We take a look back at the Nintendo 64, the home console released by Nintendo in Japan in 1996.
The Nintendo 64 (or N64) is a 64-bit home videogame console from Nintendo which was first released in Japan in 1996. In 1993, Silicon Graphics Inc (SGI), a Californian-based manufacturer of high-performance computing technology, pitched a video game system idea to Nintendo. Impressed, they agreed to partner with SGI, and development began on a new gaming platform, codenamed ‘Project Reality’. President of Nintendo, Hiroshi Yamauchi, would go on to reveal the existence of the project at Nintendo’s annual Shoshinkai trade show in August 1993.
Nintendo and Silicon Graphics released a ‘Project Reality’ trailer in 1995
At this time, Silicon Graphics had established itself as a key player in the emerging world of computer-generated visuals in Hollywood, with the company’s hardware being behind the CGI of numerous high-grossing and technically impressive, movies, such as Jurassic Park and Terminator 2. Nintendo’s reputation for high-quality games, combined with Silicon Graphics cutting-edge technology helped make ‘Project Reality’ an exciting and highly-anticipated prospect.
Although there was much hype for the project, Nintendo would make an announcement in May 1994 that would polarise both developers and consumers — ‘Project Reality’ would use cartridges rather than adopt CD technology. Nintendo would go on to claim that incorporating a CD drive would result in the console costing up to $100 more. A few months later, at the Summer CES in Chicago, Nintendo publicly shared the new name for their upcoming machine, the Nintendo Ultra 64.
An early promotional advertisement for the, then named, Ultra 64
By 1995, development of the console would be hit by several delays and very few updates regarding Nintendo’s new machine were shared. At the first-ever Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in May 1995, the final version of Nintendo’s console was still not ready to be shown, although titles such as Killer Instinct would be demonstrated running on prototype Ultra 64 hardware. Much attention instead was given by Nintendo to their upcoming Virtual Boy that was scheduled to debut in Japan two months later. Unfortunately for Nintendo, it would be at this event that competitors Sega and Sony would showcase their Saturn and PlayStation consoles respectively.
Towards the end on the year, in November 1995, at their annual trade show, Nintendo announced that their console had changed names again, now to the ‘Nintendo 64’ (a name suggested by Earthbound series creator, Shigesato Itoi). Not only were early prototypes and concepts for games such as Super Mario 64 and Zelda 64 (later to become Ocarina of Time) shown, but the console’s controller was also unveiled, showcasing its unique three-pronged design, expansion port and analogue thumb-stick. Rare game designer, Chris Seavor, in an interview with Retro Gamer, stated: “The controller was a revelation. Once you picked it up and got a feel for it, I understood this was something different.”
The console would be delayed several times, with its launch date first slipping to April 1996, then to June 1996. In contrast to their previous E3 effort, the Nintendo 64 was central to Nintendo’s 1996 E3 showcase, with playable versions of Super Mario 64 and Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, as well as demos of Pilotwings 64 and Wave Race 64. Nintendo staff also gave presentations showcasing the new console’s specifications. The Nintendo 64 would finally debut in Japan in the 23rd June 1996. Despite a small initial library of available titles, the launch would prove to be a huge success, with Nintendo selling 700,000 consoles in the first week.
Arguably one of the most popular games for the N64: Goldeneye 007
Although the console would arrive in North America just a few months later, the European market would have to wait until the following March.
Upon release, the Nintendo 64 was praised for its graphical capabilities and innovative controller. The console did receive some criticism for its initial lack of games. This was largely due to many third-party developers instead favouring the high-capacity CD medium offered by the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn, rather than the cartridges of the Nintendo 64. One such developer, Square, a studio that had released many titles across Nintendo’s prior consoles, shifted the development of their anticipated RPG sequel, Final Fantasy VII, to the PlayStation citing the high cartridge production costs as a major deciding factor.
With 11.62 million copies sold, Super Mario 64 would be the console’s best-selling title
Despite this, the high quality of Nintendo’s own first-party titles for the system cannot be denied, with games such as StarFox 64, F-Zero X and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time being some of the best on the system. Second-party developer Rare would also prove to be a prolific supporter of the console, producing a strong library of stellar games, including Jet Force Gemini, Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, Perfect Dark and, of course, GoldenEye 007. Additionally, the popular Mario Party and Super Smash Bros. franchises would get their start on the Nintendo 64.
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