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'{{two other uses|the home console|other iQue products|iQue||iQue (disambiguation)}} {{lowercase}} {{one source|date=August 2010}} {{Infobox information appliance | name = iQue Player | logo = | image = [[File:IQue-Player.jpg|frameless|upright=1.15]] | caption = <!-- include if image is not a logo --> | developer = [[Nintendo]] | manufacturer = [[iQue]] | type = [[Video game console]] | generation = [[History of video game consoles (fifth generation)|fifth generation technology]] | releasedate = {{vgrelease|China|CH|November 17, 2003}} | price = [[Chinese yuan|¥]]498 | media = [[Flash memory|Flash card]], [[Cartridge (electronics)|cartridge]] | os = <!-- operating system --> | power = AC Adapter | cpu = R-4300 64Bit CPU, 93.75 MHz | memory = 4 MB | graphics = 62.5 MHz Reality Co-Processor | sound = ADPCM 64 | location = <!-- GPS or Wi-Fi based --> | connectivity = USB (Fugue Online) | service = iQue Depot, Fugue Online<ref name="test">http://www.ique.com/M_athome.htm iQue Ltd].{{dead link|date=November 2012}}</ref> | topgame = [[Dr. Mario 64]] (Pre-installed in bundled memorycard) | related = [[Nintendo 64]] | website = [http://www.ique.com/products/M_Player.htm iQue] {{zh icon}} }} The '''iQue Player''' {{IPAc-en|ˌ|aɪ|_|ˈ|k|j|u:}} is a [[video game console]] that was manufactured by [[iQue]], a [[joint venture]] between [[Nintendo]] and [[Chinese American|Chinese-American]] scientist Dr. [[Wei Yen]]. The system also goes under the [[Chinese language|Chinese]] name of '''''Shén Yóu Ji''''' (神游机), literally "Divine Gaming Machine". ''Shényóu'' (神游) also serves a [[double entendre]] because the term also means "to make a mental journey". The console itself takes the form of the controller and plugs directly into the television. A box accessory is available that allows multiplayer gaming.<ref>[http://www.ique.com/machine_bb_gyh.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> At the moment, it is only marketed in [[mainland China]], as the console's unusual game distribution method is an attempt to curb games piracy in that region. Games for this console are stored on a 64&nbsp;MB flash card which is contained within a cartridge that plugs directly into the controller/console. Games are purchased at a special "iQue depot" where games may be downloaded onto the cartridge and played later, in a similar manner to the [[Famicom Disk System]]. Demo games that come with the iQue include ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'', ''[[Super Mario 64]]'', and ''[[Star Fox 64]]''. These demos are time-limited versions of the games. Full versions of the three titles are available, as are other first party Nintendo titles such as ''[[Dr. Mario 64]]'', ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'', ''[[Wave Race 64]]'', and ''[[F-Zero X]]''. ==Technical details== <!--Help this missing link! [[Image:|thumb|right|The logo to the iQue system.]]--> The iQue Player is based on the [[Nintendo 64]], but uses [[system-on-a-chip]] technology to reduce size. It plays [[Nintendo 64]] games specifically [[porting|ported]] to the system. *Processor: R-4300 64Bit CPU, 93.75&nbsp;MHz *Memory: 4&nbsp;MB RAMBUS *Graphics: 100,000 polygons/second, 2.09 million colors *Sound: ADPCM 64 ==Main Menu== Once the player has turned on the system, the iQue logo will appear. Then, an advertisement for a game will appear and it will say to press the A button to continue. The main menu lists the games on the memory card and info on the games as well. Once the player has selected a game, a message will appear asking if they want to play this game. A loading screen may appear. If the player presses Z on the highlighted game, a description of the game will appear. Like many other consoles, the player can change the system settings such as TV resolution and username. The system settings will also appear when the player first uses the system. ==Online Services== The iQue Player has online services for buying games, cloud storage, game updates, etc. Currently, there are two online services for the iQue Player; one is kiosk based, another is broadband based. ===iQue Depot=== The iQue depot is a network of kiosks that allows users to download games, update games, and more. Each game comes with a game code that can be punched in so the user can download the game. Players can also store their games on the iQue Depot network for free. They're mostly seen at gas stations in China. Users must be a member of the iQue Club and have a special iQue Ticket to download games. ===Fugue Online=== Fugue online is an online service that allows users to get free access to games at home, update their system and more. To connect to Fugue Online, players must plug the iQue Player to his/her computer via USB. Games are downloaded on the computer, in a similar manner to an MP3 player. Plans have been mentioned to make online multiplayer and communication possible in the near future.