Product Code Database
Nintendo 64 accessories are first-party Nintendo hardwareand third-party hardware, licensed and unlicensedintended for use with the Nintendo 64, which was released in 1996. Nintendo's first-party accessories are mainly transformative system expansions: the 64DD Internet multimedia platform, with a floppy drive, video capture and editing, game designer, web browser, and online service; the controller plus its own expansions for storage, data transfer, and vibration; and the RAM-boosting Expansion Pak for improvements in graphics and gameplay. Third-party accessories include the essential game developer tools built for Nintendo by Silicon Graphics and SN Systems, an unlicensed SharkWire Online service, and unlicensed cheaper counterparts to first-party items.
The controller includes a D-pad and ten buttons: a large A and B button, a Start button, four C-buttons (Up, Down, Left, and Right), two shoulder buttons (L and R), and a Z trigger positioned on the back. A port on the bottom of the controller allows users to connect other accessories, including the Controller Pak, the Rumble Pak, and the Transfer Pak.
Rambus memory controllers require memory modules to be installed in pairs, with any unused slots needing continuity modules like the Jumper Pak. These modules do not provide additional memory; instead, they ensure proper signal propagation by directing signals to termination resistors. Without them, signals would reflect, causing instability.
Most Nintendo 64 consoles were shipped with the Jumper Pak pre-installed.
The original models from Nintendo have 32 KB of battery backed SRAM, split into 123 pages with a limitation of 16 save files, but third-party models have much more, often in the form of multiple selectable memory banks of 32 KB. Games occupy varying numbers of pages, sometimes using the entire card. It is powered by a common CR2032 battery.
Upon launch, the Controller Pak was initially useful, and even necessary for early games. Over time, the Controller Pak lost popularity to the convenience of a battery backed SRAM or EEPROM in some cartridges. Because the Nintendo 64 Game Pak format also allows saving data on supported cartridges, few first-party and second-party games use the Controller Pak. The vast majority are from third-party developers. This is most likely due to the increased production and retail costs which would have been caused by including self-contained data on the cartridge. Some games use it to save optional data that is too large for the cartridge, such as Mario Kart 64 (1997), which uses 121 of the total 123 pages for storing ghost data, or International Superstar Soccer 64 (1996), which uses the entire cartridge's space for its save data. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (2000) uses 11 pages. Quest 64 (1998) and Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon (1997) use the Controller Pak exclusively for saved data. The Japan-only game Animal Forest (2001) uses the Controller Pak to travel to other towns. Animal Forest can play Famicom games from a Controller Pak, though only one game, Ice Climber, was released via this method through magazine giveaways.
Following the 1996 Christmas shopping season, Next Generation reported "impressive sales of the memory pack cartridges despite the lack of available games to take advantage of the $19.99 units".
The Expansion Pak was initially developed for the 64DD to support its multimedia applications, but was instead released separately in late 1998, and was later bundled with the 64DD's delayed launch in Japan in December 1999. The accessory was bundled with Donkey Kong 64 (1999) and Japanese versions of (2000) and Perfect Dark (2000).
The Expansion Pak was packaged with an ejector tool (NUS-012) to assist in removing the original Jumper Pak.
Game developers leveraged the increased memory for improved visuals, gameplay, and performance. Some games require the Expansion Pak, including Donkey Kong 64, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, and all 64DD software. Others restrict access to certain content without it. For example, the Expansion Pak is necessary to play the single-player campaign in Perfect Dark, with the game’s packaging stating that only "approximately 35%" of the game is available without it. In StarCraft 64 (2000), the Expansion Pak is required to play the expansion.
IGN praised the Expansion Pak for delivering an "immediate and noticeable" impact on supported games, making it one of the most influential add-ons for the Nintendo 64.
However, the Expansion Pak can introduce compatibility issues in some games. Space Station Silicon Valley (1998) may crash in certain areas when the Expansion Pak is installed.
VRUs are region dependent, and foreign region VRUs are not detected by the games. No VRU compatible game was launched in the EUR region (PAL, Europe), so there is no EUR-region VRU. A similar device for the Wii is Wii Speak.
The cards are all 3.3 V 2 MB SmartMedia memory cards manufactured by Hagiwara Sys-Com. Mario no Photopi was bundled with an empty memory SmartMedia card for storing players' creations.
Nintendo licensed a Traveling Case—a black bag, with the Nintendo 64 name stitched on the front. Two plastic buckles on the front keep the bag closed. It carries the Nintendo 64 console, controllers, games, and accessories. A standard black backpack has the Nintendo 64 logo on the top and a zippered compartment on the front.
