Remember nintendo's arrogance during nintendo 64's release?

[Enigmus]

Most people don't have three hands or use their penis to move a joystick. Sure, yes, the N64 "brought analog sticks to the masses" but it placed those analog sticks smack dab in the middle where it's near-impossible to comfortably reach.

That's because you used your left hand for the stick/Z, and your right for A/B/C/R. They made it as a crude attempt at a multiuse controller, something left unrefined until the Wii remote. Personally IMO, it made FPS or flying games easier to play than the awkward positions of the sticks on the Dual Shock (these made Gran Turismo 2 a complete disaster for me when I used them). I'm just trying to comprehend why so many people complain about the three "wings" and "unreachable joystick" when a lot of manuals to N64 games showed the way it should be held for that game.

[Spartacus]

In hindsight, there's alot that I like about the N64. I especially like those translucent colored consoles that came out later on. The console is well made and it has a decent library of games. Personally, I don't care much for the 1st party titles because Nintendo characters are a bit childish for me. I prefer the games made by Rare and others. Cartoon type graphics looked good on the N64, but other types were noticeably blurry. I REALLY dislike the controller and it's unfortunate that most 3rd party controllers for the N64 seemed to follow the Nintendo pattern. Shrug, maybe it's just me?

Arrogance. Hmmm, well the cartridge format limited games to 1/10th the capacity of a CD Rom. I know it made Nintendo money and it was an effective anti-piracy device, but it was costly and the consumer ultimately paid for it. It turned off 3rd party developers, but I honestly don't think Nintendo cared anything about them anyway. And that's pretty darned arrogant in my opinion. But hey, Nintendo is NINTENDO! There's alot of stuff I dislike about Nintendo, heck, loath even! But I always manage to find something I do like about Nintendo too. That's probably why I own so much of it.

[heybtbm]

I was a faithful Nintendo gamer at the time. My girlfriend's brother got a N64 at launch and I played it whenever he wasn't home. I finally got my own in Christmas of 1996. It was a bittersweet moment considering I finally had my own N64...BUT...I had already beaten the games I was interested in months before.

Then the wait for new games...waiting...and waiting. When it got to be too much, I broke down and bought a PS1 when it dropped to $150 in March 1997 and never looked back. OK, I did buy (and loved) Mario Kart 64, Rogue Squadron and Zelda: OOT.

As far as my personal gaming habits, the N64 was a failure on Nintendo's part in some respects. The wait for new games drove me to their competitor and I never looked back. I didn't really learn my lesson though. Several years later I ended up going with the Gamecube first before picking up a PS2 and Xbox. It's something I'm still recovering from.

[frogofdeath]

I'm just trying to comprehend why so many people complain about the three "wings" and "unreachable joystick" when a lot of manuals to N64 games showed the way it should be held for that game.

That's what I was going to say, but I was too busy using my penis to move a joystick. I just kept moving, and moving, and moving....

[megasdkirby]

I'm just trying to comprehend why so many people complain about the three "wings" and "unreachable joystick" when a lot of manuals to N64 games showed the way it should be held for that game.

The joystick wasn't unreachable, but VERY uncomfortable. It took me a very long time to get used to it, while on the Playstation it was quick and nearly effortless. After a long time, I got used to it...but it doesn't deter from the fact that it was a bitch to control at first.

I recall trying to actively find a replacement controller similar to that of the Playstation (prior to using those converters to use other controllers on systems). I found one, I think by Interact...too bad it too sucked due to horrid analog movement (very finicky).

Edit: It was this one

http://www.amazon.com/InterAct-Super.../dp/B00000K4ST

[Polygon]

So I'm going after the system with 'hatred', huh? I don't hate the system. It's the N64 fanboys and their warped revision of history and excuses, that I'm tired of reading from. I don't know how many times I need to say this, but I would have gladly taken the N64 over the PS1. I liked the bilinear filtering of the textures BITD. I liked the fact that the textures didn't twitch and warp. The graphics were very clean, back then and now. It was the library that failed for me. Nintendo's decision stupid decision to go with carts wouldn't have mattered much, if the gaming library was anything like the NES or SNES. Or like that other system, you know... the PS1?