<ref name="test"/> ==Accessories== ===Memory Card=== The iQue Player memory card is bundled with the system. It is required to start the system and to load the games. Both the games and the game save states are saved on the memory card. ===Swim Box=== The iQue Player Swim Box is required to play local multiplayer. The iQue Player is used as the Player 1 controller. The Swim Box isn't compatible with other iQue Player Systems, so other players have to use a Swim Controller. ===Swim Controller=== The Swim Controller is used for multiplayer. The Swim Controller can't load games alone. Games have to be loaded on the iQue system. ==History== ===Development=== China has an overwhelming black market for video games and usually only a few games officially make it to the Chinese market. Many Chinese gamers tend to purchase [[Copyright infringement|pirated]] cartridge or disc copies or download [[ROM image|ROMs]] and [[ISO image|ISOs]] to play via [[console emulator|emulator]]. Nintendo wanted to curb the software piracy in China, and also by-pass the then-ban that the Chinese government implemented on home game consoles since 2000. Nintendo partnered with Wei Yen, who also helped Nintendo in other projects, and together they created a game system to get around China's black market, as well as [[loophole]] through the government's ban. Originally, the system would support games released on Nintendo consoles prior to the [[GameCube]], which include the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] and Nintendo 64, but later in the system's development, it was resulted to only include Nintendo 64 games. Additionally, ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask]]'' was going to be included in the software library but it was later cancelled (possibly due to some graphic elements that are against China's censorship policy); however, the game's promotional picture is still on the back of the box.<ref name="youtube.com">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGT7lRptA3c</ref> ===Release=== The iQue Player was released on 17 November 2003 with a few launch titles. Nintendo strategy to market games in China was to show how videogames can help improve children's mental and social development. At first, the only way to get games was to buy them via the iQue Depot, but in 2009, Nintendo released Fugue Online to download games at home. The latest game released was released in 2006. ===Successor=== As of 2014, no successor to the iQue Player has been launched. Nintendo had previously announced plans to release the [[Wii]] in China, but it was later confirmed by Satoru Iwata in 2007 that the Wii would only be available in [[Hong Kong]], and marketed under the Nintendo brand. ==Games== The iQue Player's library has 14 games. All these games were released for the Nintendo 64 in Japan and other regions prior to the iQue Player. One game was cancelled. {|class="wikitable" |- !Original title in English/Japanese !! [[Simplified Chinese|Chinese (Simplified)]] !! [[Pinyin]] !! Released Date !! Demo included with system !! Game Code !! Genre !! Game Modes |- |''[[Wave Race 64]]'' || 水上摩托 || ''Shuǐ Shàng Mótuō'' || 17 November 2003 || {{y}} || 51011<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/51011.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Racing || Single-Player, Multi-Player (2 players) |- |''[[Star Fox 64]]'' || 星际火狐 || ''Xīngjì Huǒhú'' || 17 November 2003 || {{y}} || 41011<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/41011.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Shooter || Single-Player, Multi-Player (4 players) |- |''[[Dr. Mario 64]]'' || 马力欧医生 || ''Mǎlìōu Yīshēng'' || 17 November 2003 || {{n}} Full version included with bundled memory card || 61011<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/61011.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Puzzle || Single-Player, Multi-Player (4 players) |- |''[[Super Mario 64]]'' || 神游马力欧 || ''Shén Yóu Mǎlìōu'' || 17 November 2003 || {{y}} || 10011<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/11011.