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{{short description|Primary game controller for the Nintendo 64}}
{{Refimprove|date=November 2010}}
{{Infobox Information appliance
{{Infobox computing device
| title =
|name=Nintendo 64 controller
| logo =
|image=[[File:N64-Controller-Gray.jpg|250px|Nintendo 64 controller]]
| image = N64-Controller-Gray.jpg
|caption=Nintendo 64 controller
|manufacturer=[[Nintendo]]
| caption = A Nintendo 64 controller in gray
| aka =
|type=[[Gamepad]]
| developer =
|lifespan= June 23, 1996
| manufacturer = [[Nintendo]]
|generation= [[History of video game consoles (fifth generation)|Fifth generation]]
| family = [[Nintendo 64]]
|releasedate=
| type = [[Gamepad]]
|codename=
| generation = [[Fifth generation of video game consoles|Fifth]]
|connectivity=N64 controller port
| releasedate = {{ubl
|Discontinued=
| {{vgrelease|JP|June 23, 1996}}
|unitssold=
| {{vgrelease|NA|September 29, 1996}}
|input= [[Rumble Pak]]
| {{vgrelease|EU|March 1, 1997}}
|camera=
|power=
|cpu=
|storage=
|memory=
|display=
|service=
|dimensions=
|weight=
|touchpad=
|topgame=
|predecessor= [[SNES controller]]
|successor= [[Nintendo GameCube controller]]
|related=
}}
}}
| retail availability =
The '''Nintendo 64 controller''' (NUS-005) is the standard [[game controller]] included with the [[Nintendo 64]]. Released by [[Nintendo]] in late 1996 in [[Japan]] and [[North America]], and 1997 in [[Europe]], it features ten buttons, one digital "Control Stick"{{ref|DigiStickNote|[cn 1]}} and a directional pad, all laid out in a "M" shape.
| lifespan = {{age|1996|06|23}} years
| price =
| discontinued =
| units sold =
| units shipped =
| media =
| os =
| soc =
| cpu =
| memory =
| storage =
| memory card =
| display =
| graphics =
| sound =
| input = {{ubl
| [[analog stick|Control stick]]
| [[D-pad]]
| 10 buttons (A, B, C up, C down, C left, C right, L, R, Z, Start)
}}
| controllers =
| camera =
| touchpad =
| connectivity = {{ubl
| Nintendo 64 controller port
| '''Accessories:'''
| [[Controller Pak]]
| [[Rumble Pak]]
| [[Transfer Pak]]
}}
| power =
| platform =
| currentfw =
| service =
| dimensions =
| weight =
| topgame =
| compatibility =
| predecessor = [[SNES controller]]
| successor = [[GameCube controller]]
| related =
| website =
}}

The '''Nintendo 64 controller''' ([[model number]]: NUS-005) is the standard [[game controller]] for the [[Nintendo 64]] [[home video game console]]. It was first manufactured and released by [[Nintendo]] on June 23, 1996, in Japan; in September 29, 1996, in North America; and March 1, 1997, in Europe. It is the successor to the [[Super Nintendo controller]] and is designed in an "M" shape and features 10 buttons, a "Control Stick",{{efn|name=DigiStickNote}} and a [[D-pad]].


==Design==
==Design==
[[File:N64-Controller-Gray-Back.jpg|thumb|250px|Rear of the [[Nintendo 64]] controller, showing the Z-trigger and expansion port]]
[[File:N64-Controller-Gray-Back.jpg|thumb|Rear of the [[Nintendo 64]] controller, showing the three triggers and expansion port]]
The controller was designed by [[Nintendo R&D3]], under direction to try new ideas that would break from typical game controllers.<ref name="NGen14">{{Cite magazine |date=February 1996 |title=The Ultra 64 Joypad |url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-014/page/n39/mode/2up |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |pages=38–39 |issue=14}}</ref> With original visual designs having been mocked up in clay form, and extensive test group studies being performed before and during the design phase,<ref name="Nintendo Power #79" />{{rp|12}} the Nintendo 64's controller design was eventually solidified in tandem with that of [[Shigeru Miyamoto]]'s gameplay mechanics in ''[[Super Mario 64]]''.<ref name="goddard interview">{{Cite journal |date=December 2001 |title=The Making of Mario 64: Giles Goddard Interview |url=http://pixelatron.com/blog/the-making-of-super-mario-64-full-giles-goddard-interview-ngc/ |journal=[[NGC Magazine]] |publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]] |issue=61 |access-date=2014-09-09 |archive-date=2020-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115041135/http://pixelatron.com/blog/the-making-of-super-mario-64-full-giles-goddard-interview-ngc/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Though Miyamoto tested the controller while developing ''Super Mario 64'', the controller was not designed around the game, while it did influence its mechanics like movement.<ref name="goddard interview" /><ref name="A Dolphin's Tale">{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Emily |date=January 7, 2014 |title=A Dolphin's Tale: The Story of GameCube |url=http://www.dromble.com/2014/01/07/dolphin-tale-story-of-gamecube/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705003643/http://www.dromble.com/2014/01/07/dolphin-tale-story-of-gamecube/ |archive-date=July 5, 2014 |access-date=July 6, 2014 |publisher=Dromble Media}}</ref>
The controller for the Nintendo 64 was designed to be held in several different positions. It was designed around ''[[Super Mario 64]]''. It could be held by the two outer grips, allowing use of the digital D-pad, right-hand face buttons and the "L" and "R" shoulder buttons (but not the "Z" trigger or analog stick). It could be also held by the center and right-hand grip, allowing the use of the single control stick, the right hand-buttons, the "R" shoulder button, and the "Z" trigger on the rear (but not the "L" shoulder button or D-pad). A combination of the D-pad, L-shoulder, analog stick and Z button is possible but was never implemented for any game. Finally, one controller could be held in each hand with a thumb on each analog stick and index fingers on the "Z" trigger. This setup allowed dual-analog control on some [[first-person shooter]]s such as ''[[Perfect Dark]]''. More often than not the analog stick and right-hand face and shoulder buttons were used in games. while in some, both the control stick and directional pad could be interchangeable (ex: ''[[Mortal Kombat Trilogy]]''). Very few games used the directional pad exclusively; two examples are the 3D puzzle game ''[[Tetrisphere]]'' and the side-scrolling platformer ''[[Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards]]''.


