Nintendo 64

The Nintendo 64, often shortened to the N64 or 64, is a fifth-generation home console released by Nintendo in 1996 to compete with the Sega Saturn and PlayStation. As the name suggests, the system boasted a 64-bit processor and a 32-bit chip, allowing it to display full 3D graphics and depth of field effects. This allowed for games to be made in 3D, rather than being restricted to 2D sprite-based games like its predecessors. The Nintendo 64 was also the first console to have successful analog control stick implementation and four built-in controller ports. As a result, many of its exclusives are regarded as breakout titles for both Nintendo and the gaming industry as a whole, notable examples being Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, F-Zero X, Banjo-Kazooie, and GoldenEye 007.
In spite of this, the Nintendo 64 failed to beat the sales of the PlayStation and even SNES. It was described as "a step backwards for the company in terms of commercial success", mostly attributed to poor business decisions. Most infamously was the decision to use ROM-based cartridges instead of higher-capacity CD-ROMs used by competing systems, limiting what games on the system could do, as well as unsubstantial third party support. Though its release sales were lackluster, it isn't considered a commercial failure, as it still generated profit for Nintendo and managed to beat the Sega Saturn in sales outside of Japan. Its games would later be added to the Wii and Wii U Virtual Console, and later the Nintendo Switch in the form of Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online, available only to Expansion Pack members of the system's online service.
In 2003, a console known as the iQue Player released in China, serving as a Chinese equivalent to the Nintendo 64 to circumvent software piracy in China and the Chinese ban on video game consoles that was in place at the time. It was a plug-and-play system that simply consisted of the controller with a chip on-board, and had a selection of Nintendo games to play on it, including Super Mario 64 and Wave Race 64. It would be discontinued in 2016.
==Accessories==
===Controller===
The Nintendo 64 controller is unique in that it has three grips instead of the standard two. The left side has a directional pad, the center has an analog stick and start button, and the right side had A and B buttons, as well as four directional C buttons. It also had L and R triggers, similar to the SNES, and a Z trigger as well. While the Vectrex by Bandai was the first console to implement an analog stick, the Nintendo 64 popularized it and made it standard across the industry. Unlike its predecessors, the Nintendo 64 had four controller ports, allowing for four-player multiplayer.
Several variations of the Nintendo 64 controller were released, including solid and clear colors. Some special controllers were also made, such as a Donkey Kong 64 one that was yellow and had the ends of the grips colored brown like bananas. While this was a new concept at the time, almost all Nintendo consoles following this would have alternate variants and special editions of their controllers and even consoles.
===Controller Pak===
The Controller Pak was the Nintendo 64's equivalent to a memory card, and was the first Nintendo console to feature one. It plugged into the controller's accessory slot, and was able to save data. Unlike the PlayStation, this was not required, as the system was able to store save data directly on the cartridge. Many games used the Controller Pak for storing non-main game data, such as being able to save ghost data on Time Trials in Mario Kart 64. Every Controller Pak could hold up to 123 pages of memory, with 256 bytes per page, adding up to 32 kilobytes. An unofficial accessory known as the DexDrive released in 1998 to allow users to transfer data saved on a Controller Pak onto it, bypassing the need for multiple Controller Paks.
===Transfer Pak===
Bundled with Pokmon Stadium, the Transfer Pak plugged into the controller and had a slot itself where Game Boy and Game Boy Color games could be inserted. Doing this would allow data to be exchanged between Game Boy and N64 games, which was used in a few games for both consoles, an example being unlocking new content in the Nintendo 64 version of Mario Tennis by transferring data from the Game Boy Color version.
===Rumble Pak===
The Rumble Pak was bundled with Star Fox 64, and like the other Paks was inserted into the controller's accessory slot. Doing so allowed the controller to vibrate depending on events happening in the game, making the Nintendo 64 the first console to have force-feedback vibration, which has since become standard in the gaming industry. Almost all games released after the Rumble Pak support it.
===Expansion Pak===
The Expansion Pak was a RAM expansion for the Nintendo 64 that added four additional megabytes of RAM. It was inserted into the console by removing the cover marked as "Memory Expansion" and inserting it into the slot underneath, replacing the system's pre-installed Jumper Pak. It was originally planned to be compatible with the Nintendo 64DD, but after its failure, it was reworked to enhance the N64's games.
Donkey Kong 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask require the Expansion Pak in order to play, while other games like Perfect Dark and Starcraft 64 require it for specific modes. As a result, free Expansion Paks were bundled with every copy of Donkey Kong 64, although later shipments of the game did not include it.
===Nintendo 64DD===
:Main article: Nintendo 64DD
==List of Games==
:Any page that has Category:Nintendo 64 Games on them will be added here automatically.
== Gallery ==
Nintendo 64.gif
N64BIG.png|Template for N64 boxart
=== Boxarts ===
10056 metroid 64-v4 (1).png|Metroid 64
SuperLuigi64BoxArt.png|Super Luigi 64
SMBS.png|Super Mario Battles
Duck Hunt 64 Cover.png|Duck Hunt 64
File:Mario kart james racing.jpg|Mario Kart James Racing
The Blue Master! 64 Boxart.png|The Blue Master! 64
Category:Consoles
Category:Nintendo Consoles
Category:Non-fanon Systems
Category:Real life
Category:Home Consoles
Category:Fifth Generation Consoles