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Nintendo offered the 64DD through a mail order subscription service in Japan that cost subscribers ¥2,500 a month, for a 12 month contract. What they got for that price was the 64DD hardware unit, including a 4MB RAM expansion pack, a modem cartridge including the cables, software and access to the RAND net online service. Also games and additional software programs were to be shipped out to clients periodically
The magnetic disc had a storage capacity of 64MB and were a lot like Zip disc’s for PC‘s. The main advantage of using these discs is that they are encased in a tough shell, so they were a lot more durable than a CD and were a lot cheaper to manufacture than the N64 cartridge (still a lot more than the CD though), also load times were very quick, rarely exceeding five second loading times, with three or four seconds being the average speed for a game to load up. Along with the magnetic disc, the 64DD also had some interesting features that promised to revolutionize the gaming industry and Nintendo‘s N64 platform.
The system was obviously designed to play new and original 64DD game releases, and nine full 64DD games were actually released (four of which were different versions of Mario paint) for the system. But it wasn’t the new game releases that got video games players interested and intrigued with 64DD platform. It was the concept of the expansion kit disc’s, that provided further content for previously released Nintendo 64 games. The only expansion kit released that utilized the power of both systems was the F-Zero X Expansion Kit. With many others being proposed, but never released.
The 64DD’s online feature was made possible by Nintendo creating the RAND network, which was a little bit like satellite view for the Super Nintendo. Everything you needed to get the 64DD online was included in the starter pack on it’s release in late 1999. Part of this package was the Nexus developed internet modem that plugged into the N64’s cartridge slot. Once you were connected to internet you could take advantage of number of options, which included a web browser, access to a member’s only information page, an online message board for communicating with other 64DD users, the option of sending messages to the actual game programmers, beta testing, listening to music online (that was of a CD quality) and an online magazine that covered news, sports and weather. When it came to online gaming they had the choice, to either play against other people or simply observe others playing games or applications. The most popular feature on the RAND net, was it’s ability for users to share and swap what they had created using the Mario Artist creative programs with other 64DD subscribers.
In February of 2001 the RAND net service was canceled. Even though it enjoyed moderate success, with a cult status in Japan, the somewhat limited user base just wasn’t enough to justify its continued existence as a platform. The service was offered for free after the cancellation date was announced by Nintendo up until the plug was finally pulled. Once the RAND net service was disabled, Nintendo began buying back all the related software and hardware, which would be useless with out the service, but all other DD hardware and software could be kept.
The 64DD add-on only managed to sell 15,000 units in Japan and was classified as a commercial failure for Nintendo. Often being compared to all the add-ons Sega piled onto the Genesis/Mega Drive (e.g. Sega 32X). Nintendo didn’t completely walk away from this empty handed though, and if anything the 64DD was more of an experiment giving them a chance to trial new ideas (online games and internet access), some of which became standard features in Nintendo's future products and consoles.
The 4MB RAM cartridge took on a new life of it’s own, being released to the rest of the world as an expansion pack for the N64 console and was bundled in with selected titles to help enhance the graphical performance of the system. The 64DD was an interesting concept for its time, which had massive potential, and maybe things would have turned out a lot differently if the system wasn’t delayed for such a long period of time and more support was given to the platform by 3rd party developers.
Nintendo 64DD was an expansion system developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 console. It was only released in Japan.
The year was 1995, when at the Shoshinkai game show (Space world today) in Japan, that Nintendo first announced their plans to release the 64DD (Dynamic Drive) system. In 1997 Shigeru Miyamoto gave more details about the systems abilities and forthcoming games, of which most were never released. The disc drive add-on connected to the Nintendo 64’s EXT port located underneath the console. It wasn’t until 1999, towards the end of the N64’s production life, that 64DD add-on became available to the public, (in Japan). Nintendo in their typical style and out of the box thinking, created the system using a technology that was all but defunct by the time of it‘s release. Offering an alternate format to the cartridge, which utilized rewritable magnetic disc’s, rather than the CD-ROM format of Nintendo’s rivals. The format also had the benefit of staying one step ahead of the piracy problem, always on Nintendo’s mind at the time. Production costs for the magnetic disc’s scared off a lot of third party developers, with many, more comfortable with the CD format because of it’s large storage capacity and ease of development.
64DD Console Box.
Nintendo offered the 64DD through a mail order subscription service in Japan that cost subscribers ¥2,500 a month, for a 12 month contract. What they got for that price was the 64DD hardware unit, including a 4MB RAM expansion pack, a modem cartridge including the cables, software and access to the RAND net online service. Also games and additional software programs were to be shipped out to clients periodically
The magnetic disc had a storage capacity of 64MB and were a lot like Zip disc’s for PC‘s. The main advantage of using these discs is that they are encased in a tough shell, so they were a lot more durable than a CD and were a lot cheaper to manufacture than the N64 cartridge (still a lot more than the CD though), also load times were very quick, rarely exceeding five second loading times, with three or four seconds being the average speed for a game to load up. Along with the magnetic disc, the 64DD also had some interesting features that promised to revolutionize the gaming industry and Nintendo‘s N64 platform.
The system was obviously designed to play new and original 64DD game releases, and nine full 64DD games were actually released (four of which were different versions of Mario paint) for the system. But it wasn’t the new game releases that got video games players interested and intrigued with 64DD platform. It was the concept of the expansion kit disc’s, that provided further content for previously released Nintendo 64 games. The only expansion kit released that utilized the power of both systems was the F-Zero X Expansion Kit. With many others being proposed, but never released.
