N64 Color Rarity

[Genesaturn]

Hey guys, I been looking at all the color and system variations of the N64. It took me a while to hunt an Ice Blue down for my GF and I couldn't really touch one for under $75. I been trying to gauge the rarity of all the specific systems and tried google searching to no avail. Anyone have a source? or have the knowledge on this? I ask because my GF is a big Nintendo junkie and wants to collect the different systems.

[goatdan]

This is completely non-scientific, and only from what I have seen between me and a bunch of my suppliers...

Obviously, the dark grey / black one is the most common.

"Jungle Green" is the next most common. It was sold in a DK64 bundle, which is why it is easier to come by.

I think that the Gold consoles are the next most common, but they are also perhaps the most sought after, so they don't seem like it.

The other "clear-ish" colors and the Pikachu one all seem to be about the same, but I'd notch the Smoke and the Grape consoles slightly more rare than the blue and the fire. Smoke in particular you seem to never see, I think because it wasn't *that* much of a departure from the standard model.

As for Ice, I've got one with the controller for $50 at the GOAT Store. Boxed is MUCH harder to find on these, except again the jungle green ones. In fact, I actually don't think that I've *ever* seen an N64 colored box other than the green one.

Hope that helps!

[jonebone]

How I rank them by rarity, common to rarest:

Standard Gray
Jungle Green
Gold
Ice Blue
Smoke Gray
Grape
Fire Orange
Watermelon

How I rank them by value

Standard Gray
Jungle Green
Smoke Gray
Ice Blue
Grape
Watermelon
Fire Orange
Gold

[FoxNtd]

Did the orange N64 have a USA release or is that Japan only?

[Genesaturn]

Did the orange N64 have a USA release or is that Japan only?

Pretty sure the orange one came out here and then there was a 2-tone orange/black that stayed in Japan

[Space-Ace-13]

Did the orange N64 have a USA release or is that Japan only?

it was released in the USA for sure... we got one for christmas one year, and still have it

[Urzu402]

Where does the Pikachu/Pokemon N64 Fit into this?

[FoxNtd]

Pretty sure the orange one came out here and then there was a 2-tone orange/black that stayed in Japan


it was released in the USA for sure... we got one for christmas one year, and still have it

Thanks for confirming it. :)

[kedawa]

My nephew still has his orange N64.
I mostly keep my eye out for the green ones, since they almost all came with the expansion pak.

[Atarileaf]

So what you're saying is that I can get a few cheap grey n64's, some spray paint and make some serious money!? :D ;)

[SparTonberry]

No, the colored N64s are translucent.

[wiggyx]

How I rank them by rarity, common to rarest:

Standard Gray
Jungle Green
Gold
Ice Blue
Smoke Gray
Grape
Fire Orange
Watermelon

Based on what? That list seems completely arbitrary.

[orangest]

Boxed is MUCH harder to find on these, except again the jungle green ones. In fact, I actually don't think that I've *ever* seen an N64 colored box other than the green one.

I guess I lucked out when I found this at a Goodwill a month ago. Since my favorite color isn't much of a mystery, I was very happy to find it. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/orangest/CIMG3771.jpg

[ultimaweapon]

The gold for me is a rare find. A buddy of mine came upon one at a flea market. I like it a lot.

[goatdan]

I wouldn't be overly surprised if the "Funtastic" series was all made in the same quantities, and rarity is just determined by what you happen to see go by... with the exception of Jungle Green. In my years of running the GOAT Store, I've only seen one Smoke and two Grapes pass through my hands, and I don't know if anyone that helps supply us has seen more. Fire and Ice I've seen multiples of, and Watermelon which I forgot yesterday seems to be the most common of those, where I've seen about a half dozen, and I have opted not to get a couple of them too...

But... I wouldn't be surprised if there was originally the same numbers made, and it just so happens that these are what turned up. It would be interesting to know a case count of colors, but if I am recalling correctly, there was six consoles to a shipping box, and if that is the case it makes the most sense that each shipping box contained one of each.

I think the Pikachu consoles are actually pretty darn rare, but I also think that it's a very niche crowd that likes the Pikachu consoles, so while I have had a few pass through my hands, I think it has less to do with rarity and more to do with the lack-of-desirability amongst the majority of collectors. I know that when I was figuring out what console to throw in my rack, I eliminated the Pikachu console instantly just because it was bigger. I wouldn't be surprised if others do the same, and that is why those pop up for sale more often.

[jonebone]

Based on what? That list seems completely arbitrary.

Based on my experience as a reseller and collector. I never said it was fact, I said that's how I personally rank them. Others can feel free to make their suggestions as well.

But just using your damn brain, obviously blue is going to be more in demand than pink among gamers that are predominantly male. That's not rocket science.

