Nintendo 64

Color variations

Cartridge-copy counter-measures

• Doctor V64 and Doctor V64jr, by Bung Enterprises Ltd
• Z64, by Harrison Electronics
• CD64, by Success Compu

Cartridges vs. discs in home game consoles

Advantages

• ROM cartridges have very fast load times in comparison to disc based games, as contemporary CD-ROM drives rarely had speeds above 4x. This can be observed from the loading screens that appear in many Sony PlayStation games but are typically non-existent in N64 versions. ROM carts are so much faster than the 2x CD-ROM drives in other consoles that developers could stream data in real-time off them. This was done in ``Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine``, for example, to make the most of the limited RAM in N64. Bringing Indy to N64 (Infernal Machine), IGN64.Com, November 9, 2000, retrieved January 18, 2006. One could describe the ROM as an additional amount of slow RAM, similar to virtual memory in a modern operating system. One Nintendo magazine ad placed a Space Shuttle (cartridge) next to a snail (a CD) and dared consumers to decide "which one was better".
• ROM cartridges are difficult and expensive to duplicate, thus resisting piracy, albeit at the expense of lowered profit margin for Nintendo. (Nintendo had likely weighed the trade-offs and concluded that reducing losses from piracy would offset higher cartridge production costs.) While unauthorized interface devices for the PC were later developed, these devices are rare when compared to a regular CD drive and popular mod chips as used on the PlayStation. Compared to the N64, piracy was rampant on the PlayStation.
• It is possible to add specialized support chips (such as co-processors) to ROM cartridges, as was done on some SNES games (notably ``Star Fox``, using the Super FX chip).
• Most cartridges store individual profiles and game progress on the cartridge itself, eliminating the need for separate memory cards. Storing data at first required a cartridge battery whose energy would diminish over time, though the battery generally lasted for years, and in subsequent games EEPROMs were used instead.
• ROM cartridges are far more durable than CD-ROMs. It is extremely difficult to damage a cartridge, whereas compact discs must be carefully used and protected in cases. This makes the cartridges better for children who do not know how to take care of CD-ROMs. It also prevents accidental scratches even by adult owners, and subsequent read errors from these inevitabilities.
• It was also a frequent occurrence for the mechanisms of early CD-ROM drives to fail. There are no moving parts with a ROM cartridge system.

Disadvantages

• While game cartridges are more resistant than CDs to mechanical damage, they are sometimes less resistant to long-term environmental damage, particularly oxidation or wear of their electrical contacts. (The cartridges for Nintendo`s earlier NES system were particularly notorious for this.)
• Console cartridges are usually larger and heavier than optical discs and hence take up more room to store.
• More complex manufacturing processes meant games were usually more expensive than their optical counterparts (some titles were US$70.00 in price.)
• Cartridges store significantly less data than CDs. As fifth generation games became more complex in content, sound, and graphics, it pushed cartridges to the limits of their storage capacity.
• Games ported from other media had to use data compression or reduced content in order to be released on the N64.
• Extremely large games could be made to span across multiple discs on CD based systems, while cartridge games had to be contained within one unit since using an additional cartridge was prohibitively expensive (and was never tried).
• Because of a cartridge`s space limitations, full motion video was not usually feasible as on CDs (although the N64 version of ``Resident Evil 2`` did feature full motion video) for use in cut-scenes.

Graphics

Üretim

Outcome

Accessories

First party accessories

• Nintendo 64 controller - an `m`-shaped controller with 10 buttons (A, B, C-Up, C-Down, C-Left, C-Right, L, R, Z, and Start), one analog stick in the center, a digital directional pad on the left hand side, and an extension port on the bottom. Initially available in six colors (gray, yellow, green, red, blue and black) and later in transparent version of such colors (except gray). The N64 pad`s analog stick is notorious for becoming very worn. Also, the analog stick had to be centered properly when the system was booted up; if the stick was aimed in the wrong direction, which would be set as the default for the game, causing, for example, Mario to march off in the wrong direction without being told to do so.

• Controller Pak - a memory card that plugged into the controller and allowed the player to save game progress and configuration. The original models from Nintendo offered 256 KB Flash RAM, split into 123 pages with a limitation of 16 save files (Notes)but third party models had much more, often in the form of compressed memory. The number of pages that a game occupied varied (sometimes, it used the entire card). A Controller Pak was initially useful or even necessary for the earlier N64 games. Over time, the Controller Pak lost ground to the convenience of a back-up battery (or flash memory) found in some cartridges. Games by Konami often required the Controller Pak for saves, even though the games could have easily contained three or more save-slots (such as in the case of ``Holy Magic Century``).

• Jumper Pak - a filler that plugged into the console`s memory expansion port. It serves no functional purpose other than to complete the Nintendo 64`s internal circuit for playability in the absence of the Expansion Pak. Most early Nintendo 64 consoles (prior to the Expansion Pak`s release) come with the Jumper Pak included and already installed. Jumper Paks were not sold individually in stores and could only be ordered individually through Nintendo`s online store.

