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Famiboards
Release Date
Japan: June 23rd 1996
North America: September 29th 1996
Europe: March 1st 1997
Features
-Cartridges with the ability to break long-time partnerships.
-Enables a distinctive lack of creativity toward its games line-up titles.
-Region Free, as long as you're willing to break two plastic pieces near the cartridge connector with pliers.
-The first home console to feature four built-in controller ports so you could ruin friendships more efficiently.
-The first home console to have an expansion port directly on its controller for the use of memory cards, rumble packs, transfer packs.
-The first home console to have a RAM slot for expansion to unlock options for better resolution for select games, some games will function exclusively with it, such as Donkey Kong 64, The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask and Perfect Dark's Campaign Mode.
-The still #1 contender for weirdest controller in history.
How can I access the N64 library during these modern days?
-You can always go the good old fashioned way and buy the console and (most of) the cartridges you wish to play for a fair price, as long as you're not looking for complete CIB copy of its best known games.
-As of November 5th 2021, Nintendo will add N64 games to its Online service as an expansion to it's Online Service for a total of $49.99(USD)/year, with the below games to start and more to be added in the future. (Play Sin & Punishment, it's an absolute banger.)
-If you still have a Wii U (like some loser such as me), there is a selection of N64 available on the E-Shop that you can buy for the price of 9.99$(USD) each.
Is there a way to dump my N64 cartridge to enjoy those on the devices of my choice?
Well aren't you in luck, this is exactly my specialty! There isn't a ton of ways to dump N64 games but if the will is there, you'll manage!
My first choice is the good old trusty Retrode, which by itself is already capable to dump SNES and Genesis cartridges, along with its N64 adapter. It's basically plug-and-play, you plug the Retrode w/cartridge in it on your PC and it'll show up as a stockage device, within you'll find your .N64 file. Transfer it to your desktop and test it ASAP with the emulator of your choice in order to verify that it works as intented.
You can find the Retrode and adapters on the below websites, when available that is.
Retrode 2 - Cart Reader, Rom Dumper for Super Nintendo, Genesis, & More
stoneagegamer.com
There is also a way to dump N64 games with a GameShark Pro, which you'll find on the link below.
racketboy.com - View topic - Dumping N64 ROMs with GameShark Pros
www.racketboy.com
Show your collection, please.
Sure, now show yours.
Maintenance & Mods
Thanks Mazzle for the contribution!
Battery replacement
Here is a handy list of what save method games use on the Nintendo 64.
As you can see, many use the Controller Pak, which in its original form uses a battery to power the SRAM on it.
A game like for example Mario Kart 64 uses it to save ghost data.
Good thing is, you can buy new Controller Paks like those from 4 Layer, that even fit into the shell of the original Paks and don't need any battery
The other cartridges where a better is in use, also use SRAM. So these game might have lost their save function unless you replace the battery:
To open up any cartridge (or console) from NES up to GBA, you need these Game Bits
- 1080 Snowboarding
- Dezaemon 3D (JPN, 768Kbit)
- F-Zero X
- Harvest Moon 64
- Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The
- Major League Baseball featuring Ken Griffey Jr.
- Mario Golf
- New Tetris, The
- Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
- Pocket Monsters Stadium (JPN)
- Resident Evil 2
- Super Smash Bros.
- WCW/NWO Revenge
- WWF: Wrestlemania 2000
Control Stick replacement
The N64 is known for its control stick. Not only for introducing the control method to the mainstream but also for its wear and tear.
One fairly known, but also pricey option is Steel Sticks 64, with long waiting lists and prices over 100$.
Those Sticks are built to feel like the original without wearing down that fast.
Another option is to replace the parts inside the stick.
It's is fairly easy to open up an N64 controller and unscrew the stick with normal Phlips screws and there you can replace
These are cheap options and they work well, iyam.
Of course you can buy one of those replacement sticks that are built like your standard control stick today, but those have huge dead zones and
would need a potentiometer replacement, which requires you to solder.
RGB
The N64 doesn't support RGB natively.
So if you wanna use your N64 via the RetroTINK X5 or OSSC in its full capacity, you need a RGB Mod.
I personally use the kit from Tim Worthington, which you can buy here: CLICK
The installation guide is also on that website, plus the latest firmware by Borti4938 includes a switchless Deblur and 15bit Colour Mode.
You can see how to install this here on the third picture: CLICK
And of course, you need some proper cables to actually use RGB.
So again a personal reccomendation are these cables by RetroGamingCables from the UK.
But if you want more informations about RGB Mods, cables or even HDMI Mods, please visit
N64
Nintendo 64 The N64 did not support RGB-output natively, however all versions can be modified for RGB, as well as HDMI! Please see below for all options. Which RGB mod for each model N64? This page shows you the different RGB mod options available and which will work with each N64 rewww.retrorgb.com
Youtube Section
My go-to for N64 videos is Glenn Plant N64, he's basically on a quest to review every single N64 games out there and he's been doing this for almost ten years.
CGQ's Launch coverage is a good watch as well.
Some Game Sack because why not.
Now, let's discuss this great console, your favorite games, your favorites moments with it. Let's celebrate the Nintendo 64!
Cheers!
EDIT: Working on the OP, I'm aware the banner isn't ideal for Light Mode, still learning my way around GIMP to try something more sofitisticated than MS paint to start fresh. Why are you guys on Light Mode anyway? :lol