Nintendo has a new game unit called Game Cube. It uses 80 mm compact disks instead of a cartridge. However, on their web site, they are callingi these "3 inch" disks. I wrote to them about this and the dialogue follows.
Start reading from the bottom to get the discussion in order. Pathetic. Carleton I hate to mention this but I did some checking. ISO 9660 (ISO = International Standards Organization) specifies two sizes for compact disks; these are the only two sizes, and they are a worldwide standard: 120 mm (music, DVD, computer software, etc.) 80 mm (mini-CD, used for a variety of applications where size is an issue and lower capacity is OK) Most CD players and computer disk readers have a smaller depression in the tray for the 80 mm disk. The Game Cube uses the 80 mm disk. I know because I opened one of the game packages and measured it; we also received a preview mini-CD from Nintendo (since my son subscribes to Nintendo GamePower) and I measured that also -- 80 mm exactly. There is absolutely no such thing called a "3-inch" CD. Any description along those lines is a dumbing down of a worldwide standard for certain members of the American public, who probably understand the confusing and convoluted inch-pound measurement "system" even less than they do metric. Moreover, 3 inches (3 x 25.4 mm = 76.2 mm) isn't even close to 80 mm. If you must, it's OK to describe the size of the game device itself in inches, since the size of the box isn't any kind of standard -- but not the disk in it. You do your customers a disservice by incorrectly describing the disk media used in GameCube. Carleton MacDonald -----Original Message----- From: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 03:32 To: MacDonald, Carleton Subject: Re : GameCube specs Message(#6851-000028-4572\284572) Hello, We do not claim that Nintendo GameCube games are "CDs", as they are optical discs. They are in fact, three inches in diameter, so they are smaller than normal CDs. If someone told me something was 80 millimeters long, I would have no idea how long this is, but if you say something is three inches, then I can get a better picture. Since the U.S. doesn't use "metric" measurements, there's no need for us to go into meters, centimeters, or millimeters. Nintendo of America Inc. Stephen Scott Nintendo's home page: http://www.nintendo.com/ Power Line (Automated Product Info): (425) 885-7529 ----- ORIGINAL MESSAGE: ----------------- From: "MacDonald, Carleton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Posted At: 12:15:02.000 12/11/2001 Posted To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: GameCube specs We got lucky and found a GameCube at a local store last weekend, so our kids will be quite happy in a couple of weeks. One minor issue with the specifications: Specifications for Nintendo's Next-Generation Console System Size: Approximate Height 4.3" / Width 5.9" / Depth 6.3". Media: Three-inch NINTENDO GAMECUBE Disc based on Matsushita's Optical Disc Technology, with approx. 1.5GB Capacity. Comment: CD's come in only two standardized sizes: 80 mm (exactly) - used in Game Cube, and 120 mm (exactly) - audio/DVD etc. There is no "three-inch" CD at all; they are purely metric, and always have been. It would be good not to confuse the public by using an incorrect measurement, even though some may feel that Americans need it dumbed down for them. Carleton MacDonald
