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What if Nintendo NX doesn`t support physical games?

Considering I pretty much went digital only on the Wii U, and I'm a PC player for the most part I'd be all for it. Didn't like the idea of no physical media years ago before PC went that way. Now I wouldn't have it any other way.

Doubt it happening yet, as not everyone can. Maybe in the following generation, but a good 3-5 years before consoles adopt that model.
 
Please, Nintendo, no moving parts. It really is kind of cool my NES, SNES, Game Boy, N64 still work and I can pull them out and play on original hardware and controllers. If you must do physical, make it some sort of standard memory stick / device.
 
My main problem with that isn't digital games exactly. It's the fact that I find really shady how Digital gaming is significantly cheaper for them and it's not converted in cheaper games for us. (Not only they don't have to produce the physical copies, but also there's the impossibility of buying/trading used games).

With that being said, Nintendo is way too conservative for going digital only, they barely just created an actual online system.
 
If Nintendo cuts out physical media, there will be a lot of stores that don't want to stock their system. Stores that sell games make more money on games than they do hardware.

GameStop sells you a console expecting you to also buy games, and return for several years to buy more games. They have little incentive to sell you a unit that doesn't make you into a return customer.

I think relationships with brick and mortar stores are more of a factor than most people realize. While a lot of us buy things on Amazon, stores like Gamestop and Walmart are where the average consumer buys this stuff.
 
I'd be completely fine with it. Most physical games are patched anyway, and retail stores could sell cards with codes on it.
 
If anything, Nintendo is most likely of anyone to launch an all digital console without a proper true account system.

The new mynintendo is not an account system.
 
Luis1986 said:
You know something we don't?
Click to expand...

Lets be completely realistic here. Nintendo using a Optical Media disc that is small enough to fit in a handheld form factor is very unlikely. It would run into the same kinds of issues the Gamecube and PSP had with their tiny disc formats, which is limit storage capacity.

Hell the 3DS carts could go up to a max of 32GB, which I doubt even a Minidisc version of Bluray could achieve, since the standard version capacity is 25GB and 50GB for dual layer. So a mini-Bluray would be even smaller. (15.6GB for dual layer which is even smaller than what a 3DS cart could achieve)

There is no reason to not go with some flash based storage derivative for the handheld cartridges simply on the basis that flash storage this day and age and cram up to 128gb in tiny form factor (MicroSDXC for example)

So, no I don't think Nintendo is going to be using optical storage solution for their next handheld, and I'll even draw the line and say it would be outright foolish to believe such a thing.

The console however is another matter entirely, and probably using something similar to Bluray like the Wii U did due to them being the current standard for high capacity storage.
 
rschauby said:
If anything, Nintendo is most likely of anyone to launch an all digital console without a proper true account system.

The new mynintendo is not an account system.
Click to expand...
It technically is, since you can use it to transfer your Miitomo progress to other devices. And your Wii U digital purchases can be transferred, you just need Nintendo to do so. What we're hoping for the NX device(s) is for Nintendo do cut out the middle man.

OmegaDL50 said:
Lets be completely realistic here. Nintendo using a Optical Media disc that is small enough to fit in a handheld form factor is very unlikely. It would run into the same kinds of issues the Gamecube and PSP had with their tiny disc formats, which is limit storage capacity.

Hell the 3DS carts could go up to a max of 32GB, which I doubt even a Minidisc version of Bluray could achieve, since the standard version capacity is 25GB and 50GB for dual layer.

There is no reason to not go with some flash based storage derivative for the handheld cartridges simply on the basis that flash storage this day and age and cram up to 128gb in tiny form factor (MicroSDXC for example)

So, no I don't think Nintendo is going to be using optical storage solution for their next handheld, and I'll even draw the line and say it would be outright foolish to believe such a thing.

The console however is another matter entirely, and probably using something similar to Bluray like the Wii U did due to them being the current standard for high capacity storage.
Click to expand...
I think he meant the implication of the NX being only a handheld.

