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Gaming Forums => Nintendo Gaming => Topic started by: Khushrenada on May 30, 2022, 05:35:47 PM

Title: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
Post by: Khushrenada on May 30, 2022, 05:35:47 PM
I was curious last night with the addition of Kirby 64 to the service if that meant that all the games Nintendo had shown for the N64 Switch app had now been added. The answer was almost. The only other game shown back in September last year that isn't on the app yet is Pokemon Snap so that's likely next month's offering. But once Snap hits, we do not know what else is to come.

I was wondering if Nintendo might show more games to come in the future with their next Direct (the possible Showcase we usually expect at E3 time). However, considering they haven't done that for any of the other apps and just announce games for them about a week or so before they get added, it is likely the 64 app will now just get those surprise announcements as well.

But what do you think is next for the app? What are you hoping to see added?
Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
Post by: M.K.Ultra on May 30, 2022, 06:53:12 PM
I imagine that Banjo-Kazooie is not the only Rare game they plan to put on the service. Any of the popular Rare games would be great additions but my personal picks are Donkey Kong 64 and Conker's Bad Fur Day. I played DK64 on Wii U VC and Conker on Rare replay and found both to be fun to play.
Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
Post by: NWR_insanolord on May 30, 2022, 07:49:09 PM
If they're going to add more Rare games I would love to see Perfect Dark. On a different note, Harvest Moon 64, which I believe was on the Wii U Virtual Console, would be nice.
Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
Post by: BeautifulShy on May 30, 2022, 08:26:45 PM
Where is our resident N64 collector, Mop it up, at?

As for new games. I had a limited selection of N64 games growing up because of the cost but some faves I remember that are not currently on the NSO service are these.

Super Smash Bros-Owned
Perfect Dark-Not Owned
Jet Force Gemini-Not Owned
Turok 2-Owned
Beetle Adventure Racing-Not Owned
Excitebike 64-Owned
Ogre Battle 64-Not Owned
Pokemon Puzzle League-Owned
Vigilante 8-Owned
Rayman 2:The Great Escape-Not Owned
Fighting Force 64-Owned
Extreme G 1 and 2-Owned both
Bio F.R.E.A.K.S.- Not Owned
Rampage World Tour- Not Owned
Fighters Destiny-Owned
Mischief Makers-Not Owned
Dark Rift- Owned

I would like all the n64 wrestling games but I bet there are rights issues.  Same reason why I didn't list Golden Eye



Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
Post by: Khushrenada on May 30, 2022, 08:35:25 PM
DK64 I expect pretty soon. It would probably be my choice as the next game after Pokemon Snap although maybe Banjo-Tooie could be that game if Nintendo wants to throw in another third party game before all their first party stuff is loaded up. Gotta think Tooie would be included if the first made it over.

There are 21 games on the Wii U VC console. Only three of those games are third party: Harvest Moon 64, Bomberman 64 and Ogre Battle 64. If Nintendo does get a few Rare games like Banjo-Tooie, Blast Corps and Jet Force Gemini, then it will likely be able to just equal or surpass the Wii U VC.

The Wii U VC still has the following: Excitebike 64, 1080 Snowboarding, Wave Race 64, Donkey 64 and Mario Party 2. (Also Pokemon Snap but Nintendo showed that as a title coming to the 64 app). Of those games, I'd say DK64 and Mario Party 2 are the big titles Nintendo still have up their sleeve. I'm really curious how Nintendo will handle the Party games with Superstars for Switch. Will they just ignore those titles or will they re-release them with online play and possibly take away sales from Superstars?

As for other third party games, I'd like to see Harvest Moon also but not sure it will happen. It's not like Harvest Moon SNES was added to the SNES app so if it wouldn't appear there, why would Natsume release it for the 64 app? Likewise Square has done nothing with the SNES app preferring to do their own re-releases so I doubt Ogre 64 is happening. Bomberman 64 might have a chance because who knows what Konami is thinking these days. However, like Harvest Moon, there have been no Bomberman games for the SNES app so why would they release some for 64?

I wonder if we might see a couple of the Cruis'N games show up. Can't imagine there is much demand for those old titles so whoever has the rights may be more willing to let those show up on the App.

Mischief Makers is a title I have some long shot hope for.  Are we going to be seeing Gex or Glover or Earthworm Jim 64 for the app?
Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
Post by: NWR_insanolord on May 30, 2022, 08:45:10 PM
Also, it would be nice to get PilotWings 64, which for some reason was never on the Virtual Console on Wii or Wii U.
Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
Post by: pokepal148 on May 31, 2022, 02:54:21 AM
I would kill for Ogre Battle on Switch.
Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
Post by: Order.RSS on June 11, 2022, 01:49:50 PM
So just running down the list of stuff mentioned so far...

