18 replies to this topic

[BananaCheese]

Which do you prefer? I prefer cartridges because they're more protective and don't always have less content than discs. For example, look at The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on N64 cartridge, then look at Ocarina of Time 3D on 3DS. Not only is the 3DS one smaller, it has better graphics, and has the same content as N64 version. (I don't know if the N64 version has Master Quest on it. If not, then 3DS version has more).

So, cartridges or discs?

[BrosBeforeGardenTools]

Discs can store more, so they win. They can store 50GB+. Doing that with a cartridge could be expensive.

[Ghost]

Which do you prefer? I prefer cartridges because they're more protective and don't always have less content than discs. For example, look at The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on N64 cartridge, then look at Ocarina of Time 3D on 3DS. Not only is the 3DS one smaller, it has better graphics, and has the same content as N64 version. (I don't know if the N64 version has Master Quest on it. If not, then 3DS version has more).

So, cartridges or discs?

Both have their flaws but I think the safest option would be disc. With cartridges they can gather dust easily and I remember reading article about blowing into your cartridge was actually making it worse than helping the problem. I would however switch to cartridge if they made new designs without that open gap thing and more slimmer than the original.

Edited by Ghost, 29 November 2012 - 10:01 PM.

[storabajskorven]

Both have their flaws but I think the safest option would be disc. With cartridges they can gather dust easily and I remember reading article about blowing into your cartridge was actually making it worse than helping the problem. I would however switch to cartridge if they made new designs without that open gap thing and more slimmer than the original.

I really think a cartridge has a longer lifetime than an optical disc.

[SoldMyWiiUAndLeftTheForums]

Discs, it has to be.

[Joshua]

Discs are superior is every way. Cartridges are outdated on every front.

[Tom]

Cartridges for handhelds and discs for home consoles should be the way to go.

[JoshZebra]

If games were on cartridges, developers could save space on them for DLC to download straight too which could save a lot people money on external space. Plus the stickers on them are cool xD

[HyperMetalSonic]

Cartridges had their time and purpose. Recall my earlier experiences with disk games.. Not being able to save process with outta memory card never made sense to me. Felt like the technology took a step back lol.

[bornsupercharged]

Discs all the way. /End discussion

[Tricky Sonic]

Cartridges are far better. They have the ability to store a lot of data if they need to. You never have to worry about buying used games and checking for scratches and gouges. Plus DISCS won't last forever, they do have a shelf life and eventually disc based collections will corrode.

Edited by TrickySx4, 30 November 2012 - 10:44 AM.

[bornsupercharged]

Cartridges are far better. They have the ability to store a lot of data if they need to. You never have to worry about buying used games and checking for scratches and gouges. Plus DISCS won't last forever, they do have a shelf life and eventually disc based collections will corrode.

Cartridges store less data, they're prone to getting dust/crud on the contacts, corroding contacts, they're bulky, they require pressure to be inserted, they're more expensive to produce and thus cost more... In my opinion the only real pro about cartridges is the access time is faster.

As for discs not lasting forever, I GUARANTEE you my DVDs and Blu-Rays will outlive the consoles and players. Check this out:
http://www.itl.nist....ndlingGuide.pdf

Done by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Among the manufacturers that have done testing, there is consensus that, under recommended storage conditions, CD-R, DVD-R, and DVD+R discs should have a life expectancy of 100 to 200 years or more; CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM discs should have a life expectancy of 25 years or more. Little information is available for CD-ROM and DVD-ROM discs (including audio and video), resulting in an increased level of uncertainty for their life expectancy. Expectations vary from 20 to 100 years for these discs.

Edited by bornsupercharged, 30 November 2012 - 11:26 AM.

[UnholyVision]

Which do you prefer? I prefer cartridges because they're more protective and don't always have less content than discs. For example, look at The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on N64 cartridge, then look at Ocarina of Time 3D on 3DS. Not only is the 3DS one smaller, it has better graphics, and has the same content as N64 version. (I don't know if the N64 version has Master Quest on it. If not, then 3DS version has more).

So, cartridges or discs?

