Ultra 64 Controller + Development Kit

Ultra 64 Controller + Development Kit

Hard4Games uploaded an interesting video detailing more information about the Ultra 64, the prototype Nintendo 64 we have never had before.

In the video, we get a closer look at the Ultra 64 controller, which was never released before. We also get a peek at the Ultra 64’s development environment, which only developers had access to.

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Ultra 64 findings

They showcase an ULTRA RARE (pun intended) Ultra 64 controller. Before Nintendo switched to the name Nintendo 64, their 64-bit machine was known as the Ultra 64. Thanks to Shane Battye, we’re showing off the controller as well as an Ultra 64 development environment.

About The Ultra 64

The Nintendo 64, N64, was code-named “Project Reality” early on in its development and announcement phase, the machine would be well known for a brief span by another name that’s been all but forgotten: The Ultra 64.

It made sense, in following the line of succession from the original Nintendo Entertainment System to a more “Super” powered variety, to the point that there had even been talk of it being called the “Ultra Famicom” in Japan.

Before release though, Nintendo decided to drop the “Ultra” from the name altogether, and globally branded the new console as the Nintendo 64.

While what we now know as the Nintendo 64 was known as the Ultra 64, that did change over the course of time a bit. As the 64DD was also labeled Ultra 64 by a lot of people.

But in fact the 64DD is a magnetic disk drive peripheral for the Nintendo 64 game console developed by Nintendo. It was originally announced in 1995, prior to the Nintendo 64’s 1996 launch, and after numerous delays was finally released only in Japan on December 1, 1999. The “64” references both the Nintendo 64 console and the 64 MB storage capacity of the disks, the”DD” is short for “disk drive” or “dynamic drive”.

In fact the 64DD never really took of but it should not be confused with the Ultra 64 in itself.