Skip to main content

Bootleg Nintendo 64 development unit is a game collector's dream

The Nintendo 64 may not have aged quite as well as other systems, with the dawn of 3D graphics ushering in jagged, polygonal characters that look woefully outdated by today’s standards. But the draw of developing for what was, at the time, an extremely powerful console, was great for even the smallest studios. If developers couldn’t get their hands on a legitimate development unit, however, the “V64” was their answer.

The Centre for Computing History managed to snag a Doctor V64 console from the Hong Kong-based Bung Enterprises. Sold for $450 (substantially cheaper than an official development unit), the device is attached below the Nintendo 64 through its expansion slot, with an official Nintendo game cartridge placed above it to override the system’s region lockout chip.

Recommended Videos

CDs are then placed into the V64’s disc drive — even video CDs are supported — and are loaded into its RAM. Once the N64 is turned on, as well, you can play any N64 game with ease. This setup does, however, more easily facilitate playing copied versions of games — likely the main reason Nintendo didn’t show any support for the tool.

One major change that comes with the move to discs on the Nintendo 64 is the time it takes to actually start a game. Each disc loaded into the V64 can hold about 16 games, according to the Centre for Computing History, but they all must be loaded completely before you can make your selection and actually turn on the Nintendo 64. That being said, once the games are up and running, they appear to play just as smoothly as they would on a standard system.

If you’ve gone disc-free, you can actually still use the V64 too. A port on the back of the system allows for easy connection to a PC, allowing you to load far more ROMs than is possible on a basic CD. Just don’t play Cruisin’ USA. Like the Centre for Computing History’s Adrian and Phil say in the video, it’s a horrendous game, no matter how much nostalgia can convince you otherwise.

Gabe Gurwin
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
I need these 10 GameCube games on Nintendo Switch 2 as soon as possible
A Nintendo GameCube sits on a table with Luigi's Mansion.

There are tons of exciting features coming to Nintendo Switch 2, but what's the one thing I'm most excited about? Nintendo GameCube games are coming to Switch Online. I know it's the nostalgia talking, but I can't help it. The Nintendo GameCube was my first real childhood console and I have a lot of warm memories tied to it as a result. I can't wait to jump back into games like F-Zero GX and Soulcalibur 2, two defining games of my childhood, the first chance I get.

My love for the GameCube isn't just about the good memories, though. To this day, I still believe that the GameCube features perhaps the best exclusive video game lineup of any console. It's not a deep catalogue, but it featured some of Nintendo's most experimental swings as well as some oddball third-party exclusives that have rarely been ported to other platforms since. With the Switch Online upgrade, there's now a great opportunity for Nintendo to bring some of those great games back from the grave, just as it's already doing with games like Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance. These are the eight games that I hope to see add in the service's first year (assuming that recently remastered games like Metroid Prime are out of the equation).

Read more
I played 11 Nintendo Switch 2 games. Here’s what I thought of each
Bowser in Mario Kart World.

It's been a whirlwind week for Nintendo fans. On Wednesday, the company fully lifted the lid on the Nintendo Switch 2 with a perfectly executed Direct presentation. That moment of elation gave way to anxiety as players sorted through the console's controversial new pricing strategy. Then came complete panic as President Donald Trump's freshly announced tariffs on foreign imports caused Nintendo to postpone preorders for the system in the United States. You can't blame Nintendo fans for feeling a little stressed out right now.

The saving grace of all this is that the Switch 2 is still slated to launch on June 5 and it's bringing a ton of exciting games along with it. At a press event on Wednesday, I went hands-on with nearly a dozen Switch 2 games, from first-party heavy-hitters to Switch 2 Editions of old favorites. I've posted my impressions of several games throughout the week, but for the sake of ease, I'm rounding them all up in one place. Curious about just how good Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is? How does it feel to drive a wheelchair around with mouse controls? Is Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour really worth a few bucks? You can find all those answers right here.

Read more
Nintendo halts Switch 2 preorders in the United States to assess tariff impact
A Switch 2 sits on a display next to its controller.

Nintendo is halting its planned pre-order process for the Nintendo Switch 2 in response to President Donald Trump's newly announced tariffs. Interested buyers in the United States will no longer be able to preorder the system starting on April 9 as originally planned, though Nintendo still plans to release the system on June 5.

Nintendo fully unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2 on Wednesday, April 2 with a Direct presentation. At that that time, the company revealed that the system will cost $450, and also get a $500 special edition that includes Mario Kart World. Later that day, President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs on countries outside of the United States, which raised questions on whether or not the price would stick. In a statement to Digital Trends today, Nintendo has finally addressed tariffs and halted preorders in response.

Read more