n64 memory card

[neverused]

Ok, I've never owned an N64 before I decided to make one into a portable, but my question is: how useful is the memory card? It's probably dumb to ask, but I can't really find any portables that use them. If I put one standard memory card inside the portable, would that pose a problem or concern about it filling too quickly? What are you rsuggestions regarding memory cards?

[bacteria]

All N64 games run without a memory card, but it is wise to have one in the system as older games needed a memory card to save game saves (otherwise you play everything from the start all the time); many of the newer games had their own gave save facility and battery in the game cart so didn't need the memory card.

The N64 uses either a memory card or rumble pack, if you want both, then use a combined unit (eg JoyTech) as I use. A switch then changes between both modes. Only disadvantage of the combined unit was that it only had 256k for game saves (enough to store several game saves) whereas separate memory cards went up to a max of 4 meg (normally 1 meg though).

Only other option is exposing the external port in the controller to swap the memory card and rumble packs over manually, but that makes a bulky and ugly system - better to integrate.

[jjhammerstein]

Not many games need it, mostly sports games. If you want to race ghosts in Mario Kart 64 you need it too.

[XCVG]

I've seen a rumble pack with a PORT for a memory card once, somewhere.

[Tibia]

I can think of a few games that use it, enough that if I ever do decide to build an N64 portable, I'd do a memory card slot. I'd just swap between the portable and my home console.

Gex 64
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
Castlevania
Turok 2 and 3
Mystical Ninja
Hybrid Heaven

[marshallh]

Every single third-party game uses the controller pak. Almost all first-party Nintendo/Rare games have a 4k/16k eeprom built in and use the Controller pak as a supplement.

[DK]

Only other option is exposing the external port in the controller to swap the memory card and rumble packs over manually, but that makes a bulky and ugly system - better to integrate.

Or you could wire a rumble pak and a memory pack to the same port in the controller and add a switch to the grounds so you can choose to use either. May be a tad bigger than the combined ones, but at least you can have 4 meg of memory

[bacteria]

I tried that, DK in my first system. Either I wired it bad or it doesn't work. If it is just a switch on the ground it is certainly worth trying out - anyone tried it, result? I have a stack of 1mb memory cards doing nothing, so one option I thought also of trying was seeing if replacing the memory chip in a JoyTech with a 1mb chip would work or not.

[jjhammerstein]

How about an exterior adapter that holds a controller board and controller slot, and runs to the console using the 3 controller connections? That way you only need to plug it in for games that use it.

[bacteria]

Needs to be integrated.

[jjhammerstein]

.....No it doesn't?

[ShockSlayer]

That wouldn't accomplish anything other than not being able to use the controller. You can't plug 2 controllers into the same slot and have them work.

SS

[palmertech]

I tried that, DK in my first system. Either I wired it bad or it doesn't work. If it is just a switch on the ground it is certainly worth trying out - anyone tried it, result? I have a stack of 1mb memory cards doing nothing, so one option I thought also of trying was seeing if replacing the memory chip in a JoyTech with a 1mb chip would work or not.

I sold an adapter to Tibia what was a rumble pack with a slot for a memory card, and it had a switch to go between them. Let me try and find one online, as that would allow both to be integrated.

[timmeh87]

I hooked up both with no switch once and they both worked fine in different games (obviously no game uses both)

[vskid]

I hooked up both with no switch once and they both worked fine in different games (obviously no game uses both)

There are actually several games that use both, Destruction Derby 64 and Gauntlet Legends are two that I can think of. The games just say when to use them.