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Transfer Pak

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Transfer Pak
An image of the front and back of the Transfer Pak accessory. The front shell is made of gray plastic with a Nintendo 64 logo printed on it, and features a long protrusion with a rectangular opening at the end; a small set of electrical contacts is visible within the opening, which acts as the connection point when the device is inserted into the Nintendo 64 controller. The back shell is made of transparent plastic and features a thin opening at the top, with a large gap inside the shell shaped to the dimensions of a Game Boy cartridge; at the bottom of the gap is the Game Boy cartridge reader. A thin red sticker on the back displays the device's name, model number, and assorted legal indica.
The Transfer Pak. The front has a component that fits into the Nintendo 64 controller's expansion port; the rear features a Game Boy cartridge slot.
Also known asNUS-019
ManufacturerNintendo
TypeData transfer device
GenerationFifth
Release date
  • JP: August 1, 1998
  • NA: March 6, 2000
  • EU: April 30, 2000
MediaGame Boy Game Pak
ConnectivityNintendo 64 controller expansion port
Dimensions78 mm × 69 mm × 93.4 mm (3.07 in × 2.72 in × 3.68 in)
Weight88 g (0.194 lb)

The Transfer Pak[a] is an accessory for the Nintendo 64 controller. When plugged into the controller's expansion port, it allows for the transfer of data between supported Nintendo 64 (N64) games and Game Boy or Game Boy Color (GBC) games inserted into its cartridge slot. By using the Transfer Pak, players can unlock additional content in compatible games; the Pokémon Stadium games, with which the Transfer Pak was initially bundled for sale, also feature the ability to emulate specific Game Boy Pokémon titles for play on the N64.

Roughly 20 N64 games were released with Transfer Pak support between 1998 and 2001, only six of which supported it outside of Japan. Several games which initially planned to utilize the accessory were either cancelled or had the functionality removed. As a result, while recognized as one of the first examples of connectivity between Nintendo's home consoles and handhelds, the Transfer Pak has come to be retrospectively regarded as largely unnecessary by members of the gaming press.

History

[edit]

The Transfer Pak was developed by Nintendo Research & Development 3, and was first revealed at Nintendo's Space World 1997 trade show.[1] It was released in Japan as a pack-in with the game Pocket Monsters Stadium (1998), which required the Transfer Pak for many of its features.[2] In North America and Europe, the Transfer Pak was similarly bundled with Pokémon Stadium (1999) for its English language release in 2000, receiving a standalone release shortly thereafter.[3][4] While the device itself is compatible with all Game Boy and Game Boy Color Game Paks, Nintendo 64 games can only connect to Game Boy games from the same region.[5]

Unlike the Super Game Boy peripheral, which allowed Game Boy games to be played on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, the Transfer Pak's primary use was not to play Game Boy games on the Nintendo 64.[6] Nintendo and Intelligent Systems developed a separate accessory to serve this function, the Wide-Boy64, but it was not released to the public and was instead only available to game developers and members of the gaming press.[7][8] However, the Pokémon Stadium games included a built-in Game Boy emulator, allowing users to play compatible Pokémon games on the N64 by inserting them into the Transfer Pak.[9] In 2019, an independent software developer created a ROM hack of Pokémon Stadium 2 (2000) that expanded the emulator's compatibility to include other Game Boy games.[10] In December 2023, as part of its update to add Nintendo 64 support, the Polymega aftermarket console implemented Transfer Pak functionality, allowing players to use the device to dump their Game Boy games and save files to the system's memory.[11]

Some games with planned Transfer Pak support went unreleased. One of these was Cabbage, a Nintendo 64DD breeding simulator game, which would have featured the Transfer Pak as a major gameplay component.[12][13] The game was planned to allow players to transfer their pet to the Game Boy and continue to nurture it throughout the day.[14][15]

