ShadyAcshuns
Member
This isn't on Nintendo, though, it's the third party's options for saving money. Seems this is the only way to keep from everything being digital only.
Nobody is buying the Disgaea 7 Collectors Edition on Switch 2, it's a Game Key Card
- Thread starter jshackles
- Start date
March Climber
Member
Even so, Nintendo was the final wall, and the wall was just torn down. No one wants to buy what are essentially empty boxes and they are a waste of both resources and space.
Not yet but maybe in a decade or two. This problem isn't physical vs digital. It is the stupid keycard and the price tag. Nintendo lost their damn minds.
Sony is probably pleased with Nintendo taking the first bullet on this, so that they can go forward with what they have been wanting to do for a full generation at this point: All digital PS6.
jshackles
Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
Nintendo (reportedly) is giving third party developers the option of an expensive 64 GB game card, or a cheap Key Card. Even though most of them chose the cheaper route to increase their bottom line, I think this is still on Nintendo for not offering smaller capacity / cheaper full game cards for the Switch 2.
ShadyAcshuns
Member
You have a point there, but that would mean it's also on us for not paying more for games, which would negate the need for those cart options.
Mr Hyde
Gold Member
Fuck off with this shit. 90% of Switch games came fully on cart whereas 90% of Switch 2 games so far is on key cards. Huge difference.
jshackles
Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
I would gladly pay an extra $20 for a copy of Bravely Default remaster, if it weren't a key card. The same for the upcoming Dragon Quest 1 & 2 and Final Fantasy Tactics remakes. As it is, I'm happy those last two are at least getting a Switch 1 version on-cart, and they will likely get a Switch 2 upgrade, which I'll gladly pay for from the eShop and still consider to be a superior alternative to just buying the key card.
Any game that's coming out as a key card only, I plan on buying a) used and b) at an extremely steep discount. If you use key cards as an excuse to "just buy the digital version", then you're just helping to accelerate the decline of physical games.
ShadyAcshuns
Member
I have to ask: why is it really such a big deal in the end? Is it because of data limitations of your internet, limited storage options, or something else? Most every game we buy today physically still requires multiple patches, and once the key cart/disc is downloaded they perform exactly like a physical game does in the end.
ShadyAcshuns
Member
I was just about to say something similar. If we want to keep physical alive then we are going to have to fight for it, and reach deeper in to our pockets. I'm getting to where I really don't care anymore, because I've been getting a lot of damaged physical games through the mail, and it's almost not worth it anymore when I can just easily download games right from the platform store directly to my storage with no chance of being damaged.
Mr Hyde
Gold Member
Of course it's a big deal that games comes fully on a cartridge or disc. In the case of Switch the main benefit was that you could insert the cartridge and in most cases just start playing. Very few games required any sort of download, thus saving not only storage space but also time. I have great internet but I don't want games to be fully dependent on it. And then it's the question about ownership vs digital license. Plus the cover art looks shit with that "key card"-disclaimer plastered on the box.
TheDreadLord
Member
I can see game keys carts working as they will often be cheaper than simply buying the eshop version. But yeah, it sucks. I can also see Nintendo charging in the future for each additional license activation.
ShadyAcshuns
Member
Good points. I still haven't totally made up my mind about them yet.
jshackles
Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
I'm not
Mr Hyde
but one of the big issues for me personally is that despite Switch games needing internet for patching and whatnot, the data itself still remained on the cart. The same is still true for Mario Kart World (which is on a full game cartridge) - the digital version requires you to load 22.5 GB onto your Switch 2's internal storage. The cart I have had a patch, but it only takes up 200 MB of space on my system.Games like Yazuka 0, Street Fighter VI, and Hitman take up 50 GB (or more) per game when loaded from a key card, and that eats at your internal memory or expensive SD Express storage. They're basically just making you pay for the storage yourself.
ShadyAcshuns
Member
In that regard they're a lot like Blu ray discs that force you to install data. Yep, trying to stay "physical" is becoming an exercise in futility...I'm not
Games like Yazuka 0, Street Fighter VI, and Hitman take up 50 GB (or more) per game when loaded from a key card, and that eats at your internal memory or expensive SD Express storage. They're basically just making you pay for the storage yourself.
