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[P.Jack]

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.

That movement started about ten years ago and is in full swing. The list of physical publishers is long, but to name a few you have Strictly Limited, Red Art, East Asiasoft, Pixel Heart, Special Reserve, First Press, Pixnlove.

It's a bit more expensive buying stuff like indie games physical but the value retention on these products are actually good.

This business might actually increase because of the Switch 2, which is ironic in a way.

 

[Zacfoldor]

I posted this in switch 2 OT but I know someone reading is probably unclear so I repost this just once since it is super in topic. From google ai:

Nintendo Switch 2 game-key cards are designed to be account-agnostic

Here's why:

• Not tied to accounts: Nintendo has confirmed that inserting a game-key card into a Switch 2 allows you to download and play the game on that console, regardless of the Nintendo Account linked to the console. This means they function similarly to traditional physical game cartridges, where ownership is based on the physical media itself.
• Facilitates sharing and resale: This design allows players to freely lend, trade, or resell their game-key cards just like physical cartridges for previous console generations. Whoever has the physical key card can download and play the game on their Switch 2.
• Requires card insertion to play: Although the game data is downloaded digitally, you'll still need to have the key card inserted into your Switch 2 to launch and play the game. This acts as the physical key that unlocks access to the downloaded game.

In summary: Switch 2 game-key cards are not tied to specific accounts or consoles, allowing for the same level of sharing and resale flexibility as traditional physical games. They require an internet connection for the initial download and the physical card needs to be inserted to play.

My opinion is that as long as the licenses are account agnostic it doesn't matter if the game is on the actual cart. Unless there is a zombie apocalypse it is not relevant for at least 20 years. Longer than my PS5 discs will last before decaying…..If your only complaint is "what if there is a zombie apocalypse!?" then you have no real argument imho. Methinks the lady doth protest too much. You really gonna be setting around playing unpatched games in the end times with no internet BUT SOMEHOW WITH electricity? Pure male fantasy.

 

[LordCBH]

The shitty part is these corpos will 100% take the wrong lesson and go "huh guess they don't want physical" instead of "huh guess they don't want a half assed physical."

 

[64gigabyteram]

I'm 90% digital and I still find this really icky. Especially since one of the biggest reasons to buy physical is for saving on storage. What's the fucking point of that when everything non-Nintendo will just require an internet download anyways?

It's insane that Nintendo was the first company to try this shit and actually get away with it, too. They're 100% complicit because companies will naturally pick the cheap internet download for the users over putting the actual game on the cart and Nintendo gave them that "choice".

 

[Dirk Benedict]

The shitty part is these corpos will 100% take the wrong lesson and go "huh guess they don't want physical" instead of "huh guess they don't want a half assed physical."

Corpos are disingenuous by default. That's my own opinion, however.

 

[64gigabyteram]

You really gonna be setting around playing unpatched games in the end times with no internet BUT SOMEHOW WITH electricity? Pure male fantasy.

It's a lot easier to get hold of running electricity as opposed to no internet though???? There are generators for electricity that run off of gas. You can't generate an internet connection with gas.

There are many areas out there with terrible internet but working power. Most of the third world is like this. Same for rural areas in first world countries. The internet only really proliferated 25-30 years ago, and broadband even more recent than that. Electricity.... well, it's a lot older & more widespread to say the least. It's reasonable to expect a situation where you have no internet but good working power.

Also, Nintendo is known for shutting down game shops many years before others. PS3 shop is still running yet Nintendo shut down the Wii U shop before that. You can have the fastest fiber optic 100gbps connection ever and it won't change shit if Nintendo shuts down the switch 2 servers, and no hacking or tampering means no homebrew meaning no alternate digital shops (like freeshop or PKGi) where people can download their games from an alternate (if unauthorized) source. That console is SOL.

 

[Super Lemon Drop]

It's time for people to come to terms with the all-digital future. It's over.

Except that there is no advantage to an all digital future to gamers, so no, I won't accept it.

 

[Sakura]

It's a lot easier to get hold of running electricity as opposed to no power though???? There are generators for electricity that run off of gas. You can't generate an internet connection with gas.

There are many areas out there with terrible internet but working power. Most of the third world is like this. Same for rural areas in first world countries. The internet only really proliferated 25-30 years ago, and broadband even more recent than that. Electricity.... well, it's a lot older & more widespread to say the least. It's reasonable to expect a situation where you have no internet but good working power.

Also, Nintendo is known for shutting down game shops many years before others. PS3 shop is still running yet Nintendo shut down the Wii U shop before that. You can have the fastest fiber optic 100gbps connection ever and it won't change shit if Nintendo shuts down the switch 2 servers, and no hacking or tampering means no homebrew meaning no alternate digital shops (like freeshop or PKGi) where people can download their games from an alternate (if unauthorized) source. That console is SOL.

3DS shutdown as well, and that sold a hell of a lot more than the Wii U ever did. Of course you can still redownload games you already had purchased, but there is no guarantee that will still be possible 5 or 10 years from now.

