Nintendo 64 Game Tips commercial (US) (2)

The Nintendo 64 owes its existence to Silicon Graphics (SGI) and MIPS Technologies, who were responsible for the R4300i microprocessor and the 3D graphics hardware used in the Nintendo 64. SGI had recently acquired MIPS Computer Systems, and the two worked together to create a low-cost real-time 3D graphics system. The SGI project was originally offered to Thomas Kalinske, then CEO of Sega of America, by James H. Clark, founder of Silicon Graphics. Sega of Japan's evaluation of the early prototype uncovered several unresolved hardware-issues and deficiencies. They were subsequently resolved; but not before Sega had already decided against SGI's design. Nintendo expressed interest in SGI's work, and "Project Reality" was born.

Nintendo's code name for the Nintendo 64, "Project Reality", stemmed from the bold belief that the hardware's advanced CGI capabilities would rival supercomputers of the era. The console's design was revealed to the public for the first time in late Spring 1994. In the West, it had given the name Nintendo Ultra 64. Pictures of the console showed the Nintendo Ultra 64 logo, a ROM cartridge, but no controller. (The final Nintendo 64 console would retain the shape pictured by the Ultra 64).

During this timeframe, Rareware (UK) and Midway (USA) released two arcade titles, Killer Instinct and Cruis'n USA, which claimed to use the Ultra 64 hardware. Although Killer Instinct did use the same CPU as Nintendo 64, a MIPS R4300i, neither title were powered by Ultra 64 hardware. Killer Instinct was the most advanced game of its time graphically, featuring pre-rendered movie backgrounds that were streamed off the hard drive and animated as the characters moved horizontally.

The completed N64 was fully unveiled in a playable form to the public on November 24th 1995, at the 7th Annual Shoshinkai Software Exhibition in Japan. Nintendo's next-generation console was introduced as the "Nintendo 64", contrary to speculation that it would be called "Ultra Famicom". Photos of the event were disseminated on the web by Game Zero magazine two days later. Official coverage by Nintendo followed later via the Nintendo Power website and print magazine.

Due to delays announced by Nintendo, the Ultra 64 did not reach the North American market until September 1996. By this time, Nintendo had adopted a new global branding strategy, assigning the console the same name for all markets, the Nintendo 64. The word "Ultra" had already been trademarked by Konami, for its Ultra Games division, leading Nintendo to drop "Ultra" from the console's name. Despite the name change, the official prefix for the Nintendo 64's model numbering scheme is "NUS-", a reference to the console's original name, "Nintendo Ultra Sixty-Four". The console was finally released in Japan on June 23rd 1996, but the PAL introduction was further delayed, finally being released in Europe on March 1st 1997.

The N64 is the first console to have force-feedback technology; but contrary to popular belief, it was not the first console to have four controller inputs (the first console was the Bally Astrocade) or an analog stick (Arcadia 2001). However it was the first modern console to have these features. It was voted the seventh-best console of all time by GameTrailers.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• nintendo
• 64
• game
• tips
• commercial
• video
• console
• advert

[costa19871]

oh man does that bring back memories.

[footinmouthindustrys]

lol, i have a very bad craving for n64 now

[qaiken]

wow i remember this...nice