Hypereides
Member
Ngl, this effort to choke the life out of the physical medium by these mega corporations is disgusting. Its like a slow strangulation through set incentives by these platform holders themselves for developers to avoid it and push people towards digital. I hope some kind of "vinyl"-ish movement will eventually spring out of this, with some small manufacturers popping up to keep on catering to a smaller niche and print full games on disc/chips.
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Gambit2483
Member
It's basically the same thing PS5 and Xbox owners have been dealing with since day one where every single game takes up hdd space.
Except Nintendo actually has a physical medium that can be loaded directly from it. The problem is most publishers seem to be completely opting out of that option.
DaleinCalgary
Member
This isn't the first time Nintendo has put itself at a disadvantage in media cartridges/cards prices.
Danjin44
The nicest person on this forum
In the announcement said it coming for Switch 2 but it seems that version doesn't exist yet?
I can only find PS5 and original Switch version and cant even find it for in Eshop.
BennyBlanco
aka IMurRIVAL69
Disgaea 6 and 7 are some of the most disappointing sequels ever. I should play 5 again.
Power Pro
Member
This game key card situation is really looking rather bleak. The launch lineup alone was enough to top out the system storage, and most of the 256gb memory card I have. I bought a lot of the game key card games because I was hyped at the launch, but I think going forward, I'm not going to give them the money anymore.
If this continues, the Switch 2 is gonna become just a better way to play my Switch 1 games.
Seriously, collector's edition with a game key card..."collectors" don't want their "collector's edition" to have be tied to download, how stupid can these companies get?
If this continues, the Switch 2 is gonna become just a better way to play my Switch 1 games.
Seriously, collector's edition with a game key card..."collectors" don't want their "collector's edition" to have be tied to download, how stupid can these companies get?
Don't worry Miku. A lot of forward thinking people don't get the recognition they deserve in their own era.
near
Gold Member
I can't seem to find the Switch 2 version listed anymore on SE's EU store, but it's still up on the Japanese store and it's just a code in the box as expected.In the announcement said it coming for Switch 2 but it seems that version doesn't exist yet?
I can only find PS5 and original Switch version and cant even find it for in Eshop.
(Nintendo Switch 2)ファイナルファンタジータクティクス - イヴァリース クロニクルズ デラックスエディション Nintendo Switch 2 Edition（コードインボックス）
心震える物語が、いま鮮やかに蘇る――
Power Pro
Member
This isn't even a game key card. It's a code in a boxI can't seem to find the Switch 2 version listed anymore on SE's EU store, but it's still up on the Japanese store and it's just a code in the box as expected.
(Nintendo Switch 2)ファイナルファンタジータクティクス - イヴァリース クロニクルズ デラックスエディション Nintendo Switch 2 Edition（コードインボックス）
心震える物語が、いま鮮やかに蘇る――store.jp.square-enix.com
Shifty1897
Member
It is partly on Nintendo too. Switch 1 game cards came in lots of different sizes, smaller games could use smaller disk size cards to save money.
Switch 2 cards are either 64 GB or game key cards.
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Collectors editions that don't actually contain the game are the dumbest recent thing to happen. Never ever would I spend any money on something like that.
near
Gold Member
Basically yeah. If you try to insert a used Game Key Card between consoles, Nintendo makes you authenticate it, and it is deactivated on the other console. What happens when Nintendo no longer supports the servers? You will never been able to authenticate these cards. Just really strong DRM. Illusion of ownership.
nial
Member
It's not, the additional content was already available on every other platform in Japan. There's zero effort put into this.
Isa
Member
I think the quick adoption rate will slow down a good bit once the loyal customers and hype has had a chance to settle. I imagine a fair amount of people like me who own a Switch are still on the fence about getting one. Nintendo doing what they're famous for is par for the course, but I believe it could hurt some this gen. For example attach rates will be far lower with customers getting far fewer games per year, and a slower buy-in into their ecosystem hardware-wise.
