| iQue Player | |
| Developer: | Nintendo |
| Manufacturer: | iQue |
| Type: | Home video game console |
| Generation: | Fifth |
| Media: | Flash card, cartridge |
| Power: | AC Adapter |
| Cpu: | MIPS R-4300i 64Bit CPU |
| Memory: | 16 MB (8 MB available) |
| Graphics: | 62.5 MHz Reality Co-Processor |
| Sound: | ADPCM 64 |
| Lifespan: | 2003–2016 |
| Discontinued: | 2016 |
| Connectivity: | USB (iQue@Home) |
| Related: | Nintendo 64 |
| Website: | iQue |
| Releasedate: | [1] |
| Price: | ¥498 |
| Service: | iQue Depot, iQue@Home[2] |
| Topgame: | Dr. Mario 64 (pre-installed in bundled memory card) |
| Cpuspeed: | 140.625 MHz |
The iQue Player (stylised as iQue PLAYER[3]) is a handheld TV game version of the Nintendo 64 console that was manufactured by iQue, a joint venture between Nintendo and Taiwanese-American scientist Wei Yen after China had banned the sale of home video games. Its Chinese name is Shén Yóu Ji (Chinese: 神游机), literally "God Gaming Machine". Shényóu (Chinese: 神游) is a double entendre as "to make a mental journey". It was never released in any English-speaking countries, but the name "iQue Player" appears in the instruction manual. The console and its controller are one unit, plugging directly into the television. A box accessory allows multiplayer gaming.[4]
China has a large black market for video games and usually only a few games officially make it to the Chinese market. Many Chinese gamers tend to purchase pirated cartridge or disc copies or download copied game files to play via emulator. Nintendo wanted to curb software piracy in China, and bypass the ban that the Chinese government has implemented on home game consoles since 2000. Nintendo partnered with Wei Yen, who had led past Nintendo product development such as the Nintendo 64 console and later the Wii Remote. Originally, the system would support games released on Nintendo consoles prior to the GameCube, including the NES, Super NES, and Nintendo 64, but it was decided only to include Nintendo 64 games. Additionally, was planned and is shown on the back of the box, but was later cancelled.[5]
The iQue Player was announced at Tokyo Game Show 2003. It was originally planned to play Super NES in addition to Nintendo 64 games, and had a release date set for mid-October with debut markets including Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, expanding into the rest of China by the following spring.[6] [7] [8] [9] The system missed its mid-October launch.[10] By November 21, it was available for purchase at Lik Sang.[11]
The iQue Player was released on November 18, 2003[1] with few launch games. Nintendo's strategy to market games in China was to show how video games can help improve children's mental and social development. However, the launch was not successful. The total estimated sales was between 8,000 and 12,000 units.[12] At first, the only way to get games was via the iQue Depot, but in 2004, Nintendo released iQue@Home to download at home.[13] The last game, Animal Crossing (动物森林, Animal Forest) was released in 2006.
On October 31, 2016, iQue reported that iQue@Home service would be discontinued by the end of December 2016.[14] The service was gradually phased out until the content distribution servers went offline in 2018.
The iQue Player is a size-reduced Nintendo 64 console, using system-on-a-chip technology. It plays Nintendo 64 games specifically ported to the system.
The iQue Player's library has 14 games, light conversions from past releases for the Nintendo 64 in Europe, North America, and Japan. One game was canceled, [15] and another, a Traditional Chinese version of , was completed but never announced.[16]
iQue Player games differ slightly from their Nintendo 64 counterparts, with the text and voices having been translated to Mandarin. The only exceptions are the Mario games and the previously Japan-only Sin and Punishment, where the text has been translated but the voices remain in English. Many glitches and errors from the original games have been fixed. Some features were removed due to the system's lack of support for Nintendo 64 controller accessories like the Rumble Pak. Some features were added, and many games that allow the player to enter their name now have the option to use their iQue Player's username. Speedruns of several games, such as Super Mario 64 and Star Fox 64, are sometimes carried out on the iQue Player due to quicker loading times and faster scrolling text than the Nintendo 64 versions.[17] Nintendo had plans to support network multiplayer in games that originally only support local multiplayer, which would work in a similar manner to that of an emulator.[18]
| Wave Race 64 | 水上摩托 | Shuǐ Shàng Mótuō | November 18, 2003 | 51011[19] | |
| Star Fox 64 | 星际火狐 | Xīngjì Huǒhú | November 18, 2003 | 41011[20] | |
| Dr. Mario 64 | 马力欧医生 | Mǎlìōu Yīshēng | November 18, 2003 | 61011[21] | |
| Super Mario 64 | 神游马力欧 | Shén Yóu Mǎlìōu | November 18, 2003 | 11011[22] | |
| 塞尔达传说 时光之笛 | Sàiěrdá Chuánshuō: Shíguāng zhī Dí | November 18, 2003 | 21011[23] | ||
| Mario Kart 64 | 马力欧卡丁车 | Mǎlìōu Kǎdīngchē | December 25, 2003 | 52011[24] | |
| F-Zero X | F-Zero X 未来赛车 | F-Zero X Wèilái Sàichē | February 25, 2004 | 52021[25] | |
| Yoshi's Story | 耀西故事 | Yàoxī Gùshì | March 25, 2004 | 11021[26] | |
| Paper Mario | 纸片马力欧 | Zhǐpiàn Mǎlìōu | June 8, 2004 | 21021[27] | |
| Sin and Punishment | 罪与罚-地球的继承者- | Zuì yǔ Fá: Dìqiú de Jìchéng Zhě | September 25, 2004 | 41021[28] | |
| Excitebike 64 | 越野摩托 | Yuèyě Mótuō | June 15, 2005[29] | 51021[30] | |
| Super Smash Bros. | 任天堂明星大乱斗 | Rèntiāntáng Míngxīng Dà Luàn Dǒu | November 15, 2005 | 12021[31] | |
| Custom Robo | 组合机器人 | Zǔhé Jīqìrén | May 1, 2006 | 21051[32] | |
| Animal Crossing | 动物森林 | Dòngwù Sēnlín | June 1, 2006[33] | 21041[34] |