[Genesaturn]

I guess I lucked out when I found this at a Goodwill a month ago. Since my favorite color isn't much of a mystery, I was very happy to find it. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/orangest/CIMG3771.jpg


Wow man...at goodwill ? I'm envious..Goodwill never pans out for me..most stuff I find is at Amvets.

[kedawa]

That's a bit of an odd assumption. Anyone getting an N64 now is getting it to play fruity Nintendo games, and I don't think they'd find pink all that objectionable. Besides, even if you buy into the 'pink is for girls' thing, it's been my experience that women have more of a Nintendo bias than men when it comes to retro-gaming.

[Genesaturn]

That's a bit of an odd assumption. Anyone getting an N64 now is getting it to play fruity Nintendo games, and I don't think they'd find pink all that objectionable. Besides, even if you buy into the 'pink is for girls' thing, it's been my experience that women have more of a Nintendo bias than men when it comes to retro-gaming.

I spent 2 months trying to hunt down a good deal on a complete Ice Blue system with matching controllers.....My GF wouldn't take any other color...finally nabbed one at my local store for $45

[wiggyx]

Based on my experience as a reseller and collector. I never said it was fact, I said that's how I personally rank them. Others can feel free to make their suggestions as well.

But just using your damn brain, obviously blue is going to be more in demand than pink among gamers that are predominantly male. That's not rocket science.



My "damn brain" tells me that production numbers aren't necessarily based on what you or I think would be more appealing to a male audience.

Think of it this way, there are 5 colors that aren't nearly as feminine to the 1 that is, watermelon. I'd say a 5:1 ratio of male:female N64 owners is quite possibly a very realistic figure. It was a very kid-friendly console, and sex seems to make far less difference when it comes to who's a gamer and who isn't at younger ages (based on my experience in retail).

Making an assumption about production numbers really makes no sense. How does that help anyone?

[The 1 2 P]

Wow man...at goodwill ? I'm envious..Goodwill never pans out for me..most stuff I find is at Amvets.

I actually found(and foolishly passed on) a Gold N64 at Goodwill for $30. I got my Orange one from a craigs list find a few years ago. I don't come across the Gold N64's alot but I do find the gold controllers for them every now and then.

[Atarileaf]

Man I wish they would have done this with Atari. I'd love me some purple, orange or neon pink 2600 :D

[goatdan]

I don't come across the Gold N64's alot but I do find the gold controllers for them every now and then.

I believe they made extras of those that were available separately or something. I *know* that there is a third party knock-off that also looks nearly identical. There definitely seems to be far more gold controllers out there than there are gold systems.

The rarest controller variation that I know of is the DK banana controller.

[eggwolio]

I actually found(and foolishly passed on) a Gold N64 at Goodwill for $30. I got my Orange one from a craigs list find a few years ago. I don't come across the Gold N64's alot but I do find the gold controllers for them every now and then.

My gold system came from a Goodwill 7 or 8 years ago. No cords or controllers, but it was ten bucks and works perfectly. I had spare cords and such already.

[Gameguy]

Man I wish they would have done this with Atari. I'd love me some purple, orange or neon pink 2600 :D
There was, at least in prototype form.


http://i50.tinypic.com/2nq6ukh.jpg

[treismac]

It's too bad I'm not a fan of the Nintendo 64. I'm rather envious of ya'll for having so many cool color choices to collect from.

[BlastProcessing402]

Man I wish they would have done this with Atari. I'd love me some purple, orange or neon pink 2600 :D

Going the other way, I wish more consoles had used wood grain.

[The 1 2 P]

There was, at least in prototype form.


http://i50.tinypic.com/2nq6ukh.jpg

And here I thought the 2600 couldn't possibly get any uglier.

[Gamevet]

When my launch N64 was stolen from my apartment @2001, I picked up a Grape N64 for about $40.

[jperryss]

When my launch N64 was stolen from my apartment @2001, I picked up a Grape N64 for about $40.

I never had an N64 BITD but picked up a grape one, boxed (inserts, baggies, everything) for $25 around 2004 or so. Sold it a year later for about the same. I had no idea it was one of the less common colors, kinda wish I'd held onto it.

[treismac]

Going the other way, I wish more consoles had used wood grain.

Yes! I miss the old wooden TVs as well.

[Atarileaf]

There was, at least in prototype form.


http://i50.tinypic.com/2nq6ukh.jpg

LOL, I do remember seeing pictures of this. That's fantastic! :D

[wingzrow]

I saw a van from the 80s recently and the interior dashboard was almost all wood with a little wooden cabinet. I don't know what it is about wood finishes on things but it makes me feel like they're so much more classy.