Nintendo Power (cartridge)

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Nintendo Power
Nintendo Power flash cartridges for Super Famicom (SF Memory Cartridge) and Game Boy (GB Memory Cartridge)
DeveloperNintendo
Release date1996
DiscontinuedFebruary 28, 2007[1]

Nintendo Power (Japanese: ニンテンドウパワー, Hepburn: Nintendō Pawā) was a video game distribution service for Super Famicom or Game Boy operated by Nintendo that ran exclusively in Japan from late 1996 until February 2007. The service allowed users to download Super Famicom or Game Boy titles onto a special flash memory cartridge for a lower price than that of a pre-written ROM cartridge.

At its 1996 launch, the service initially offered only Super Famicom titles.[2] Game Boy titles began being offered on March 1, 2000.[3] The service was ultimately discontinued on February 28, 2007.[1]

History[edit]

Background[edit]

During the market lifespan of the Famicom, Nintendo developed the Disk System, a floppy disk drive peripheral with expanded RAM which allowed players to use re-writable disk media called "disk cards" at Disk Writer kiosks. The system was relatively popular but suffered from issues of limited capacity. However, Nintendo did see a market for an economical re-writable medium due to the popularity of the Disk System.

Nintendo's first dynamic flash storage subsystem for the Super Famicom is the Satellaview, a peripheral released in 1995 that facilitated the delivery of a set of unique Super Famicom games via the St.GIGA satellite network.

Release[edit]

The Super Famicom version of Nintendo Power was released in late 1996.[2]

The Game Boy Nintendo Power was originally planned to launch on November 1, 1999;[4] however, due to the 1999 Jiji earthquake disrupting production in Taiwan, it was delayed[5] until March 1, 2000.[3]

Nintendo Power was discontinued in February 2007, with kiosks being removed from stores.[1][6]

Usage[edit]

The flash writer at a Nintendo Power kiosk in a convenience store
The flash writer at a Nintendo Power kiosk for adding games to flash cartridges

When this was on the market in the 1990s, the user would first purchase the RAM cartridge, then bring it to a store featuring a Nintendo Power kiosk.[7] The user selects games to be copied to the cartridge and the store provides a printed copy of the manual. Game prices varied,[2] with older games being relatively cheap, and newer games and Nintendo Power exclusives being more expensive.

The proprietary medium made illicit duplication much more difficult than a standard format such as a floppy disk.[citation needed]

Technical details[edit]

Each cartridge's flash ROM is divided internally into eight blocks. Unless an 8-block game is loaded onto the cartridge, however, one block is reserved for the game selection menu, leaving only seven blocks for games.

In addition, each cartridge has a small amount of SRAM for saved games, which is divided into sixteen blocks. Games are rounded up in capacity; for example, a 10 megabit Super Famicom game needs three flash ROM blocks totaling 12 megabits, and a Game Boy game that needs 100 kilobits of save space would need two SRAM blocks totaling 128 kilobits.

Nintendo Power has no Super Famicom enhancement chips such as the Super FX, so such games are incompatible.

Super Famicom[edit]

SF Memory Cassette (SFメモリカセット, SF Memori Kasetto)

  • MSRP – ¥3,980
  • Onboard flash ROM (for game data) – 32 megabits total (4 megabits/block × 8 blocks)
  • Onboard SRAM (for game saves) – 256 kilobits total (16 kilobits/block × 16 blocks)

Game Boy[edit]

GB Memory Cartridge (GBメモリカートリッジ, GB Memori Kātorijji)

  • MSRP – ¥2,500
  • Onboard flash ROM for game data, 8 megabits (1 megabit/block × 8 blocks)
  • Onboard SRAM for saved games, 1024 kilobits (64 kilobits/block × 16 blocks)

Reception[edit]

When the Nintendo Power for Super Famicom launched, it was perceived by the press as being in part an effort to free up retailer shelf space for more Nintendo 64 products.[2]

List of games[edit]

Super Famicom[edit]

