1020°

Nintendo Switch Cartridge for Zelda Breath of the Wild Revealed

For some time we knew that the Nintendo Switch will be using cartridges for their games. Now that the official presentation has been made we have also been able to give you a first look at the boxes of the games but also the cartridges.

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gametransfers.com
Moonman2682d ago

Cool, now make those official clear plastic little Gameboy cases to carry them in like back in the day. ;p

THamm2682d ago (Edited 2682d ago )

The good thing about this, which anyone whose played a cartridge before, is NO LOADING. I cannot explain how much the gaming world has suffered since the incorporation of loading screens. Ruins the immersive aspect of most games, something that made good games into boring games. Bravo Nintendo for this move but unfortunately no horsepower

christocolus2682d ago

The no loading aspect is what I'm actually excited about. Nice

badz1492682d ago

No loading? You sure about that? The Vita uses cartridge and there are loading screens in games. Even smartphone games have loading screens.

cell9892682d ago

Grasping at straws bro. Really? That's such a great feature for you? When most games now I days load once for no more than 10 seconds and streams everything in real time after that. Cmon guys get real

SierraGuy2682d ago

Now imagine it with horsepower...Come on Sony.

nitus102682d ago

NO LOADING!

Sorry to burst your bubble but all software and that includes games have to load into memory and that loading is limited by a combination of system bus and the loading (reading) speed of the device which contains the program (read games) being loaded.

Since I don't know what the speed of the Switch's bus is I will assume it has the same performance of the PS4pro which is SATA 3 (6Mb/sec). This in itself is pretty good although if you compare it against high-performance PC's that have SATA Express (16Mb/sec) or PCIe (over 32Mb/sec) then it is slow. Even if the Switch has a PCIe bus (which I doubt) you are still limited to the performance of your cartridge which can be anything from 25MB/sec (cheap SD cards) to around 260MB/sec (Class 10 high-performance SD cards).

Ok you start a game from a solid state device (eg cartridge, SD card or even an SSD (500+Mb/sec read) ) howe fat do you think loading takes?

Most games on start usually have advertising usually the distributor and developers names and the graphics engine that was used to develop the game. Just this alone takes a few seconds, then we have the game start menu which depending on the game may only take a few seconds from the time you start to your continue. So much for "No Loading".

BG115792682d ago

This is not a cartridge, this is a memory card, just like a SD card or a hard-drive. This doesn't translate into no loading. If that was the case, then every game put in a hard-drive wouldn't have any loading...

Christopher2682d ago

Loading is RAM issue, not based on the type of media used. RAM needs to be cleared and new data loaded into memory from one place to another.

jaycptza2682d ago

THamm is being silly, clearly doesn't know anything about technology. even PC games on PC with an SSD (what you call a cartridge will need to load data into the RAM) the problem is that all the data has to be made usable unpacked, loaded (into RAM) sequenced etc before youre able to play it

KTF262681d ago

old consoles see the cartridge as part of the main memory
I don't think it's the case with the Switch
more likely it see the cartridge as storage similar to optical and hard drives
it defiantly faster than optical drive and more likely faster than the hard drive depending on the speed of the slot
but I don't think it'll work like like old days

MaximusTKG2681d ago

@Cell989

Most games take less than 10 seconds to load? I find nearly all games take more than 30 seconds, and usually more than a minute, to load. Unless you lump a few 16-bit indies into that (Stardew Valley, for instance), I say you need to take a stopwatch out and actually see how much of your life you lose to loading screens. You would be surprised.

3-4-52681d ago

* Carts = no loading + NO install.

You can buy the game put it in the Switch and play right away.

No more waiting.

** Anybody who doesn't know this buy know hasn't been paying attention or hasn't done research.

IamTylerDurden12681d ago

These are no different than the "cartridges" aka cards that the Vita uses. There WILL be loading times.

Nathan_Hale532681d ago

I mean, I am excited for the Switch, but 3DS cartridges take time to load, and stuff downloaded directly onto any device takes time to load. Sure it is faster than disks by a bit in general, but there are always loading screens, even my fast SSD on my computer has (a short 1-8 second wait depending on the game) loading screens.

BG115792681d ago

@3-4-5 You haven't play the Ps4 much haven't you. Killing Zone, one of the first Ps4, allowed you to play the game while installing it.
You seriously need to try and play other games in other consoles besides the WiiU.

indysurfn2681d ago (Edited 2681d ago )

Yeah THamm is right. No loading except at the start of a game..... well a little loading at the start of the game 4 seconds maybe. Well with my 3DS with much slower memory than the SWITCH that is how it is. That was how it was even back in the Genesis/SNES days. So why would much faster SWITCH memory be any different? I guess not too many people have a good memory (no pund intended) to remember how things got slow the second I put my first Sega cd/ and then later PS1 disc in.

