Could cartridges make a comeback in modern VG systems?

[tz101]

I am under the belief that cartridges lost out to CD/DVD media due mainly to manufacturing cost and storage concerns. With that in mind, I am wondering what would keep a video game system from using cartridge format for its games? I recently saw 8GB USB flash sticks for around $10 so it would be reasonable to assume that video games selling for approximately $50 new would be profitable using flash memory storage. The storage would even be slightly more than is currently available on a DVD disc. What is the roadblock to this becoming a reality?

[Zoltor]

I am under the belief that cartridges lost out to CD/DVD media due mainly to manufacturing cost and storage concerns. With that in mind, I am wondering what would keep a video game system from using cartridge format for its games? I recently saw 8GB USB flash sticks for around $10 so it would be reasonable to assume that video games selling for approximately $50 new would be profitable using flash memory storage. The storage would even be slightly more than is currently available on a DVD disc. What is the roadblock to this becoming a reality?

Indeed, infact It's cheap now to use carts(nvm the fact, it would cost publishers even less then that, as they'll be getting the cart at wholesale prices, if not even cheaper then that), and omg insanely cheaper then Blue-Rays. The smallest things don't damage them...


Hmm, It's now obvious why companies are still using CD type media, they hope you'll end up having to buy another copy or two, that's the only logical reason, because space, and quality aren't issues anymore, that's for sure.

[GohanX]

Sure, 8 gigs of memory is $10, but a DVD still only costs a couple of pennies to press. Its great for portables, though.

Didn't we just have this thread?

[Zoltor]

Sure, 8 gigs of memory is $10, but a DVD still only costs a couple of pennies to press. Its great for portables, though.

Didn't we just have this thread?

Lol yea, I could've sworn there was another thread on this topic as well.

PS. When you are buying stuff from Mexico, everything is only a few pennies, hell this country doesn't even produce the DvDs for movies(yes the movie capital of the world, doesn't even produce the DvDs for their own movies).

[Dant]

Not just that, but the next logical move, it would seem, after optical media is digital distribution and having both the hardware and software on the server's end a la Onlive.

[Lopson]

It doesn't really matter if the games can be distributed in this format or not, since in the future, pretty much everything will completely depend on online connectivity (I don't think this'll be a step forward, but that's the way things will be).

[Da_Shocker]

Blu-ray can go up to 50GB while we only have 16GB usb drives right now.

[Zoltor]

It doesn't really matter if the games can be distributed in this format or not, since in the future, pretty much everything will completely depend on online connectivity (I don't think this'll be a step forward, but that's the way things will be).

If that day ever comes, I will never buy a "new" game ever again(buying older games, that actually exist as a item, is a different story though). Also if companies do that, and charge more then 5$(the amount of money they spent on the game is meaningless in this case, if they aren't actually selling anything, so I don't want to hear developers cry, because their greed stabbed them selves in the foot), that will be the end of the gaming industry.

PS. Where did ******* developers get the idea they own anything besides the code for the game, and the copy rights for the char/name of the game, among other such things?


This is getting as bad as the housing industry(Condos anyone or apartments in NYC).

[Flygon]

Blu-ray can go up to 50GB while we only have 16GB usb drives right now.

Ahem.

[Zoltor]

Ahem.

Wow, memory is cheaper then I thought, that's pretty damn cheasp as well.

[Xeniczone]

@Da_Shocker: Actually we have 64gig memory cards, and because game carts don't have to be the size of a thumbdrive, they can easily pack a few of them together and make 128+ gigs of space. But it always comes down the price and what the consumer wants. 128gig SSD hard drives cost over 100 dollars. Even with whole sale, selling a game at the normal 50-60 dollar price range, they wouldn't make a profit.

BluRays are 50gig and they are working on 100gig blurays, which costs <1 dollar to make.

I don't think digital download will ever take off. For two reasons.

1. Consumers aren't stupid. Buying something digitally means that it can easily be lost since the ability to keep the software is based on the machine holding it. If the machine is lost, stolen, breaks down, or anything you not only loose the machine you loose the software. Plus the software can't be sold. Once you buy it, you have it for life, and it also ruins any chance of buying used. How are future generations going to play it also. Remember Sonic Eraser? It was only availible on Sega Channel which is long gone. If it wasn't for the rom being ripped most people wouldn't have a clue what it is or played.

2. People like me have Satellite internet. Since our only options are Satellite Broadband or Dial-up. Which makes stuff like OnLive and digital download useless. Digital Download can't be down because most games weight in at 5+gigs. With Satellite you can only download 500mbs a day. OnLive can't be used because satellites are so far apart you end up with a latency (ping) of 1000-1500ms. Then sending 720p video over the internet would again max out the bandwidth.

Digital game are horse shit and I hope they never take off.

[Zoltor]

@Da_Shocker: Actually we have 64gig memory cards, and because game carts don't have to be the size of a thumbdrive, they can easily pack a few of them together and make 128+ gigs of space. But it always comes down the price and what the consumer wants. 128gig SSD hard drives cost over 100 dollars. Even with whole sale, selling a game at the normal 50-60 dollar price range, they wouldn't make a profit.

BluRays are 50gig and they are working on 100gig blurays, which costs <1 dollar to make.

I don't think digital download will ever take off. For two reasons.

1. Consumers aren't stupid. Buying something digitally means that it can easily be lost since the ability to keep the software is based on the machine holding it. If the machine is lost, stolen, breaks down, or anything you not only loose the machine you loose the software. Plus the software can't be sold. Once you buy it, you have it for life, and it also ruins any chance of buying used. How are future generations going to play it also. Remember Sonic Eraser? It was only availible on Sega Channel which is long gone. If it wasn't for the rom being ripped most people wouldn't have a clue what it is or played.

2. People like me have Satellite internet. Since our only options are Satellite Broadband or Dial-up. Which makes stuff like OnLive and digital download useless. Digital Download can't be down because most games weight in at 5+gigs. With Satellite you can only download 500mbs a day. OnLive can't be used because satellites are so far apart you end up with a latency (ping) of 1000-1500ms. Then sending 720p video over the internet would again max out the bandwidth.

Digital game are horse shit and I hope they never take off.

Exacly.

PS. Sonic Eraser, never even heard of that game(proof of concept confirmed).

[QuickSciFi]

Well. Once again, flash cards are not the same as gaming cartridges; but they sure have become less expensive than optical media nowadays. Not necessarily because of the manufacturing cost, but because of the time it takes to simply load-up one game into it. Add to that the fact that a tiny micro-sd memory card can hold more than a blue ray disc, and you've got yourself a winner.

So, yes and no, to the original question, imo. Cartridges, sadly, will never make a come-back. But flash-cards, on the other hand, in the form of long-lasting, fast-loading, physically-attractive media may just take-over the future of hard-copy, distribution gaming. They started with the SMS and the TG-16, died-out for about 15 years, then came back with the DS (and still to come with the future 3DS). SD memory cards and Sony memory sticks are being used in consoles/handhelds also. I can see this trend happening (and, gosh, I hope it does ).

[Hiarcs]

Yes of course.

[Genesis#1FanGirl]

The day all games are purchased by downloading them is the end of video games!!!!!!!!!!! lol well maybe not the end but its going to suck butt :P