The Nintendo 64, commonly called the N64, is Nintendo's third home video game console for the international market. The N64 was released on June 23, 1996 in Japan, September 29, 1996 in North America and Puerto Rico, March 1, 1997 in Europe/Australia and September 1, 1997 in France. It was released with only two launch games in Japan and North America (Super Mario 64 and PilotWings 64) while the PAL region had a third launch title in the form of Shadows of the Empire (video game) (which was released earlier in the other markets). The Nintendo 64 cost $199 at launch in the United States.
The N64 was first publicly introduced on November 24, 1995 as the Nintendo Ultra 64 at the 7th Annual Shoshinkai Software Exhibition in Japan (though preview pictures from the Nintendo "Project Reality" console had been published in American magazines as early as June 1993). The first published photos from the event were presented on the web via coverage by Game Zero magazine two days after the event."Coverage of the Nintendo Ultra 64 Debut from Game Zero", Game Zero. Retrieved May 20, 2006. Official coverage by Nintendo soon followed a few weeks later on the nascent Nintendo Power website, and then in volume #85 of their print magazine.
During the developmental stages the N64 was referred to by its code name, Project Reality. The name Project Reality came from the speculation within Nintendo that this console could produce CGI on par with then-current supercomputers. Once unveiled to the public the name changed to Nintendo Ultra 64, referring to its 64-bit processor, and Nintendo dropped "Ultra" from the name on February 1, 1996, just months before its Japanese debut due to the word "Ultra" being trademarked by another company, Konami for their Ultra Games division.
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IGN64 - News, previews, reviews, guides, codes, release dates, and chat.
Meta Description: [ IGN N64 is the ultimate resource for Nintendo 64 trailers, screenshots, cheats, walkthroughs, release dates, previews, reviews, soundtracks, guides, and news. ]
64DD.net - Nintendo 64DD information source and community.
Meta Description: [ The Nintendo 64DD and Nintendo 64 Information Database and Community Site. ]
About.com - Previews, reviews, cheats, FAQs, and codes.
Meta Description: [ PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, or PC - About Video Games has it covered and gives you the detailed information you need to maximize your game time. ]
Adaptoid - Controller to USB interface allowing use with computer.
Meta Description: [ The Adaptoid, a N64 controller to USB interface, allows you to play games on your computer with your N64 controller. It also allows you to transfer data from your N64 memory packs to your PC. ]
Archive 64 - Contains a library of comprehensive N64 reviews, tributes to past N64 sites, and miscellaneous Nintendo articles written by Scott McCall.
Meta Description: [ WebHelp 5.50, Archive 64 contains an extensive library of comprehensive N64 reviews written by Scott McCall, the world's most-renowned Nintendo 64 journalist and authority. ]
Dextrose - A collection of N64 technical information, free demo programs, and other resources.
Meta Description: [ A console related news and tool resource. ]
GameFAQs - Collection of reviews, message boards, FAQs, codes, strategies, and walkthroughs.
Meta Description: [ Nintendo 64 - GameFAQs Game Guides, Cheat Codes and Walkthroughs for the Nintendo 64 game system. All the Nintendo 64 game help and information you will ever need to succeed in your quest for game domination. ]
GameZone.com - News, codes, reviews, previews, and game information.
Meta Description: [ Get the latest Nintendo 64 cheats, Nintendo 64 codes, reviews, previews, and daily news on the hottest Nintendo 64 games at GameZone Online. ]
Halley's Comet Software N64 Information - Nintendo 64 development and technical resources.
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HellBored - Contains cheats and codes for the system.
How Stuff Works - Information about how the system works.
Meta Description: [ The Nintendo 64 is an extremely popular video game system, with millions of users around the world! Learn where it all started and what's inside. ]
Metacritic - Aggregated reviews of Nintendo 64 titles.
MobyGames - N64 - List of N64 games with screen shots and box cover art.
Meta Description: [ MobyGames game browser game All Games a Nintendo 64 ]
N64 Europe - Reviews, previews, cheats, release dates, chat, and message board.
N64DD Info Center - Information on the Nintendo 64 Disk Drive.
N64seeker - Cheats, walkthroughs, discussion boards, screen shots, and links.
Meta Description: [ Complete resources for the Nintendo 64 platform featuring reviews, cheat codes and FAQ, walkthrough and game guides. ]
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Nintendo 64 Gameworld - Contains news, reviews, screenshots, cheats, hints and game information.
Nintendo 64 Resource Page - Information on rare games and hardware.
Nintendo 64 Tech - A guide to the technical aspects of the N64, mirrors of backup and development resources.
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Nintendo N64 - Official site, contains some basic information on the system.
The Cart Scan Repository - High resolution images of the hardware inside of N64 cartridges.
Meta Description: [ The Cart Scan Repository - Nintendo 64 cart scans, drop on by and submit your stuff. ]
The N64 Zone - Cheats, images, and message board.
Video Game Chat - Nintendo 64 - Interact with other N64 fans.
Meta Description: [
Chat Room ]
World of Nintendo 64 - Cheat codes, Game Shark codes, ending movie spoilers, reviews, manual transcripts, and a forum.
Meta Description: [ THOUSANDS of Nintendo tips, codes, passwords, reviews, Game Endings, and much more for the Nintendo 64!!! ]
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