{{quote box | width=25em| align=right| quote=Lance Barr, the head designer at NOA, worked with the NU64 design team in Japan on the controller. The sculpted shape of the radical new [[Batarang]]-like controller was so complex that it couldn't even be modeled on a computer. During development, the first mock-up was created out of clay. | source=—''Nintendo Power'', December 1995<ref name="Nintendo Power #79">{{Cite journal |date=December 1995 |title=Nintendo Power |publisher=Nintendo |issue=79}}</ref>{{rp|12}}}}
This design was controversial, as by its nature it prevented the use of all of its features with the player's hands in any one position; the D-pad, L-shoulder, analog stick and Z-trigger could not all be used at the same time as it required the player to switch hand positions, taking their hands off of the key directional controls. When Sony released its [[Dual Analog]] and [[DualShock]] controllers for the competing [[PlayStation]], it retained the original controllers' two-handled ergonomics, placing the analog sticks below and inside the primary D-pad and face buttons, allowing the player to quickly switch from the D-pad and face buttons to the analog sticks without letting go of the controller. This layout would become dominant in gamepad design, and several third-party manufacturers would produce aftermarket N64 controllers with more conventional layouts, such as the [[MakoPad]] and [[Hori Mini]]. Nintendo itself would largely follow suit with the stock controller for its [[GameCube]] console, but swapped the positions of the analog stick and D-pad, as by that time the left analog stick had become universally accepted as the primary movement control on 3D games across all consoles.
Nintendo of America's head designer, Lance Barr, said that the design studies revealed that "most games use a few buttons for most of the main controls, such as jumping and shooting, or accelerating and braking. That's why the A and B Buttons are placed for easiest access on the new controller and why they are larger than the other buttons. They're the buttons that get high traffic."<ref name="Nintendo Power #79" />{{rp|12}}


[[File:Nintendo-N64-Controller-Motherboard-Flat-Top.jpg|thumb|right|The motherboard for the Nintendo 64 controller]]
The controller also included four "C buttons", which were originally intended to control the camera in the N64's three dimensional environments. However, since the pad only contained three other face buttons, the C-buttons often became assigned to ulterior functions. An example of this is ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'', where three of the C-buttons can be assigned to secondary items and the upper C-button is used to orient the camera.


The controller has four "C-buttons" on the top, which were originally intended to control the camera in three-dimensional game environments.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=February 1996 |title=The Ultra 64: Power Packed |url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_079_February_1996/page/n21/mode/2up |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |pages=20–21 |issue=89}}</ref> Because the pad only contains three other face buttons, the C-buttons may be assigned to alternate functions. In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'', three of the C-buttons can be assigned to secondary items, the upper C-button is used to call [[Navi (The Legend of Zelda)|Navi]] for assistance, and the Z-trigger is used to lock focus onto enemies and center the camera behind the player.
One game, ''[[Robotron 64]]'', allowed one player to use two controllers to control an [[Avatar (computing)|avatar]]. This way the game played like its predecessor, ''[[Robotron 2084]]''. ''Star Wars Episode 1: Racer'', ''GoldenEye 007'' and ''Perfect Dark'' also used this set up for slightly different gameplay experiences (in terms of control, at least) compared to the standard single controller option.


===Analog stick===
The controller initially came in six colors (grey, black, red, green, yellow and blue) but other colors were released later, many of them coinciding with the release of a similarly colored or designed system. Some of these others include smoke black, watermelon red, jungle green, fire orange, ice blue, grape purple, and special edition colors like gold, atomic purple, extreme green, "Donkey Kong 64" banana bunch yellow, "Pokémon" blue/yellow and "Millennium 2000" platinum.
The Nintendo 64 controller was one of the first game controllers to incorporate [[analog stick]] technology as a main feature, intended to provide the user with a wider range of functions such as mobility and camera control. The stick is designed to detect 360 independent directions, compared to the 8 independent directions detected by a [[D-pad]], allowing the potential for Nintendo 64 games to more accurately emulate 360° of motion.<ref name="NGen14" />


Analog joysticks prior to the Nintendo 64 include those used by the [[Atari 5200]], [[Sega]]'s [[List of Sega arcade system boards|arcade systems]], Sega's analog Mission Stick for the [[Sega Saturn|Saturn]] (1995),<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 29, 1995 |title=[セガハード大百科] アナログミッションスティック |script-title=ja:[セガハード大百科] アナログミッションスティック |trans-title=The Sega encyclopedia - analog mission stick |url=http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/ss/mission.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017180618/http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/ss/mission.html |archive-date=2007-10-17 |website=Sega Hard Encyclopedia |publisher=[[Sega]] |language=ja}}</ref> and [[Sony]]'s [[PlayStation Analog Joystick]] (1996). The Nintendo 64 controller distinguished itself from these precursors by using an analog thumbstick, which was predated only by the [[Mega Drive]]'s XE-1 AP, designed by third-party manufacturer Dempa in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 June 2022 |title=XE-1 AP Entry in Sega Retro Archive. |url=https://segaretro.org/XE-1_AP |access-date=24 April 2018 |archive-date=3 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103154145/http://segaretro.org/XE-1_AP |url-status=live }}</ref> The Nintendo 64 controller was released contemporaneously with Sega's 3D Pad for their Saturn system, and was followed during the [[fifth generation of video game consoles]] by Sony's [[Dual Analog Controller|Dual Analog]] and [[DualShock]] controllers for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] console.
When the Nintendo 64 is switched on, the joystick on each controller is automatically calibrated by recording the current position as the center position. That works assuming your hands are off the joystick when you turn on the Nintendo 64. The joystick can also be recalibrated while the Nintendo 64 is on, by pressing L+R+START to indicate that the current position of the joystick is the center position.


