Next Generation Emulation banner

Nintendo patent filing hints at a return to disc-free game consoles

944 views 18 replies 11 participants last post by  sonicfoot 
#1 ·

Nintendo has said little about what its future NX console will involve (besides not running Android), but one of the company's recent US patent applications might be a hint as to what it's planning. The would-be patent, filed this February, talks about a "stationary game console" that uses only hard drives and external cards for storage -- the first time a TV-based Nintendo system would go without discs since the Nintendo 64 from two decades ago. As the company explains, the rise of broadband makes optical drives obsolete. Why include a disc reader when any game you want is just a download away?

There aren't any big clues as to the NX's hardware, and there's no guarantee that this amounts to a Nintendo roadmap. It could easily change its mind if it decides that it needs Blu-ray or another format to handle large releases. However, a disc-free system certainly makes sense, especially for a system that might not ship for another year or two. While all the big TV game consoles currently ship with disc drives, it's no secret that the technology is on its way out -- it's slow, complicates game updates and adds to the cost of a system. Ditching plastic media would let Nintendo embrace the future while keeping its historically low hardware prices.

Source:
http://www.engadget.com/2015/08/22/nintendo-disc-free-console-patent
 
See less See more
1
#7 ·
But what about if I want to watch my DVD of Spirited Away?
Nintendo is known for keeping there consoles backwards compatible so i wonder how they want to keep GC/Wii/WiiU backwards compatibility without a drive if turn out to be true.
Easy. Buy it from our "NX app store".
And 4 years later, do it again for the following console on the "MY Nintendo app store" (a 'separate, different incompatible store').
Just like Sony's "HD remixes", but with multiple 'ports' of the same game.

Indeed, i'm all for digital games since 95% of my purchased games are in digital form and i like it but there is no doubt that physical copies are better.
Your positive experience comes from platforms that offer a positive experience, not the very concept of digital marketplaces.
Haven't tried it myself, but I heard Nintendo has consistently offered quite the opposite, a miserable experience few believe can improve or will.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Indeed, i'm all for digital games since 95% of my purchased games are in digital form and i like it but there is no doubt that physical copies are better. Most specially for those people without good connections since i know what a pain it is to download all those games over again. Also physical copies are handy and faster not to mention the great value if you plan to sell your console one day.

Nintendo is known for keeping there consoles backwards compatible so i wonder how they want to keep GC/Wii/WiiU backwards compatibility without a drive if turn out to be true.
 
#8 · (Edited)
True, actually the worst experience with my devices is the PSN one but so far i haven't had any big issues downloading games except for the fact that its down quite a lot of times and Live works better. I can't say about nintendo since i toyed a bit last week with the WiiU and game i purchased for a good friend son. The experience was slow but it worked and nothing at the levels of the competition but it worked at least.

Still you have a good point there since Nintendo is known for great games but not for great services the likes of Live or even PSN.
 
#9 ·
I would not be surprised if this was using Carts ALA 3DS/Vita or SD Cards for games. People apparently keep forgetting that optical discs are not the only way to do physical games. SDCards have more then enough storage space for the large 50+gb games. And with flash storage being what it is now a days that is another option. AKA put flash storage into carts and there you go storage and speeds a plenty. The reason the gaming companies did away with carts was the small storage space and the prices but with Flash based storage being what it is now a days I can easily see a console going back to heavy duty carts with flash based storage.
 
#11 ·
Discs are nowadays obsolete, it's just digital marketplaces fail to price digital downloads appropriately, especially over time and holidays.

It's even more crucial for Nintendo to get this because its consoles' gimmicks always incentivied the creation of very niche quirky games that would otherwise be extremely difficult to sell to the intended audience, no matter how appealing.
Just look at the Wii's worst selling game (Sukeban Shachou Rena Wii). As bad as hard copies sold, it could've thrived digitally, since costs of promotion scale very well this way and games can be available to fans everywhere.
 
