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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 range from 2 to 32 gigabytes in capacity.[19] It was reported that 1 GB cartridges were an option, but no games with 1 GB cartridges were ever released. Nintendo had 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] 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 upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 uses the same game card system as the Nintendo Switch, utilizing the same non-volatile flash memory technology as used on SD cards and a smaller form factor similar to that of the original Switch. The Switch 2 will also have games available via game cards that are exclusively made for the system, in addition to providing backward compatibility with the majority of original Switch game cards.[21] These game cards looked very similar to the original Switch game cards, but are incompatible and have a small notch on the bottom right of the rear portion of the game card to distinguish them from the original Switch game cards. The Switch 2-exclusive game cards are also colored in red as opposed to dark gray.
Because of 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, utilizing the same approach that was used on the original Switch's game cards.[22]
Game cards for the Switch 2 will have improved read speeds over its predecessor,[23] and can have a maximum capacity of 64 GB as opposed to 32 GB on the original Switch.[24] Certain games for the Switch 2 will also have game cards containing a digital license to download the full game instead of storing the game's data directly on the card, which are officially known as Game-Key Cards. The game card itself will still be used as a validation measure to launch the downloaded software via Game-Key Cards.[25][26] Game-Key Cards are not tied to a specific Nintendo Account and would still work on any system regardless of whether or not a Nintendo Account is used.[27]
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References
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