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Platform || Single-Player |- |''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'' || 塞尔达传说：时光之笛 / 塞尔达传说-时光之笛- || ''Sèěrdá Chuánshuō: Shíguāng zhī Dí || 17 November 2003 || {{y}} || 21011<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/21011.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Action-adventure || Single-Player |- |''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' || 马力欧卡丁车 || ''Mǎlìōu Kǎdīngchē'' || 25 December 2003 || {{n}} || 52011<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/52011.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Racing || Single-Player, Multi-Player (4 players) |- |''[[F-Zero X]]'' || F-Zero X 未来赛车 || ''F-Zero X Wèilái Sàichē'' || 25 February 2004 || {{n}} || 52021<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/52021.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Racing || Single-Player, Multi-Player (4 players) |- |''[[Yoshi's Story]]'' || 耀西故事 || ''Yàoxī Gùshì'' || 25 March 2004 || {{n}} || 11021<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/11021.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Platform || Single-Player |- |''[[Paper Mario]]'' || 纸片马力欧 || ''Zhǐ Piān Mǎlìōu'' || 8 June 2004 || {{n}} || 21021<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/21021.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Platform || Single-Player |- |''[[Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Earth]]'' || 罪与罚-地球的继承者- || ''Zuì yǔ Fá: Dìqiú de Jìchéng Zhě'' || 25 September 2004 || {{n}} || 41021<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/41021.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> ||On-Rail Shooter || Single-Player, Multi-Player (2 players) |- |''[[Excitebike 64]]'' || 越野摩托 || ''Yuèyě Mótuō'' || 2005 || {{n}} || 51021<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/51021.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Racing || Single-Player, Multi-Player (4 players) |- |''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' || 任天堂明星大乱斗 || ''Rèntiāntáng Míngxīng Dà Luàn Dǒu'' || 15 November 2005 || {{n}} || 12021<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/12021.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Fighting || Single-Player, Multi-Player (4 players) |- |''[[Custom Robo (Nintendo 64)|Custom Robo]]'' || 组合机器人 || ''Zǔhé Jīqìrén'' || 1 May 2006 || {{n}} || 21051<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/21051.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Role-Playing || Single-Player, Multi-Player |- |''[[Animal Crossing (video game)|Dōbutsu no Mori]]'' || 动物森林 || ''Dòngwù Sēnlín'' || 1 June 2006 || {{n}} || 21041<ref>[http://www.ique.com/games/21041.htm iQue Ltd]</ref> || Life Simulation || Single-Player |- |} ===Difference to the N64 Versions=== iQue Player games differ slightly from their N64 counterparts, with the text and voices having been translated to Chinese. The only exceptions are the Mario games and the previously Japan-only title [[Sin and Punishment]], where the text has been translated while the voices remain in English. Also, the iQue games are newer than the N64 counterparts, so many [[Video game glitch|glitches]] and errors from the original games have been fixed. Some features were also removed due to the system's lack of support for N64 controller accessories like the [[Rumble Pak]]. Due to this, many games that originally supported the rumble feature no longer support it. Some features were also added. Many games that allow the player to enter his/her name now have the option to use their iQue Player's username, which can be set at the iQue Player's main menu. Nintendo had plans to support network multiplayer in games that originally only supported local multiplayer, which would work in a similar manner to that of an [[console emulator|emulator]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} ==See also== *[[Video gaming in the People's Republic of China]] ==References== {{reflist|3}} ==External links== *[http://www.ique.com/products/M_Player.htm iQue PLAYER website] {{zh icon}} {{Nintendo 64}} {{nintendo hardware|}} {{commons category|IQue Player}} [[Category:Nintendo consoles|IQue]] [[Category:Fifth-generation video game consoles|IQue]] [[Category:Products introduced in 2003]] [[Category:IQue consoles]] [[Category:Online gaming services]]'