The analog stick uses a pair of optical encoding disks to determine its position, similar to how [[Computer mouse#Mechanical mice|ball mice]] work.<ref>{{Cite web |title=N64 Wireless Computer Controller Mod |url=http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-24584.html |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201210726/http://www.picaxeforum.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-24584.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Since optical encoding disks only give the system relative changes in the position of the analog stick, the system assumes that the stick is centered during power-on and tracks relative movements from there. If things get out of sync, or if the control stick was not centered during power-on, the center position can be reset by pressing the left and right shoulder buttons (L and R) at the same time as the Start button (or resetting the console with the correct neutral position).
==Analog stick==


===Calibration===
For many years, console designers and manufacturers ignored [[analog stick]] technology, instead preferring the digital [[d-pad]]. It was not until the emergence of 3D gameplay that the analog thumb stick was put into widespread use.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} Using a d-pad in a 3D game greatly limits the player's ability to accurately utilize 360° of motion. However, analog sticks do not suffer this limitation and their prevalence allowed game designers to fully utilise them as the main method of control.
When the Nintendo 64 is switched on, the joystick on each controller is automatically calibrated by recording the current position as the center position. That works assuming the hands are off the joystick when the Nintendo 64 is powered on. The joystick can also be recalibrated while the Nintendo 64 is on, by pressing L+R+START to indicate that the current position of the joystick is the center position.


===Hand positioning===
Prior to the Nintendo 64, [[Atari]] systems, and both Sega's analog Mission Stick for Sega Saturn (which launched on September 29, 1995)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sega.jp/archive/segahard/ss/mission.html|title=[セガハード大百科] アナログミッションスティック|language=Japanese |trans_title=The Sega hard large encyclopedia - analog mission stick |publisher=[[Sega]]|accessdate=}}</ref> and Sony's [[PlayStation Analog Joystick|Analog Joystick]] used analogue joysticks. However, the Nintendo 64 controller introduced the thumb-controlled control stick. Its release was followed during the fifth generation by Sony's [[Dual Analog Controller|Dual Analog]] and [[DualShock]] controllers for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] system (the DualShock also implementing a built-in version of the [[force feedback]] vibration first implemented by the N64's [[Rumble Pak]] add-on) as well as Sega's [[Gamepad#Saturn|3D control pad]] for their [[Sega Saturn|Saturn]] system.
[[File:N64-Controller-in-Hand.jpg|thumb|right|One of several ways listed by Nintendo for the player to hold the controller]]
The controller was designed to be held in three different positions. First, it can be held by the two outer grips, allowing use of the D-pad, right-hand face buttons and the "L" and "R" shoulder buttons (but not the Z trigger or analog stick). This style was intended to optimize play in 2D games by emulating the setup on the [[Super NES]] controller.<ref name="EGM78" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=May 1996 |title=Get a Grip!!!: Joysticks Past, Present & Future |url=https://archive.org/details/Next-Generation-1996-05/page/n45/mode/2up |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |page=40 |issue=17}}</ref> It can be also held by the center and right-hand grip, allowing the use of the single control stick, the right hand-buttons, the "R" shoulder button, and the Z trigger on the rear (but not the "L" shoulder button or D-pad). This style was intended for 3D games.<ref name="EGM78" /> Finally, the controller can be held by the center and left-hand grip, allowing for a combination of the D-pad, L shoulder, analog stick, and Z trigger,<ref name="EGM78" /> as was implemented in ''[[GoldenEye 007 (1997 video game)|GoldenEye 007]]''. Additionally, though the controller was not designed with this setup in mind, one controller can be held in each hand with a thumb on each analog stick and index fingers on the Z trigger. This setup allows dual-analog control on some [[first-person shooter]]s such as ''[[Perfect Dark]]''. In some games such as ''[[Mortal Kombat Trilogy]]'', the control stick and directional pad are interchangeable. Very few games use the directional pad exclusively, such as ''[[Tetrisphere]]'' and ''[[Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards]]''.


This design is controversial, as by its nature it generally prevents the use of all of its features with the player's hands in any one position; the D-pad, L-shoulder, analog stick and Z-trigger cannot, generally, all be used at the same time as it typically requires the player to switch hand positions, taking the hands off of the key directional controls. Some, though, realized they can hold the controller with the outer grips and use their index fingers for the R and L triggers, middle fingers for the Z-trigger, right thumb for the right-hand buttons, and left thumb for the D-pad and (stretching) analog stick, without changing hand positions.
The N64 Analog stick does not use analog potentiometers, rather using light emitting diodes and photo detectors controlled by sensor wheels. The sensor wheels are plastic hubs which produce a shutter effect allowing for an accurate direct digital read. The sensor wheels give direct correlation to the stick position, as opposed to potentiometers, which can change resistance values over time.


When Sony released its [[Dual Analog]] and [[DualShock]] controllers for the competing [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], it retained the original controllers' two-handled ergonomics, placing the analog sticks below and inside the primary D-pad and face buttons, allowing the player to quickly switch from the D-pad and face buttons to the analog sticks without letting go of the controller. Nintendo would largely follow suit with the [[GameCube controller|stock controller for its GameCube console]], but swapped the positions of the analog stick and D-pad. Such a layout would become dominant in [[gamepad]] design, as by that time the left analog stick had become universally accepted as the primary movement control on 3D games across all consoles.
The analog stick was prone to some long-term reliability issues. The thumb could easily work its way off the stick. Part of the stick could be scraped away, which can be proven by a powder-like substance near the stick. After a while, the stick became "loose", which means it will not fully return to center position, which may render gameplay more difficult by giving unintended, non-user input to the system. This loosening can be caused by rotating it intensively - a common practice in games like ''[[Mario Party]]''. Excessive rotating of the analog stick even resulted in blisters and burns to the hands, and Nintendo offered protective gloves to prevent injuries.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/671601.stm|title=Nintendo to hand out gaming gloves|accessdate=2009-11-25 | work=BBC News | date=2000-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1040_3-237808.html|title=Nintendo offers glove to prevent joystick injuries|accessdate=2009-11-25}}</ref> There are also Gamecube-style control stick replacement parts available on [[Ebay]] to replace the original one and rectify the aforementioned issues. However, these revised sticks have proven too sensitive for games like GoldenEye 007 or F-Zero X, when players are required maximum analog precision to succeed. An analog stick that perfectly emulates the original, while improving the durability of the stick, has not yet been built.


