Unreleased Mario Game for N64DD Surfaces; Collectors Panic, Die

[NEED TO KNOW MORE INTENSIFIES]

This is a copy of Super Mario 64 Disk Edition for the Nintendo 64DD, the ill-fated disk drive for the N64. This is important because this game is the game collecting equivalent of an albino unicorn. This is something that isn't supposed to exist. Super Mario 64 was never commercially released in this form. It was never announced, hinted at, teased, or anything. Now not only are there photos of this discovery, but there's even gameplay footage. Here, watch this and try not to question your beliefs.

WHAT!? UNRELEASED FIRST PARTY MARIO GAMES SURFACING FOR MY FAILED NINTENDO EXPERIMENT?! It's more likely than you think. So far the gameplay seems very similar, if not identical, to the normal cartridge version, but who knows what surprises might lurk in the code. Sadly, the exact story of how this abomination/holy grail came into this collector's hands is a mystery, and it's being kept a mystery by the cart's owner, Jimmy130. The origin may have something to do with this photo that surfaced in late 2013.

what filter should i use i want to look tan

OR WE CAN GO DEEPER. All the way back to Nintendo's Space World 1996, where this game was actually being shown played. I had no idea this was a thing, and it seems to have been developed as just a tech demo for showing off what the N64DD was capable of.

I would put money on this copy of the game originating from that expo, but I have no idea where it has been for the last eight years. Currently, Jimmy is doing his best to document the game and its interesting features here, on his blog.

Collectors are obviously freaking out. I wouldn't put a price on piece so unique, but I would love to see it put out on an open auction, just to see how many thousands of dollars it would sell for. The emergence of this game has elicited many cries of fake and fraud; even I am unconvinced that this is 100% the real deal. I would very much like to hear the whole story before I give in to the hype. This discovery should also give some other fandoms hope that maybe there are some other unreleased N64DD games out there waiting to be uncovered.

Nintendo 64DD Collector's Guide: Part 2

Collecting the entire library for the N64DD is by far the easiest milestone for any Nintendo collector. With only 9 titles, the N64DD set can be completed in a single day with a credit card and access to eBay. The problem is that it is pretty expensive and some of the games are harder to find. Here is a handy guide to collecting all 9 N64DD games and the prices you should expect to pay for them.

1. Mario Artist: Paint Studio (released on December 1, 1999) $10-$30 (with mouse)

Designed as a sequel to Mario Paint, the Mario Artist series was to span 8 separate games. Each game focused on a different medium or idea. The focus of Paint Studio was painting with the N64 mouse which was included. The game also allowed importing images through either the Capture Cartridge or the Game Boy Camera with the Transfer Pak. It is easy to find and also cheap, but make sure to find it complete with mouse, box, and instructions.

2. Doshin the Giant (released on December 1, 1999)  $50-70

Doshin the Giant is a god simulator game that received good reviews and was so popular that an expansion was released and later on, it was ported to the Nintendo GameCube in both JAP and PAL regions. It never made it stateside.

3. Mario Artist: Talent Studio (released on February 23, 2000) $50-$90 (with Capture Cartridge)

The second game of the Mario Artist suite, this game came with a unique Capture Cartridge that plugged into the top deck of the N64. Through the Capture Cartridge you can import video through a multitude of devices and manipulate it within the game. Images ripped from video uploaded could even be used in minigames that would later inspired the Warioware series.

4. SimCity 64 (released on February 23, 2000) $30-50

Developed as a sequel to the much-loved Super Nintendo counterpart, this game had a lot of interesting and novel ideas. SimCopter was originally designed as a separate game but the idea was incorporated in to this title. 

5. F-Zero X Expansion Kit (released on April 21, 2000) $50-100

An expansion for F-Zero X that contained twelve new tracks, a car editor, and a track creator. It even had the entire soundtrack remastered in stereo as well as the original mono. This kit could hold hundreds of new custom tracks and racing ghost data.