From the Wii / Wii U vc:
Others Nintendo owns:
Some baseless speculation on my part:

Edit: Dr. Mario 64 is already on there lol, didn't pay attention. Thanks Khush!
Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
Post by: Khushrenada on June 11, 2022, 02:42:09 PM
Dr. Mario 64 is already on the app.
Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
Post by: Luigi Dude on June 12, 2022, 12:03:43 PM
Considering we've gotten some pretty deep cuts on the NES and SNES online, I imagine anything third party that doesn't have licensing issues is fair game.

Some baseless speculation on my part:
  • Castlevania 64 if Konami wakes up.
  • Castlevania Legacy of Darkness if Konami wakes up.
  • Hybrid Heaven if Konami wakes up.
  • Mystical Ninja Goemon if Konami wakes up.
  • Mystical Ninja Goemon 2 if Konami wakes up.
  • Rakugakids if Konami wakes up.

I mean we did get Castlevania Bloodlines and Contra Hardcorp on the Genesis part of the Expansion Pack and those are from two collections Konami is already selling on the Switch.  Konami is willing to play ball with the extra money the Expansion Pack is offering so I wouldn't be surprised to see most of their N64 lineup shows up, which includes the Hudson games they own as well.
Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
Post by: nickmitch on June 12, 2022, 01:39:18 PM

  • Pokémon Stadium Don't think so, but HAL made it so it'd be a choice, not a legal issue.
  • Pokémon Stadium 2 Don't think so, but HAL made it so it'd be a choice, not a legal issue.

The Pokémon Stadium games could be interesting. The big draw of those games was being able to connect the GameBoy games to the console. Though there are things you can do without the connectivity. There's also the possibility of connecting the game with Pokémon Home, which seems like it'd be a lot of work that Game Freak wouldn't want to do.
Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
Post by: NWR_insanolord on June 12, 2022, 05:09:43 PM

    • Pokémon Stadium Don't think so, but HAL made it so it'd be a choice, not a legal issue.
    • Pokémon Stadium 2 Don't think so, but HAL made it so it'd be a choice, not a legal issue.

    The Pokémon Stadium games could be interesting. The big draw of those games was being able to connect the GameBoy games to the console. Though there are things you can do without the connectivity. There's also the possibility of connecting the game with Pokémon Home, which seems like it'd be a lot of work that Game Freak wouldn't want to do.

    If they wanted to get really ambitious they could add Game Boy games to the service and let you transfer Pokémon from those to Stadium.[/list]
    Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
    Post by: nickmitch on June 16, 2022, 05:07:28 AM

      • Pokémon Stadium Don't think so, but HAL made it so it'd be a choice, not a legal issue.
      • Pokémon Stadium 2 Don't think so, but HAL made it so it'd be a choice, not a legal issue.

      The Pokémon Stadium games could be interesting. The big draw of those games was being able to connect the GameBoy games to the console. Though there are things you can do without the connectivity. There's also the possibility of connecting the game with Pokémon Home, which seems like it'd be a lot of work that Game Freak wouldn't want to do.

      If they wanted to get really ambitious they could add Game Boy games to the service and let you transfer Pokémon from those to Stadium.[/list]

      I could see this as a possibility down the road. I think, for now, the best hope might be that Pokémon flagged as coming from the Gen I games in Home would have the possibility of being put into the game. So, you'd have to get your 3DS copies of the games and put the Pokémon into Bank and then into Home.
      Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
      Post by: Order.RSS on August 16, 2022, 05:12:58 AM
      The next addition will be Wave Race 64 (https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/61237/wave-race-64-announced-for-switch-online-expansion-pack-on-friday), fun title for the Summer. Both the Custom Robo games hit the Japanese NSO a month ago, too.

      I doubt anyone is surprised by Wave Race getting added. Always felt like the surest bet, even over 1080, Excitebike 64, and DK64.
      Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
      Post by: Stratos on August 18, 2022, 01:57:30 PM
      There is getting to be enough games I would want to play that I don't have physically that I could consider buying the expansion plan. But there is a time issue for me. Maybe once things settle down in life and I actually get to play Switch more consistently it would be worth it.
      Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
      Post by: Order.RSS on September 13, 2022, 12:48:30 PM
      Bunch of new N64 stuff was announced in the Direct today. Interesting Japan is getting Harvest Moon 64, but it wasn't mentioned in the US Direct - despite that game being on Wii U virtual console.