By 1999, the SGI systems were supplanted by the SN Maestro 64, a development kit built under license by SN Systems. This kit has a cartridge connecting a standard Nintendo 64 console to a PC via cable. Third-party development kits include the IS-VIEWER 64 and Partner 64, and the Monegi Smart Pack enables real-time development on the console. The Doctor V64 by Bung Enterprises loads games from CD, and the more affordable Doctor V64 Jr. connects to the PC through a parallel port. Bung produced the DX 256 Super Game Saver and the DS1 Super Doctor Save Card. Similar devices include the CD 64 (a CD-ROM drive by UFO/Success Company) and the Mr. Backup Z64, a ZIP drive for backups and cartridge playback. DexDrive connects a Nintendo 64 Controller Pak to a PC for save game sharing. Modern alternatives like the Everdrive 64 and SummerCart64 use SD cards or USB for ROM storage and file transfer.
The Wide-Boy64 was developed by Intelligent Systems, a longtime Nintendo partner known for creating Game Boy software development kits. It is primarily used for capturing screenshots and video clips more efficiently, and displays the game screen with a border resembling the portable system.
Internally, the Wide-Boy64 contains Game Boy hardware, to run games natively rather than through emulation. Two major versions were released: the CGB model, which supports Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, and the updated AGB model, which added support for Game Boy Advance Game Paks.
The Arcade Shark is an arcade-style joystick controller from InterAct with slow motion and autofire buttons.
The Flight Force Pro 64 is a flight stick from InterAct.
The GameShark, or Action Replay in Europe, is an unlicensed cheat device similar to the Game Genie, made by InterAct and Datel in two versions. The first version has an LED display and 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) has a parallel port on the back for connecting to a computer for game downloads.
The Memory Card is a series of third-party Controller Pak alternatives by InterAct, distributed by Datel in Europe. Later revisions, such the Memory Card Plus and Mega Memory Card, feature more memory than a standard Controller Pak.
The TremorPak is a third-party rumble expansion by InterAct, which can toggle between two levels of vibration strength. A second version, the TremorPak Plus, added an expansion port for an included InterAct Memory Card to be plugged in, with a switch to toggle between the two accessories' functionality.
The Advanced Control Pad is a Mad Catz gamepad with the same form and controls as the standard Nintendo 64 controller, plus a turbo button.
The Mad Catz Steering Wheel is a set consisting of an analog steering wheel that turns 270 degrees, two foot pedals, and a stick shift.
The Power Wheel is a steering wheel with a foot pedal module, produced by Game Source.
The UltraRacer 64 is a vertically-oriented controller designed by InterAct for racing games. It features a radial dial in place of the analog stick and a trigger that functions as both the A and B buttons.
The GameBooster, or GB Hunter in the United States, is a Game Boy player developed by Datel, similar to the first-party Super Game Boy for the SNES. It cannot reproduce the games' sound, and instead plays a single looping music track.
The V3 Racing Wheel is a steering wheel with foot pedals produced by InterAct. It has vibration and includes an expansion port for an InterAct Memory Card. It does not support the Rumble Pak due to its redundancy and the risk that it would grate on the player's crotch.
The Glove, made by Reality Quest, is a wearable glove-like controller similar to the Power Glove with buttons like a normal controller. It is usable in any game.
The Nyko Hyper Pak Plus contains internal memory and a rumble feature.
The N64 Passport is an adaptor and cheat device by E.M.S. that bypasses games' Regional lockout, with a few exceptions.
The Act Labs RS is a racing wheel that includes a pedal attachment. It is cross-compatible with Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and PC through the use of conversion cartridges that were sold separately.
The Tilt Pak is a rumble feedback and motion sensor made by Pelican.
The High-Rez Pack is Mad Catz's 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.
SharkWire Online is a GameShark with modem and PC-style serial port for keyboards. It allowed and Game Shark updates through the now discontinued sharkwire.com dial-in service.
The Tristar 64 is a third-party adaptor by Future Laboratory enabling NES and SNES games on Nintendo 64. The device expands the cartridge slot into three total slots for each cartridge type.
The Forever Pak 64 is a memory card developed by 4Layer Technologies. It has 256 kilobits of storage, but unlike the Controller Pak, it uses non-volatile memory to hold data indefinitely.
The group=lower-alpha was designed by Marigul Management to connect the 64DD to a Game Boy Color, allowing data to be transferred between the two as well as using the GBC as a second screen, similar to the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable. It was demonstrated at Space World 1999, but was never released, presumably due to the failure of the 64DD.
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