Nintendo's third video game system for the international market, the Nintendo 64 (N64) was released in 1996 with two launch games: Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64. The result of the combined efforts of Nintendo, Silicon Graphics (SGI), and MIPS Technologies, the N64 was the first home system with 64-bit graphics and built-in four player gaming potential. Unlike other systems at the time, such as the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn, which used disc-based games, the N64 continued to use cartridges, a decision which would ultimately cause Nintendo to lose its previously-held dominance over the home video game market.
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Released in Japan on June 23, 1996; in North America on September 29, 1996; Europe and Australia on March 1, 1997; France on September 1, 1997
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Slogan
"Get N or get OUT"
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Fact:
Over 32 million units sold worldwide (March 2005)
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Fact:
Suggested retail price of US$199
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Fact:
First console to feature a unified memory subsystem
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Fact:
North American sales reached 500,000 in the first four months
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Fact:
Fifth generation video game console
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CPU
93.75 MHz NEC VR4300
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GPU
SGI 62.5 MHz 64-bit RCP
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Best-selling game
Super Mario 64 sold 11.62 million copies
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Fact:
Graphics chip was capable of trilinear filtering, allowing for smoother-looking textures than its contemporaries
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Fact:
The N64 analog controller beat the Sega Saturn's similar model to the market by about a month