      2022:
      - Pilotwings 64 So I guess if there was a rights issue, it has now been solved.
      - Mario Party I had wondered if the thumbstick turning would have ruled this one out.
      - Mario Party 2

      2023:
      - Mario Party 3
      - Pokémon Stadium
      - Pokémon Stadium 2

      - 1080 Snowboarding
      - Excitebike 64
      - Harvest Moon 64 Japan only (for now?).
      Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
      Post by: nickmitch on September 13, 2022, 03:00:56 PM

        • Pokémon Stadium Don't think so, but HAL made it so it'd be a choice, not a legal issue.
        • Pokémon Stadium 2 Don't think so, but HAL made it so it'd be a choice, not a legal issue.

        The Pokémon Stadium games could be interesting. The big draw of those games was being able to connect the GameBoy games to the console. Though there are things you can do without the connectivity. There's also the possibility of connecting the game with Pokémon Home, which seems like it'd be a lot of work that Game Freak wouldn't want to do.

        If they wanted to get really ambitious they could add Game Boy games to the service and let you transfer Pokémon from those to Stadium.[/list]

        I could see this as a possibility down the road. I think, for now, the best hope might be that Pokémon flagged as coming from the Gen I games in Home would have the possibility of being put into the game. So, you'd have to get your 3DS copies of the games and put the Pokémon into Bank and then into Home.

        Wanted to bring this back up in light of the announcement today. Looks like they're going with no connectivity in Pokémon Stadium, at least for now. Joe Merrick did a thread on why this is more complicated than it looks. (https://twitter.com/JoeMerrick/status/1569723625132924928?s=20&t=XAgu6im-VJTtoNoHoMYL-Q) Definitely seems like we'll be waiting on GB games on NSO for this feature.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Mop it up on September 16, 2022, 09:20:49 PM
        I'm betting Goldeneye 007 will release in 2022, since we haven't gotten a game yet this month, so there are four more slots left. My guess is the order will be:
        Sept: Pilotwings 64
        Oct: Mario Party
        Nov: Goldeneye 007
        Dec: Mario Party 2

        I'm a little surprised they're tossing on the Pokémon Stadium games. I'd have thought if they ever re-released those, they'd make them separate paid releases and add in support for Home or something. It's also a bit of a shame that Mario Tennis and Golf don't have their transfer content unlocked.

        As for Harvest Moon 64: The Japanese SNES app also got Harvest Moon. Isn't the problem with these games now that they no longer have the rights to the Harvest Moon name outside of Japan?
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Order.RSS on September 17, 2022, 06:45:22 PM
        As for Harvest Moon 64: The Japanese SNES app also got Harvest Moon. Isn't the problem with these games now that they no longer have the rights to the Harvest Moon name outside of Japan?

        I'm not 100% sure of the details, but it seems like the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons split happened in 2012. Broadly I think Natsume holds the rights to the Harvest Moon brand name, whereas Marvelous has (some) rights to the game design. That's presumably why they were able to re-release Friends of Mineral Town, and will re-release A Wonderful Life next year with some in-game names changed under the Story of Seasons brand.

        Regardless, Harvest Moon 64 was re-released on Wii U virtual console in 2017 according to Wikipedia, well after the ~2012 split. So unless that involved some sort of special deal where Natsume and Marvelous had to play nice together, I don't really get what the hold-up would be to put it on NSO in the west.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Stratos on September 19, 2022, 01:49:37 AM
        The hold up could be the uncomfortable possibility that the game sold poorly on the VC and so there isn't a huge draw to bring it back now.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: NWR_insanolord on September 19, 2022, 06:19:57 AM
        Based on some of the stuff they’ve put on the service, broad appeal isn’t at all necessary for Nintendo to consider it. I’m pretty sure more people care about Harvest Moon than WinBack.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Mop it up on October 02, 2022, 11:12:55 AM
        Wait wait wait woah woah wait, was there no game released in September? What gives?!
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Khushrenada on October 31, 2022, 04:44:31 PM
        Wait wait wait woah woah wait, was there no game released in September? What gives?!

        I guess they are making up for it with 2 Mario Party games releasing this week.

        Welp, Mario Party is what got me to take on the Expansion Pak online addition. That said, I also got the Family plan and currently have two people joining me as I look for one more to make it a 4 person plan and then we can all just keep paying as if it were the regular online fee.