Other games were intended to include Transfer Pak features during development, only to remove them prior to release. During development of Pokémon Snap (1999), the team experimented with transferring photos to the Game Boy Camera so that they could be printed using the Game Boy Printer; however, they found the printer's output quality to be insufficient and abandoned the feature.[16] Perfect Dark (2000) was originally going to support transferring photos from the Game Boy Camera to create characters with real-life faces, but this function was removed during development, as a result of both technical issues and a wave of anti-violent video game sentiment after the Columbine High School massacre;[17] the final version only uses the Transfer Pak to immediately unlock four of the game's cheats via Perfect Dark on Game Boy Color.[18] The GBC version of The World Is Not Enough (2000) was initially reported to feature Transfer Pak connectivity with its N64 counterpart, allowing players to strengthen their characters in the N64 game's multiplayer mode, but this was dropped before release.[19][20] WWF No Mercy (2000) was meant to use the Transfer Pak to import points earned in its GBC counterpart, which could be spent on rewards in the Nintendo 64 game's "SmackDown Mall".[21] However, this feature was removed following the cancellation of the GBC version.[22]

A similar accessory, the "64 GB Cable",[23] was designed by Nintendo subsidiary Marigul Management to connect a Game Boy Color to a Nintendo 64 controller port, and would allow data to be transferred from the GBC to a 64DD storage cartridge, as well as for the GBC to be used as a "sub-screen" for certain 64DD games.[24] This was demonstrated at Space World 1999 with the 64DD game DT Bloodmasters, a trading card game that would allow for the GBC to function as a second screen using the 64 GB Cable.[14][24] The cable and DT Bloodmasters were ultimately never released, though its GBC counterpart, DT: Lords of Genomes, was released in May 2001.[25] Derby Stallion 64 (2001) was also intended to support the 64 GB Cable, using the GBC as a second screen to place private bets on horse races, but this feature was removed after the accessory's cancellation.[9][14]

Games

[edit]

The Transfer Pak was initially bundled with the Japanese-exclusive Pocket Monsters Stadium (1998), which allows players to connect to all first generation Pokémon games for Game Boy (Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow). Once connected, players can view and organize their Pokémon, transfer them from the Game Boy games to Stadium for storage and use in battle, or emulate the Game Boy games for play on their television;[3] players can unlock the ability to double or triple the speed of the emulation.[10] Players can also teach a transferred Pikachu the "Surf" ability in Stadium, which can be used to unlock a secret minigame in Yellow.[26] These features were all retained in its sequel, released internationally as Pokémon Stadium (1999), which also allows players to unlock special prize Pokémon to send to the Game Boy game.[27][27][28][29] The third entry in the series, Pokémon Stadium 2 (2000), adds support for the second generation of Game Boy Pokémon games (Gold, Silver, and Crystal).[30] In addition to the Pokémon transfer and emulation functions from the previous games, Stadium 2 allows players to transfer items, use transferred Pokémon in its minigames, view and customize the player character's room from the second generation games in 3D, and receive special items in the second generation games using the “Mystery Gift” option.[30][31][32] The Japanese version of Stadium 2 could also connect to Crystal to watch or play against prerecorded battle data downloaded from the "Mobile System GB" networking service prior to its shutdown in 2002.[33][34]

Both Mario sports games released for the N64, Mario Golf (1999) and Mario Tennis (2000), feature the ability to transfer the player characters from the corresponding GBC games to the N64, allowing them to gain experience points through gameplay that will be transferred back to the GBC versions.[35][36] The GBC version of Mario Golf also allows players to view their high scores from the N64 game.[37] When the two versions of Mario Tennis are connected, Yoshi, Wario, Waluigi and Bowser are unlocked as playable characters in the GBC game, along with their respective mini-games.[38] Connecting both versions again after achieving a high score in these minigames will unlock up to six additional tennis courts in the N64 game.[36] The four secret characters and minigames are unlocked by default for the GBC game’s 2024 re-release via Nintendo Switch Online.[38]

Two N64 games developed by Rare only featured Transfer Pak functionality in their western releases, due to their respective GBC companion games not releasing in Japan. In Perfect Dark (2000), connecting to its GBC counterpart immediately unlocks a selection of cheats on N64, which would otherwise require the player to complete several difficult in-game objectives.[18] Connecting Mickey's Speedway USA (2000) to its GBC counterpart is the only way to unlock Huey as a playable character in the English N64 release.[39]