#12 · (Edited)
I really hope it work out for Nintendo this time because they need it. However, the big problem i see is that WE GREW UP but Nintendo didn't. Today's kids aren't as we were back in the days... kids of today play other kind of games and the Mario formula isn't as effective as it once was. They need to change there strategy and sort of "GROW UP" in order to stay alive. If that doesn't happen soon Nintendo will have a slow death...

Sony is very popular and strong this generation even if struggling financially and the new Microsoft is horrendously strong and focused like never before. Nintendo has great cards but they have to play it well otherwise they could face Sega's fate because there competitors are simply too strong this time. The 3DS won't save them forever.....

Sony is going to win this generation in both popularity and sales but they better prepare for the next generation and more so Nintendo. If Microsoft stays as focused and organized as they are right now they could basically play on Sony's head next gen.
 
#14 ·
The PSP Go has a ton of issues, being download-only wasnt the main one IMO.
Since the used market was completely blocked, digital games had to be cheaper and a programme with redeeming physical copies made global.

Why do you think Steam owns digital marketplaces and games on iOS/Play have to race all the way down to 1$ ? Periodic sales and a permanent stream of promotions get gamers used to keep purchasing games, instead of hoping they'll hang on a store with games and also buy one. 5$ deals are instant no-brainers, but there's no reaction to expect from 10% "discounts" (wow, so generous!).
 
#16 ·
This whole situation gives me the feeling that Nintendo are looking towards there handheld business as inspiration for there next console. I don't have a Wii U, but if there online services on that system are anything like the 3DS I wouldn't have any problem with "NX", especially if "external cards" could also means a return to cartridges format used in the 3DS.
I read somewhere before about Nintendo have been taking steps to bring together there handheld and console divisions, so games could be released on a single SD Card that would work on both there future home console and handheld system.
 
#18 ·
This whole situation gives me the feeling that Nintendo are looking towards there handheld business as inspiration for there next console. I don't have a Wii U, but if there online services on that system are anything like the 3DS I wouldn't have any problem with "NX", especially if "external cards" could also means a return to cartridges format used in the 3DS.
I read somewhere before about Nintendo have been taking steps to bring together there handheld and console divisions, so games could be released on a single SD Card that would work on both there future home console and handheld system.
If this is true, then I'm definitively out of the console market. With most major console games being released on PC, Nintendo is the only party who still has unique games that would justify a purchase. If they don't go all out on this NX thing and bring some serious hardware improvements, but instead focus on cute little features such as this sh*t you mentioned, I'm sure NX will fail hard.

Seriously, people are b*tching with xbone/ps4 graphics already, so this market will com out with a big "fck you" to Nintendo if they don't come out strong. I really don't care about graphics, but it's been proved this generation that it's what most consumers want, and if ninty hardware keeps being a niche hardware with only mario and no 3rd party support, then it won't be good enough.

I really miss some Nintendo games, and I still play my Wii (mostly dolphin) every now and then, but the wiiu just lacks games. There are a handful of them which are good, but most of it can be found on PC with only different themes or slightly different gameplay.

Where is Zelda? Metroid? F-zero? Xenoblade is pretty late to the party, and Star Fox really looks (and seems to play) like a GC game with GBA, so I'm fine just playing Star Fox 64. Fox could really get a much bigger scope, in the lines of Rougue Squadron, but instead we get this bland game with basic platform no one asked for.
 
#17 ·
I like having discs and no internet dependancy because nobody can then steal my games from me through shutting a server down or patching the game to make it less fun.
The only reason PC gets away from this criticism is wonderful cracks that preserve the game forever to bypass bullshit. I'm looking at you simcity, a game that only crack users could play!

On a console, you're already in a jail from the platform, don't let the developers double jail you by stealing your games because you can't crack them back to life.

PC is the freedom race, don't need disc there because nobody can put you in chains!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top