Nintendo, as we all know, is the only one of the 'big three' that doesn't currently use Blu-ray optical media for its games. Instead, Nintendo uses a proprietary 'game card' cartridge format for its Nintendo Switch console – and by taking this route, it means that the Japanese giant has had to come up with its own bespoke way of testing the integrity of its products.
Brazilian journalist Necro Felipe has shared two images which show the kind of machinery Nintendo has had to create to check cartridges before they're sent out to the general public. As far as we can tell, this hardware hasn't been seen by the public before.
Here's a Google-supplied translation:
In figure 1, we have a robotic machine for inspecting each of the cartridges manufactured by Nintendo.
In figure 2, a machine developed by Nintendo itself to manually check the integrity of cartridges.
So, if you ever find yourself wondering how Nintendo tests its game cards before they're released into the world, wonder no longer. Now we need to see the machine that paints the carts in that disgusting coating.
[source twitter.com, via hobbyconsolas.com]
Comments 47
This article was basically "guess how they do QC? With à machine!". Didn't really tell us much
But you forgot to upload images from the sweatshops where they taste-test the cartridges for optimum repugnance.
@Divinebovine What's interesting is that Nintendo has had to create its own bespoke hardware for this job, whereas Sony and MS will just place orders in Blu-ray duplication plants for their games, and those companies will handle QC.
Came here for an in-depth article, the first photo could literally be from any tech manufacturing factory.
I know you are doing those articles for clicks; but articles in conjunction with headlines like this actually are driving me away from this site.
What does each machine do that this is "control...", as the subheader suggests, "... is quality"? What is the machine checking for and how does it work. How is this machine operated / used? Adding that would make this article quality.
My dog recently decided to have a chew of one of my cartridges and despite several teeth marks etc. it still worked perfectly.
Nintendo does what... everyone else doesn't!
My bloodstained gamecard works every other day, just whenever it feels like it so, IDK about A QA
@Lemmy_the_Koopa agreed! It’s just a non-article, like you say, for the clicks.
Apart from showing me machines that were built to check cartridges, I've learned nothing.
Maybe Nintendolife needs a quality check machine for their articles..
The problem is they aren't fit for purpose, I have several switch consoles in my house and I have various cartridges that Don't work in any of them, so between the console and the cartridge there is an issue somewhere
So Nintendo has trust issues.
Removed - unconstructive feedback
I'd love to learn more about the licking test these cartridges must surely go under.
If only this level of quality control went into Joy Cons. As much as I feel like they've been fixed, hearing about how many people are still having problems today makes me think they aren't investing enough money into investigating the problem.
Interesting (to me, I’m an engineer in manufacturing!). But can’t tell much, the first image doesn’t seem to show any carts, should they be in the blue carriers? And is it a camera inspection? I can’t see anything else around for testing it in na device, few moving parts it looks like, which I guess is the robotic aspect (no articulated arm I can see)?
Image 2 looks more what I’d expect for testing of the contacts/data transfer etc. But it looks quite manual, with the cart slots and the little legs. Does someone have to load it up? Do they pick at random from each batch to go in that machine?
Wish we had a bit for info than one tweet!
@Grackler The carts are in the first image - they're on the belt next to the blue cases
@Damo Ah yes, I can see now you've said! Taking a look on a proper screen rather than my phone, looks like they are held by a vaccum gripper (the black cups over the carts), which is on a gantry system (the robot) on the left of the image, held via an arm (sticking out parallel to the conveyor with the blue carriers on).
On closer inspection the machine in the background that the carts are being taken from-or-to is covered is slots with ribbon cables looking very much like the cartridge inputs on the manual testing machine in the second image (which is certainly manual, didn't see the pic with the side off until I look at the tweet directly). Could be this is an automated version of that? Wonder how the carts go in/out? Is enough of the contacts sticking out to jsut push it in with the vaccum end-effector? It could have carriers, but its a bit blurry even on a proper laptop screen....
Also the wording (while translated) of the manual one been "developed by Nintendo themselves"...could they mean that Nintendo made a manual one and a integrator at the factory copied the workings to make this automated one?
Enjoying the minor-league detective work of poring over the image XD !
So nobody QC the joycons then
@EriXz How did you get blood all over it?
I feel sorry for the guy who taste tests each one after.
@Grackler What I love about all of this (and the reason I posted it) is that all of this - the process, the machines, etc - will have been made exclusively for Nintendo's benefit. Blu-ray disc production isn't anywhere near as interesting in comparison!
@Damo I agree. Bespoke things like this are always interesting, and like you say, they can't just use Blu ray pressing firms everyone else does! (with all the unique logstics that goes with having their own lines too).
A lot of this manufacturing stuff will remain a trade secret long after the Switch has gone, so it's good to see even a little glimpse of it.
@Damo Might it be better to embed the tweet rather than this low quality screenshot. The pictures are much clearer (and not cropped) once you open the tweet.
Disappointed there’s no licking…
@dew12333 Absolutely, no other company lives 15 years in the past and embraces ancient technology quite like Nintendo does.
Why the complaining here. It's shown me something I haven't seen before. I'm ok with clicky articles as news is going to be lite somedays. Why comment with negativity just click the back button and move on jeez.
@Ambassador_Kong No wonder I am so aligned with them!
The opposite is working real good for sony, not!!
@TMNHertl Sounds like they all had a case of the Mondays..
The cards remind me of the cards used by the Neo Geo X console.
At least they will make and check their own carts not like others whom leaves it up to the DVD/BD maker to verify their product they outsource to produce their game on. Seems like those using BD media don't verify their own QC games but more interested in making money first and better product DeadLast.
@TMNHertl I was going to say the same thing. Why can’t there just be a post about a fun fact without a full blown article?
I'm glad they went back to using cartridges. It just doesn't feel right having disc media on a Nintendo home console. I feel Nintendo never like using disc to begin with and was force to use it just cause every other companies did.
I only buy physical games (unless they are free) and I also bite my nails alot and the taste is horrible, 0/10 😹
@larryisaman i was talking about my copy of The Bloodstained game (the castlevania inspired one)
@EriXz 😜
They'll probably not use cartridges for their next console or make them a different size so you can't use the ones you already own
The toxicity of the whiners and complainers in these article comments is becoming so tiring. It’s the same folks it seems…
Please file me in the category of those who found this article cool.
@ChromaticDracula So are you a whiner or complainer? You are part of the comment section too ya know.
They removed my comment lmao. Still doesn't change the fact this article was a trash effort. I clicked hoping to see how Nintendo "makes sure" their cartridges are quality and literally got nothing of the sort. No verification if the machines on the tweet, which was not even embedded to the article by the way, were actually legit. And how do they quality control them, exactly?
@Specter_of-the_OLED I came to comment that I thought the article was cool because of the lengths Nintendo went through for QC. Hard to also not comment on the pond of negativity I had to swim through to get to the “show comments” button.
Sometimes it's amazing to think of some of the amazing visuals and gameplay coming out of these tiny cartridges...especially when you think back to how huge (in comparison) and less powerful the cartridges of yesteryear were.
I predict the next Nintendo console will ditch any physical media and be entirely downloadable. Or at least will have a cheaper model which is digital only.
Huh...
I'd like to see a video in action of them being made
Time it takes to click an article = N
Time it takes to click an article, scroll to the bottom, leave a comment complaining about "clickbait" = N • X
@SwitchplayerJohn
ive always said there should be a "roku stick" style switch that is dl only, and comes with a pro controller, for 150 or less. id buy one just to have switch in another room.
@SuperCharr yeah, maybe thats what Happened 😄
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