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Nintendo 64 History

The Nintendo 64

 

It was once said that never before has a system been so loved, so hated, so hyped, or so misunderstood. Three years after its debut, Nintendo 64 aptly fits that description. Nintendo's most uncertain system launch in history played out much like a soap opera. 

Long before N64 hit the market, the system was clouded with criticism and confusion. Announced only two years after the Super NES was released, "Project Reality," as it was called then, promised Jurassic Park-like graphics. Years later it did not quite live up to that promise. Also, in May 1994, Nintendo announced that its new system would be cartridge-based rather than CD-based like Sega and Sony's forthcoming systems. This brought much criticism from the video game industry. 

A little over a month later, Nintendo announced the first official name for its system, Nintendo Ultra 64. Throughout the rest of 1994 and into 1995, Nintendo periodically made announcements concerning its much-hyped, but eventual lackluster, "Dream Team." Then, in May 1995, Nintendo announced the American release of its 64-bit system would be delayed from fall 1995 to April 1996. 

After more hype and more announcements throughout '95, Nintendo dropped the ball again on February 1, 1996. Nintendo ran a full-page advertisement in USA Today that stated, "On September 30th, Dinosaurs Will Fly!" The announcement was another major delay for the system, but Nintendo also changed the American name from "Nintendo Ultra 64" to "Nintendo 64" on this day. A final announcement pertaining to the system was made on August 19, 1996. Nintendo announced that the system would be available on Sunday, September 29th, instead of Monday. But, more importantly, Nintendo lowered the system's retail price from $249.95 to $199.95 before it even came out. 

After all the trials and tribulations, N64 was finally released in Japan on June 23, 1996 and in the U.S. on September 26, 1996yes, a few days early. Nintendo sold 300,000 units the first day in Japan and 350,000 units the first weekend in the U.S. To say N64 was a success in America is an understatement. (Its fortune in Japan is another story that will not be discussed here.) N64 was nearly as sought after and popular as Tickle Me Elmo. In fact, a record-breaking 1.6 million systems were sold to consumers by Christmas. Furthermore, six of the ten best-selling video games of 1996 were on N64. 

In 1997, Nintendo experienced a downturn. Marred by few and far between releases, not to mention delays to big-name games, N64 started to fall far behind Sony PlayStation in the systems race. Although GoldenEye 007 was released this year, most of its success, oddly enough, came in 1998. That left Mario Kart 64 and Diddy Kong Racing as the big titles for '97. 

It was a much better year in 1998 for Nintendo. With the ever-lasting popularity of GoldenEye 007, along with the eventual release of several key titles, Nintendo improved its position in the market. Finally, in November 1998, Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which was the most anticipated video game in history. It broke all recordsboth for presales before and for quantity sold after the game came out. Despite all this, Nintendo hardly closed the gap on Sony. Nevertheless, Nintendo enjoyed much success in a booming industry. 

    *Information courtesy of: Archive 64

Goldeneye 007

Star Fox 64

The Legend of Zelda - The Ocarina of Time

Conker's Bad Fur Day


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This site was last updated 01/25/06