 

[jshackles]

My opinion is that as long as the licenses are account agnostic it doesn't matter if the game is on the actual cart. Unless there is a zombie apocalypse it is not relevant for at least 20 years. Longer than my PS5 discs will last before decaying…..If your only complaint is "what if there is a zombie apocalypse!?" then you have no real argument imho. Methinks the lady doth protest too much. You really gonna be setting around playing unpatched games in the end times with no internet BUT SOMEHOW WITH electricity? Pure male fantasy.

Fuck me if I want to buy a game at the airport shop but don't have the bandwidth to download a 50 GB game on to my Switch before a flight.

Or what about people stuck on cellular connections, or with data caps? Internet at my mom's house is metered, and they only get 10 GB per month. No way in hell would I be able to buy a game there and ever be able to download it.

Not every use case against digital comes down to "zombie apocalypse" scenarios.

 

[64gigabyteram]

Of course you can still redownload games you already had purchased, but there is no guarantee that will still be possible 5 or 10 years from now.

yeah, those are still servers they need to uphold. They're not going to keep that functionality up forever. The 3DS at least has the benefit of exploits and unauthorized backups meaning that you can still enjoy that console's library today, but Switch 2 with its tighter TOS and security may not be the same. That doesn't look good.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Disgaea 7 Complete: Ewwdo Edition - Nintendo Switch™2 [Game-Key Card]

Join Fuji, Pirilika, and a hellish cast of characters on a quest to bring bushido back to the Hinomoto Netherworlds!

store.nisamerica.com

NIS are re-releasing a Switch 2 edition of Disgaea 7, and they've made a $100 collector's edition that comes with a cheap fan and cheap plastic solar cat toy - but it seems the biggest reason it's not selling is that the game itself is coming on a Game Key Card.

These special edition games usually are limited quantity and sell out sometimes within days or even hours. This collector's edition has been sitting at 100% stock for the past few hours.

Seems like the people / collectors who would want to purchase something like this probably don't like the idea of getting a cartridge without the game on it.

As a collector, I find these editions abhorrent.

The game is the most important thing and the true reason for its value.

I don't give a damn if it has figurines or anything else; if it doesn't have the game... it's not worth it.

 

[Power Pro]

As a collector, I find these editions abhorrent.

The game is the most important thing and the true reason for its value.

I don't give a damn if it has figurines or anything else; if it doesn't have the game... it's not worth it.

A figure is kinda cool if it's nice quality, but yeah...this one seems kinda useless.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Surprised more people aren't talking about this to be fair. The vast majority of third party support the Switch 2 has received so far are on Game Key Cards. Physical sales will tank, digital sales will rise, and the next Nintendo console will be digital only. It's only a matter of time.

Just consider the Switch 2 a digital console with physical backwards compatibility to ease the pain now.

Now the bad thing is the people who complain, but they are the same idiots who have Keycards on launch day with their stupid Instagram photos or worse...

Who support shit like Welcome Tour.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Meanwhile Cyberpunk 2077 is topping the charts on Switch 2. Publishers need to stop being cheap; there is no excuse for a fucking Disgaea game to be a Game Key card.

I'm going to support that game, along with Mario Kart.

I'm sad that Kunitsu Gami and AI The Sonmium Files are Keycards.

We'll get the latter on Switch 1.

I was going to buy Bravely Default, but this is stopping me.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

I mean to be fair… nobody is buying Disgaya 7 anyway.

I only have one Disgaea because it has the female protagonist of The Guided Fate Paradox on PS3 as a guest, but those games don't catch my attention.

 

[Power Pro]

I'm going to support that game, along with Mario Kart.

I'm sad that Kunitsu Gami and AI The Sonmium Files are Keycards.

We'll get the latter on Switch 1.

I was going to buy Bravely Default, but this is stopping me.

I feel like I got double screwed on Bravely Default. I bought it even with the game key card cuz I wanted to play it...but then I forgot that the western version is censored. I could've gotten the Japanese version, with english, without censorship. ugh

 

[GigaBowser]

nort out yet eshop sales will do goord ltd bookmarked

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

I feel like I got double screwed on Bravely Default. I bought it even with the game key card cuz I wanted to play it...but then I forgot that the western version is censored. I could've gotten the Japanese version, with english, without censorship. ugh

Thanks for the info. I didn't know it was censored.

What aspect or scene is censored?

 

[Hollywood Hitman]

Yea I mean it would be like buying a physical album with a CD in it, but there's no music on the CD. I wish Nintendo would course correct this, because you're still shipping the product and having plastic sent around... Why even waste your time at that point if the game isn't on there

 

[GigaBowser]

Yea I mean it would be like buying a physical album with a CD in it, but there's no music on the CD. I wish Nintendo would course correct this, because you're still shipping the product and having plastic sent around... Why even waste your time at that point if the game isn't on there

third party make choose key card because more profit

 

[Hollywood Hitman]

third party make choose key card because more profit

 

[Power Pro]

Thanks for the info. I didn't know it was censored.

What aspect or scene is censored?

Outfits are censored. Some are altered, or in Ringabel's case, they just removed his.

I can't find good images, but like in the 3ds version, they altered these outfits.

