Nintendo Insiders Considered An N64 Handheld To Compete With The Game Gear In The 90s
Nintendo insiders discussed the possibility of creating an N64 handheld console to rival Sega’s Game Gear, according to Palmer Luckey. In a podcast interview, he mentioned that there were people within Nintendo advocating for such a product around the time of its release.
Palmer shared that the concept was explored using technology available at the time, with the aim to create an N64 handheld based on reusing NiCad batteries from RC cars and 5-inch PS1 LCDs. He cited the limited lifespan of the N64 compared to other consoles as a reason why it didn’t progress.
The idea was driven by potential for developers to reach new audiences with their existing games, thus increasing sales. The market was certainly there given the Game Boy and Game Boy Color sales, which collectively sold almost 119 million units.
What would have been the impact of an N64 handheld on the market compared to the original console and Game Gear?
In the 90’s!? That would have lasted all of 12 seconds on batteries…
Which wasn’t too dissimilar from the Game Gear at the time.
I never had battery life issues with my Game Gear. And it still works!
Stop lying, that thing chugged AA batteries like water
Well, given how ridiculously long ago this was, I’m going to dig it out of the basement and try it out
I dunno, the N64 had just as long a lifespan as the other consoles at the time. That said, the Game Boy was still selling like crazy (one word: Pokemon), especially with the Pocket and Color out in the N64 era, and the Game Gear was already effectively dead by then. I don’t know what Nintendo would’ve been so afraid of there.
The Game Gear was barely alive once the N64 launched. Sega ended production in 1997 - before Goldeneye came out.
By contrast, the Game Boy Color exists largely because Nintendo heard about the Neo Geo Pocket and panicked. That would’ve been around the same time. I cannot overstress how unserious this story sounds, in light of what Nintendo was up against, and what they actually did.