One game, ''[[Robotron 64]]'', allows one player to use two controllers to control an [[Avatar (computing)|avatar]]. This way, the game plays like its predecessor, ''[[Robotron 2084]]''. ''[[Star Wars Episode I: Racer]]'', ''GoldenEye 007'' and ''Perfect Dark'' also use this set up for slightly different gameplay experiences compared to the standard single-controller option.
==Rumble Pak==
{{Main|Rumble Pak#Nintendo 64}}
The original Rumble Pak, designed for the Nintendo 64 controller, was released in April 1997 to coincide with the release of ''[[Star Fox 64]]'' and required two [[AAA battery|AAA batteries]]. Its specific use was to provide [[Haptic technology|haptic feedback]] during gameplay; an effort to make the gaming experience more engaging. It was designed to be inserted into the controller's memory cartridge slot, which prevented the use of the [[Controller Pak]]. This usually had little impact, as Nintendo 64 games were [[ROM cartridge]]-based and had the ability to store saved data in the cartridge itself. Additionally, the insertion of a Controller Pak was prompted at every point of save in case one was not already in place.


==Controller Pak==
==Accessories==
{{Main|Controller Pak}}
===Controller Pak===
{{Main|Nintendo 64 accessories#Controller Pak (NUS-004)}}
The Controller Pak is Nintendo's external [[memory card]], similar to those used on the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] and other CD-ROM consoles. Though the Nintendo 64's cartridges can store battery-backed memory much like its predecessors, in supported games the Controller Pak allows save game data to be stored separately from the cartridge; for instance allowing save data to be used with a different copy of the game, or to store data that will not fit on a cartridge's battery-backed memory (such as ''[[Mario Kart 64]]''{{'}}s ghost data). Whereas other console developers opted to plug the memory card directly into a console, Nintendo opted to have the card be plugged into the controller and thus transported as one unit, envisioning scenarios in which players would want to bring their own controller and memory card to play with other Nintendo 64 owners. In such scenarios having the cartridge port on the controller would allow individual players to each use their own distinct game settings and controller configurations while playing simultaneously on the same system.<ref name="EGM78">{{Cite magazine |date=January 1996 |title=Ultra 64 Controller |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/e/eb/EGM_US_078.pdf |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=Sendai Publishing |page=77 |issue=78 |access-date=2020-06-01 |archive-date=2018-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810105328/https://retrocdn.net/images/e/eb/EGM_US_078.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>


===Rumble Pak===
The Controller Pak was Nintendo's external [[memory card]], similar to those used on the [[PlayStation]] and other CD-ROM consoles. While the N64's cartridge-based games could store battery-backed memory much like their predecessors in the NES and SNES, the Controller Pak allowed savegame data, for games that supported it, to be stored separately from the cartridge, for instance allowing savegames to be used with a different copy of the game, or to store data that would not fit on a cartridge's battery-backed memory (such as [[Mario Kart 64]]'s "ghost" files). Whereas other console developers opted to plug the memory card directly into the console, Nintendo chose to allow the card to be plugged into the controller and thus to be transported as one unit, envisioning scenarios in which players would want to bring their own controller and memory card to play with other N64 owners.
{{Main|Rumble Pak}}
The original Rumble Pak, designed for the Nintendo 64 controller, was released in April 1997 to coincide with the release of ''[[Star Fox 64]]'' and requires two [[AAA batteries]]. It provides [[Haptic technology|haptic feedback]] during gameplay, intending to make the gaming experience more engaging. It was designed to be inserted into the controller's memory cartridge slot, which prevents the use of the [[Controller Pak]]. The insertion of a Controller Pak is prompted at every point of save in case one was not already in place.


==LodgeNet variant==
===Transfer Pak===
{{Main|Transfer Pak}}
[[File:LodgeNet-Controller.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The LodgeNet Nintendo 64 controller]]
The Transfer Pak is a device with a [[Game Boy]] or [[Game Boy Color]] cartridge slot that can be inserted into a Nintendo 64 controller's expansion port. When compatible game cartridges are inserted, it allows for connectivity between Game Boy and Game Boy Color games and supported Nintendo 64 titles. The Transfer Pak was originally bundled with ''[[Pokémon Stadium]]'' and ''[[Pokémon Stadium 2]]'', and it supported a total of 20 games worldwide, only 6 of which would be released in the United States.
In 1997, [[LodgeNet]] and Nintendo released a controller and game playing service for various hotels in the United States. It is a slightly modified Nintendo 64 controller featuring an improved Nintendo GameCube style analog control stick, and LodgeNet TV control buttons. It attaches to the hotel television, and is not compatible with a Nintendo 64 console. It functions as a secondary remote control for the television, with up and down on the D-pad able to change channels, and as a controller for available Nintendo 64 games on the LodgeNet service. Customers can choose from a large library of Nintendo 64 games (including most first-party Nintendo 64 titles) and play at a rate of $6.95 for every 60 minutes. The controller and video game rental service is still available and in use at some locations.

==Variants==
===First-party===
The controller initially came in six colors (grey, black, red, green, yellow and blue)<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=July 1996 |title=Back in the Swing |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/8/87/EGM_US_084.pdf |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |pages=14–16 |issue=84}}</ref> but other colors were released later, many of them coinciding with the release of a similarly colored or designed system. Some of these others include smoke black, watermelon red, jungle green, fire orange, ice blue, grape purple, and special edition colors like gold, atomic purple, extreme green, "[[Donkey Kong 64]]" banana bunch yellow, "[[Pokémon]]" blue and yellow, and "Millennium 2000" platinum. Players would often take apart Nintendo 64 controllers to mix-and-match the tops and bottoms of the shell, creating bi-color controllers.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 1997 |title=Shoshinkai: Nintendo Unveils New Disk Drive and 50 Additional Japanese N64 Games |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a6/EGM_US_090.pdf |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |pages=116–7 |issue=90 |access-date=2020-06-01 |archive-date=2020-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206234608/https://retrocdn.net/images/a/a6/EGM_US_090.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Third-party===
Several third-party manufacturers would produce aftermarket Nintendo 64 controllers with similar layouts to the Dual Analog/DualShock, such as the [[MakoPad]] and [[Hori Mini]]. While the optical encoding disks are mostly digital and provide very accurate relative movements, third-party controllers and joysticks often use cheaper potentiometers instead.

