right to play a game, that opens up the ability to have multiple platform digital downloads where you can download on one and download on another. Certainly from a development standpoint there is some challenge to it, because if you have two devices that have different specs and you're being told to design in a way that the game runs on both devices, then that can be challenging for the developer—but if you have a more unified development environment and you're able to make one game that runs on both systems instead of having to make a game for each system, that's an area of opportunity for us." - Miyamoto (2014 or something)

TLDR - The NX will totally use carts bro! I mean, unified platform an' all that, right?

Counter-points, not just to this but to your other ramblings :P. Macronix is not mentioned ANYWHERE as a supplier of any sort of ROM for the Wii U, they are the chip maker for the 3DS cartridges, and have been the chip maker for previous handheld cartridges for Nintendo. So while the digital only thing is your idea, I think you are hoping to hard and trying to justify your points by reaching back and pulling things such as the above from the distant past. 2 years ago, Miyamoto may have said these things, but since the concept has I'm sure been rehashed many times since then, the idea has probably shifted to include physical media. They are trying to appeal to people and draw their crowd back in. Remember when the XBox One was almost boycotted because of the online only and almost purely digital content? Nintendo saw that, and I am sure has rethought their stance since this quote was taken. They are a little more cautious this time around. However, only time will tell



NNID: Dongo8                              XBL Gamertag: Dongos Revenge

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spemanig said:

Wii U uses Macronix ROM, genius. The only thing confirmed is the lengths people will go to deny the inevitable digital only future.

As interesting as it would be to see them go all digital, I dont think the NX will be digital only. However, if I'm wrong I'll definitely acknowledge how ahead of everyone else you were for this XD 



At this point - I'm all digital anyways. But I do think carts (SD variants) are a better choice at this point if you want physical.



It wouldn't be anything like the N64 days where a cartridge cost $30/unit for third parties to manufacture.

Most likely what will happen is most developers will use a very cheap card, like 8GB or 16GB, enough so you can play the first 3-4 hours of a game, but the rest of the game you'll have to download at home, so you'll need an internet connection.

Though this wouldn't really even be rare for disc based games, every damn game today it seems like once you get it home requires some kind of patch/download/etc.

In that sense it could be something like $1-$1.50/card for third parties when you factor in mass production, I mean sure more than a disc, but not enough for a developer to give that much of a crap. If the N64 had $1-$2 cartridges with GBs of data, it would've sold at least doube the amount because it would've had tons of third party support.



If this does allow the fusion to work + I still get high quality games then Im IN!



Pocky Lover Boy! 

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so we're still under this fantasy world where Nintendo will:

a- sell a handheld + console in 1 package

b- handheld and console will literally play the same game

c- the console will be very powerful (more than the ps4 according to some)

d- priced in a competitive range (300/400$)

Seriously, that's just borderline lunacy. Does it also serve coffee and preform oral sex? If so maybe i'll join the crazy train...



Would be crazy, but fully support the return of cartridges if they can solve the price and space issues



Well... if they are read fast enough to not require the game to be loaded on the hard-drive, like the PS4 and X1, then its a good thing. The discs and drivers in nowadays consoles can't cope. All goes in the hard drive.



setsunatenshi said:
so we're still under this fantasy world where Nintendo will:

a- sell a handheld + console in 1 package

b- handheld and console will literally play the same game

c- the console will be very powerful (more than the ps4 according to some)

d- priced in a competitive range (300/400$)

Seriously, that's just borderline lunacy. Does it also serve coffee and preform oral sex? If so maybe i'll join the crazy train...

Nope. Never claimed they would be sold in the same package. I don't think they will be. I think console first, handheld later...but play the same games? Maybe not at the exact same level, but definitely not out of the realm of possibility



NNID: Dongo8                              XBL Gamertag: Dongos Revenge

dongo8 said:
setsunatenshi said:
so we're still under this fantasy world where Nintendo will:

a- sell a handheld + console in 1 package

b- handheld and console will literally play the same game

c- the console will be very powerful (more than the ps4 according to some)

d- priced in a competitive range (300/400$)

Seriously, that's just borderline lunacy. Does it also serve coffee and preform oral sex? If so maybe i'll join the crazy train...

Nope. Never claimed they would be sold in the same package. I don't think they will be. I think console first, handheld later...but play the same games? Maybe not at the exact same level, but definitely not out of the realm of possibility

NEC already did the playable cards on multiple form factors 25 years ago.

The PC Engine/Turbo Grafx 16 had multiple form factors (home console and portable and semi-mobile console) that all used the same game cards:

PC Engine Portable (like Game Boy handheld):

PC Engine LT (Semi-Portable Console with LCD display):

All used the same exact cartridges. And this was from the early 1990s! Fun fact: Nintendo actually considered buying the tech behind the PC Engine for the NES/Famicom successor (Super Nintendo) as NEC was (and still is) a close Nintendo manufacturing partner.