DoomeDx2681d ago

lol you are not smart :p

blawren42681d ago

No hard drive install perhaps but loading screens may never go away. Loading screens put content into memory. Depends on the bus speed among other things. Don't get your hopes up about loading screens going away.

+ Show (14) more repliesLast reply 2681d ago
3-4-52682d ago

* Game Cartridge = No or minimal loading times and games don't have to be installed on hardrive.

nitus102682d ago

Sigh!. Load games via digital download on a 1TB 7200rpm HDD, a Hybrid HDD or even an SSD (Expensive but incredibly fast) drive I could have well over 100 games some AAA and others games I really like. I can take my machine anywhere and I have the choice of playing any one game out of those games I own without inserting a cartridge or Bluray disk. I can even get a cheap but robust 10" to 12" HDMI monitor for when I am away from home for under $100 USD although admittedly you can do this for the Switch as well.

For a bit of homework, why don't you do a search on "performance comparison of SD cards". You can even look at Hard Disk Drives then Solid State Disks and you will see that if you want performance you are going to have to pay for it.

The two main things that the Switch has over the current consoles is the fact that it will have Nintendo games and it can act as a portable which, to be honest, will be enough for some people.

IamTylerDurden12681d ago (Edited 2681d ago )

Minimal install, yes, but games will certainly have loading times. Do u own a Vita?

This is downright idiotic to think there will be no load times. These are basically SD cards, not old school cartridges. Vita uses the same thing, good lord.

vergilxx32681d ago (Edited 2681d ago )

I have a vita and A LOT of games , there are loading screens
but you hardly notice them.
way faster than ps4 i think

:Edit

Tested bunch of Games and loading time varies between 3-15 seconds
tested on:
Sword art online lost song
Final fantasy X
World of final fantasy

BUT
Games Like borderlands 2 took about 30seconds

Segata2682d ago

Hori has you covered and it's licensed by Nintendo

Articuno762682d ago

@THamm Cartridges don't mean there is no loading. The 3DS and Vita have loading. So does the Switch.

Scatpants2681d ago

Although using solid state media, loading would most likely be faster than standard HDDs.

Utalkin2me2681d ago

Those are not much smaller then the controllers, lol.

3-4-52681d ago

There are a ton of game cases out right now to buy. Go to amazon...so many cool options of LoZ themed and regular ones.

* I love cartridges for my Vita,3DS....and now for the Switch.

IamTylerDurden12681d ago (Edited 2681d ago )

Idk why ppl are so enamored with these cards. The Vita used the same thing, these do not remind me of the old NES cartridges at all. If anything they are less retro and more akin to the current day tech of SD cards. They should've at least made the plastic casing of the card look like mini Gameboy or NES cartridges. At the very least make them grey.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 2681d ago
tdogchristy902682d ago

I wonder how often they'll get lost. Like if we'll start hearing stories about lost games. The fact they are smaller than say a phone or CD (tiny) makes me question.

Nyxus2682d ago

Handhelds have had cards this small for years. PS Vita games are even smaller than this.

tdogchristy902682d ago (Edited 2682d ago )

I haven't had a handheld since the original game boy/game boy color so wasn't sure.

Vegamyster2682d ago

I have a 3DS case that i got from Club Nintendo before they were shut down and it's great, it's the size of a regular 3DS game case that it holds 18 games, they just need something like this and i wouldn't worry about losing games. http://www.nintendoworldrep...

Erik73572682d ago

Would be quite the opposite, I would be worried I would loose ALL my games lol.

If you loose that case say goodbye to all those games haha

attilayavuzer2682d ago

Nintendo bringing back HitClips

IamTylerDurden12681d ago

Nope. These are SD cards, not old school cartridges. Vita...

jaymacx2682d ago

They can get lost. All depends on the user really. I dropped my fire emblem fates card in my break room. Luckily someone figured it was mine and returned it to me. Just take good care of your stuff and use a game case. I have one for 3ds that holds many games and it helps me keep up with them.

rainslacker2682d ago

Just takes some extra care. I always like the cases which allowed you to carry about 10 games or so, and you can carry them easily in your pocket, or some carrying cases allow the system to be carried as well. But switch is kind o big for keeping it in one's pocket.

IamTylerDurden12681d ago

Tbh, they do get lost. I've lost Vita games.

Nathan_Hale532681d ago

Everyone should take care of their games. I always put games back in their cases. It is all down to you if you lose it.