How can you compare the N64 to that of the 3DS? N64 cartridges only had memory that had the capacity of up to 32MB and on rare occasions there was a 64MB cartridge. 3DS game cards have the capacity of up to 8GB, there is really no way to compare this. On another note I would hope a remake of the same game at least has something new, if not what would be the big appeal to someone whom already owned it on another device?

On the terms of usual size these cartridge based systems work to achieve a fair price they tend to cut short in capacity. Discs of today can obtain really large storage for a fair price range, even if it were to read at a slower speed. Yet if you really want a speed jump drop the discs and game packaged cartridges all together. Get a HDD/SSD or some other form of flash memory based cards with good read/write speeds and go digital for a quicker speed for the price.

My answer would be disc.

If games were on cartridges, developers could save space on them for DLC to download straight too which could save a lot people money on external space. Plus the stickers on them are cool xD

Yet increasing the price of the game cards because the flash memory capacity is larger. Because you know you want to buy games with priority memory prices, huge capacities, and good read and write speeds all for maybe a few pieces of DLC. (Which sadly most DLC is already in the game, you just get an unlock key). You would be better off being able to just upgrade the internal storage similar to the 360 or PS3 or get say a new SD or other format flash memory card. It would just give you more options and be better for your budget.

Edited by UnholyVision, 30 November 2012 - 12:02 PM.

[BananaCheese]

Discs can store more, so they win. They can store 50GB+. Doing that with a cartridge could be expensive.

That 50GB+ wouldn't be really useful if the disc was too scratched/damaged to run properly.

[SNES]

Both have their flaws but I think the safest option would be disc. With cartridges they can gather dust easily and I remember reading article about blowing into your cartridge was actually making it worse than helping the problem. I would however switch to cartridge if they made new designs without that open gap thing and more slimmer than the original.

The reason they say blowing can make it worse is because when you exhale forcefully it's possible to get moisture on the contacts, which means potential rust corrosion which makes the contacts even more unreliable. I've never heard of it actually happening though.

Personally I liked cartridges because they could take a lot of abuse. I'm noticing in a lot of used game shops that it's getting harder to find older disc games, and the ones that are available tend to be scratched up (though mostly playable). Cartridges are still easy to find though, even as far back as the old Atari stuff.

Still, physical memory can be pricey, and unlike discs, you have to deal with longer manufacturing times. If you estimate the market properly, you could end up with too few copies for sale, which could cost you sales you'd otherwise have. By the time the second shipment arrived, interest may have shifted elsewhere. On the other hand, if you make too many, and it doesn't sell well, you're stuck with an expensive inventory and you're out a bunch of money. Discs can be printed fast, almost on demand, so it's much easier to keep shelves stocked. Plus you save on production costs, since you don't have to deal with any memory chips or boards, it's just a disc with information burned on it. Also, cartridges usually had a minimum order amount required for production, which discs did not.

That's why the PS1 had a huge advantage over the N64. Their games were cheaper to make, cheaper to sell, and easier to keep supplied. Far less cost and risk compared to cartridges, and much easier for a niche gaming company to get a game on the market without spending a fortune. It also didn't hurt that Sony licensing fees were cheaper than Nintendo and Sega's. I miss the era of 40 dollar console games. =

Still, I liked cartridges for what they were, and sometimes I miss them.

[CUD]

Cartridges. If a cheap cartridge option becomes available I'd love to see it return as media storage format for home consoles.

[Xiombarg]

Discs, simply because they last longer, are cheaper, can easily be modded, and I always keep them in their cases. I used to have the problem of them scratching up, when I was 7, but all my game/music discs are in perfect condition.

[Tsuchinoko]

I like cartridges a lot. Mainly because I grew up with them and because they usually have better art on them than discs do now. Don't know which ones last longer, but I know the lifespan will far outlive me so long as I take care of my stuff as usual. They are both good and reliable.

[AndyG]

As much as i like cartridges, they are a thing of the past.

Blowing the catridges to get them to work is just some of the memories that i will cherish for ever, who agrees?

Edited by AndyG, 01 December 2012 - 10:09 PM.