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Nintendo Game Card
Game cartridge used on some Nintendo video game consoles From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A Nintendo Game Card is a physical flash storage card produced by Nintendo that contain video game software for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS line of handheld game consoles as well as the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 line of hybrid game consoles. They are the successor to the ROM cartridge-based Game Boy Game Paks used in Nintendo's previous handheld game consoles.
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Nintendo DS
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Nintendo DS Game Card
Game cards for the Nintendo DS range from 64 megabits to 4 gigabits (8–512 MB) in capacity.[1][2] The cards contain an integrated flash memory for game data and an EEPROM to save user data such as game progress or high scores. However, there are a small number of games that have no save memory such as Electroplankton.
It has been mentioned that larger 128 MB cards have a 25% slower data transfer rate than the smaller, more common 64 MB cards; however, the specific base rate is unknown.[3]
Nintendo DSi Game Card
Many Nintendo DS titles released after the launch of the Nintendo DSi in 2008 include features that enhance gameplay when played on the Nintendo DSi console. Most of these games are compatible with the older DS models. However, a select few retail game titles were released that worked exclusively for the Nintendo DSi consoles for reasons such as requiring camera functions. These titles have game cards with white-colored casings. All DSi-exclusive games are region locked. Examples of DSi-exclusive game cards include Picture Perfect Hair Salon. While these white game cards can be physically inserted into original Nintendo DS consoles, their software does not function due to the missing hardware features and will display an error message. These DSi-exclusive game cards are fully compatible with the Nintendo 3DS family.
Prior to the release of the Nintendo DSi, Nintendo encouraged developers to release DSi-exclusive games as DSiWare downloadables instead of retail game cards that would not function on older Nintendo DS consoles.[4]
Infrared support
Despite all iterations of the Nintendo DS line lacking native infrared support, certain titles made use of this type of communication function using game cards with their own infrared transceivers. These game cards are generally glossier and darker than common Nintendo DS game cards, and reveal their translucency when exposed to light. Examples of such game cards include Personal Trainer: Walking and Active Health With Carol Vorderman, which connect to the included pedometers, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, which connect to the included Pokéwalker accessory,[5] and Pokémon Black and White and Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, which connect DS systems facing each other.[6][7]
Although all iterations of the Nintendo 3DS family support native infrared functions, Nintendo DS games still use the infrared-enabled game cards themselves when played on a 3DS system, reserving the native infrared for Nintendo 3DS-specific software.[citation needed]
Nintendo 3DS recovery mechanism
All iterations of the Nintendo 3DS family used a recovery measure to boot into specific Nintendo DS/DSi flash cartridges instead of the handheld's built-in firmware. This mechanism can be used to restore bricked systems with corrupted and/or damaged firmware / corrupted NAND flash. The programming community has used this exploit to allow homebrew to be run on the system reliability independent of software version.[8][9]
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Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo 3DS Game Card
Game cards for the Nintendo 3DS are from 1 to 4 gigabytes in size, with 2 GB of game data at launch.[10] Though it was reported storage options range up to 8 GB, no games using an 8 GB game card were ever released.[11] They look very similar to DS game cards, but are incompatible and have a small tab on one side to prevent them from being inserted into a DS, DS Lite, DSi or DSi XL/LL.[12]
New Nintendo 3DS Game Card
While the New Nintendo 3DS accepts all game cards for the 3DS, there are a small number of game titles that were released on game cards that took advantage of the handheld's upgraded hardware. They looked identical in appearance to standard 3DS game cards and can be physically inserted into original 3DS/3DS XL systems, but are incompatible and will display an error message, similar to DSi-exclusive game cards.[citation needed]
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Nintendo Switch
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The Nintendo Switch uses non-volatile flash memory technology similar to SD cards that are officially called game cards. These are distinct technologies from volatile game cartridges that are similar to RAM boards. This iteration is smaller and has a larger storage capacity than its previous versions.[13] Despite its similarities, the Switch is not compatible with DS and 3DS cards.[14] The game cards used in the Switch are non-writable and save data is stored in the console's internal memory, unlike DS and 3DS game cards, which are writable and able to store save data.[15]
Because of their small size, Nintendo Switch game cards are coated with denatonium benzoate, a non-toxic bitterant, as a safety precaution against accidental consumption by young children.[16] Videos of users intentionally tasting game cards and reacting with disgust at the taste became a meme prior to the console's launch, which originated from Jeff Gerstmann's actions on a Giant Bomb webcast.[16][17][18]
Game cards for the Nintendo Switch can store up to 32 GB in capacity.[19] It was reported that game cards with capacities as low as 1 GB was an option, however no games were ever released that has a game card that is lower than 32 GB in capacity. Nintendo had also planned to introduce 64 GB game cards by the second half of 2018, but had to push this back several times throughout the Switch's lifespan.[20] Ultimately, 64 GB game cards would never be available for the Switch, but did end up being available for the Nintendo Switch 2, its successor nearly eight years later.
Nintendo Switch 2
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The Nintendo Switch 2 uses the same non-volatile flash memory technology as with the original Nintendo Switch officially known as game cards. They share the same size and dimensions, but are colored red instead of dark gray and have a small notch on the bottom right of the rear portion to distinguish them; this notch does not have an impact on inserting it into an original Switch, unlike with Nintendo 3DS game cards being inserted on a Nintendo DS system. The Switch 2 is also backward compatible with original Switch game cards, however some games may exhibit problems when played on the newer hardware. Nintendo has made a list of backward compatible games on the Switch 2 to determine which games are playable on the newer hardware without any problems.[21][22]
Again, due to their small size, Nintendo Switch 2 game cards are coated with denatonium benzoate, a non-toxic bitterant, as a safety precaution against accidental consumption by young children, using the same approach that was used on the original Switch's game cards.[23]
The Nintendo Switch 2 uses two distribution methods for its games: a 64 GB game card and a Game-Key Card.[24]
64 GB Game Card
The standard game cards for the Nintendo Switch 2 uses a 64 GB capacity[24][25] with improved read speeds over the original Switch's game cards.[26] Games can store up to the maximum capacity allowed for every Switch 2 game card, with file sizes varying between games.
Game cards for the Switch 2 are incompatible with the original Switch; if a Switch 2 game card is inserted into an original Switch system, the software will not load and an error message will be displayed. The only exceptions are certain original Switch games that contained both the game in original Switch format and Switch 2-exclusive upgrades known as "upgrade packs" that contained enhancements (and in some cases additional features) in one game card; these are known as "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" games. They can be used on both the original Switch and Switch 2 systems, where they can be played on the original Switch as if it was a copy of the original Switch game.[27] There are no physical distinctions between Switch 2 exclusive game cards and "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" game cards other than a "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" label and unique identifier located on the game card's label in the latter. Like standard Switch 2 game cards, the "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition" game cards uses a 64 GB capacity to store both the original Switch software alongside Switch 2 upgrades to said software.
Game-Key Card
The Game-Key Card is a distribution method made specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2, in which there is no game data stored on the game card but does includes a digital license for the game only, which requires the full software to be downloaded in order for it to be played. The card itself would still be needed to run the game for validation purposes. This is preferred by a handful of third-party publishers as a way to sell their games at retail alongside being distributed digitally, without opting for the option of storing the entire game on a 64 GB game card, which some publishers are doing.[24][28][29]
Game-Key Cards can be identified by a small key symbol located at the top-right on the game card's label. It is also important to note that Game-Key Cards are not tied to a specific Nintendo Account; therefore they can still be used on any system regardless of whether or not it has been resold or if a Nintendo Account is used.[30]
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