Nintendo 64DD From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Nintendo 64DD Manufacturer Nintendo Type Video game console add-on Generation Fifth generation (32-bit/64-bit era) First available JP December 1, 1999 Media Magnetic disks (64 MB) System storage Cartridge battery, Controller Pak Online service RANDnetDD (Japan only) Units sold 15 000 [1] The Nintendo 64DD ("DD" being short for "Disk Drive") is an expansion system for the Nintendo 64. It was named the "Dynamic Drive" at the start of its development, and plugs into the N64 through the EXTension Port of the Nintendo 64's bottom side. It was a commercial failure[2]. Contents [hide] 1 History 2 Hardware 2.1 Accessories 3 RANDnet 4 Legacy 5 Software 6 Games 6.1 Proposed games 7 References 8 See also 9 External links [edit] History The 64DD was announced at 1995's Nintendo Shoshinkai game show event (now called SpaceWorld). One of the games that was featured for use with the 64DD was Creator, a music and animation program by Software Creations, the same people that made Sound Tool for the Nintendo Ultra 64 development kit. The game advertised that it could be implemented into other games, being able to replace textures and possibly create new levels and characters. Unfortunately, there was no playable version of Creator available at Shoshinkai 1995. At E3 in 1997, Nintendo's main game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto speculated that the first games to be released for the new system would be SimCity 64, Mario Artist, Pocket Monsters, and Earthbound 64.[3] However, the 64DD was delayed until its release in Japan on December 1, 1999. Nintendo, anticipating that its long planned-out disc drive peripheral would become a commercial failure, sold the system through a subscription service called RANDnet, rather than selling the system directly in Japan to retailers or consumers. As a result, the 64DD was only supported by Nintendo for a short period of time and only nine games were released for it. Most unreleased 64DD games were either cancelled or released as normal Nintendo 64 games.




Hardware The 64DD unattachedThe N64DD has a 32-bit coprocessor to help it read magnetic disks, and to transfer data to the main console. It was intended to be Nintendo's answer to the Compact Disc that was used for Sony's PlayStation, which was cheaper to produce. Sony's CD storage could hold approximately 650 megabytes (MB) of information, compared to the Nintendo 64's 4 to 64 megabytes (MB) cartridge. The new medium for the N64DD was rewritable and had a storage capacity of 64 MB. The games on normal N64 cartridges could also hook up with DD expansions, for extra levels, minigames, even saving personal data. The drive works similarly to a Zip drive, and has an enhanced audio library for the games to use. The main N64 deck uses its RCP and MIPS4300i to process data from the top cartridge slot and the I/O devices. To hook up with the 64DD, it needed an extra 4 MB of RAM for a total of 8 MB. Unlike the N64, the 64DD can boot up on its own, without the need of a cartridge on the top deck, because it has a boot menu. This would later be carried over to the Nintendo GameCube, Wii and the Nintendo DS. The 64DD had its own development kit that worked in conjunction with the N64 development kit. [edit] Accessories The released version of 64DD included a modem for connecting to the network RANDnet, an audio-video (female RCA jack, and line in) adapter called the Capture Cassette to plug into the main cartridge slot, and a mouse and keyboard that plugged into the controller inputs. [edit] RANDnet Much like the Super NES had the Satellaview online service in Japan, the Nintendo 64 64DD had the RandNet service (named for the two companies involved with the project, 'Recruit' and 'Nintendo'). Launched in December 1999, the RandNet service allowed gamers to compete against each other online, play new unreleased games before they hit the stores, surf the Internet, listen to music online, and much more. The RandNet Starter Kit came packaged with 64DD machines and included everything a gamer would need to access the service (the subscription cost was ¥2500 per month): Nintendo 64 Modem: The Nexus-developed software modem was housed on a special cartridge that plugs into the N64's cart slot. The Modem Cart has a port to plug in the included modular cable which then connects to the network. Expansion Pak: This 4 MB RAM Expansion brings the N64's system RAM to 72 megabits. The rest of the world received this item for free with purchase of Donkey Kong 64 or The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. 64DD: The writable 64 MB disk drive attachment made network use and data saving possible. Without it the RandNet service is useless. Randnet Browser Disc: This is the disc that lets users access the "members only" information exchange page as well as the Internet. Once logged on to the service players could choose from a variety of options for fun and games: Battle Mode: Gamers play against each other, swap scores, and compete against players from all over the country. Observation Mode: Spy on other players and watch their game sessions. Beta Test: Play a few sample levels from upcoming new games. Information Exchange: Online message boards and e-mail for communicating with other users. Community: Swap messages with the actual game programmers and producers about their upcoming products and old favorites. Internet Surfing: Surf the Internet with the custom web browser. Digital Magazine: Check online sports scores, weather, and news. Music Distribution:

Listen to CD-quality music, some of which has yet to be released in stores. Editing Tool: Create own custom avatars to interact with other users. RandNet was a semi-popular service, considering the limited 64DD user base. One of the most substantial group of games to include RandNet support was the Mario Artist series that allowed users to swap their artwork creations with others. Contests and other special events also occurred every now and then. However, the service was not successful enough to justify its continued existence, so in February 2001 it was discontinued, leaving all the RandNet hardware useless. Nintendo bought back all the RandNet-related hardware (gamers could keep the 64DD which was more than able to function on its own) and gave all users free service from the time the closure of the service was announced until the day it actually went offline. [edit] Legacy The 64DD may be seen as the Nintendo 64 equivalent of the Famicom Disk System, the aborted SNES CD, or the Sega CD for the Genesis. The concept of downloading information was earlier seen in the Satellaview for the Super Famicom. It was the last in a long list of failed console add-ons. [edit] Software RANDnet Disk　ランドネットディスク　02/23/00 [edit] Games F-Zero X Expansion Kit　エフ　ゼロ　エックス　エクスパンションキット　04/21/00 Japan Pro Golf Tour 64　日本プロゴルフツアー　05/02/00 Kyojin no Doshin 1　巨人のドシン1　12/11/99 Kyojin no Doshin Kaihou Sensen Chibikko Chikko Daishuugou　巨人のドシン。　解放戦線チビッコチッコ大集合　05/17/00 Mario Artist: Communication Kit　マリオアーティスト。　コミュニケーションキット　06/29/00 Mario Artist: Paint Studio　マリオアーティスト。　ペイントスタジオ　12/11/99 Mario Artist: Polygon Studio　マリオアーティスト。　ポリゴンスタジオ　08/29/00 Mario Artist: Talent Studio　マリオアーティスト。　タレントスタジオ　02/23/00 SimCity 64　シムシティー64　02/23/00 [edit] Proposed games The Nintendo 64DD had several games announced for it that ended up either cancelled or being released on cartridge format only, the following is a list of those games: 7th Legion Automobili Lamborghini Add-On Banjo-Kazooie 2 (released in cartridge as Banjo-Tooie) Cabbage Creator DD Sequencer Desert Island: No Man's Island Dezaemon DD Digital Horse Racing Newspaper Donkey Kong World Doubutsu Banchou (Animal Leader, released on GameCube as Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest)

Dragon Warrior VII[4] (ported and released on the Sony PlayStation instead) DT Final Fantasy VII Fire Emblem 64 Gendai Dai-Senryaku: Ultimate War Hybrid Heaven (released in cartridge) Jungle Emperor Leo (Kimba the White Lion) Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (released in cartridge and moved to Nintendo 64) Mario Artist: Game Maker Mario Artist: Graphical Message Maker Mario Artist: Sound Maker Mario Artist: Video Jockey Maker Mission: Impossible (released in cartridge) Mission: Impossible 64DD Morita Shogi 64 (released in cartridge) Mother 3 (EarthBound 64) (cancelled, it became a Game Boy Advance title of the same name) Mother 3.5 (EarthBound 64 Add-On) Ogre Battle Saga Pokémon 64/Pokémon RPG Pokémon Stadium (moved to Nintendo 64 cartridge) Pokémon Stadium Expansion Disk Pokémon Stadium 2 (released internationally as Pokémon Stadium) Project Cairo[5] Quest 64 Add-On Rev Limit SimCopter 64 (Released on PC) SnowSpeeder (Released in cartridge) Super Mario 64 2 Super Mario RPG 2 (released in cartridge as Mario Story in Japan and Paper Mario in the rest of the world) Suu Unreal (developed by DMA Design) Tank Teo Tonic Trouble Add-On Toukon Road: Brave Spirits Add-On Wall Street Ultra Donkey Kong Kid Icarus 64 Metroid Prime Ura Zelda (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest), the expansion disk to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (released on GameCube) Yosuke Ide's Mahjong Juku Zelda 64 (released in cartridge as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time) Zelda Gaiden (later released in cartridge as The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask) [edit] References Nintendo 64DD information ^ NUS: Nintendo64 ^ gameconsoles.co.uk » SNES ^ Takao Imamura, Shigeru Miyamoto (1997). Nintendo Power August, 1997 - Pak Watch E3 Report "The Game Masters" (in English). Nintendo, 104-105. ^ IGN staff (January 16, 1997). "Enix/Sony Update". IGN.com. Retrieved on 2008-07-19. ^ "Project Cairo". IGN.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-07. [edit] See also Nintendo 64 accessories [edit] External links Everything About the 64DD – IGN 64DD: Broken Promises - IGN 64DD.net – Biggest 64DD site on the net Seb Angulo's Lair – Pictures of the 11

released 64DD games Seb Angulo's Lair Multimedia – Homemade hi-res in-game videos of 64DD games N-sider.com - NintendOnline - Page 2 article about Nintendo's online history [hide]v • d • eNintendo video game hardware Consoles Color TV Game • NES (Famicom Disk System • NES 2 • AV Family Computer) • Super NES (Super Game Boy • Satellaview • Nintendo Power) • Virtual Boy • Nintendo 64 (64DD • iQue Player) • GameCube (WaveBird • Game Boy Player • Panasonic Q) • Wii Handhelds Game & Watch • Game Boy (Pocket • Light) • Game Boy Color • Game Boy Advance (SP • Micro) • Nintendo DS (Lite • DSi) Arcade Nintendo Classic • Vs. Series • PlayChoice-10 • Nintendo Super System • Triforce Peripherals DK Bongos • NES Zapper • Power Glove • Power Pad • R.O.B. • Super Scope • U-Force • SNES mouse • NES Four Score • NES Satellite • Famicom Four-way Adapter Technology Nintendo optical discs • MultiAV Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64DD" Categories: Nintendo 64 | Video game console add-ons