First party games
Title Release date Developer(s) Ref.
JP
F-Zero September 30, 1997 Nintendo EAD [8]
Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo September 30, 1997 Intelligent Systems [8]
Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu September 30, 1997 Intelligent Systems [8]
Kirby Bowl September 30, 1997 HAL Laboratory, Nintendo EAD [8]
Mario no Super Picross September 30, 1997 Jupiter, Ape [8]
Mother 2: Gīgu no Gyakushū September 30, 1997 HAL Laboratory, Ape [8]
Panel de Pon September 30, 1997 Intelligent Systems [8]
SimCity September 30, 1997 Nintendo [8]
Super Donkey Kong September 30, 1997 Rare [8]
Super Donkey Kong 2 September 30, 1997 Rare [8]
Super Donkey Kong 3 September 30, 1997 Rare [8]
Super Mario Collection September 30, 1997 Nintendo EAD [8]
Super Mario World September 30, 1997 Nintendo EAD [8]
Super Metroid September 30, 1997 Nintendo R&D1, Intelligent Systems [8]
Heisei Shin Onigashima: Kōhen December 1, 1997 Pax Softnica [9]
Heisei Shin Onigashima: Zenpen December 1, 1997 Pax Softnica [9]
Wrecking Crew '98 January 1, 1998 Nintendo R&D1, Pax Softnica [9]
Kirby no Kirakira Kizzu February 1, 1998 HAL Laboratory [9]
Super Punch-Out!! March 1, 1998 Nintendo R&D3 [9]
Famicom Tantei Club Part II: Ushiro ni Tatsu Shōjo April 1, 1998 Nintendo R&D1 [9]
Super Famicom Wars May 1, 1998 Intelligent Systems [9]
Dr. Mario June 1, 1998 Nintendo R&D1 [9]
Zootto Mahjong! July 1, 1998 Nintendo [9]
Sutte Hakkun August 1, 1998 Nintendo R&D2, indieszero [9]
Derby Stallion '98 September 1, 1998 ParityBit [9]
Mini 4WD Let's & Go!! Power WGP2 October 1, 1998 Jupiter [9]
Power Lode Runner January 1, 1999 T&E Soft [9]
Power Sōkoban January 1, 1999 Thinking Rabbit [9]
Picross NP Vol. 1 April 1, 1999 Jupiter [9]
Picross NP Vol. 2 June 1, 1999 Jupiter [9]
Famicom Bunko: Hajimari no Mori July 1, 1999 Nintendo R&D1, Pax Softnica [9]
Picross NP Vol. 3 August 1, 1999 Jupiter [9]
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 September 1, 1999 Intelligent Systems [9]
Picross NP Vol. 4 October 1, 1999 Jupiter [9]
Picross NP Vol. 5 December 1, 1999 Jupiter [9]
Picross NP Vol. 6 February 1, 2000 Jupiter [9]
Picross NP Vol. 7 April 1, 2000 Jupiter [9]
Picross NP Vol. 8 June 1, 2000 Jupiter [9]
Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce August 1, 2000 Nintendo EAD [8]
Metal Slader Glory: Director's Cut December 1, 2000 HAL Laboratory [9]
Third party games
  1. ^ a b c d e Was also released on cartridge.

Game Boy[edit]