I assume that's directed towards me, since it was in the reply to me? Yeah, you need to go back and read again. Where did imply there was any other competition other than the PS1 for the N64? Like I said, N64 = commercial success, gaming failure. The N64 was rather pathetic compared to Nintendo's own NES and SNES library, unless the only thing you EVER played on those systems were Nintendo's 1st party games (and continually the N64).

That's fair enough and in that case I apologize. I went back and read your post and you only really mentioned NEC and the PS1. Also, I know what you mean. There are plenty of people that think the N64 was a bigger success than the NES and the SNES, which I would not agree. I think it was a big success, but you're right, it had a pretty dismal library by comparison. I misinterpreted your post as hating the N64 itself.

Haha, yeah. Of course.

Like I said, I own a lot of systems from different companies. The N64 is just one of them. I own a PS1 as well.

Uhm, that's not what 'fanboy' means. You need to figure out a different term and stop trying to apply some other unrelated popular term to fit whatever definition you feel like using. 'Fanboy' has a specific meaning for a reason. I think the term you're looking for is 'hater'.

Fine. Personally, I think that it applies as well. However, it's irrelevant as I misinterpreted your OP anyhow.

[Cloud121]

Ever since the conception of the N64, Nintendo had planned a Zelda game. A proto for Zelda was shown in '96. They based a lot of the Super Mario 64 design on that early Zelda prototype. Sadly the early Zelda game was canceled.

Legend of Zelda 64 - RARE Early BETA Trailer UNRELEASED! UNSEEN N64 SCREENS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlMhzZXA0gk

That was the Zelda game I wanted. Just based on the trailer and early screenshots (Remember the 100 screenshots in Nintendo Power #100?), it seemed to be a much more open game, with more to do and explore.

[Aussie2B]

It's the N64 fanboys and their warped revision of history and excuses, that I'm tired of reading from.

The very fact that you don't believe that anyone can love the N64 without having a warped view of it proves that you're a N64 anti-fanboy. In your prior post, you state, as if it's undeniable fact, that games like Majora's Mask, Super Mario 64, and Goldeneye aren't that good, despite that MOST people like, if not love, those games. So do you have the "correct" view and everyone else is "warped"? No game is going to be everyone's cup of tea, that's understandable. On less mature forums than Digital Press, you'd probably have people flaming you like crazy for hating on those popular games, but here we show respect even for minority opinions. Why can't you show the same respect for those who appreciate said games and the N64? Why do you feel the need to paint out N64 fans as fools? I can give the answer: because you're a N64 anti-fanboy.

As for the controller discussion, old illogical argument about needing three hands is OLD.

[Collector_Gaming]

This topic was big back in 1996
and it will be a big topic for the rest of gamings future

People think about when nintendo wanted sony to create a add on to their SNES to compete with the cd based consoles coming out which sony was happy to do so
nintendo backs out last second sony gets pissed and uses their new found technology to make a console for themselves.
The war begins.

Sadly sega saturn was caught up in this mix wasn't fairing extremely well with its alright but not crazy sega cd sales and game gear sales and with its problems with saturn it put a stop to development due to Sony and Nintendo's raging battle.

They both had their up sides and both had their down sides in a very equal playing field.

I personally enjoyed the n64 controller and found it easy to use... But then again i am left handed so that might have something to do with it as your left hand was the dominant hand for the controller due to its lay out.
People say the graphics were fuzzy. I think they are wrong. for what it was i thought they were fine
Playstation 1 in my opinion was horrible on graphics. everything just feels blocky. the n64 had a lil bit smoother edges with its 3d objects.

Playstation on the other hand due to sony being a big player in the entertainment industry for years and years and years had easy access to many different developing companies so it had the better starting line up and library to follow it used the cd format which developers loved cause it was easier and cheaper to use then the dying cartridge format nintendo used.

Playstation could do movies.. Nintendo couldn't

Its all about personally style and flair.
i mean to this day i still prefer the n64 over playstation (which i now own 1 of those too). But thats my style.

Hell i prefer the Xbox 360 over PS3
Cause one thing i love their controllers over the PS's rehashed controller they haven't changed since ps1 which i always thought had the worst location for analog sticks ever. But again thats my opinion.

no matter what will be said this battle will still go on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYqmx...eature=related

vs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8meCI...eature=related

[buzz_n64]

no matter what will be said this battle will still go on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYqmx...eature=related

vs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8meCI...eature=related

Man, this takes me back to my middle school years. Awesome time of change in the video game world. I don't think we'll ever experience a transition as big as that in our lifetime, but who knows. 3D blew me away. I remember the discussions my buddy and I had over weather the N64 or the Saturn was better. lol I thought the Playstation was just another 3DO or CD-i. I guess I ended up being wrong.

