Tag: Nintendo 64

ModRetro, the gaming hardware company founded by Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus and co-founder of defense technology company Anduril Industries, recently unveiled its latest product, the "M64," a modern retro console that pays homage to Nintendo's classic console, the Nintendo 64. It's clearly designed to compete with Analogue 3D, which also targets the high-end nostalgia market. Featuring a translucent body and a redesigned trident-shaped controller, the M64 boasts a retro-inspired translucent casing. Currently, the official showcased colors are green, purple, and white, directly echoing the colorful style of the original Nintendo 64. In addition to the console itself, ModRetro also showcased its redesigned controller. This controller retains the classic and controversial "trident" (three-pronged) shape of the Nintendo 64, but is expected to have modernized details and a more comfortable grip for an enhanced control experience. Challenging the Analogue 3D and targeting the high-end retro market, this console directly targets the Analogue 3D, a console previously announced by ModRetro that is also compatible with Nintendo 64 games. While a modified version of the Analogue is currently available, it remains out of stock. ModRetro's entry into the competition demonstrates the continued strong demand from gamers for a high-quality, Nintendo 64-compatible modern console capable of running physical cartridges. Analogue 3D: This isn't ModRetro's first foray into retro hardware; they previously released the "Chromatic" handheld console (priced around $200 USD) in 2024, a tribute to the Nintendo Game Boy, which also supported physical cartridges. Release Information: ModRetro has not yet announced the specific suggested retail price or official release date for the M64, but the official website has opened a waiting list for consumers, giving registrants the opportunity to obtain priority purchase rights in the future.

Analogue, a company that has previously released game consoles compatible with older Nintendo, SEGA, and NEC consoles, recently announced the upcoming Analogue 3D in 2024, boasting compatibility with Nintendo 64 games. Like its previous consoles, the Analogue 3D will utilize an FPGA-based processor, emphasizing hardware-level compatibility without the need for emulator software. This means users can directly run Nintendo 64 games on the Analogue 3D, or even simply install existing Nintendo 64 game cartridges. To enhance the modern gaming experience, the Analogue 3D supports 4K resolution, Bluetooth connectivity, and 2.4GHz wireless data transfer. It also retains support for certain CRT television models and PVM monitors based on CRT technology, providing a more retro gaming experience. Furthermore, the Analogue 3D retains the Nintendo 64's design in its control interface, allowing simultaneous connection of up to four controllers. However, specific details will likely be revealed later. Analogue has previously released consoles compatible with Nintendo Game Boy, Super Nintendo, SEGA Mega Drive, and NEC's PC-Engine Duo, boasting native gameplay via game cartridges, cards, or discs, avoiding incompatibility issues that can occur with emulators. This will allow many players who retain game cartridges, cards, or discs to enjoy classic games in a more modern way.

Charles Martinet, who has voiced the iconic Nintendo character Mario since Super Mario 64 on Nintendo 64 in 1996 and even earned a Guinness World Record for "voicing the same game character 100 times," has confirmed that he will no longer be the voice of Mario but will instead serve as a "Mario Goodwill Ambassador." ▲(Right: Charles Martinet, longtime Mario voice actor. Image/Taken from Charles Martinet's personal "X" account) Nintendo announced earlier that Charles Martinet will step down from his role as the voice of Mario but will continue to serve as a "Mario Goodwill Ambassador" and will have more interaction with players. We have a message for fans of the Mushroom Kingdom. Please take a look. pic.twitter.com/U1ASicOuTO — Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) August ...

According to data collected by Reddit users, if we consider the maximum storage capacity of cartridges used on the Nintendo 64 to be 64MB, the maximum storage capacity of current Nintendo Switch cartridges can reach 32GB. This means that a single Nintendo Switch cartridge could hold all 388 games released on the Nintendo 64. Based on the Nintendo 64 cartridge's maximum storage capacity of 64MB, Nintendo has released a total of 388 games on the Nintendo 64 platform, with a maximum total storage capacity of 24.83GB. Considering that not every game uses the full 64MB, the actual total storage capacity would likely be even smaller. However, given that current Nintendo Switch cartridges can reach a maximum storage capacity of 32GB, storing all 388 games released on the Nintendo 64 platform on a single cartridge is more than sufficient. Therefore, in the future, Nintendo might consider releasing a "388-in-1" Nintendo 64 retro game bundle to cater to the needs of veteran players. In addition to the current Nintendo Switch game cartridges featuring a maximum storage capacity of 32GB, Nintendo has previously revealed plans to release cartridges with even higher storage capacities in the future. This is to accommodate games that require more storage space, and it's anticipated that future games released on the Nintendo Switch will offer richer content. This could also be a preparation for a more powerful, upgraded version of the Nintendo Switch. The mainstream storage medium for home video game consoles was roughly divided around the time Nintendo and Sony initially planned to collaborate on using optical discs. Subsequent next-generation consoles, primarily the PlayStation from Sony, used optical discs, while Nintendo continued to use cartridges. It wasn't until the release of the Nintendo GameCube that Nintendo began using 8cm optical discs, and with the release of the Nintendo Wii, they switched to standard 12cm discs. However, with advancements in storage technology and the decreasing price of flash memory, storage capacity has almost doubled. Therefore, Nintendo has reverted to cartridges for the Nintendo Switch, while its Nintendo DS handheld series has consistently maintained cartridge storage. In a recent patent filing, Sony also revealed that it will store game content in the form of a cartridge, but it is unclear whether this is for a new handheld console or for the PlayStation 5, which is expected to be released this year.

While the release of reissued mini Nintendo Nintendo and Super Nintendo ... However, although Nintendo has applied for a patent for the Nintendo 64 mini console and even applied for a design patent for a mini version of the Nintendo GameCube, it has not planned to launch a new replica mini model. This may be because the Nintendo Switch is still selling very well and there is no need to compete with other console manufacturers for the replica model topic at this time. On the other hand, it may also be waiting for the supply of the replica mini models previously launched in the market to be digested.

Nintendo has recently filed another patent application related to the GameCube, seemingly related to a new remake of the mini console. Nintendo had previously filed a patent application for a new remake of the Nintendo 64, but there has been no concrete news of a new mini remake yet. The recent news of Nintendo obtaining another patent related to a new GameCube remake indicates that Nintendo does indeed plan to remake more classic consoles. However, it remains uncertain when and in what form Nintendo will re-release the Nintendo 64 and GameCube. Previously, Nintendo has remade mini versions of the classic Famicom and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, offering both US and Japanese versions for different markets, each including various classic games.

After successfully attracting market attention with the mini Famicom and mini Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Nintendo seems to be planning to re-release a mini version of the Nintendo 64 for collectors. According to Nintendo's earlier patent applications, the product will be based on "N64" related patents, encompassing video game programs, a controller, joysticks, and other console applications. Nintendo has also filed a patent for a Nintendo 64 controller illustration in Europe, leading to speculation that they may be preparing to re-release a mini Nintendo 64 console, capitalizing on the market success of the previous mini Famicom and mini Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Given the success of the two mini consoles, which attracted collectors and even prompted game companies like SEGA and SNK to release their own mini consoles, Nintendo's decision to release another mini console is expected to attract considerable attention. However, Nintendo has not yet responded to this, and details of the potential product and the games it may include remain unclear.