6. Japan Pro Golf Tour 64 (released on May 2, 2000) $300-400

The definitive N64 golf game contained 10 courses based on real Japanese golf courses. It also had extensive single-player modes and allowed online play among 4 players. It is also extremely rare. It had a short release and was not hyped like other N64DD titles.

7. Doshin the Giant: Rescue from the Front by the Toddlers that Tinkle at the Large Meeting-hall  (released on May 17, 2000) $300-400

The oddly-titled, odd sequel to an already odd god simulator game. Doshin was popular enough to warrant a sequel, it was more of an add-on and could only work in conjunction with the first title. You essentially swap in the disk for the first game at certain points to unlock cut-scenes and animations in the second. Due to the strange nature of this game and the fact that it isn't really a game, it sold poorly and is very rare. Good luck finding a copy.

8. Mario Artist: Communication Kit (released on June 29, 2000) $40-60

This game of the Mario Artist suite allowed for Randnet connection so that users could show off their creations from the other Mario Artist games. There were also printing services and contests. Not really a game but still collectible. 

9. Mario Artist: Polygon Studio (released on August 29, 2000) $40-60

The last game of the Mario Artist series released was developed with the hopes that the next 4 would be released. This game allowed for the designing, saving, and sharing of 3D images using images imported with the Capture Cartridge or created in Paint Studio. This game was to be a stepping stone in the later games, Game Maker, Graphical Message Maker, Sound Maker, and Video Jockey Maker. Sadly, these last 4 games were shelved.

The N64DD was an ambitious and powerful device. Capable of using a disc-based medium and internet connection but it ultimately failed. It lingered too long in development and failed to reach enough store shelves and consumers. The collectors will find this system to be interesting, fun, and worth collecting. Good luck.

Nintendo 64DD Collector's Guide: Part 1

We all know the interesting and eclectic history of Nintendo's failed N64 peripheral, the 64DD. Nintendo announced the 64DD as a way of combating the high price of cartridge games as well as rivaling Sony's Playstation for raw memory space. The add-on lingered in development hell for several years after being revealed but instead of shelving the hardware, Nintendo released it. The Nintendo 64DD was a huge commercial failure. Only 15,000 pieces sold and the remaining 85,000 pieces that Nintendo had originally hoped would sell were scrapped. That is how bad of a failure this add-on was.

The 64DD went on sale December 1st, 1999 after originally debuting 4 years earlier at the Nintendo World event. The piece originally retailed at ¥30,000. It was available sparingly in stores in 2000. Knowing that it was doomed to fail, Nintendo made it largely available through a mail-in subscription. This service was called Randnet, formed and named after the two companies that started it, Nintendo and Recruit, a Japanese advertising corporation. Here's the commercial video for the add-on.

As a collector, most people gravitate towards this interesting little oddity due to the novelty of it and the fact that it is a true piece of Nintendo memorabilia but then they look at the price and turn away. The market on this piece is all over the place. I have seen them sell for $200 and I have seen them sell for $1,500. There is no stability in this market. Another big problem when trying to purchase on are the extras. The 64DD launched with a keyboard, a mouse, a special "Capture Cart", a modem cart, and 9 different games. Most auctions you find come with some of these extras, which in turn increases the cost. Since this is just Part 1, I will help you buy just the peripheral itself.

Like I mentioned earlier, there is the Retail version and the Randnet version. The only differences is the packaging and the Randnet version comes with the modem cart, modem disc, and phone cable. They both come with the red-topped expansion pack that would later be shipped with every copy of Donkey Kong 64.

This is the Retail version and sells normally for around $500-$700. It is worth more than the Randnet version despite containing less, this is due to an extremely limited release later in the 8-month lifespan of the add-on.

You can often find these on eBay for around $400 complete in box. This was the version sold through subscription and Nintendo tried to buy them back in 2000. Some didn't get returned and are now in the hands of collectors.

If you want to purchase just the 64DD by itself, good luck. It is hard to get them unless they are bundled with something but be willing to pay more than $300. I have some good news, they are compatible with NTSC-region N64's so you don't have to purchase a JAP-region one to use it.

Now go buy one and stay tuned for Part 2: The 9 Games of the 64DD!