Nintendo 64 accessories
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This is a list of accessories for the Nintendo 64 video game console.


Accessories

First party accessories

A Nintendo 64 controller.Nintendo 64 controller — an 'm'-shaped controller with 10 buttons (A, B, C-Up, C-Down, C-Left, C-Right, L, R, Z, and Start), one analog stick in the center, a digital directional pad on the left hand side, and an extension port on the bottom. Initially available in six colors (gray, yellow, green, red, blue, and black) and later in transparent versions of said colors (except gray). The N64 pad's analog stick is notorious for becoming very worn. Also, the analog stick would become uncalibrated if not centered properly when the system was booted up; if the stick was not centered, the game would calibrate with a zero of the altered position. Because this may not be discovered until the player enters the game, a universal software recentering method is printed in every manual (simultaneously pressing the L, R, and START buttons). Early titles such as Wonder Project J2 would lose calibration if the player moved the cursor while accessing the Controller Pak save.





A Nintendo-brand Controller Pak.Controller Pak — a memory card that is plugged into the controller and allowed the player to save game progress and configuration. The original models from Nintendo offered 256 KB battery backed SRAM, split into 123 pages with a limitation of 16 save files, but third party models had much more, often in the form of 4 selectable memory bank of 256KB. The number of pages that a game occupied varied (sometimes, it used the entire card). A Controller Pak was initially useful or even necessary for the earlier N64 games. Over time, the Controller Pak lost ground to the convenience of a battery backed SRAM (or EEPROM) found in some cartridges. Games by Konami often required the Controller Pak for saves, even though the games could have easily contained three or more save-slots (such as in the case of Quest 64).
Jumper Pak — a filler that plugged into the console's memory expansion port. It serves no functional purpose other than to terminate the RAMBUS bus in the absence of the Expansion Pak. This is functionally equivalent to a continuity RIMM in a RAMBUS motherboard filling the unused RIMM sockets until the user upgrades. Early Nintendo 64 consoles (prior to the Expansion Pak's release) come with the Jumper Pak included and already installed. Jumper Paks were not sold individually in stores and could only be ordered individually through Nintendo's online store.

The 4 MB memory Expansion Pak.Expansion Pak — a memory expansion that plugged into the console's memory expansion port. It contained 4 MB of RAM. Some of the games to support this accessory are Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage, Gauntlet Legends, Hybrid Heaven, Pokémon Stadium 2, Resident Evil 2, Road Rash 64, Shadow Man, Star Wars: Episode I Racer, and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, San Francisco Rush 2049, and South Park. Only a handful of games such as Rare's Donkey Kong 64, the single-player mode of Rare's Perfect Dark, the multi-player mode of Blizzard's Starcraft 64 and Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask required it for play. Supporting games usually offered higher video resolutions or higher textures and/or higher color depth. For example, the Nintendo 64 all-remade version of Quake 2 features higher color depth but not a higher resolution when using the Expansion Pak. The Expansion Pak was shipped with some games and also available separately.

A blue Nintendo 64 controller with the Rumble Pak inserted.Rumble Pak — an accessory that plugged into the controller and vibrated during game play. It was released in 1997 alongside Star Fox 64.

The Transfer Pak.Transfer Pak — an accessory that plugged into the controller and allowed the Nintendo 64 to transfer data between Game Boy and N64 games. Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2 are games that rely heavily on the Transfer Pak. Both Mario Golf and Mario Tennis also made use of it. Rare's Perfect Dark was initially going to be compatible with the Transfer Pak in order to use pictures taken with the Game Boy Camera in the game, but this function was scrapped, and the Transfer Pak was usable only in combination with the Game Boy Color version of Perfect Dark for unlocking bonuses.
The Wide-Boy 64 CGB / AGB — a series of adapters similar to the Super Game Boy that was able to play Game Boy games; however, it was only released to the developers and the press. Third party adapters allowed regular consumers to do the same.

The N64 Disk Drive.S-Video Cable — provides a better quality picture than composite RCA cables via the MultiAV port. The cable is identical to and compatible with earlier SNES and later Gamecube S-Video cables.
64DD — The official N64 Disk Drive attachment was a commercial failure and was consequently never released outside of Japan. It featured networking capabilities similar to the SNES Satellaview.