        With the two Mario Party games on their way, that will give the N64 App 21 games which equals the amount of 64 games released on the Wii U and there's more on the way so it will be surpassing the Wii U offerings as anticipated. Will the N64 get as high as 40 games on the app after all? I felt somewhere that this was my predication for what could theoretically be possible especially if Rare games are in the mix.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Khushrenada on October 31, 2022, 09:27:05 PM
        As for the current games on the App, the first thing I went to was the old Super Mario 64. You know, it's really been a long time since I last played this. It isn't something I thought about or noticed since that game is highly ingrained in my memory and so much about it has been imaged and referenced through the years. But the last time I played this would have been around 2016 when A Straight Up Trippin' Balls Forum User had the idea to do a gaming Olympics and I participated by seeing how many coins I could collect in World 15. (That was an odd sentence.) But aside from replaying that one level, I think the last time I fully played through this game was around 2005 when SM64DS came bundled with the DS system I just bought.

        Playing it again now, it's a weird blend of almost feeling fresh while also feeling routine. I'm reading all the signs and relearning the controls a bit while mostly just collecting them stars pretty efficiently and as I pretty much know what to do. For instance, I remember it took a long time to master that flight cap and collect the 8 red coins in the area where you press the red switch to activate those caps in levels. This time around, I got them on my second try. I've collected all 7 stars for World's 1, 2 and 5 along with like 7 or 8 Secret Castle stars and left off at World 6. Skipped World 3 and 4 for now. The hardest thing sometimes has been camera control and fighting how I want to turn it sometimes. Although the actual hardest thing was getting to the Boo balcony / roof in World 5. I knew where to go but could just not jump up to it. I was trying all manner of things for like 30 minutes including going back through the rest of the area to make sure I wasn't missing a switch to give me a middle platform or lower it because it seemed to be too high to reach the door for the area. Finally pulled off getting up there only to slide off the roof after when going to collect the star. Got frustrated enough to see what sort of move I should be making and looked up a couple videos of the level being played to see people doing a wall kick that was enough to reach the area. A couple more successes of getting up to the top and falling off the roof eventually led to me getting that darned star by being smart and making some save states along the way. I knew I needed to get up there for one more star and as I did more practicing and trying to recall how I used to handle this in the past, I had a moment at last in which I finally clued in on the control combination that got Mario up there and then I was able to get up there much quicker and in time with the Vanish cap. Still, by far, my most hated moment when replaying this game right now. What was the thinking on that design?

        Also dove into Mario Golf, a pull of nostalgia. Up there with the Mario Party games and Mario Kart for the most multiplayer I did on the system. My brother and I played many golf tours against each other. Playing it again now, I miss a few refinements that the series had from the last time I played it which was World Tour on 3DS. However, I've been able adjust enough to what it has and feel I've been doing slightly better than when I last played it. The added nostalgia hit from the music has kept me coming back for a few more holes. But, hoo-eee, I imagine this game will get a "Special" edition like some of the SNES games had in which it unlocks everything because having to unlock all the additional characters seems like such a long task right now that I'm not sure I'm all that up to doing again.

        Another game I've dabbled in is Dr. Mario 64. After UncleBob's longtime praise of it on these forums and remembering how I always kind of wanted to rent it and try it from the days of Blockbuster and later regretted not trying it, I find I'm not that blown away by it. So far I've just done a session in the story mode which has been a rather weak story. It's just been the Dr. Mario experience. Doesn't seem like anything new or different from what has come before. It has the feel of Nintendo betting on the appeal being limited and not spending too much money on it so that it is more of a budget title or, let's say, B picture compared to the prestige or blockbuster picture of a Super Mario 64.

        R.I.P. to my Switch backlog. Those games now seem even further away of getting played with me in N64 mode. (And still no DK64 in sight despite thinking it might be happening before some of the other stuff now getting released like the Mario Party games and Goldeneye. Probably for the best though. That's a long game I don't know why I want to play through more Beaver Bother again.)
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Mop it up on November 01, 2022, 03:22:56 PM
        I guess they didn't want to release the first Mario Party game on its own because of the stick-spinning stuff. I'm guessing Goldeneye 007 will be in December then.

        I'm already in my own family plan so can't help you there Khushrenada, but I'd be interested in playing these games with your group, if our schedules can match up.

        Dr. Mario 64 was indeed a budget title that was released only in NA in 2001, MSRP $30 USD. Its main claim to fame is that it's still the only Dr. Mario game with a four-player mode. Pretty crazy I know, but it's true! Or at least, in terms of regular gameplay. The WiiWare game has some four-player side mode where everyone cooperates to drop pills in the same bottle, but that was it.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Khushrenada on January 25, 2023, 12:22:40 PM
        I'm already in my own family plan so can't help you there Khushrenada, but I'd be interested in playing these games with your group, if our schedules can match up.