[Collector_Gaming]

Man, this takes me back to my middle school years. Awesome time of change in the video game world. I don't think we'll ever experience a transition as big as that in our lifetime, but who knows. 3D blew me away. I remember the discussions my buddy and I had over weather the N64 or the Saturn was better. lol I thought the Playstation was just another 3DO or CD-i. I guess I ended up being wrong.

i remember when i got my n64 for christmas was the DK64 bundle pack with jungle green n64 with matching controller

i plugged it in and was glued to it for days!

was like 3d gaming! i finally got to have 3d gaming!!!!

[Postermen]

Anyone who would buy the N64 for Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy is either just making assumptions or buying into the most extreme rumor mill nonsense. Those games never existed. No projects ever begun for those. I had Nintendo Power through the pre-launch of the N64 till 2000 or so, and those games NEVER appeared on the upcoming list or in any previews. If someone bought a N64 for Earthbound 64, okay, I can have some pity, but Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior? Sorry, no sympathy here.

Really?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMjkzEhIsj8

I was at e3 for the debut of the N64. As a huge Nintendo fanboy, I had been waiting forever for "Project Reality". Final Fantasy VII, was definitely talked about for N64. Some of the magazines I had from that e3 had a Dragon Warrior (I don't remember if it said "Quest") listed as an upcoming title. I think I threw away the magazines several years ago.

[Kiddo]

Really?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMjkzEhIsj8

I was at e3 for the debut of the N64. As a huge Nintendo fanboy, I had been waiting forever for "Project Reality". Final Fantasy VII, was definitely talked about for N64. Some of the magazines I had from that e3 had a Dragon Warrior (I don't remember if it said "Quest") listed as an upcoming title. I think I threw away the magazines several years ago.

I don't recall that tech demo being mentioned much in the USA until the internet was already mainstream (Basically, long after the N64 was already out). Of course, this is from someone who didn't read gaming mags at the time. And yet somehow even then I knew of the 64DD.

http://www.lostlevels.org/200510/ - if this helps for more info on the FF SGI footage.

Anyway, that still doesn't explain where any thought of Dragon Warrior came from.

[sheath]

I have never seen that before. I do have to say that the blond girl in the red (ahem) bathing suit really does look like a little girl. That just ain't right.

Anyway, the entire time I was playing Final Fantasy 7 I could not stop being distracted by the fact that it looked like N64 models, and sounded like N64 music, with FMV CGI mixed in.

[Aussie2B]

Really?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMjkzEhIsj8

I was at e3 for the debut of the N64. As a huge Nintendo fanboy, I had been waiting forever for "Project Reality". Final Fantasy VII, was definitely talked about for N64. Some of the magazines I had from that e3 had a Dragon Warrior (I don't remember if it said "Quest") listed as an upcoming title. I think I threw away the magazines several years ago.

That and the Lost Levels article proves that the press just likes to make up the most outlandish rumors in order to keep consumers on the edge of their seats, buying more magazines. I remember Next Gen magazine even rumored that Final Fantasy VIII would come out on Dreamcast. The problem is when people can't tell the difference between rumor and fact. Like the article explains, the Final Fantasy SGI demo was in no way programmed with an Ultra 64 development kit, nor was a project ever began by Squaresoft for the Nintendo 64. It was purely an experiment in 3D, which should be evident given that they used Final Fantasy VI characters rather than create something from scratch.

It's just a shame that with all the well-researched, accurate information out there on the subject it still can't overpower the years of misinformation.

[nebrazca78]

Like I said, N64 = commercial success, gaming failure. The N64 was rather pathetic compared to Nintendo's own NES and SNES library, unless the only thing you EVER played on those systems were Nintendo's 1st party games (and continually the N64).

Is it just me who's wondering how N64 could have been considered a commercial success? I'm no Nintendo expert but doesn't the U.S. N64 only have about 250 games? If that figure is correct, that's about the same amount of games the U.S. Saturn has and I've never heard anyone call U.S. Saturn a commercial success. NES and SNES have over 600 and 700 licensed games respectively. Dropping to well under half of that at a time when gaming was getting bigger than ever seems closer to a failure than a success. Although IMO just because a system is not #1 doesn't make it a failure, ~250 games is still a relatively decent amount of software. And vice versa, PS1 will always be a different kind of failure to me while N64 is my favorite Nintendo system.