===LodgeNet variant===
[[File:LodgeNet-Nintendo-N64-Controller.jpg|thumb|right|The LodgeNet Nintendo 64 controller]]
In 1999, [[LodgeNet]] and Nintendo released a controller and game playing service for various hotels in the United States.<ref name="LodgeNet N64">{{Cite press release |title=LodgeNet Begins Installing Hotels with Nintendo 64 Game Systems; Initiative Includes New Installations, System Upgrades for Thousands of Hotel Rooms |date=June 11, 1999 |publisher=LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation |location=Sioux Falls, ND |url=http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4002217.html |access-date=February 6, 2015 |archive-date=December 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231203556/http://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4002217.html |url-status=live }}</ref> It is a slightly modified Nintendo 64 controller featuring an improved GameCube-style analog control stick, and LodgeNet TV control buttons. It attaches to the hotel television and is not compatible with a standard Nintendo 64 console. It functions as a secondary remote control for the television, with up and down on the D-pad able to change channels, and as a controller for available Nintendo 64 games on the LodgeNet service. Customers could choose from a large library of Nintendo 64 games, including most first-party Nintendo 64 games, and play at a rate of $6.95 for every 60 minutes.

===Nintendo Switch version===
Nintendo released a version of the Nintendo 64 controller compatible with its [[Nintendo Switch]] console in October 2021. The controller was released in conjunction with an additional tier of the company's [[Nintendo Switch Online]] service, called the "Expansion Pack", which gives customers access to a catalog of Nintendo 64 games. The new version makes a series of changes to the design including the addition of wireless functionality and the incorporation of a rumble feature without the need for an additional accessory like the Rumble Pak.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-15 |title=You Can Now Order the New Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis Controllers for Switch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/15/22728144/nintendo-64-sega-genesis-controllers-switch-online-expansion-pack-buy-order |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609093610/https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/15/22728144/nintendo-64-sega-genesis-controllers-switch-online-expansion-pack-buy-order |archive-date=2023-06-09 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref>

The Switch version also adds additional buttons to allow players access to the home and capture buttons that correspond with Switch functionality that was not available on Nintendo 64.

==Reception==
Nintendo's own magazine, ''[[Nintendo Power]]'', reviewed the controller. The magazine said that it is "a little wider than the Super NES controller, but it felt very comfortable and the control elements were exceptionally well-placed. Large and small hands alike found it easy to manipulate."<ref name="Nintendo Power #79" />{{rp|12}} In their overview of the controller, ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' commented, "All in all, Nintendo has made the most advanced and easy-to-use controller we have ever seen. It is extremely versatile and has enough buttons to take care of every possible contingency, now or in the future."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=February 1996 |title=The Controller |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |publisher=Sendai Publishing |page=60 |issue=79}}</ref> ''[[GamePro]]''{{'}}s overview stated, "The N64's tri-handled controller may look weird, but it feels great."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 1996 |title=Hands On: The Nintendo 64 |magazine=[[GamePro]] |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |page=30 |issue=95}}</ref> Third party developers were reportedly enthusiastic about the controller as well. [[David Perry (game developer)|Dave Perry]] called it "the big special move that [Nintendo] have gone for", while [[Jez San]] said that "The joystick is unusual looking but I like the controls. The thumb control feels nice and strong and also sensitive."<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=February 1996 |title=Ultra 64: Nintendo's Shot at the Title |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |page=40 |issue=14}}</ref>

Stocks of extra Nintendo 64 controllers were sold out on the Japanese launch of the Nintendo 64, despite the fact that all three launch games are single-player only.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=September 1996 |title=Big in Japan: Nintendo 64 Launches at Last |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |pages=14–16 |issue=21}}</ref> Similar results followed in North America; retailers reported extremely high sales of the controllers despite only a handful of multiplayer games being available.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 1997 |title=Who Won the Videogame Wars of 1996? |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |page=17 |issue=28}}</ref>

Although its design and usability received praise by most reviewers, the controller did have some mechanical issues that could be detrimental to users. Overuse of the analog stick could cause it to become loose, hampering controllability, and intense rotating of the analog stick reportedly resulted in friction injuries to the hands of some players of 1998's ''[[Mario Party (video game)|Mario Party]]''. As a result of a settlement with the New York Attorney General, Nintendo offered protective gloves to prevent injuries. In Q1 2000, Nintendo reported that out of more than 1 million copies sold in the year since the game's release, the company had received about 90 complaints, none serious. Tim Weaver, editor of the UK's ''N64 Magazine'', said his staff experienced no problems with the controller, adding that the entire investigation was "ludicrous" and "could only happen in America",<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-03-09 |title=Nintendo to Hand Out Gaming Gloves |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/671601.stm |access-date=2009-11-25 |work=BBC News |archive-date=2024-08-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240816160811/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/671601.stm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Offers Glove to Prevent Joystick Injuries |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1040_3-237808.html |access-date=2009-11-25 |website=[[CNET]] |archive-date=2012-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025065428/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1040_3-237808.html |url-status=live }}</ref> although blister injuries were common, especially in ''Mario Party'' mini-games such as "Pedal Power" and "Tug o' War".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-24 |title=Minigame That Gave Kids 'Cuts, Blisters & Burns' Returns To Mario Party With A Warning |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2021/10/minigame-that-gave-kids-cuts-blisters-burns-returns-to-mario-party-with-a-warning/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205015705/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2021/10/minigame-that-gave-kids-cuts-blisters-burns-returns-to-mario-party-with-a-warning/ |archive-date=December 5, 2021 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=Kotaku Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref> Some aftermarket controllers have since sought to remedy both issues, including rubberised analog sticks with steel construction underneath, often employed by [[Speedrunning|speedrunners]] and/or [[retrogaming]] enthusiasts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steel Sticks 64 |url=https://steelsticks64.com/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102112559/https://steelsticks64.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of Nintendo controllers]]
* [[Rumble Pak]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{notelist|refs=
* <small>{{Note|DigiStickNote|cn 1}} Although similar to an [[analog stick]] in functionality, the control stick on the Nintendo 64 controller is digital in nature.<ref name="digistick"/> Technologically, the stick is similar to a [[ball mouse]] or [[track ball]],<ref name="nfgstick">{{Cite web|url=http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/447-Nintendo-s-N64-Pad-What-s-Inside|title=Nintendo's N64 Pad - What's Inside?|date={{Date|2008-10-21|mdy}}|accessdate={{Date|2011-01-06|mdy}}|publisher=NFG World}}</ref> using a pair of wheels whose position is tracked using a combination of [[Light-emitting diode|LEDs]] and [[photodiode]]s (by way of small holes around the edge of the wheels).<ref name="nfgstick"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/n643.htm|title=How N64 Works|publisher=[[HowStuffWorks]]|accessdate=2011-01-06}}</ref> In practice the level of precision (determined by the number of holes) provided by the stick make it functionally equivalent to a true analog stick.<ref name="digistick">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=3&cId=3143627|title=Controller's History Dynamite from 1UP.com|publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]]|accessdate=2010-08-15}}</ref></small>
{{efn|name=DigiStickNote|Although similar to an [[analog stick]] in functionality, the control stick on the Nintendo 64 controller is digital in nature.<ref name="NGen14" /><ref name="digistick" /> Technologically, the stick is similar to a [[ball mouse]] or [[track ball]],<ref name="nfgstick">{{Cite web |date=October 21, 2008 |title=Nintendo's N64 Pad - What's Inside? |url=http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/447-Nintendo-s-N64-Pad-What-s-Inside |access-date=January 6, 2011 |publisher=NFG World |archive-date=August 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819021356/http://nfgworld.com/mb/thread/447-Nintendo-s-N64-Pad-What-s-Inside |url-status=live }}</ref> using a pair of wheels whose position is tracked using a combination of [[Light-emitting diode|LEDs]] and [[photodiode]]s (by way of small holes around the edge of the wheels).<ref name="nfgstick" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 October 2000 |title=How N64 Works |url=http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/n643.htm |access-date=2011-01-06 |publisher=[[HowStuffWorks]] |archive-date=2020-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621173131/https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/n643.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In practice the level of precision (determined by the number of holes) provided by the stick make it functionally equivalent to a true analog stick.<ref name="NGen14" /><ref name="digistick">{{Cite web |title=Controller's History Dynamite from 1UP.com |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=3&cId=3143627 |access-date=2010-08-15 |publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]] |archive-date=2016-01-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105072217/http://www.1up.com/features/controller-history?pager.offset=3 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
<references/>