        Heh, that's fine. I wasn't looking for someone on the forums to join me. There was someone else I knew in life that would be interested and they joined up. So, that was taken care of some time ago.

        I was going to bump this thread to talk about the sudden lack of titles being released for the app despite knowing 6 titles that were supposed to be added to it. And then Goldeneye is suddenly announced as being added this week. The one game a month schedule has suddenly become wonky the last few months. This seems to have happened as soon as I subscribed to it. Not sure what I did but I guess it must be my fault.

        Super Mario 64 - I want to go back to my last post when I complained about the design for getting up to the balcony in the Boo House. I should have just played the worlds in order instead of jumping around as much as I did. Later, when playing Cool, Cool Mountain, I get some practice on wall jumps which I clearly needed for that section. I rescind my complaint about the level design. I just needed to brush off my SM64 skillz. All in all, I still like the game a lot and I enjoyed revisiting it after such a long absence. That's another game crossed off the N64 list.

        Mario Party - Man, did they make it a long time to unlock everything. Glad they did away with having to buy the minigames so that you could then play them in the mini-game mode. Just been playing through it in single-player. I find I don't mind the single player like I once did. Just been starting a board and playing it for like 7 or 8 turns and then pausing and going off to other games but slowly chipping away at the game. Recently wrapped up a 20 turn round on Mario's Rainbow Castle. Got the happening star by being the only player to land on that type of space once during the whole match. What a brilliant play on my part. Still quite happy these games have come to the app. Can't wait for Mario Party 3 and two of the best characters, Waluigi and Daisy, to finally be playable options.

        Yoshi's Story - It occurred to me when playing this that Yoshi's story was pretty much the only Nintendo property done in 2D during the N64 era. I suppose you could consider Super Smash Bros as 2D and Kirby 64 was 2.5D in that it played with the perspective more but Yoshi's Story was about the closest Nintendo came to the games that had been their main bread and butter through the SNES era. It's been a long time since revisiting this game and it is still a mixed bag of good and bad but I'm liking and appreciating it a bit more than my past memories of the game. Just been playing a couple levels at a time and chipping away at it that way also.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Mop it up on February 07, 2023, 03:31:08 PM
        Yeah, I'm not sure what's going on with the schedule. Releasing both Mario Party 1 and 2 in November made up for the lack of a game in September to bring the average back to one a month, but then there wasn't one in December for some odd reason so I'm not sure what's going on. I wouldn't be surprised if they put out Pokémon Stadium 1 and 2 at the same time as well, maybe even this month for the Pokémon Day event. That would even it out again to one a month.

        Tip for Mario Party: On the final turn, set all CPU players to humans and then you get to keep any coins and stars they collected at the end of the game.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Stratos on February 12, 2023, 05:10:35 PM
        Well I had some extra eShop credit and saw you could upgrade your plan in-store now instead of calling so I went ahead and upgraded to the expansion pass family plan. I kinda wish I didn't play Goldeneye on it because it feels awful going back. The controls are nigh unplayable for me. I hear you can fix them through a few methods so I'll play around with them.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Mop it up on March 07, 2023, 02:57:36 PM
        Aw phooey, there wasn't one in February either! I guess since they added the GBA section, they figured that was enough for the month. Seeing as they're adding a GBA game in early March, hopefully there will be an N64 release later this month.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Khushrenada on March 07, 2023, 05:44:24 PM
        Aw phooey, there wasn't one in February either! I guess since they added the GBA section, they figured that was enough for the month. Seeing as they're adding a GBA game in early March, hopefully there will be an N64 release later this month.

        I'm wondering if Nintendo realized they were soon going to run out of N64 releases on their end so they added the GB/GBA stuff to give them some games they can keep announcing to the online services rather than have it seem like the well had run dry on the service.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: NWR_insanolord on March 07, 2023, 11:27:25 PM
        They're not even running that low, there are games they've announced are coming to the service that aren't there yet, plus more in terms of first party releases that haven't come out yet.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Mop it up on April 04, 2023, 03:42:29 PM
        Nope, nothing for March either! This is why Switch sales are tanking.

        At least there will be one this month...
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Khushrenada on October 19, 2024, 02:57:48 AM
        Wooo-eee.

        Banjo-Tooie hitting the app now. Just about coming to the end of the Rare contributions to the system. Including the Mature N64 app, that brings the total to 35 N64 games. Really seems like we'll hit 40 games for the app. Just how high might that number go? For everyone that was wanting an N64 mini back after the SNES mini-came out, I have to think this collection on N64 games basically covers what people would have wanted from that theoretical device. Obviously, there's still a lot of third party stuff people would probably like to see included and still a couple big titles missing like Diddy Kong Racing and Donkey Kong 64. But overall from the Nintendo/Rare side of things, pretty much all the big stuff here is and a bit extra.