First party games
Title Developer(s) Release date Ref.
JP
Donkey Kong Pax Softnica March 1, 2000 [16]
Super Donkey Kong GB Rare March 1, 2000 [16]
Donkey Kong Land Rare March 1, 2000 [16]
Dr. Mario Nintendo R&D1 March 1, 2000 [16]
F-1 Race HAL Laboratory March 1, 2000 [16]
Game Boy Gallery Nintendo R&D1, TOSE March 1, 2000 [16]
Game Boy Gallery 2 TOSE March 1, 2000 [16]
Game Boy Gallery 3 TOSE March 1, 2000 [16]
Game Boy Wars Nintendo R&D1, Intelligent Systems March 1, 2000 [16]
Golf Nintendo R&D2, HAL Laboratory March 1, 2000 [16]
Hoshi no Kirby HAL Laboratory March 1, 2000 [16]
Hoshi no Kirby 2 HAL Laboratory March 1, 2000 [16]
Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru Nintendo R&D1, Intelligent Systems March 1, 2000 [16]
Kirby no Block Ball Nintendo R&D1, HAL Laboratory March 1, 2000 [16]
Kirby no Kirakira Kizzu HAL Laboratory March 1, 2000 [16]
Kirby no Pinball HAL Laboratory March 1, 2000 [16]
Mario no Picross Jupiter, Ape March 1, 2000 [16]
Metroid II: Return of Samus Nintendo R&D1 March 1, 2000 [16]
Mogurānia Pax Softnica March 1, 2000 [16]
Picross 2 Jupiter, Ape March 1, 2000 [16]
Solar Striker Nintendo R&D1, Minakuchi Engineering March 1, 2000 [16]
Super Mario Bros. Deluxe Nintendo R&D2 March 1, 2000 [16]
Super Mario Land Nintendo R&D1 March 1, 2000 [16]
Super Mario Land 2: 6-Tsu no Kinkoka Nintendo R&D1 March 1, 2000 [16]
Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land Nintendo R&D1 March 1, 2000 [16]
Tennis Nintendo EAD, Intelligent Systems March 1, 2000 [16]
Yakuman Intelligent Systems March 1, 2000 [16]
Yoshi no Cookie TOSE March 1, 2000 [16]
Yoshi no Panepon Intelligent Systems March 1, 2000 [16]
Zelda no Densetsu: Yume o Miru Shima DX Nintendo EAD March 1, 2000 [16]
Alleyway Nintendo R&D1 August 1, 2000 [16]
Balloon Fight GB Nintendo R&D1, Pax Softnica August 1, 2000 [16]
Radar Mission Pax Softnica August 1, 2000 [16]
Tetris Nintendo R&D1 September 1, 2000 [16]
Tetris Deluxe Nintendo R&D1 September 1, 2000 [16]
Third party games [17]
Title Release date Publisher Price
Genuine Hanafuda GB December 1, 2000 Artron 1,050 yen
Match Up Shogi July 1, 2000 Athena 1,050 yen
Trick Border Grand Prix December 1, 2000 Athena 1,050 yen
Professional Mahjong Goku GB March 1, 2000 Athena 1,050 yen
Professional Mahjong Goku GB2 June 1, 2001 Athena 1,050 yen
Purikura Pocket March 1, 2000 Atlus 1,050 yen
Purikura Pocket2 March 1, 2000 Atlus 1,050 yen
Purikura Pocket3 March 1, 2000 Atlus 1,050 yen
Hamster Paradise June 1, 2001 Atlus 1,050 yen
Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible March 1, 2000 Atlus 1,050 yen
Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible II March 1, 2000 Atlus 1,050 yen
Guru Guru Characters March 1, 2000 Atlus 1,050 yen
Super Genie Heroes Wataru
Mazekko Monster 2
August 1, 2000 Banpresto 1,050 yen
Kakutou Ryouri Densetsu Bistro Recipe: Wonder Battle October 1, 2000 Banpresto 1,050 yen
Kakutou Ryouri Densetsu Bistro Recipe - Gekitou Foodon Battle Hen December 1, 2000 Banpresto 1,050 yen
Bionic Commando March 1, 2000 Capcom 1,050 yen
Gargoyle's Quest 2 March 1, 2000 Capcom 1,050 yen
Gargoyle's Quest March 1, 2000 Capcom 1,050 yen
Street Fighter II March 1, 2000 Capcom 1,050 yen
Rockman World March 1, 2001 Capcom 1,050 yen
Rockman World 2 March 1, 2001 Capcom 1,050 yen
Rockman World 3 March 1, 2001 Capcom 1,050 yen
Rockman World 5 April 1, 2001 Capcom 1,050 yen
Rockman World 4 April 1, 2001 Capcom 1,050 yen
Sword GB May 1, 2001 Kemco 1,050 yen
Batman Beyond May 1, 2001 Kemco 1,050 yen
Spy vs. Spy May 1, 2001 Kemco 1,050 yen
Authentic 4-person Mahjong Mahjong King April 1, 2000 Child 1,050 yen
The mysterious dungeon Kurenai Shiren GB
Tsukikage village monster
March 1, 2000 Chunsoft 1,050 yen
Doraemon no Game Boy de Asobuoyo: Deluxe 10 August 1, 2000 Epoch Co. 1,050 yen
Doraemon Kart August 1, 2000 Epoch Co 1,050 yen
Dragon Slayer Gaiden
The Crown of Sleep
March 1, 2000 Epoch Co. 1,050 yen
Dragon Slayer July 1, 2000 Epoch Co. 1,050 yen