The parallels between Sega and Nintendo at that time are amazing. Genesis and SNES both had over 700 games and a massive following going in to the 32/64 bit era. Then they both released consoles that ended up with a humble ~250 games (in the U.S. that is, worldwide Saturn had ~550 games and N64 ~350). No matter how you slice it Sega and Nintendo both got faceblasted by PS1 which has ~2400 games worldwide. So much for Nintendo's arrogance.

But Nintendo did hang on, learned from its mistakes and kicked Sony in the nuts. Even when Nintendo was down they were still making money. And now that Sony's down it's getting close to losing everything while Nintendo is banking HARD. Too bad Sega didn't have the ability to hang on like Nintendo did...


.

[sheath]

The N64 got just around 300 games in the US. Those game library comparisons are anachronistic though. The PS1 didn't have over 1000 games until after the year 2000 (June 2001 to be exact). Also, it's library is heavily padded with cyclical sequels and sports titles.

That is actually the only difference between a mass market "successful" library and a library like the Dreamcast, N64, Saturn, TG16 or Master System. Mass market consoles get the padding only after their initial competition is replaced by a successor.

Back on topic though, it is very interesting that Nintendo now equates its success to modern casual/social gaming.

[Zing]

Most people don't have three hands or use their penis to move a joystick. Sure, yes, the N64 "brought analog sticks to the masses" but it placed those analog sticks smack dab in the middle where it's near-impossible to comfortably reach.

This is a bizarre complaint. I don't recall playing any N64 games which required the use of the d-pad, the stick, and the buttons. The configuration was always d-pad/stick, stick/buttons, d-pad/buttons. Maybe there were some games that required you to use all three either simultaneously or alternately, but I never played any.

As for the game prices, there was only one game I bought which was priced at $80 at Best Buy: Mortal Kombat Trilogy. I have no idea why it was so high, but I bought it anyway since I loved the game on the PS1 and I dreamed of having it without load times. Too bad it was literally one of the worst programmed games I have ever played. I returned it to the store within an hour and convinced them to accept the return even though it was open. Yes, the "reason for return" was written down as "worst game I have ever played".

[todesengel]

This is a bizarre complaint. I don't recall playing any N64 games which required the use of the d-pad, the stick, and the buttons. The configuration was always d-pad/stick, stick/buttons, d-pad/buttons. Maybe there were some games that required you to use all three either simultaneously or alternately, but I never played any.

I can think of two games off the top of my head that made use of everything on that controller, Duke Nukem 64 and Duke Nukem Zero Hour. In both games you used the C buttons to move around, analogue stick to look around, the D-pad to cycle through weapons and inventory, Z button to attack and finally L & R for jumping and activating inventory items. I'm sure there are other games that make use of everything at the same time as well, but those are the only two I own that do.

[Aussie2B]

While the total number of releases for a system is a good measure of success, I don't think you can take it completely at face value. I mean, we wouldn't say the NES was only half the success that the PlayStation was. The plug was basically pulled on the Saturn in the US, while the N64 lasted for a full life span with big hits still released in its later years (Donkey Kong 64, Banjo Tooie, Majora's Mask, etc.) Worldwide, the Saturn sold just under 10 million units, while the Nintendo 64 sold 33. And, keep in mind, that's including the Japanese sales where the Saturn was successful. If I had figures for just the US, I'm sure the ratio would be even more in Nintendo's favor.

Sure, the lack of third party support hurt, but that wasn't a deal-breaker for many gamers in terms of the decision to buy the hardware, not when they still had Nintendo and Rare games to buy. And for the average consumer that can't afford to buy loads of games, their money was probably just redirected toward the first/second-party stuff when nothing third-party of interest was available rather than not spent at all. In the end, Nintendo was still making a good amount of money both on hardware and software sales.

It would be interesting if there were figures on the average library size of N64, Saturn, and PlayStation owners back then. I'm sure the PlayStation beats out the N64, since, even if you ignore the size difference in the system libraries, the games were cheaper and there were budget games as cheap as $10 brand new, but I wonder just how big the gap was.