All other games to feature Transfer Pak support were only available in the Japanese market. Examples include Choro Q 64 2: Hachamecha Grand Prix Race (1999), which increases the player's maximum speed when connected to Choro Q Hyper Customizable GB (1999);[40][41] Puyo Puyo~n Party (1999), which allows players to view a gallery of special illustrations earned in Pocket Puyo Puyo Sun (1998), some of which can only be unlocked by connecting the two games;[42][43] and the Mario Artist programs Paint Studio (1999) and Talent Studio (2000) for the 64DD add-on, both of which allow players to take photographs using the Game Boy Camera accessory and import them for use in the games’ creation suites.[44][45][46]

Some N64 games feature the ability to unlock or transfer characters that would normally only be accessible in the corresponding Game Boy game. The fishing game Nushi Tsuri 64 (1998) and its sequel Nushi Tsuri 64: Shiokaze Ninotte (2000) can connect to Umi no Nushi Tsuri 2 (1998) and Kawa no Nushi Tsuri 4 (1999) respectively, allowing players to transfer data from their in-game notebooks on GBC to N64;[47] sea fish that are normally only present in Umi no Nushi Tsuri 2 can also be added to the fishing pond in Nushi Tsuri 64.[48] Super Robot Taisen 64 (1999) and Super Robot Taisen: Link Battler (1999) can connect to unlock playable units in each game that are otherwise exclusive to the other, as well as transfer character experience between games.[49][50] The baseball games Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 6 (1999) and Jikkyō Powerful Pro Yakyū 2000 (2000) allow in-game players to be transferred from Power Pro Kun Pocket (1999) and Power Pro Kun Pocket 2 (2000) respectively, though this can also be done without a Transfer Pak through the use of a password.[51][52] Other examples include transferring items from Super B-Daman: Fighting Phoenix (1997) to Super B-Daman: Battle Phoenix 64 (1998);[53] and exchanging and battling Robopon characters between Robot Ponkottsu Sun, Star, and Moon (1998) and Robot Ponkottsu 64: Nanatsu no Umi no Caramel (1999).[54]

A few N64 games feature Transfer Pak compatibility with the full Game Boy library and will grant different bonuses based on which Game Boy game is connected, similar to the use of CDs in Monster Rancher. For example, PD Ultraman Battle Collection 64 (1999) will unlock different characters for play based on which Game Boy game is inserted.[55] Robot Ponkottsu 64 uses the connected game to generate special food items that provide different stat boosts.[56] In Transformers: Beast Wars Metals 64 (1999), the player’s default health and rate of energy depletion can be positively or negatively affected based on the connected game, with Kettō Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Senshi Saikyō Ketteisen (1999) granting the greatest possible boost as well as unlocking the secret character Megatron X.[57][58]

Reception

[edit]

Reviews of the Pokémon Stadium games praised their use of the Transfer Pak, with some claiming that players who played the games without using it would find their appeal and features severely limited.[30][32][59] Similarly, Peer Schneider of IGN considered the Transfer Pak functionality in PD Ultraman Battle Collection 64 to be the game's sole redeeming feature.[60] When reviewing the Virtual Console releases of Mario Golf and Mario Tennis, Lucas M. Thomas of IGN was disappointed by the removal of Transfer Pak functionality from the rereleases, lamenting their incompleteness due to the inability to unlock their Transfer Pak-exclusive content.[35][36] Some members of the press identified the Transfer Pak as an influence on later examples of connectivity between Nintendo's home consoles and handhelds, most prominently the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable.[9][10]

However, in the years following the Nintendo 64's discontinuation, the Transfer Pak has been regarded as a largely underutilized and unnecessary add-on. In a retrospective for Nintendo Life, Gavin Lane stated that the Transfer Pak, while interesting, never truly reached its full potential.[10] Brett Elston of GamesRadar+ claimed that many players misinterpreted the Transfer Pak as a device meant to play Game Boy games on the television, leading to disappointment. Elston also described most games' Transfer Pak integration as "an afterthought, with features that were barely worth the hassle of digging it out of the closet."[6] Den of Geek's Daniel Kurland considered the Transfer Pak to be "a frivolity rather than something fundamental", particularly given the meager number of games that supported it.[61] Writing for GamesBeat, André Bardin was also critical of the Transfer Pak's lack of support, particularly outside of Japan.[62]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Known in Japan as the 64 GB Pack (Japanese: 64GBパック, Hepburn: Rokujūyon Jī Bī Pakku)

References

[edit]
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