        So, let's look back at what's happened since this speculation started a couple years ago.

        my personal picks are Donkey Kong 64 and Conker's Bad Fur Day.

        Still waiting on both of those. At the time this thread started, CBFD seemed highly unlikely. Nintendo had not included any M rated games on any of the Console apps at this point and just didn't seem like they'd want to deal with the possible complaints of kids easily accessing an M-rated game through the app. But with the creation of the N64 Mature App, part of me felt like it was evidence that Conker may be on his way after all. Guess we'll see if that pans out but I'd say I've gone from thinking it was like a 0.1% chance to 75% now because of that.

        If they're going to add more Rare games I would love to see Perfect Dark. On a different note, Harvest Moon 64, which I believe was on the Wii U Virtual Console, would be nice.

        Insanolord gets his wish. Both games have hit the service

        DK64 I expect pretty soon. It would probably be my choice as the next game after Pokemon Snap although maybe Banjo-Tooie could be that game if Nintendo wants to throw in another third party game before all their first party stuff is loaded up. Gotta think Tooie would be included if the first made it over.

        Welp, I was way off. Still no DK64. I guess my desire to replay it is greater than most others. Banjo-Tooie finally fulfills the expectation of coming to the app since the first one did.

        Quote
        There are 21 games on the Wii U VC console. Only three of those games are third party: Harvest Moon 64, Bomberman 64 and Ogre Battle 64. If Nintendo does get a few Rare games like Banjo-Tooie, Blast Corps and Jet Force Gemini, then it will likely be able to just equal or surpass the Wii U VC.

        All of those Rare games I mentioned are now going to be on the app. It has indeed surpassed the Wii U VC. Actually, both the Wii VC and the Wii U VC had 21 titles each that were made available but they didn't both have the same games due to different third party options. Harvest Moon 64 has made the jump leaving just three games that were available on the Wii U VC that haven't come to the Switch app. Bomberman 64, Ogre Battle 64 and Donkey Kong 64. Not so surprising about the third party games. Will they ever make the jump? But am surprised that DK64 has taken this long to be added. Harvest Moon beat it to the app!

        Quote
        The Wii U VC still has the following: Excitebike 64, 1080 Snowboarding, Wave Race 64, Donkey 64 and Mario Party 2. (Also Pokemon Snap but Nintendo showed that as a title coming to the 64 app). Of those games, I'd say DK64 and Mario Party 2 are the big titles Nintendo still have up their sleeve. I'm really curious how Nintendo will handle the Party games with Superstars for Switch. Will they just ignore those titles or will they re-release them with online play and possibly take away sales from Superstars?

        On the subject of Mario Party games, let me just say that I'm glad Superstars didn't have an effect on these games getting added to the app. Added with online play for that matter too. Playing them again has really helped me understand why I like the GameCube Party games the best. The games can be a bit rough and being limited now to just 6 character choices in the first two right away takes away some appeal. The series was figuring itself out and in the GameCube era with orbs and capsules and some twists on how the boards worked, it makes for a more engaging experience. Still, I've been happy to revisit these titles and remind myself what they were like after not playing a couple of them for about two decades.

        Quote
        As for other third party games, I'd like to see Harvest Moon also but not sure it will happen. It's not like Harvest Moon SNES was added to the SNES app so if it wouldn't appear there, why would Natsume release it for the 64 app? Likewise Square has done nothing with the SNES app preferring to do their own re-releases so I doubt Ogre 64 is happening. Bomberman 64 might have a chance because who knows what Konami is thinking these days. However, like Harvest Moon, there have been no Bomberman games for the SNES app so why would they release some for 64?

        I wonder if we might see a couple of the Cruis'N games show up. Can't imagine there is much demand for those old titles so whoever has the rights may be more willing to let those show up on the App.

        Mischief Makers is a title I have some long shot hope for.  Are we going to be seeing Gex or Glover or Earthworm Jim 64 for the app?

        Heh. Harvest Moon did make it to the SNES app after this and then we got Harvest Moon 64. So, I think the other apps are a bit of a key to tell what third party support may end up across them all. Will Bomberman show up on the SNES yet? Still think there's a chance we could see that series appear since Konami doesn't seem to care about bundling up old Bomberman games in some kind of a retail collection like Capcom might with Mega Man or Square with their franchises. Hence, I'm still pessimistic about Ogre Battle 64 getting a VC release. No idea if anything Cruis'n might appear. Meanwhile, Gex wants to go the Limited Games route instead of appearing on the app. We did see Iggy's Reckin' Balls and Extreme-G hit the app which were two third party games no one brought up and a sign we might see more of the weird third party offerings after all like have shown up on the SNES app. Earthworm Jim has appeared on SNES and Genesis app so maybe he also makes the leap to N64. However, Mischief Makers is the number one third party wish for me still. However, with the Square Enix connection to it, I'm pessimistic about its chances of appearing.