Bomberman GB 3 March 1, 2000 Hudson Soft 1,050 yen
Momotaro Dengeki 2 March 1, 2000 Hudson Soft 1,050 yen
GB Prototype 2 March 1, 2000 Hudson Soft 1,050 yen
Adventure Island 3 June 1, 2000 Hudson Soft 1,050 yen
Game Boy Wars Turbo March 1, 2000 Hudson Soft 1,050 yen
Super Momotaro Electric Railway 2 March 1, 2000 Hudson Soft 1,050 yen
Momotaro Electric Railway jr-Rolls around Ramen in Japan December 1, 2000 Hudson Soft 1,050 yen
Same Game March 1, 2000 Hudson Soft 1,050 yen
Bomberman Quest August 1, 2000 Hudson Soft 1,050 yen
Fairy Kitty Good Luck Dictionary-
Fortune-telling of Fairy Land-
March 1, 2000 Imagineer 1,050 yen
Medarot Kabuto version March 1, 2000 Imagineer 1,050 yen
Medarot Stag Version March 1, 2000 Imagineer 1,050 yen
Sanrio Timenet: Future May 1, 2000 Imagineer 1,050 yen
Sanrio Timenet: Past May 1, 2000 Imagineer 1,050 yen
Medarot Parts Collection December 1, 2000 Imagineer 1,050 yen
Wave Rider! July 1, 2001 Jujube 1,050 yen
Kid Dracula March 1, 2000 Konami 1,050 yen
Ganbare Goemon: Hoshizorashi Dynamites Arawaru!! July 1, 2001 Konami 1,050 yen
Yu-Gi-Oh! Monster Capsule GB February 1, 2001 Konami 1,050 yen
Survival Kids Feb 1 2001 Konami 1,050 yen
Nemesis II March 1, 2000 Konami 1,050 yen
It's a World Rally August 1, 2000 Konami 1,050 yen
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters March 1, 2000 Konami 1,050 yen
Konami GB Collection Vol.1 March 1, 2000 Konami 1,050 yen
Konami GB Collection Vol.2 March 1, 2000 Konami 1,050 yen
Konami GB Collection Vol.4 March 1, 2000 Konami 1,050 yen
BeatmaniaGB May 1, 2000 Konami 1,050 yen
Hanasaka Tenshi Tenten-kun's
Beat Breaker
April 1, 2001 Konami 1,050 yen
Bakuchou Retrieve Master March 1, 2000 Konami 1,050 yen
God Medicine : Birth of a Fantasy World March 1, 2000 Konami 1,050 yen
Ganbare Goemon: Tengu-tō no Gyakushū! May 1, 2000 Konami 1,050 yen
Azure Dreams August 1, 2000 Konami 1,050 yen
Pac-Man March 1, 2000 Namco 1,050 yen
Namco Gallery VOL. 1 March 1, 2000 Namco 1,050 yen
Namco Gallery VOL. 3 March 1, 2000 Namco 1,050 yen
Mr. Driller June 1, 2001 Namco 1,050 yen
Great Greed March 1, 2000 Namco 1,050 yen
The Shutoko Racing April 1, 2000 Pony Canyon 1,050 yen
Shogi 2 April 1, 2000 Pony Canyon 1,050 yen
Karamuchou Ha Oosawagi! August 1, 2001 Starfish 1,575 yen
Super Black Bass Pocket 3 March 1, 2000 Starfish 1,050 yen
Kuzume Monster Parfait June 1, 2001 Starfish 1,050 yen
Pachi Pachi Pachisuro New Pulsar June 1, 2001 Starfish 1,050 yen
Karamuchou Ha Oosawagi! March 1, 2000 Starfish 1,050 yen
Fossil Genesis Reborn II March 1, 2000 Starfish 1,050 yen
Kogururu Guruguru
~Gurugururu Nakayoshi~
July 1, 2001 Sting 1,050 yen
Loppi Puzzle Magazine
first issue of puzzle
August 1, 2001 Success 630 yen
Loppi Puzzle Magazine
Inspirational puzzle first issue
September 1, 2001 Success 630 yen
Loppi Puzzle Magazine
Thinking puzzle No. 2
October 1, 2001 Success 630 yen
Loppi Puzzle Magazine
Inspirational Puzzle No. 2
November 1, 2001 Success 630 yen
Loppi Puzzle Magazine-
thinking puzzle No. 3
December 1, 2001 Success 630 yen
Petit Carat July 1, 2000 Taito 1,050 yen
Bubble Bobble July 1, 2000 Taito 1,050 yen
Space Invaders March 1, 2000 Taito 1,050 yen
Sagaia July 1, 2000 Taito 1,050 yen
Puzzle Bobble GB March 1, 2000 Taito 1,050 yen
Quick's adventure September 1, 2000 Taito 1,050 yen
Nettou Toshinden March 1, 2000 Takara 1,050 yen
Chibi Maruko-chan 4
This is Japan! Prince
November 1, 2000 Takara 1,050 yen
Chibi Maruko-chan
Maruko Deluxe Theater
November 1, 2000 Takara 1,050 yen
Life Game March 1, 2000 Takara 1,050 yen
Othello World May 1, 2000 Tsukuda original 1,050 yen
Dogtato December 1, 2000 Victor Interactive Software 1,050 yen
Harvest Moon GB August 1, 2000 Victor Interactive Software 1,050 yen
Legend of the River King 2 March 1, 2000 Victor Interactive Software 1,050 yen
Legend of the River King 3 March 1, 2000 Victor Interactive Software 1,050 yen
Aretha March 1, 2000 Yanoman 1,050 yen
Aretha II March 1, 2000 Yanoman 1,050 yen
Aretha III March 1, 2000 Yanoman 1,050 yen

