Just as there is a wide variety of platforms available to run video games, there are many storage devices that store the game contents. Video games can be found in cartridges, Blu-Ray, CD, DVD and HD-DVD. Each device has specific features which you should know. In this section of our website we provide the information you need to be able to choose the type of device you want without difficulty.

The Blu-ray is an optical disc that is 5 inches in diameter. This device is ideal for high-definition videos and to store large contents. This product was created by a group of high-tech companies and it works by means of a 405 nanometer blue laser that gave the device its name. This allows the storage of great amounts of information. The Blu-ray is similar to HD-DVD in appearance and because of its 405 nm short length wave this device can store more information than a DVD format device.

The CD is a type of digital and optical support used to store information. The storage process works by means of a binary system that allows the recording of data on a spiral track that begins at the centre of the CD and ends at the edges. This process is carried out by means of pits and lands that use an encoded algorithm called Eight-to-Fourteen Modulation (EFM), translating an 8-bit block into a 14 bit codeword, in which binary ones are separated by a minimum of two zeroes. The storage of data in a CD is carried out through a 588 bits frame, of which some are synchronization bits, others are control bits, others data bits an others for error correction.

A cartridge is a type of format that is used to execute programs on a computer. Cartridges were very popular when domestic computers, such as Commodore 64, which had a port for cartridge installation through ROM software, appeared. The 8-track cartridge works by means of a tape for audio storage which provided different contents without having to change the player. Its easy availability is its differentiating feature. Thanks to this, charging time is avoided, and the cartridge can better resist the passing of time. At the beginning every video game consoles used cartridges. With time, the CD took over its position as it is much more affordable than cartridges and they have more storage capacity. However, today there is a great variety of cartridges on the market, as pocket consoles still use this type of support.

A DVD is an optical disc storage media to store high-quality video and audio data. DVDs are very similar to CDs in aspect but they are encoded at a higher density. Apart from this, DVDs use a type of file system named UDF, which is a replacement of ISO 9660. A single-layer DVD can store up to 4.7 GB by means of a laser whose wavelength is 650 nm, and a 0.6 numerical aperture. DVDs activate an error detector and corrector mechanism that is quite advanced, and this characteristic makes people prefer DVDs to CDs.

HD-DVDs are optical storage supports that have been developed as a standard for DVD format. There are two types of HD-DVD: single layer (15 GB) and dual layer (30 GB). Its transfer rate is around 36.5 Mbps with a 405 nm wavelength blue laser. This type of format is very similar to conventional DVD, and its external layer is 0.6 mm and its numerical aperture is 0.65. As this is not a sophisticated device, HD-DVD can be produced massively and at low costs. HD-DVD uses AACS, which is encrypted by 128 bits key, as copy protection method. This method is the improved version of CSS for DVDs. Because of its characteristics, HD-DVD can be used for television sets and high-definition screens. When watching movies, HD-DVD format allows accessing to interactive pop up menus as it can read different data.