• Expansion Pak - a memory expansion that plugged into the console`s memory expansion port. It contained 4 MB of RAM. Some of the games to support this accessory are ``Gauntlet Legends``,``Seeds of Evil``, ``Hybrid Heaven``, ``Pokí©mon Stadium 2``, ``Resident Evil 2``, ``Road Rash 64``, ``Shadow Man``, ``Episode I Racer``, Rare`s Perfect Dark, Midway`s ``San Francisco Rush 2049``, and only a handful of games such as ``Donkey Kong 64``, the single-player mode of ``Perfect Dark`` and ``Majora`s Mask`` actually required it for play. Supporting games usually offered higher video resolutions or higher textures and/or higher color depth. For example, the Nintendo 64 all-remade version of Quake 2 features higher color depth but not a higher resolution when using the Expansion Pak. The Expansion Pak was shipped with some games and also available separately.

• Rumble Pak - an accessory that plugged into the controller and vibrated during game play. It has (since its release in 1997 alongside ``Star Fox 64``) become a built-in standard for the previous and current generation console controllers.

• Transfer Pak - an accessory that plugged into the controller and allowed the Nintendo 64 to transfer data between Game Boy and N64 games. ``Pokí©mon Stadium`` and ``Pokí©mon Stadium 2`` are games that rely heavily on the Transfer Pak. Both versions of ``Mario Golf`` & ``Mario Tennis`` used it, as well. Rare`s ``Perfect Dark`` was initially going to be compatible with the Transfer Pak in order to use pictures taken with the Game Boy Camera in the game, but this function was scrapped, and the Transfer Pak was usable only in combination with the Game Boy Color version of ``Perfect Dark`` for unlocking bonuses.

• The Wide-Boy 64 - an adapter similar to the Super Game Boy and was able to play Game Boy games; however, it was only released to the developers and the press. Third party adapters allowed regular consumers to do the same.

• 64DD - The official N64 Disk Drive attachment was a commercial failure and was consequently never released outside of Japan. It featured networking capabilities similar to the SNES Satellaview.

• VRU (Voice Recognition Unit) - This device is packed in and required to play ``Hey You, Pikachu!``. It consisted of a ballast that connects into controller port 4 of the system, a microphone, a yellow cover for the microphone and a clip for clipping the microphone to the controller. Players would hold the L or Z button on the controller and talk to Pikachu. One major drawback is the fact that the VRU is only calibrated to high pitched voices like that of a child as stated in the manual, so an older child will have problems issuing commands. However, most males can use their falsetto to talk in a higher voice.

• Dance Pad (Japan only) - A dance pad packaged with ``Disney Dancing Museum``.

• Cleaning Kit - Nintendo released a first party cleaning kit for the Nintendo 64. It contained everything required to clean the connectors of your control deck, controllers, game paks, Rumble Paks and Controller Paks.

• RF Switch & RF Modulator - This accessory set allows the Nintendo 64 to hook up to the television through RF. It was primarily intended for customers with older televisions that lack AV cable support. Since the Nintendo 64 lacks built in RF compatibility the modulator acts as a special adapter that plugs into the Nintendo 64`s AV port to give the Nintendo 64 RF compatibility. The RF switch itself is identical in every way to the RF switches released for Nintendo`s prior systems (the NES and the SNES) and can be interchanged if needed. This identical set was later re-released for the Gamecube to also give it RF compatibility, and additionally, the connectivity cables intended for the GameCube will fit the N64.

Third party accessories

• Bio Sensor - An ear-clip that plugs into the Controller Pak slot of the N64 controller to measure the user`s heart rate. Released only in Japan and compatible only with ``Tetris 64`` where it will slow down or speed up the game depending on how fast the player`s heart is beating.
• Dex Drive - Made by Interact, allowed you to upload data from your memory cards and either store the files on your computer, or send via the internet. Interestingly, Interact made a Dex Drive for the PlayStation, and that device is still used by a few home brew game enthusiasts.
• GameShark - A cheat device made by Interact. Two versions were made. The first version had a LED display that would count down 5 seconds upon turning the system on. The period in the display would be lit while playing to show that the unit was functioning. There is a slot on the back of the unit for an expansion card that was never made. The second version (known as the `Pro` series, versions 3.2 and up) had a SCSI or parallel port on the back for connecting to a computer for downloads. It also featured a cheat search function as well as being able to find the name of the game for you. It also had a LCD display that counted down 5 seconds when started and the period in the display would be lit while playing to show that the unit was functioning. This feature was removed in version 3.3.
• Sharkwire Online - An Interact Game Shark with modem and PC style serial port for keyboard. Allowed emailing and Game Shark updates through the now discontinued sharkwire.com dial-in service.
• GB Hunter - Like the Super Game Boy, connects to the N64`s Cartridge slot and requires N64 boot cartridge plugged into its back, and allows you to play Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on it, without games sound, instead GB Hunter`s theme is played over and over during the game.
• High Rez Pack - Mad Catz own version of the Expansion Pak. Performs the same job for less money, though there were reports of overheating due to inadequate cooling/venting, and generally inferior quality.
• N64 Passport - Adapter and cheat device allowing players to play games from different regions on their model N64, with a few exceptions.
• Memory Card Comfort by Speed-Link - A sort of Controller pak with four separate memory areas, 123 pages each, selectable via a small switch.
• Battery-free Rumble Paks (3rd party) - Late in the N64`s run, a few 3rd party companies made rumble paks that, instead of requiring batteries to work, drew power from the system.

Kayda Değer Oyunlar

Pazar payı