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "NINTENDO POWER". Nintendo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 25 February 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d Svensson, Christian (February 1997). "Nintendo's Download Dream". Next Generation. No. 26. Imagine Media. p. 28.
  3. ^ a b "任天堂マガジン表紙・99年10月号(No.14)" [Nintendo Magazine Cover – October '99 issue (No. 14)]. Nintendo Online Magazine (in Japanese). No. 14. Nintendo. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022.
  4. ^ "平成11年11月1日、ゲームボーイ書き換えサービススタート!!". Nintendo Online Magazine (in Japanese). No. 14. Nintendo. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  5. ^ "NINTENDO POWER". Nintendo (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 23 October 1999.
  6. ^ Robinson, Andy (February 8, 2007). "Nintendo Closes Nintendo Power". Computer and Video Games. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  7. ^ "Tidbits...". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 90. Ziff Davis. January 1997. p. 26.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Super Famicom Nintendo Power Game List (Japan)". NinDB. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "スーパーファミコン" [Super Famicom]. nintendo.co.jp (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  10. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20001013035530/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n03/sf/npothers/page3.html
  11. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20021209114253/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n03/sf/npnew/page3.html
  12. ^ a b c https://web.archive.org/web/20001012111355/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n03/sf/npaction/page2.html
  13. ^ a b https://web.archive.org/web/20010215032557/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n03/sf/npnew/index.html
  14. ^ a b https://web.archive.org/web/20021210063740/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n03/sf/npaction/index.html
  15. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20001012211017/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n03/sf/npnew/page2.html
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai "Game Boy Nintendo Power Game List (Japan)". NinDB. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  17. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20021204021115/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n03/gb/

External links[edit]