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[IbizaPocholo]

Someone Just Opened A Brand-New Nintendo 64DD Dev Kit

A private video game collector recently reached out to Rerez host Shane Luis for his help in documenting a new, in-box Nintendo 64DD development kit, which means we now have an idea of what it must have been like for developers in the ‘90s to get their hands on this rare piece of hardware.

kotaku.com

A private video game collector recently reached out to Rerez host Shane Luis for his help in documenting a new, in-box Nintendo 64DD development kit, which means we now have an idea of what it must have been like for developers in the ‘90s to get their hands on this rare piece of hardware.

The 64DD was an add-on for the Nintendo 64 that was meant to expand the aging, cartridge-based console’s storage with writeable disks to help it compete with disc-based competitors like the PlayStation. That said, it remained exclusive to Japan and never really took off with developers or consumers, and as such is pretty rare today. Only nine DD games were released throughout 1999 and 2000 before Nintendo gave up on the project.

 

[Celcius]

Very cool! I had no idea about being able to have two cartridges connected at once!

 

[IbizaPocholo]

Episode 368 - This odd peripheral for the N64 was only released in Japan, though it was planned for release in other regions. Only 10 disks ever made it to retail. Let's check it out!

Game Sack explores the Nintendo 64 DD, a disk drive peripheral that was released only in Japan and failed to make an impact in the market. The device sold only 15,000 units and was cancelled before it could be released internationally. The hosts discuss various games including Mario Artist: Paint Studio, Doshin the Giant, and F-Zero X, among others, highlighting the unique features and limitations of each game. They also mention the rarity and high market value of the 64 DD today. Despite its commercial failure, the hosts acknowledge the device's cool factor and invite viewers to share their thoughts about it.

 

[Badlucktroll]

Why are these almost $2000 on ebay.

 

[Kamina]

Why are these almost $2000 on ebay.

Collector‘s items.

 

[alucard0712_rus]

Why are these almost $2000 on ebay.

Nintendo stupidity cost a lot.

 

[Badlucktroll]

Collector‘s items.

I wonder if it was a CD drive instead and had attracted developers like Square and Capcom. Would it have been more successful?

 

[Kadve]

I wonder if it was a CD drive instead and had attracted developers like Square and Capcom. Would it have been more successful?

It did. Games like Dragon Quest VII, Pokémon Stadium, Resident Evil Zero, Donkey Kong 64, Zelda: OOT and Street Fighter III was originally planned for it.

The was that the addon went from "being launched alongside the N64 in 1995" (which also didn't end up happening) to a very limited released in 1999 due to being stuck in development hell. At which point most developers, even Nintendo themselves, had given up on it.

 

[6502]

Sadly 64dd was dead on arrival. It was never going to take off, especially so late in to the n64 life and no killer app. The only good that came out of it was the expansion pak.

A cool find though.

 

[Kamina]

I wonder if it was a CD drive instead and had attracted developers like Square and Capcom. Would it have been more successful?

A CD drive would have likely been better, maybe even avoided the commercial failure

 

[Drew1440]

Magneto optical drives were expensive and obscure, not sure why nintendo didn't go for a read only Zip/Ls120 zip drive.

 

[baphomet]

It did. Games like Dragon Quest VII, Pokémon Stadium, Resident Evil Zero, Donkey Kong 64, Zelda: OOT and Street Fighter III was originally planned for it.

The was that the addon went from "being launched alongside the N64 in 1995" (which also didn't end up happening) to a very limited released in 1999 due to being stuck in development hell. At which point most developers, even Nintendo themselves, had given up on it.

Street Fighter 3 was never planned for the N64, let alone the DD.

90% of those rumors in magazines back then were completely made up.