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons|Nintendo 64}}
* {{commons-inline|Nintendo 64}}
*[http://codebook.potchgult.com/stickrepair/stickfix.htm N64 Joystick Repair Guide] Small guide to cleaning and attempted repair of the N64 controller.


{{Nintendo 64}}
{{Nintendo hardware|N64}}
{{Nintendo hardware|N64}}
{{Portal bar|1990s}}


[[Category:Nintendo controllers]]
[[Category:Nintendo 64 accessories]]
[[Category:Nintendo 64 accessories]]
[[Category:Nintendo controllers]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1996]]
[[Category:Gamepads]]

Latest revision as of 09:33, 30 November 2024

A Nintendo 64 controller in gray
ManufacturerNintendo
Product familyNintendo 64
TypeGamepad
GenerationFifth
Release date
    • JP: June 23, 1996
    • NA: September 29, 1996
    • EU: March 1, 1997
Lifespan28 years
Input
Connectivity
PredecessorSNES controller
SuccessorGameCube controller

The Nintendo 64 controller (model number: NUS-005) is the standard game controller for the Nintendo 64 home video game console. It was first manufactured and released by Nintendo on June 23, 1996, in Japan; in September 29, 1996, in North America; and March 1, 1997, in Europe. It is the successor to the Super Nintendo controller and is designed in an "M" shape and features 10 buttons, a "Control Stick",[a] and a D-pad.

Design

[edit]
Rear of the Nintendo 64 controller, showing the three triggers and expansion port

The controller was designed by Nintendo R&D3, under direction to try new ideas that would break from typical game controllers.[1] With original visual designs having been mocked up in clay form, and extensive test group studies being performed before and during the design phase,[2]: 12  the Nintendo 64's controller design was eventually solidified in tandem with that of Shigeru Miyamoto's gameplay mechanics in Super Mario 64.[3] Though Miyamoto tested the controller while developing Super Mario 64, the controller was not designed around the game, while it did influence its mechanics like movement.[3][4]

Lance Barr, the head designer at NOA, worked with the NU64 design team in Japan on the controller. The sculpted shape of the radical new Batarang-like controller was so complex that it couldn't even be modeled on a computer. During development, the first mock-up was created out of clay.

—Nintendo Power, December 1995[2]: 12 

Nintendo of America's head designer, Lance Barr, said that the design studies revealed that "most games use a few buttons for most of the main controls, such as jumping and shooting, or accelerating and braking. That's why the A and B Buttons are placed for easiest access on the new controller and why they are larger than the other buttons. They're the buttons that get high traffic."[2]: 12 

The motherboard for the Nintendo 64 controller

The controller has four "C-buttons" on the top, which were originally intended to control the camera in three-dimensional game environments.[5] Because the pad only contains three other face buttons, the C-buttons may be assigned to alternate functions. In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, three of the C-buttons can be assigned to secondary items, the upper C-button is used to call Navi for assistance, and the Z-trigger is used to lock focus onto enemies and center the camera behind the player.

Analog stick

[edit]

The Nintendo 64 controller was one of the first game controllers to incorporate analog stick technology as a main feature, intended to provide the user with a wider range of functions such as mobility and camera control. The stick is designed to detect 360 independent directions, compared to the 8 independent directions detected by a D-pad, allowing the potential for Nintendo 64 games to more accurately emulate 360° of motion.[1]

Analog joysticks prior to the Nintendo 64 include those used by the Atari 5200, Sega's arcade systems, Sega's analog Mission Stick for the Saturn (1995),[6] and Sony's PlayStation Analog Joystick (1996). The Nintendo 64 controller distinguished itself from these precursors by using an analog thumbstick, which was predated only by the Mega Drive's XE-1 AP, designed by third-party manufacturer Dempa in 1989.[7] The Nintendo 64 controller was released contemporaneously with Sega's 3D Pad for their Saturn system, and was followed during the fifth generation of video game consoles by Sony's Dual Analog and DualShock controllers for the PlayStation console.

The analog stick uses a pair of optical encoding disks to determine its position, similar to how ball mice work.[8] Since optical encoding disks only give the system relative changes in the position of the analog stick, the system assumes that the stick is centered during power-on and tracks relative movements from there. If things get out of sync, or if the control stick was not centered during power-on, the center position can be reset by pressing the left and right shoulder buttons (L and R) at the same time as the Start button (or resetting the console with the correct neutral position).

Calibration

[edit]

When the Nintendo 64 is switched on, the joystick on each controller is automatically calibrated by recording the current position as the center position. That works assuming the hands are off the joystick when the Nintendo 64 is powered on. The joystick can also be recalibrated while the Nintendo 64 is on, by pressing L+R+START to indicate that the current position of the joystick is the center position.