The VRU (Voice Recognition Unit).VRU (Voice Recognition Unit) — This device is packed in and required to play Hey You, Pikachu!. It consisted of a ballast that connects into controller port 4 of the system, a microphone, a yellow cover for the microphone and a clip for clipping the microphone to the controller. Players would hold the L or Z button on the controller and talk to Pikachu. One major drawback is the fact that the VRU is only calibrated to high pitched voices like that of a child as stated in the manual, so older children and adults will have problems issuing commands.
Dance Pad (Japan only) — a dance pad packaged separately that is needed to play Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Dancing Museum.
Cleaning Kit – Nintendo released a first party cleaning kit for the Nintendo 64. It contained everything required to clean the connectors of the control deck, controllers, game paks, Rumble Paks and Controller Paks.
RF Switch and RF Modulator — This accessory set allows the Nintendo 64 and model 2 SNES (redesigned after the launch of the N64) to hook up to the television through RF. It was primarily intended for customers with older televisions that lack AV cable support. Since the Nintendo 64 and model 2 SNES lack built-in RF compatibility, the modulator acts as a special adapter that plugs into the Nintendo 64's AV port to give the Nintendo 64 RF compatibility. The RF switch itself is identical in every way to the RF switches released for Nintendo's prior systems (the NES and the SNES) and can be interchanged if needed. This identical set was later re-released for the GameCube to also give it RF compatibility, and additionally, the connectivity cables intended for the GameCube will fit the N64.
Euro Connector Plug — a special connection plug that fits into the back of a European television which have a 16 pin input, manufactured by Nintendo, packaged with it where the A/V cables.
12-Game Storage Case — a black rectangular container built of wood, with a plastic drawer with one row of slots designed for Nintendo 64 games. Official cases have the Nintendo 64 sticker on the drawer.
24-Game Storage Case — a black rectangular container built of wood, with a plastic drawer with two rows of slots designed for Nintendo 64 games. Official cases have the Nintendo 64 sticker on the drawer.
Messenger Bag — a black bag, made to carry on the left side of the body. It is branded on the front with the Nintendo 64 logo and name. It comes with zippered compartments on the outside and inside and with mesh pockets. It can only hold a few games and a controller.
Traveling Case — a black bag, with the Nintendo 64 name stitched on the front. Two plastic buckles on the front keeps the bag closed. It is made to carry the Nintendo 64 system with controllers, games, and accessories.
Backpack — a standard black backpack with the Nintendo 64 logo on the top. There is a zippered compartment on the front.
35 mm Camera — a basic 35 mm camera, complete with a timer and flash. Official cameras have a Nintendo 64 logo on the front. It comes in different colors, such as blue and orange.

[edit] Third party accessories
Bio Sensor — An ear-clip that plugs into the Controller Pak slot of the N64 controller to measure the user's heart rate. Released only in Japan and compatible only with Tetris 64 where it will slow down or speed up the game depending on how fast the player's heart is beating.
Dex Drive — Made by Interact, allowed the player to upload data from their memory cards and either store the files on your computer, or send via the internet.
GameShark — A cheat device made by Interact in two versions. The first version had a LED display that would count down 5 seconds upon turning the system on. The period in the display would be lit while playing to show that the unit was functioning. There is a slot on the back of the unit for an expansion card that was never made. The second version (known as the 'Pro' series, versions 3.2 and up) had a SCSI or parallel port on the back for connecting to a computer for downloads. It also featured a cheat search function. Version 3.2 had a similar LED display as the earlier versions. This feature was removed in version 3.3. GameShark cards (or Action Replay cards in Europe) could be used to access content that would normally be inaccessible if a game is played normally without the card. The most famous N64 game for hidden content was Goldeneye 007 for its citadel rumours.
SharkWire Online — An Interact Game Shark with modem and PC style serial port for keyboards. Allowed emailing and Game Shark updates through the now discontinued sharkwire.com dial-in service.
GB Hunter — Like the Super Game Boy, connects to the N64's cartridge slot and requires a N64 boot cartridge plugged into its back, and allows you to play Game Boy games on it, without the game's sound; instead GB Hunter's theme is played over and over during the game.
High Rez Pack — Mad Catz' less-expensive version of the Expansion Pak. There were reports of overheating due to inadequate cooling/venting, and the unit suffered from poor build quality.[citation needed]
N64 Passport — Adapter and cheat device allowing players to play games from different regions on their model N64, with a few exceptions.
Memory Card Comfort by Speed-Link — A sort of Controller Pak with four separate memory areas, and 123 pages each, selectable via a small switch.
Battery-free Rumble Paks — Late in the N64's run, a few third-party companies made Rumble Paks that, instead of requiring batteries to work, drew power from the system.
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Categories: Nintendo 64 | Nintendo hardware