The Nintendo 64, the successor of Nintendo’s SNES, would continue on the success and innovation of the previous gaming generation while continuing the companies trailblazing tradition. The Nintendo 64 is a fond memory for many older gamers, a milestone in home entertainment, the proving ground for some of today’s largest franchises, and an important step for Nintendo as a company.
Like all great engineering accomplishments, the development of the Nintendo 64 is an incredible story that often goes overlooked today when regarding the console and 90s gaming as a whole. Certain tidbits of the console’s development shed some light on this gaming marvel and are important facts for dedicated fans to know.
10 Last Home Console to Utilize The ROM Cartridge… Kind Of
9 Codenamed Project Reality
The Nintendo 64 prided itself on what were, at the time, realistic graphics. With incredible processing power, the console was able to render games in graphical quality that had never been seen before. This was obviously a major selling point of the system, and, as per marketing purposes, the 64 was given the codename “Project Reality” during development.
8 Machine Of The Year
The production of the Nintendo 64 was actually delayed by a year. This delay, however was not due to the typical technical issues associated with console launches. Nintendo chose to wait and coordinate its release with Time Magazines’ award for “Machine of the Year” in 1996. They hoped to use the award to further the idea that the console was a one-of-a-kind graphical marvel. It’s strange to consider, as Nintendo has long since given up on competing with its competitors in terms of graphical capability.
7 Launch Titles
The Nintendo 64 launched with 3 games, Super Mario 64, Pilot Wings, and, for those in Japan, the virtual board game Saikyo Habu Shogi. While the latter two have more or less faded to history, Super Mario 64, through it’s challenging yet captivating gameplay, has become ingrained as one of the greatest works of gaming ever created. A game that truly still holds up today, as evidenced by its recent re-releasse on the Nintendo Switch as part of the Super Mario 3D All-Stars collection.
6 Silicon Graphics Incorporated
The technological accomplishments made by the N64 would not have been possible were it not for Silicon Graphics, Inc. providing their engineering prowess. The super-computing and 3D rendering company manufactured the 64-bit processor which the Nintendo 64 takes its name from. At the time this system was able to offer superior graphics and performance while requiring less energy and hardware input.
5 Technology Was Almost Sold To Sega
Odd as it may seem, there was a very brief time in which Sega held considerable sway over the gaming industy. Nintendo had some market share, Sony was the naïve newcomer, and Microsoft hadn’t even begun to explore the gaming sector. Ironically, Sega’s fall from grace is directly related to Nintendo’s rise.
While Silicon Graphics, Inc. was looking for new markets to enter with its technology, they began talks with Sega. Sega’s stubbornness and inability to compromise on licensing agreements with the computing firm led to Silicon Graphics taking their business to the more aggregable Nintendo, instead, providing Nintendo’s fifth generation console with the tech it needed to overtake Sega in the race for console supremacy
4 Utilized Convenience Stores For Release Day
The release of the Nintendo 64 was one of the most hyped and anticipated gaming events in history. In order to logistically compensate for the large demand and prevent chaos in department and technology stores, Nintendo had to improvise. They chose the unique tactic—some would say gimmick—of selling the console at convenience store, as well. Again, a stark contrast between Nintendo’s current business practices of increasing demand by decreasing supply.
3 Strict Quality Standards For Games
Nintendo had incredibly high standards for the games it would release on the Nintendo 64, especially at launch and during the consoles infancy. These strict standards have meant that some of the most beloved and legendary games were released on the N64.
For a good period of time, players were guaranteed an extremely high-quality game no matter what they purchased, as Nintendo was not afraid to enforce this standard and even pull titles last minute.
2 Colorful Options
In 2020, console players essentially have to chose between a white WiFi router or a black refrigerator. The N64, however, could be bought in a wide range of colors and design patterns, meaning that even those with the most specific color pallet preferences could find their ideal 64.
Though this trend lives on in the form of special edition consoles and controllers, it would be nice to see Microsoft and Sony prioritize multicolored consoles at launch.
1 Intense Marketing Campaign
Nintendo has much more than processing power to thank for its success as a console giant. Primarily operating in the very niche pre-teen market, Nintendo has to go to great lengths to ensure that it’s product is effectively advertised.
This has created some of the most expensive campaigns for consumer products ever undertaken. However, these campaigns have paid off massively, securing Nintendo a stable place as a console giant without having to partake in any ridiculous console war rivalry.
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