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CDs Vs. Cartridges-

-------Playstation uses CDs and N64 uses cartridges. Most people know this, but I have never heard a comparison of them that tells the advantages and disadvantages of both. Most PSX owners say CD is better and most N64 owners say cartridge is better. Since I own both and play each for about the same amount of time, I can give an unbiased view. Both are very capable systems that provide a good gaming experience, but by examing the system itself and what the developers have done with it, it can be seen that CD is a better storage media than cartridge.
-------Playstation is a 32 bit system while N64 is a 64 bit one, and, overall, N64 has superior technology to that of the PSX. This would lead me to believe that N64 games should outdo PSX ones in terms of graphics, and sound. But they don't. Let's start off with graphics. Compare Final Fantasy VII to Starfox 64. There is no N64 game that has managed to look quite like FFVII. To say which has better graphics isn't fair, because they have a different kinds of graphics. FF VII has absolutely gorgeous FMV. Starfox has real-time cinemas that look great, but they can't match FF VII's graphics. Why? Because of space limitations. Starfox is a 12 megabyte game, while FF VII is a 1750 megabyte game. If Starfox could have 1738 more megs of space, then you bet that it could look better than FF VII. It can be seen from this that N64 has better technology, because no PSX game could limit itself to 12 megs and look like N64, but that's not the point. The point is that CD allows PSX developers to make better looking games than some N64 ones if extra time and care is taken. This illustrates how CD allows PSX to have better graphics than N64 in some cases, because CD is a superior storage media.
-------Sound is a little simpler. Playstation games can use redbook audio to create surround sound, and this is extremely difficult to do on Nintendo 64 because of the cartridge. N64 can make surround sound, and it can sound good, but a game like PaRappa the Rappa for PSX couldn't be done on N64 because of memory limitations.
-------CD beats out cartridge as a storage media. Hands down. Think about it. PSX is still managing to compete with N64 because it uses CDs. If N64 used CDs then PSX would not be around anymore, because developers could have made such good games. But this isn't the case; PSX is still here because CD allows developers to push the PSX to its limits. Don't get me wrong, N64 is a technologically superior system, but the games have not always shown that. Try comparing Nintendo to Super Nintendo. The worst looking Super Nintendo game still looks better than the best looking Nintendo game. If N64 were CD, then this would be the case, but it's not. PSX games have out done N64 ones many times. If N64 were CD, then it would look and sound five times better. That is why CD is a superior storage media to cartridge.

Matt Ely