Though to your point, it's more of a matter of the console using cartridges for physical cross-buy with the handheld.
 
Weirdly,this has crossed my mind.I mean,I don't ever buy physical for my PC anymore.But I try and always buy physical for console where I can as a collector.

I think I'd be annoyed initially, then just sink into PC mode and accept it.

It definitely wouldn't stop me buying the NX like some here
 
I wouldn't have a problem with it at all since I haven't bought a physical game for any system since 2012, but I don't know what the implications would end up being for their overall sales.

I really think they'll be going for carts for both handheld and home console, though.
 
Just give me an incentive other than convenience. With the discount programs that Amazon and Best Buy have in place, buying digital is a ripoff.
 
rschauby said:
If anything, Nintendo is most likely of anyone to launch an all digital console without a proper true account system.

The new mynintendo is not an account system.
Click to expand...

That is correct, because MyNintendo is a rewards program. Nintendo Account and Nintendo Network ID are account systems.

Yay, this song and dance again.
 
TheMoon said:
That is correct, because MyNintendo is a rewards program. Nintendo Account and Nintendo Network ID are account systems.

Yay, this song and dance again.
Click to expand...

I think he means account system like every other company has. Nintendo doesn't have that.
 
Neoxon said:
It technically is, since you can use it to transfer your Miitomo progress to other devices. And your Wii U digital purchases can be transferred, you just need Nintendo to do so. What we're hoping for the NX device(s) is for Nintendo do cut out the middle man.


I think he meant the implication of the NX being only a handheld.

Though to your point, it's more of a matter of the console using cartridges for physical cross-buy with the handheld.
Click to expand...

Hmm if that be the case and both the Console and Handheld use identical media to be used on both the Console and Handheld and Nintendo does not shy away from using proprietary storage solutions.

What I'd hope for is something similar to an SD Card. 64GB cards aren't very expensive if Nintendo orders them in mass bulk. So using a read only special container for them with heavy encryption for security and anti-copy measures would probably the best thing to hope for. It would fall in line with the 50GB capacities that PS4 and XB1 use for Dual Layer Bluray, so 64GB card storage should be able to fit any game they release in the forseeable future.

The only thing is I myself as a customer can pick up a 64GB MicroSDXC for $20, but there is no telling if Nintendo would eat the cost for using such a storage option for games, and still sell new releases for $60, or would they try to partially recoup some of the costs for physical carts.

I suppose we'll have to wait and see.
 
OmegaDL50 said:
Hmm if that be the case and both the Console and Handheld use identical media to be used on both the Console and Handheld and Nintendo does not shy away from using proprietary storage solutions.

What I'd hope for is something similar to an SD Card. 64GB cards aren't very expensive if Nintendo orders them in mass bulk. So using a read only special container for them with heavy encryption for security and anti-copy measures would probably the best thing to hope for. It would fall in line with the 50GB capacities that PS4 and XB1 use for Dual Layer Bluray, so 64GB card storage should be able to fit any game they release in the forseeable future.

The only thing is I myself as a customer can pick up a 64GB MicroSDXC for $20, but there is no telling if Nintendo would eat the cost for using such a storage option for games, and still sell new releases for $60, or would they try to partially recoup some of the costs for physical carts.

I suppose we'll have to wait and see.
Click to expand...

Nintendo would be buying with contracts for tens of millions of units, so they would definitely be able to get a much, much better price point than you or I would buying one through Amazon.
 
hwy_61 said:
I think he means account system like every other company has. Nintendo doesn't have that.
Click to expand...

What he means has nothing to do with account systems itself, just the ability to transfer them between devices willy nilly by just logging in. That's a feature currently not available and always gets thrown around under this "no proper account system" meme because nobody is able to articulate what they actually want.
 
Stumpokapow said:
The premise sounds like nonsense based on random internet nonsense and your analysis kinda sounds pretty half baked like you thought about it for only a few seconds before you created the thread. I'm not trying to be rude or dismissive but it's inescapable.

