NINTENDO DEBUTS 64-BIT GAMING AT E3
Nintendo Introduces Revolutionary Nintendo 64;
Continues to Support its Most Successful Platforms
LOS ANGELES, May 16, 1996 -- The wait is over...Nintendo of America Inc. today unveiled for the first time in the U.S., Nintendo 64 -- the world's first true 64-bit home video game system. Visitors to E3 received the first U.S. hands-on demonstration of Super Mario 64, the revolutionary, real-time, 3-D adventure game for Nintendo 64. Other titles unveiled included WaveRace 64, PilotWings 64, Star Wars: Shadows of the EmpireTM, Cruis'n USA and Killer Instinct.
Launching in the U.S. on September 30, 1996, Nintendo 64 will be available for a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $249.95. The system will be packaged with a revolutionary new analog joystick controller.
Nintendo also announced Nintendo 64 titles available on September 30 will be Super Mario 64, PilotWings 64, WaveRace 64, Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire, Body Harvest, TetrisPhear and Cruis'n USA. Additional titles to be launched between October and December 1996 include Buggie Boogie, Ken Griffey Jr., Blast Corps, GoldenEye 007, Super Mario Kart R and Killer Instinct. All titles will be sold separately with a manufacturer's suggested retail price range of $49.95-$79.95.
NINTENDO UNVEILS NEW HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
In other show news, Nintendo unveiled Game Boy Pocket. Dressed in matte silver with grey buttons, Pocket Game Boy is a 30-percent smaller and sleeker version of its original, legendary Game Boy. The new, 8-bit, palm-sized gaming system features a black and white Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen providing crisper and clearer images enabling several people to view game play at the same time. As an addition to the original Game Boy and the popular Play it Loud color Game Boy series, which have sold more than 19 million U.S. units, Game Boy Pocket expands the possibilities for portable game play fun. Launching September 3, at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $59.95, Game Boy Pocket is compatible with any current game from the extensive library of popular Game Boy titles.
Along with the hardware debut of Game Boy Pocket, several new Game Boy software titles are scheduled for release in 1996. Launching in May, July and September respectively, Kirby's Block Ball, Donkey Kong Land 2: Diddy's Kong Quest and Tetris Attack will provide hours of portable "gaming on the go" enjoyment.
Continuing its commitment to the strength and popularity of the 16-bit platform, Nintendo today previewed exclusive new software titles for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (Super NES). Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, launching on May 13, the same week as E3, is the first role playing game to star Mario. The first sports video game to use Advanced Computer Modeling (ACM) graphics technology, Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run launches on June 10, re-creating the excitement of Major League Baseball this summer. Kirby Super Star, launching on September 3, features the popular Kirby in eight different games contained on one cartridge. Also available on September 3 is Tetris Attack, a competitive one- or two-player puzzle game. Donkey Kong Country 3, available on November 18, is the all-new adventure game in the popular series of international Donkey Kong hits.
NINTENDO UNVEILS NEW HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE
Nintendo continues to support its portable 3-D video game system, Virtual Boy, with two new second half software titles. Launching in August, Dragon Hopper is the latest 3-D action/adventure game. Also debuting in August, Bound High immerses players in multiple levels of challenging 3-D game play. In addition, Nintendo has announced new affordable price points for Virtual Boy with a manufacturer's suggested retail price for hardware at $99.95 and $29.95-$39.95 for software.