Yeah the launch was great, but we've been getting hyped up by rumors for years while the already weak hardware was quite long in the tooth. And tying the games to proprietary media is often detrimental to price and adoption. I actually don't care too much about the final price of a game, as long as its on the cart. The amount of movies and shows I buy each month has far exceeded my game purchases and come with sooooooooo much more. Excellent packaging, full-color booklets and posters, reversible covers, extra discs with lots of new content etc. I wish game publishers and console manufacturers cared about the medium more. All the boutique film labels put the videogame industry to shame.
Yeah the launch was great, but we've been getting hyped up by rumors for years while the already weak hardware was quite long in the tooth. And tying the games to proprietary media is often detrimental to price and adoption. I actually don't care too much about the final price of a game, as long as its on the cart. The amount of movies and shows I buy each month has far exceeded my game purchases and come with sooooooooo much more. Excellent packaging, full-color booklets and posters, reversible covers, extra discs with lots of new content etc. I wish game publishers and console manufacturers cared about the medium more. All the boutique film labels put the videogame industry to shame.
Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
nial
Member
That's because the West didn't get that additional content on PS5/Switch (unlike Japan), NISA is essentially making it exclusive to Switch 2 for reasons.
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Danny Dudekisser
I paid good money for this Dynex!
hemo memo
You can't die before your death
This pretty much.
nial
Member
This Gematsu article explains the deal with it:
Disgaea 7 Complete coming west for Switch 2 this fall
NIS America will release strategy RPG Disgaea 7 Complete “exclusively for Switch 2” in the west this fall, the publisher announced. It will support English and Japanese audio, and Engli…
www.gematsu.com
Sakura
Member
Why don't they put the game on the cart and charge more? One of the biggest supposed benefits of digital back when it started was that digital games would be cheaper because they don't have to pay the costs associated with physical releases.
Will these key carts still work in 20 years? 30 years?
I still play games on my Saturn, SFC, etc that released 30 years ago (or more) and they work fine.
Will these key carts still work in 20 years? 30 years?
I still play games on my Saturn, SFC, etc that released 30 years ago (or more) and they work fine.
near
Gold Member
Because the costs in distribution and production of these carts simply aren't worth investing in to publishers. So they'll save money and it will be a minority that will be affected by the decision - the reality is, most gamers don't give a shit about physical media.
nial
Member
The thing is, that's the case for actual mainstream stuff. Niche otaku shit like Disgaea? Completely alienating your target audience.
I get why publishers want these key-cards but using them for collector's editions is ridiculous. Maybe publishers should take the LRG route and do a limited-time preorder before ordering the cards from Nintendo. Not a great solution but better than key-cards.
I think there must be a technical or supply-related reason why 64GB is the minimum or Nintendo themselves would be using theoretically cheaper 16GB and 32GB cards. MKW is only 22GB and it's Nintendo's largest game ever in terms of file size.
I think there must be a technical or supply-related reason why 64GB is the minimum or Nintendo themselves would be using theoretically cheaper 16GB and 32GB cards. MKW is only 22GB and it's Nintendo's largest game ever in terms of file size.
near
Gold Member
That's a very sharp observation. You might be right.
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Radical_3d
Member
I don't like it and it makes me want to collect SNES and MegaDrive games.
Sakura
Member
I think for something niche like Disgaea they do care though, especially with a collectors edition. Or maybe nobody cares about Disgaea anyway and that's why it isn't selling.
ShadyAcshuns
Member
I agree, and it's the sacrifice physical game fans will end up having to make, or just go digital.
Heimdall_Xtreme
Hermen Hulst Fanclub's #1 Member
That's what many companies deserve for using such mediocre tactics.
I feel so sorry for NIS, which I've always supported in some of their games.
I feel so sorry for NIS, which I've always supported in some of their games.
Quantum253
Gold Member
On the game key cards, is it a one time use when you insert the cart and download, or can that cart be sold and whoever holds the cart have access to the license?
near
Gold Member
Maybe there is a strong correlation between niche games and hardcore audiences supporting physical releases, But if fans are given the choice between a niche game existing only in digital form or not existing at all, most fans will still support the digital version. Profit margins are thin for games like this anyway, and physical stock tends to be low for a reason (not specific to Disgaea 7, but NIS releases in general).