        Also, it would be nice to get PilotWings 64, which for some reason was never on the Virtual Console on Wii or Wii U.

        Another wish granted to Insanolord?! Come off it, Nintendo!

        I would kill for Ogre Battle on Switch.

        Well, if you're going to do that, may I suggest Insanolord? He's got all the games he wanted for the N64 app so he has no reason to keep living now. Nothing else to wait for and he didn't use one of his wishes for Ogre Battle ruining it for everyone else.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Khushrenada on October 19, 2024, 04:01:27 AM
        Super Smash Bros-Owned
        Perfect Dark-Not Owned
        Jet Force Gemini-Not Owned
        Turok 2-Owned
        Beetle Adventure Racing-Not Owned
        Excitebike 64-Owned
        Ogre Battle 64-Not Owned
        Pokemon Puzzle League-Owned
        Vigilante 8-Owned
        Rayman 2:The Great Escape-Not Owned
        Fighting Force 64-Owned
        Extreme G 1 and 2-Owned both
        Bio F.R.E.A.K.S.- Not Owned
        Rampage World Tour- Not Owned
        Fighters Destiny-Owned
        Mischief Makers-Not Owned
        Dark Rift- Owned

        I would like all the n64 wrestling games but I bet there are rights issues.  Same reason why I didn't list Golden Eye

        Oh ho! A list. And there's been some progress on it. I also stand corrected. Extreme G had been mentioned by someone for their N64 suggestions. Of the 18 games mentioned, 5 have since made the leap. There's also GoldenEye but it wasn't technically on the list. Natsume Championship Wrestling has appeared on the SNES app. While still a long shot, maybe a wrestling game could appear for the N64 app after all. Of the other games listed, if Turok 1 could be released than Turok 2 should be able to make the leap. Same with Extreme G 2. Super Smash Bros is one of the last big Nintendo titles to hit the app. I wonder if adding online play might be a factor. Maybe that's what the whole Expansion Pass test that is going to happen will be about.  ;) Already talked a bit about Mischief Makers and Ogre Battle in the last post. Just don't see Square supporting these apps. Considering how Ubisoft has kept re-releasing Rayman 2 so much over the years, I just don't see them choosing to have that game appear on this app when they may think they can resell it again down the road. Beetle Adventure Racing I also question mainly because of the licence with Volkswagon. Not sure what the negation would be like to bring that game to the app. As for everything else, well, I don't really have an opinion. They're pretty much unknown to me but that sort of obscurity could be in their favor in that third parties may feel that having such games on the app is the best value they'll get for those titles.


        So just running down the list of stuff mentioned so far...

        From the Wii / Wii U vc:
        • 1080 Snowboarding Seems like a likely addition in winter.
        • Bomberman 64 Requires Konami to wake up, so 50/50 I'd say.
        • Bomberman Hero This never hit Wii U vc, but was on Wii. Lower odds than Bomberman 64 I'd say.
        • Cruis'n USA Was on Wii. Nintendo recently remembered they own this, so barring rights for the car, sure?
        • Donkey Kong 64 Very likely imo.
        • Excitebike 64 Only wrinkle I could think of might be branded bikes/billboards.
        • Harvest Moon 64 The Story of Seasons split could be an issue, but that was in 2012 and Harvest Moon 64 hit Wii U after that.
        • Mario Party 2 The safest bet out of the 3.
        • Pokémon Puzzle League Added in July.
        • Pokémon Snap Added in June.
        • Ogre Battle 64 Person of Lordly Caliber Square seems determined to forget about Ogre Battle/Tactics Ogre.
        • Super Smash Bros. Was on Wii, not Wii U. Toss up. I lean "no" since Smash Ultimate starts with the 64 roster.
        • Wave Race 64 Added in August.