Like the sum total of your argument is:
- Someone somewhere maybe posted an article saying the NX doesn't have an optical drive
- MS was going to have a console where physical media wasn't the main attraction
- That was maybe going to be bad, we think
- What if Nintendo that

Ok?
Click to expand...

We need to build a bot, using things like logic, have it analyze each new thread and send back half baked ones to the user and ask them to do better...

I kid of course.


As for the OP, you mention something about being able to watch physical movies too, um I'd like to know what Nintendo system ever supported a physical movie medium?

The smartest thing Nintendo could do is get rid of discs, use high capacity cartridges, and have the best version lf streaming apps they can get for their system.

As for cartridges and size and compressions/streaming didn't Nintendo buy a European centric tech company that was working on a lot of things like compression tech and streaming and ease of recompiling code for different systems? I vaguely remember this. Eventually that research needs to come to roost in some manner.

Imagine being able to play a large game like The Witcher off a large capacity cart with no install and minimal loading. Oh like on PC....
 
TheMoon said:
hwy_61 said:
I think he means account system like every other company has. Nintendo doesn't have that.
Click to expand...
What he means has nothing to do with account systems itself, just the ability to transfer them between devices willy nilly by just logging in. That's a feature currently not available and always gets thrown around under this "no proper account system" meme because nobody is able to articulate what they actually want.
Click to expand...

hwy_61 said:
I think he means account system like every other company has. Nintendo doesn't have that.
Click to expand...

It's not rocket surgery.
 
Nintendo immediately cuts out a very significant part of the customer base. The majority of it actually. While people are increasing having faster and faster Internet how much you can download is still a issue in many parts of the world. Especially in the US where data caps are the standard of ISP. With games being 20GB to 50GB that adds up. Especially if you add on normal Internet usage with video streaming everyone does be it youtube or netflix. Nintendo would be incredibly stupid and narrow minded to even attempt to not support physical games.
 
TheMoon said:
What he means has nothing to do with account systems itself, just the ability to transfer them between devices willy nilly by just logging in. That's a feature currently not available and always gets thrown around under this "no proper account system" meme because nobody is able to articulate what they actually want.
Click to expand...

That is the only thing they actually want lol

Do you know what the process is for transferring content? I have to talk to people. I shouldn't have to talk to anyone.
 
Calamari41 said:
Nintendo would be buying with contracts for tens of millions of units, so they would definitely be able to get a much, much better price point than you or I would buying one through Amazon.
Click to expand...

Right, generally bulk purchases come with volume based discounts. This makes sense.

What I was saying though is despite me buying a MicroSD card Amazon for $20, Nintendo is still going to charge $60 for Games, because just as standard trends would dictate for business as usual. Besides they wouldn't be just selling an SD Card with encrypted software on it, but a license to use said product and all whatever else that entails.

The only reason why I said we'll have to wait and see, is because at this point, we don't know anything until Nintendo makes their announcement.

(Except for some of you devs browsing this topic who have devkits already and are amused at all of this speculation but you can't say anything due to NDAs and contractual obligations. You guys probably wouldn't say anything even if you could. You are enjoying this far too much, aren't you?)
 
Regarding the cost of cartridges vs discs... It costs me around $50 for a blu ray drive. Can we assume Nintendo can get them for $20 by ordering millions? Given that even the insanely successful Wii had a software attach rate of something like 9:1, and assuming that Nintendo would price the NX the same whether there was a drive or not... They could straight up eat $2 in extra manufacturing costs per cartridge and still come out ahead on the disk drive/cartridge swap.
 
Calamari41 said:
Regarding the cost of cartridges vs discs... It costs me around $50 for a blu ray drive. Can we assume Nintendo can get them for $20 by ordering millions? Given that even the insanely successful Wii had a software attach rate of something like 9:1, and assuming that Nintendo would price the NX the same whether there was a drive or not... They could straight up eat $2 in extra manufacturing costs per cartridge and still come out ahead on the disk drive/cartridge swap.
Click to expand...

Yep. You'd have to account for the cost of a cart slot, too. But it would almost certainly be quite a bit less than a BD drive.
 
