Nintendo's Failed Peripherals: A History of Missed Opportunities

🔍Nintendo's decision to use cartridges instead of CDs for the Nintendo 64 was controversial, but they believed it provided faster access time and more speed of movement.

💽The 64DD, an add-on storage device for the Nintendo 64, was delayed multiple times and faced challenges in both hardware development and software support.

🕹️The 64DD's delay caused many third-party developers to lose interest, resulting in the loss of prominent games like Dragon Quest 7 and Final Doom.

🔌Nintendo attempted to address the need for more storage with the 64DD and other add-ons, but the lack of developer support and market demand led to their failure.

🎮Despite the failure of these peripherals, Nintendo's first-party games like Zelda 64 and Super Mario 64 continued to drive interest in the Nintendo 64 console.

Why did Nintendo choose cartridges over CDs for the Nintendo 64?

—Nintendo believed cartridges provided faster access time and more speed of movement compared to CDs, which had load times.

What challenges did the 64DD face in development?

—The 64DD faced delays and difficulties in both hardware development and software support, leading to a lack of developer interest.

Which games were affected by the failure of the 64DD?

—Prominent games like Dragon Quest 7 and Final Doom were either moved to other platforms or canceled due to the lack of support for the 64DD.

Did any of the peripherals for the Nintendo 64 gain widespread support?

—No, the add-on peripherals for the Nintendo 64, including the 64DD, failed to gain widespread support from both developers and consumers.

Did the failure of these peripherals impact Nintendo's first-party games?

—Despite the failure of these peripherals, Nintendo's first-party games like Zelda 64 and Super Mario 64 continued to drive interest in the Nintendo 64 console.

00:00The video explores the history of Nintendo's failed peripherals, specifically focusing on the add-on storage devices and the ill-fated 64DD for the Nintendo 64 console.

02:27Nintendo's decision to use cartridges instead of CDs for the Nintendo 64 was controversial but based on the belief that cartridges provided faster access time and more speed of movement.

09:01The 64DD faced multiple delays in development, both in hardware and software support, which led to a lack of developer interest and the loss of prominent games like Dragon Quest 7.

11:41The lack of widespread support and market demand for the 64DD and other peripherals resulted in their failure, despite Nintendo's attempt to address the need for more storage.

12:46Despite the failure of these peripherals, Nintendo's first-party games like Zelda 64 and Super Mario 64 continued to drive interest in the Nintendo 64 console.