Hand positioning

[edit]
One of several ways listed by Nintendo for the player to hold the controller

The controller was designed to be held in three different positions. First, it can be held by the two outer grips, allowing use of the D-pad, right-hand face buttons and the "L" and "R" shoulder buttons (but not the Z trigger or analog stick). This style was intended to optimize play in 2D games by emulating the setup on the Super NES controller.[9][10] It can be also held by the center and right-hand grip, allowing the use of the single control stick, the right hand-buttons, the "R" shoulder button, and the Z trigger on the rear (but not the "L" shoulder button or D-pad). This style was intended for 3D games.[9] Finally, the controller can be held by the center and left-hand grip, allowing for a combination of the D-pad, L shoulder, analog stick, and Z trigger,[9] as was implemented in GoldenEye 007. Additionally, though the controller was not designed with this setup in mind, one controller can be held in each hand with a thumb on each analog stick and index fingers on the Z trigger. This setup allows dual-analog control on some first-person shooters such as Perfect Dark. In some games such as Mortal Kombat Trilogy, the control stick and directional pad are interchangeable. Very few games use the directional pad exclusively, such as Tetrisphere and Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards.

This design is controversial, as by its nature it generally prevents the use of all of its features with the player's hands in any one position; the D-pad, L-shoulder, analog stick and Z-trigger cannot, generally, all be used at the same time as it typically requires the player to switch hand positions, taking the hands off of the key directional controls. Some, though, realized they can hold the controller with the outer grips and use their index fingers for the R and L triggers, middle fingers for the Z-trigger, right thumb for the right-hand buttons, and left thumb for the D-pad and (stretching) analog stick, without changing hand positions.

When Sony released its Dual Analog and DualShock controllers for the competing PlayStation, it retained the original controllers' two-handled ergonomics, placing the analog sticks below and inside the primary D-pad and face buttons, allowing the player to quickly switch from the D-pad and face buttons to the analog sticks without letting go of the controller. Nintendo would largely follow suit with the stock controller for its GameCube console, but swapped the positions of the analog stick and D-pad. Such a layout would become dominant in gamepad design, as by that time the left analog stick had become universally accepted as the primary movement control on 3D games across all consoles.

One game, Robotron 64, allows one player to use two controllers to control an avatar. This way, the game plays like its predecessor, Robotron 2084. Star Wars Episode I: Racer, GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark also use this set up for slightly different gameplay experiences compared to the standard single-controller option.

Accessories

[edit]

Controller Pak

[edit]
Main article: Nintendo 64 accessories § Controller Pak (NUS-004)

The Controller Pak is Nintendo's external memory card, similar to those used on the PlayStation and other CD-ROM consoles. Though the Nintendo 64's cartridges can store battery-backed memory much like its predecessors, in supported games the Controller Pak allows save game data to be stored separately from the cartridge; for instance allowing save data to be used with a different copy of the game, or to store data that will not fit on a cartridge's battery-backed memory (such as Mario Kart 64's ghost data). Whereas other console developers opted to plug the memory card directly into a console, Nintendo opted to have the card be plugged into the controller and thus transported as one unit, envisioning scenarios in which players would want to bring their own controller and memory card to play with other Nintendo 64 owners. In such scenarios having the cartridge port on the controller would allow individual players to each use their own distinct game settings and controller configurations while playing simultaneously on the same system.[9]

Rumble Pak

[edit]
Main article: Rumble Pak

The original Rumble Pak, designed for the Nintendo 64 controller, was released in April 1997 to coincide with the release of Star Fox 64 and requires two AAA batteries. It provides haptic feedback during gameplay, intending to make the gaming experience more engaging. It was designed to be inserted into the controller's memory cartridge slot, which prevents the use of the Controller Pak. The insertion of a Controller Pak is prompted at every point of save in case one was not already in place.

Transfer Pak

[edit]
Main article: Transfer Pak

The Transfer Pak is a device with a Game Boy or Game Boy Color cartridge slot that can be inserted into a Nintendo 64 controller's expansion port. When compatible game cartridges are inserted, it allows for connectivity between Game Boy and Game Boy Color games and supported Nintendo 64 titles. The Transfer Pak was originally bundled with Pokémon Stadium and Pokémon Stadium 2, and it supported a total of 20 games worldwide, only 6 of which would be released in the United States.

Variants

[edit]

First-party

[edit]

The controller initially came in six colors (grey, black, red, green, yellow and blue)[11] but other colors were released later, many of them coinciding with the release of a similarly colored or designed system. Some of these others include smoke black, watermelon red, jungle green, fire orange, ice blue, grape purple, and special edition colors like gold, atomic purple, extreme green, "Donkey Kong 64" banana bunch yellow, "Pokémon" blue and yellow, and "Millennium 2000" platinum. Players would often take apart Nintendo 64 controllers to mix-and-match the tops and bottoms of the shell, creating bi-color controllers.[12]

Third-party

[edit]

Several third-party manufacturers would produce aftermarket Nintendo 64 controllers with similar layouts to the Dual Analog/DualShock, such as the MakoPad and Hori Mini. While the optical encoding disks are mostly digital and provide very accurate relative movements, third-party controllers and joysticks often use cheaper potentiometers instead.

LodgeNet variant

[edit]
The LodgeNet Nintendo 64 controller

In 1999, LodgeNet and Nintendo released a controller and game playing service for various hotels in the United States.[13] It is a slightly modified Nintendo 64 controller featuring an improved GameCube-style analog control stick, and LodgeNet TV control buttons. It attaches to the hotel television and is not compatible with a standard Nintendo 64 console. It functions as a secondary remote control for the television, with up and down on the D-pad able to change channels, and as a controller for available Nintendo 64 games on the LodgeNet service. Customers could choose from a large library of Nintendo 64 games, including most first-party Nintendo 64 games, and play at a rate of $6.95 for every 60 minutes.

Nintendo Switch version

[edit]

Nintendo released a version of the Nintendo 64 controller compatible with its Nintendo Switch console in October 2021. The controller was released in conjunction with an additional tier of the company's Nintendo Switch Online service, called the "Expansion Pack", which gives customers access to a catalog of Nintendo 64 games. The new version makes a series of changes to the design including the addition of wireless functionality and the incorporation of a rumble feature without the need for an additional accessory like the Rumble Pak.[14]

The Switch version also adds additional buttons to allow players access to the home and capture buttons that correspond with Switch functionality that was not available on Nintendo 64.