And this outfit for Ringabel is just not in the US version

 

[Mikuz]

I wouldn't defend this no matter how much storage the Switch 2 had but forcing downloads like this when the system only comes with 256gb is criminal...

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

I wouldn't defend this no matter how much storage the Switch 2 had but forcing downloads like this when the system only comes with 256gb is criminal...

Indeed, since I saw that memory, it's stupid.


Even more so if there's only a 256GB or 1TB card; there's still no 4TB one.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Nippon Ichi Software is a company that releases games that aren't for everyone because they're unusual or too Japanese, or because their gameplay isn't for everyone.

Releasing a limited edition with a keycard is like shooting themselves in the foot.

and I just remembered that I have to buy this game that I have pending

 

[Esppiral]

Nintendo is next level anti consumer

 

[Danjin44]

I wouldn't defend this no matter how much storage the Switch 2 had but forcing downloads like this when the system only comes with 256gb is criminal...

Isn't that Sony doing that for years? Even if you do buy physical copy of PS5 games you still need download huge file size to your PS5.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

The Hitman game on Nintendo Switch 2 is annoying, because of its dependence on being connected to the Internet even in portable mode, without that... It's a paperweight.

 

[Mikuz]

Isn't that Sony doing that for years? Even if you do buy physical copy of PS5 games you still need huge file size to your PS5.

yep and Xbox does that too, I really hate it

 

[ToadMan]

Formalizing it in this way made it more acceptable for publishers to do it.

The flip side is that these are resellable while digital codes aren't. At least for now anyway ... SF6 is already finding ways to lock players into the purchase.

Anyway I can't decide if resellability is a win overall or not.

Perhaps it pushes the idea that even digital content should be resellable going forward - it's the same license whether bought on physical media or digital store, so why differentiate? With the virtual game card concept, Nintendo has created a way to sell those digital game purchases. That would be a first...

I think a compromise would have been if these game key cards are at least able to store save data and some other stuff on it post purchase, just to alleviate the memory usage on the console too. The smallest express card is 8gb [EDIT ah 64Gb is the only option? Well that is the problem Nintendo needs to fix]?
They could have mandated that at least, or even a switch 1 format card just for non realtime data like saves or cinematics.

 

[nial]

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).

Luckily we don't have much to worry about as long as Switch 1 and PS5 get supported. I feel that these game-key cards already killed this kind of market on Switch 2, you will not really see much benefit on buying a game-key card Switch 2 version of Disgaea 8 instead of the Switch 1 release.

 

[cireza]

Fuck me if I want to buy a game at the airport shop but don't have the bandwidth to download a 50 GB game on to my Switch before a flight.

Or what about people stuck on cellular connections, or with data caps? Internet at my mom's house is metered, and they only get 10 GB per month. No way in hell would I be able to buy a game there and ever be able to download it.

Not every use case against digital comes down to "zombie apocalypse" scenarios.

Or for a birthday or Christmas, you can't even play your game immediately. That's a poor experience.

 

[ArtHands]

No surprise. People are buying digital. No point buying physical

 

[VolticArchangel]

The Hitman game on Nintendo Switch 2 is annoying, because of its dependence on being connected to the Internet even in portable mode, without that... It's a paperweight.

That game is specially annoying on all platforms, because you have to be always online to get access to those escalation contracts or even anything other than story missions, ehich is a shame.

Fuck Square Enix and IO Interactive for tying an actually very good stealth action game (or games, because of the convoluted nature of even purchasing the 3 games in the first place with all those confusing editions and updates to each subsequent one containing the previous game) being the periodical online server check DRM bullshit.

At least on PS4, Xbone, PS5 and Xbox Series, you can pop in and play your story missions. On PC, we're fucked if we're out of internet.

 

[Gambit2483]

The Hitman game on Nintendo Switch 2 is annoying, because of its dependence on being connected to the Internet even in portable mode, without that... It's a paperweight.

Yea that's always been the case once they integrated all three games together a few years back. It's now considered a "service-like" game (even though it's primarily single player)

 

[Astray]

Fuck Square Enix and IO Interactive for tying an actually very good stealth action game (or games, because of the convoluted nature of even purchasing the 3 games in the first place with all those confusing editions and updates to each subsequent one containing the previous game) being the periodical online server check DRM bullshit.

Square hasn't been part of the franchise for a while now.

 

[YeulEmeralda]

Lol don't you guys have gigabit fiber?

 

[saintjules]

 

[Durin]

I just don't understand why they don't make collector's editions for these smaller cult-hit games...feature a card with actual memory on it holding the full game as a value-add for the extra cost of it?

Just factor it in, and the people who really care at least have SOME option.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

The Game Key scheme has to be one of the worst initiatives of this generation.

It still looks bizarre how Nintendo is just trying to quickly sneak in digital-only console and thinks people will not notice that 50GB download when you put a plastic inside the console.

 

[Ceadeus]

It still looks bizarre how Nintendo is just trying to quickly sneak in digital-only console and thinks people will not notice that 50GB download when you put a plastic inside the console.

Exactly, especially for a 256gb console. That's infuriating for anyone who prefer physical.