Ehh, not sure. Absolutely no problem with the digital-only situation on PC but that's mainly due to regular high rebates and competing store fronts which also makes for a great deal every now and then.

On a closed system without all that and a potentially abhorrent DRM system like we experience it on the 3DS and WiiU? Probably not so much. Nintendo will have to proof themselves before I trust them on any paid digital-only content.
 
On OP: Nope, they are too conservative, and there is lobbying from the retail industry they still need to sell their hardware.

I'm more on the side of one medium for both handheld and home console.

But I disagree with the 32/64GB price problem: I don't think it's a problem. Package the game with low/handheld assets in the 8/16GB card. Even today every games needs a day one update anyway, just makes pre-loading HD assets an usual thing.

There is barely a difference between this, no physical games, and always online, but we all know that's where we're going.
 
People overestimate how well digital game sales do on consoles. A digital-only console is still years away. Not to mention, Nintendo would be stupid to pull a move like that not too long after Microsoft's DRM fiasco.
 
I'd be fine with no physical games as long as:

1: I can redownload my games whenever and on whatever system I wish;
2: The system has expandable storage, at least by SD card or USB drive, but preferably by an actual accessable HD like the PS4.
3: third party code sales. So If i want to buy a game from amazon, i just get a code in the mail. Or i can buy a game from gamestop and get a card with a code on it.
 
Oh it will. With amiibo Nintendo sees how much people still like physical things and collecting. Format will probably be similar to 3ds carts but with a capacity matching or exceeding bluray.
 
I'd be fine with all digital if there was a good amount of onboard storage. And the ability to download my games when logging in to another system. There's too much clutter in my house already.
 
R00bot said:
"Fortunately, we have a product for those who don't have access to the internet, and it's called the Wii U" - Reggie Fils-aime
Click to expand...

Just going to play Devils Advocate here; To be honest consoles are pretty much online only anyway. Playstation 4 , The Wii U and particularly the X1 required massive day one updates out of the box, and the nature of the industry at the moment requires you to be connected to the internet to get the most out of your games, and in some cases have significant content locked behind patches - Halo 5 Multiplayer and Uncharted 4 MP too is rumoured to be available in only a patch form

Also i believe that Digital sales are now more than physical - according to stats in 2014 at least. I'm not sure whether they are accurate or not, it'd be interesting to see the differences between retail and digital.

Of course, i rather have the option of one or the other but i could understand why maybe someone of the big three would try a digital only console, or perhaps offered a discless SKU.

We're a dying breed us oldies :) Most young people are used to the digital age.
 
That would be pretty crappy. Not because I'm afraid of going digital, but because their games are never on sale. Resale is the main reason I can justify Nintendo's high prices.
 
I'm not sure how much the general population would feel, but I know that I really like having physical games (and Collectors/Special editions with neat swag gifts in them too). I never really thought about it before, but the amount of times I've let friends borrow my Wii U games in the last few years has made me really think that continuing to have physical games is the way to go.

Now, if we DO actually end up with a home/mobile hybrid console, I'd like to be able to buy physical games and then sort of "stream" them onto the portable, or take them with me, but own a physical version of them. So like for instance, I'll say a NX Pokemon game; You buy the physical disc game and you play it on the console. When playing locally, you could stream it to a handheld device, I guess kind of like how the Wii U has offscreen play. But with a short-ish download, you'd be able to send the save and game data to the portable device and take it with you when you go.

I've got a bunch of games for the 3DS and while I also like having the physical cartridges there, now that I'm juggling MH4U and Pokemon at the same time, it's made me think I'd really like to have these games digitally so I can just swap between them any time.
 
Servbot24 said:
That would be pretty crappy. Not because I'm afraid of going digital, but because their games are never on sale. Resale is the main reason I can justify Nintendo's high prices.
Click to expand...

The eshop has pretty good sales several times a year. Nothing like a Steam sale, but Nintendo titles do go on sale for 10-20% off every now and then.
 
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