The cartridge might be returning to videogames – report

MANILA, Philippines – Catridges are set to make their comeback if a report from The Wall Street Journal saying that Nintendo’s next console, the NX, may be ditching CDs for a different form of the classic game cartridges.

Cartridges, colloquially known in the Philippines as “bala,” were the primary game storage medium for systems like the Nintendo SNES, Sega Genesis, and the NES or the family computer. The form was last utilized in a major videogame home console via Nintendo’s N64 in 1996. 

It just seems right that the house that Super Mario built might be bringing them back. 

According to the report from Wall Street Journal, there are several good reasons for Nintendo to adapt cartridges.

One of them is the advancing technology of chip-set cartridges. Competitors in the industry are producing flash memory that can pack more data onto chips at a lower cost. “Cartridges also allow games to load faster, are harder to copy and can be mass-produced faster than discs,” the report mentioned. The industry turned to CDs from catridges during the PlayStation era in the mid ’90s.

Then there’s the need to use design that is made for flexibility and portability. Rumors are circulating that the console can be used both as a handheld mobile device and for the television, and those who are “familiar with the matter” claim that cartridges will be a suitable match to keep the device portable. 

Finally, it’s also practical for its consumers to use cartridges instead of compact discs. 

“Industry watchers said cartridges were a reasonable choice for Nintendo’s next-generation system, code-named NX, because the company targets a wider range of consumers than Sony or Microsoft,” the report stated. Nintendo’s fans also include younger children. Cartridges are more practical especially when kids are involved. They’re more difficult to scratch and damage than CDs after all. No word yet, however, on whether blowing on a misbehaving cartridge can make it work better  – as was the belief back in the days of the family computer.  

Despite these claims, according to the same report, “[a] Nintendo spokesman declined to comment on whether the NX would use cartridges.” In fact, Nintendo has been quiet about the NX ever since its initial announcement prior to E3. 

Can’t wait to hear about NX’s status? Nintendo has promised it would reveal the console by the end of 2016. There are also rumors going about that the announcement could be right before the Tokyo Game Show on September 15. Currently, pundits point to March 2017 as the console’s release window. 

What do you think of using cartridges for video gaming again? Let us know in the comments below! – Rappler.com