Reception

[edit]

Nintendo's own magazine, Nintendo Power, reviewed the controller. The magazine said that it is "a little wider than the Super NES controller, but it felt very comfortable and the control elements were exceptionally well-placed. Large and small hands alike found it easy to manipulate."[2]: 12  In their overview of the controller, Electronic Gaming Monthly commented, "All in all, Nintendo has made the most advanced and easy-to-use controller we have ever seen. It is extremely versatile and has enough buttons to take care of every possible contingency, now or in the future."[15] GamePro's overview stated, "The N64's tri-handled controller may look weird, but it feels great."[16] Third party developers were reportedly enthusiastic about the controller as well. Dave Perry called it "the big special move that [Nintendo] have gone for", while Jez San said that "The joystick is unusual looking but I like the controls. The thumb control feels nice and strong and also sensitive."[17]

Stocks of extra Nintendo 64 controllers were sold out on the Japanese launch of the Nintendo 64, despite the fact that all three launch games are single-player only.[18] Similar results followed in North America; retailers reported extremely high sales of the controllers despite only a handful of multiplayer games being available.[19]

Although its design and usability received praise by most reviewers, the controller did have some mechanical issues that could be detrimental to users. Overuse of the analog stick could cause it to become loose, hampering controllability, and intense rotating of the analog stick reportedly resulted in friction injuries to the hands of some players of 1998's Mario Party. As a result of a settlement with the New York Attorney General, Nintendo offered protective gloves to prevent injuries. In Q1 2000, Nintendo reported that out of more than 1 million copies sold in the year since the game's release, the company had received about 90 complaints, none serious. Tim Weaver, editor of the UK's N64 Magazine, said his staff experienced no problems with the controller, adding that the entire investigation was "ludicrous" and "could only happen in America",[20][21] although blister injuries were common, especially in Mario Party mini-games such as "Pedal Power" and "Tug o' War".[22] Some aftermarket controllers have since sought to remedy both issues, including rubberised analog sticks with steel construction underneath, often employed by speedrunners and/or retrogaming enthusiasts.[23]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Although similar to an analog stick in functionality, the control stick on the Nintendo 64 controller is digital in nature.[1][24] Technologically, the stick is similar to a ball mouse or track ball,[25] using a pair of wheels whose position is tracked using a combination of LEDs and photodiodes (by way of small holes around the edge of the wheels).[25][26] In practice the level of precision (determined by the number of holes) provided by the stick make it functionally equivalent to a true analog stick.[1][24]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "The Ultra 64 Joypad". Next Generation. No. 14. Imagine Media. February 1996. pp. 38–39.
  2. ^ a b c d "Nintendo Power" (79). Nintendo. December 1995. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ a b "The Making of Mario 64: Giles Goddard Interview". NGC Magazine (61). Future Publishing. December 2001. Archived from the original on 2020-11-15. Retrieved 2014-09-09.
  4. ^ Rogers, Emily (January 7, 2014). "A Dolphin's Tale: The Story of GameCube". Dromble Media. Archived from the original on July 5, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  5. ^ "The Ultra 64: Power Packed". GamePro. No. 89. IDG. February 1996. pp. 20–21.
  6. ^ "[セガハード大百科] アナログミッションスティック" [セガハード大百科] アナログミッションスティック [The Sega encyclopedia - analog mission stick]. Sega Hard Encyclopedia (in Japanese). Sega. September 29, 1995. Archived from the original on 2007-10-17.
  7. ^ "XE-1 AP Entry in Sega Retro Archive". 7 June 2022. Archived from the original on 3 November 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  8. ^ "N64 Wireless Computer Controller Mod". Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
  9. ^ a b c d "Ultra 64 Controller" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 78. Sendai Publishing. January 1996. p. 77. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-08-10. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  10. ^ "Get a Grip!!!: Joysticks Past, Present & Future". Next Generation. No. 17. Imagine Media. May 1996. p. 40.
  11. ^ "Back in the Swing" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 84. Ziff Davis. July 1996. pp. 14–16.
  12. ^ "Shoshinkai: Nintendo Unveils New Disk Drive and 50 Additional Japanese N64 Games" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 90. Ziff Davis. January 1997. pp. 116–7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-12-06. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  13. ^ "LodgeNet Begins Installing Hotels with Nintendo 64 Game Systems; Initiative Includes New Installations, System Upgrades for Thousands of Hotel Rooms" (Press release). Sioux Falls, ND: LodgeNet Entertainment Corporation. June 11, 1999. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
  14. ^ "You Can Now Order the New Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis Controllers for Switch". The Verge. 2021-10-15. Archived from the original on 2023-06-09.
  15. ^ "The Controller". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 79. Sendai Publishing. February 1996. p. 60.
  16. ^ "Hands On: The Nintendo 64". GamePro. No. 95. IDG. August 1996. p. 30.
  17. ^ "Ultra 64: Nintendo's Shot at the Title". Next Generation. No. 14. Imagine Media. February 1996. p. 40.
  18. ^ "Big in Japan: Nintendo 64 Launches at Last". Next Generation. No. 21. Imagine Media. September 1996. pp. 14–16.
  19. ^ "Who Won the Videogame Wars of 1996?". Next Generation. No. 28. Imagine Media. April 1997. p. 17.
  20. ^ "Nintendo to Hand Out Gaming Gloves". BBC News. 2000-03-09. Archived from the original on 2024-08-16. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
  21. ^ "Nintendo Offers Glove to Prevent Joystick Injuries". CNET. Archived from the original on 2012-10-25. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
  22. ^ "Minigame That Gave Kids 'Cuts, Blisters & Burns' Returns To Mario Party With A Warning". Kotaku Australia. 2021-10-24. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  23. ^ "Steel Sticks 64". Archived from the original on 2024-01-02. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  24. ^ a b "Controller's History Dynamite from 1UP.com". Hearst Corporation. Archived from the original on 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  25. ^ a b "Nintendo's N64 Pad - What's Inside?". NFG World. October 21, 2008. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  26. ^ "How N64 Works". HowStuffWorks. 18 October 2000. Archived from the original on 2020-06-21. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
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