The 64DD’s online feature was made possible by Nintendo creating the RAND network, which was a little bit like satellite view for the Super Nintendo. Everything you needed to get the 64DD online was included in the starter pack on it’s release in late 1999. Part of this package was the Nexus developed internet modem that plugged into the N64’s cartridge slot. Once you were connected to internet you could take advantage of number of options, which included a web browser, access to a member’s only information page, an online message board for communicating with other 64DD users, the option of sending messages to the actual game programmers, beta testing, listening to music online (that was of a CD quality) and an online magazine that covered news, sports and weather. When it came to online gaming they had the choice, to either play against other people or simply observe others playing games or applications. The most popular feature on the RAND net, was it’s ability for users to share and swap what they had created using the Mario Artist creative programs with other 64DD subscribers.
64DD Magnetic Disc.
In February of 2001 the RAND net service was canceled. Even though it enjoyed moderate success, with a cult status in Japan, the somewhat limited user base just wasn’t enough to justify its continued existence as a platform. The service was offered for free after the cancellation date was announced by Nintendo up until the plug was finally pulled. Once the RAND net service was disabled, Nintendo began buying back all the related software and hardware, which would be useless with out the service, but all other DD hardware and software could be kept.
The 64DD add-on only managed to sell 15,000 units in Japan and was classified as a commercial failure for Nintendo. Often being compared to all the add-ons Sega piled onto the Genesis/Mega Drive (e.g. Sega 32X). Nintendo didn’t completely walk away from this empty handed though, and if anything the 64DD was more of an experiment giving them a chance to trial new ideas (online games and internet access), some of which became standard features in Nintendo's future products and consoles.
The 4MB RAM cartridge took on a new life of it’s own, being released to the rest of the world as an expansion pack for the N64 console and was bundled in with selected titles to help enhance the graphical performance of the system. The 64DD was an interesting concept for its time, which had massive potential, and maybe things would have turned out a lot differently if the system wasn’t delayed for such a long period of time and more support was given to the platform by 3rd party developers.
Nintendo 64DD games
Edit
| Name | Platforms | Developer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Nippon Pro Golf Tour 64 |
None | Media Factory |
|
|
F-Zero X Expansion Kit |
None | Nintendo EAD |
|
|
Doshin the Giant |
None, GC | Param |
|
|
Mario Artist: Polygon Studio released on June 29, 2000 |
None | Nintendo EAD |
|
|
Mario Artist: Communication Kit released on June 29, 2000 |
None | Nintendo EAD |
|
|
Kyojin no Doshin Kaihō Sensen Chibikko Chikko Daishūgou released on May 17, 2000 |
None | Marigul Management, Inc., Param |
|
|
SimCity 64 released on Feb. 28, 2000 |
None | HAL Laboratory, Inc. |
|
|
Randnet Disk released on Feb. 23, 2000 |
None | |
|
|
Mario Artist: Talent Studio released on Feb. 23, 2000 |
None | Nintendo EAD |
|
|
Kyojin no Doshin 1 released on Dec. 11, 1999 |
None | Marigul Management, Inc., Param |
| Platform Name: | Nintendo 64DD |
| Release Date: | Dec. 1, 1999 |
| Online Support: | True |
| Install Base: | 15,000 |
| Original Price: | $300 |
| Producing Company: | Nintendo |
| Total Games: | games |
|
Mario first in Donkey Kong |
3
|
|
Doshin first in Doshin the Giant |
2
|
|
Leon S. Kennedy first in Resident Evil 2 |
1
|
|
Robert Kendo first in Resident Evil 2 |
1
|
|
William Birkin first in Resident Evil 2 |
1
|
|
H.U.N.K. first in Resident Evil 2 |
1
|
|
Annette Birkin first in Resident Evil 2 |
1
|
|
Sherry Birkin first in Resident Evil 2 |
1
|
|
Ada Wong first in Resident Evil 2 |
1
|
|
Brad Vickers first in Resident Evil |
1
|
|
Raccoon City first in Resident Evil |
1
|
|
R.P.D Headquarters first in Resident Evil 2 |
1
|
|
Sewer first in Mario Bros. |
1
|
|
Police Station first in |
1
|
|
Basement first in |
1
|
|
Research Facility first in |
1
|
|
Port Town first in |
1
|
|
Silence first in |
1
|
|
Mute City first in |
1
|
|
Golf Course first in |
1
|
|
"Game" 64 first in Super Mario 64 |
2
|
|
Difficulty Level first in |
2
|
|
E3 1998 first in |
2
|
|
Minnesota Twins first in |
1
|
|
Anguish first in |
1
|
|
Music Creation first in |
1
|
|
Save Point first in Pitfall II: Lost Caverns |
1
|
|
T-Virus first in Resident Evil |
1
|
|
Draw first in |
1
|
|
Sims first in SimCity |
1
|
|
Mustache first in Donkey Kong |
3
|
|
Baseball first in |
1
|
|
Desert Eagle first in |
1
|
|
Pistol first in |
1
|
|
Flamethrower first in |
1
|
|
Crate first in |
1
|
|
Lab Coat first in |
1
|
|
Gun first in |
1
|
|
Green Herb first in Resident Evil |
1
|
|
Baseball Bat first in |
1
|