Scatpants2681d ago

If I get one I'll probably buy a 1 or 2 Tb card and just get everything digital.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 2681d ago
demonddel2682d ago

Kool I'm tired of scratches on my disc

aaronaton2682d ago

Blu-rays don't scratch, unless you're referring to your WiiU games?

Vegamyster2682d ago

Didn't the Wii-U use 25gb bluray discs?

demonddel2682d ago

One of my favorite movies of all time don't even play anymore Avatar Blu-ray I wonder why

2682d ago
BizarroUltraman2682d ago

Lol..thats obviously false. But it takes a pretty good one for it not to work.

deathtok2682d ago

Scratch-resistant not scratch-proof. Either way they are miles beyond DVD!

jaymacx2682d ago (Edited 2682d ago )

Wii U disc have a nice coating on them and the edges are rounded off. Definitely better than standard DVDs.
All discs can be scratched though.

indysurfn2682d ago

I have bought blu rays and hdr blu rays that skip on the first time ever being used. And cant be fixed by cleaning.

nitus102682d ago

Blurays can be scratched but you really do have to go out of your way to do this. If you nick the printing then effectively the disk is toast, this is why I always recommend putting the disk back in its case or clear/shiny surface down.

OtakuDJK1NG-Rory2682d ago

@Vegamyster
No. Wii U doesn't use Blu-Ray at all. The disc were custom created by Panasonic. Since GameCube.

Why it's not Blu-Ray? Because you don't install phyiscal games onto your hardware on Wii U.

hduce2681d ago

Blu rays scratch but that does not happen easily.

Nathan_Hale532681d ago

Blu-rays don't scratch nearly as often or easily. Blu-rays are wayyy more durable than a DVD or CD.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 2681d ago
BizarroUltraman2682d ago

It must be a pretty good scratch.

Phunkydiabetic12682d ago

Are you like 7? How did you scratch your discs?

morganfell2682d ago

Exactly. I will bet if you drop those cartridges and step on them right they will break. There is a limit to how much carelessness a product is supposed to withstand. Blurays are fine unless you play frisbee with them, use them as coasters, or simply do not know how to care for things within a fair degree of reason.

Kurdishcurse2682d ago

childish and insecure comment.

AmUnRa2681d ago

Blu ray disks have a special coating. All of my 3 year old PS4 games dont have one scratch, so no.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2681d ago
Pearljam2682d ago ShowReplies(4)
EricLane2682d ago

Need to see a glossy golden cartridge.

sk8ofmnd2682d ago

Agreed, i remember my zelda cartridge on the nes.

rjason122682d ago

I've been wanting them to use colored carts since they stopped with Pokémon!

NukaCola2682d ago (Edited 2682d ago )

Golden Cartridge?

LOL, yeah Nintendo doesn't do what fans want or need. That would of been epic, but well...

Fans,

"FU, here are some disappointments"

with love,

Nintendo

Show all comments (106)
60°

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Given the success of Aggro Crab’s most recent game, Another Crab’s Treasure, the studio should prove that lightning can strike twice.

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shinoff218321h ago(Edited 21h ago)

Or just let them move on to a sequel or a new game. Not everything needs dlc.

60°
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z2g20h ago

I wish Nintendo would release a real console like it use to do before it went down gimmick road and never found its way back. I remember when Nintendo lead the way in performance and fun. I feel like the game cube was its last true powerhouse console that directly competed with Sony and Xbox. Miss those days.

Makersbreath217h ago

I hear you but to be frank, they can’t compete on that level. They’re see as the kiddy console for better or worse. And that means they have to cost it out significantly cheaper than the competition and that leads to a console that isn’t as powerful.
Their gimmicks work for them. And let’s not forget, one man’s gimmick is another man’s innovation.
Xbox has proven that you can’t out PlayStation Sony, so I’m actually happy Nintendo forged their own path after Sony came along and took so much of their market share and mind share. Although right now they seem really desperate to delay the switch 2 long enough that the current switch can have a chance of beating PS2’s lifetime sales.

Knightofelemia10h ago

How does Xbox prove that you can't out Playstation Sony? That literally makes no sense. The Switch 2 is rumored for a 2025 release. And where are the articles that support that Nintendo are really desperate to delay the Switch 2? And yes Nintendo is gimmicky but the gimmicks pay off the Switch can go both handheld and be docked to a tv to play the game. Not all of Nintendo's gimmicks pay off.

Yi-Long16h ago(Edited 16h ago)

At this point, I'd be happy if it's just a gaming console which dedicated focus is on just being a gaming console, so physical media, no accounts needed, no always online needed, no 'services', etc etc.

This industry really needs a reset and go back to basics, which is simply about games.

Knightofelemia10h ago

I just want message a friend, party chat with a friend, and drop the damn code to add a friend.