        As mentioned in my last post, both the Wii and the Wii U Virtual Consoles offered 21 N64 games for purchase but the line-up had some differences between the two. Of all the games listed above that still haven't come to the Switch, Ogre Battle 64 is the only game not to do so that was also available on both the Wii and Wii U for purchase. Does that mean it may be more likely to appear than other games listed here after all? Who can say at this point. Surprisingly Donkey Kong 64 wasn't available for the Wii. I guess that required Expansion Pak power was just too much for the Wii and needed the Wii U's computing power to make it available. Meanwhile Bomberman 64 was available on Wii U and not the Wii while Bomberman Hero was available for the Wii and not the Wii U. Again, Konami and what thought goes into releasing its past Bomberman games is a mystery.

        If you combine the Wii and Wii U VC libraries, there were 25 unique games offered through them. That helps show how much more successful the Switch N64 app has been in comparison. Of those 25, 19 are available on Switch with the 6 listed above as yet to make the leap. DK64 is likely to show up at some point. I still think Smash Bros will too. Nintendo's history with Cruis'n makes me lean towards those games showing up to further add depth (or quantity) to the titles available on the app. It's the Konami and Square offerings that are in doubt.


        Quote
        Others Nintendo owns:
        • Custom Robo Added in July (Japan only).
        • Custom Robo v2 Added in July (Japan only).
        • Dr. Mario 64 Already on the app.
        • Hey You! Pikachu Would need a mic, so probably not. Creatures Inc. owns it now I think.
        • Mario Party Probably not what with the glove + Superstars.
        • Mario Party 3 Not sure why this one has been kept in the vault, anyone know?
        • Pilotwings 64 has never been re-released, might be an issue with Paradigm?
        • Pokémon Stadium Don't think so, but HAL made it so it'd be a choice, not a legal issue.
        • Pokémon Stadium 2 Don't think so, but HAL made it so it'd be a choice, not a legal issue.

        Big progress on the bottom half of the list with all those titles hitting. Hey You! Pikachu is now the lone exception and, as mentioned, the microphone requirement will likely keeps this from joining the app. (Unless Switch 2 has some kind of microphone addition to the controllers or special feature.) But also, I just don't think there is much demand for Hey You! Pikachu. Considering how Nintendo has just tossed some untranslated games into the NA apps, maybe Custom Robo ends up coming to NA as well but I feel some kind of translation would be pretty necessary for those games to know what's going on or how to play them.

        I get the whole cost and question of whether it would be worth doing the translation on some of these games but I wish Nintendo would do it. I was playing the first Starfy game on the GBA app and, yeah, you can progress and sort of figure things out and I know the story isn't anything special since I played the Starfy DS game and expect it would be the same level as that yet it just makes the game feel so arbitrary and pointless in a way. It's like I'm playtesting a game or something and just trying out some rough build of it. If Nintendo plans to keep using these VC apps and back library going forward for a benefit of people playing for their online services then I wish they'd invest in doing the translation work for a few titles. Twenty years later, are they still going to just keep offering an untranslated Starfy game as new gamers get introduced to their back catalogue or as a way to keep their old titles available to be played? To me, doing some translation work on a few titles like Starfy or Mario's Super Picross will be of benefit to make them a bit more appealing into the future if they want to keep making them available for the North American audience.


        Quote
        Some baseless speculation on my part:
        • Castlevania 64 if Konami wakes up.
        • Castlevania Legacy of Darkness if Konami wakes up.
        • Hybrid Heaven if Konami wakes up.
        • Knife Edge: Nose Gunner this is made & owned by Kemco, who are still around.
        • Mahjong 64 Was a Japan-only Koei game. Since Winback is here, why not at least in Japan?
        • Mystical Ninja Goemon if Konami wakes up.
        • Mystical Ninja Goemon 2 if Konami wakes up.
        • Rakugakids if Konami wakes up.
        • Rayman 2: Great Escape Ubisoft has re-released this like 10 times, what's an 11th?
        • Tonic Trouble Seems less likely than Rayman 2, but maybe Ubi won't turn down a cheque.

        No progress on the baseless hopes and dreams. Konami will release Castlevania collections of old games (unlike Bomberman) so they still see some value with those older titles hence why I'm doubtful that we'll see any of the N64 games. (The GB Castlevania game being an exception but a lot of companies don't seem to consider their GB games as having much value). Goemon, maybe. If Bomberman comes over then I think Goemon could but I think any of those titles could be a year or two away from appearing depending on how Nintendo wants to make these apps grow once they've finished with Rare and their own games on them and need third party offerings to bring up the number of titles. I'd be surprised about Rayman 2 and think something like Tonic Trouble has a better shot over it.
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Khushrenada on October 19, 2024, 04:22:25 AM
        I mean we did get Castlevania Bloodlines and Contra Hardcorp on the Genesis part of the Expansion Pack and those are from two collections Konami is already selling on the Switch.  Konami is willing to play ball with the extra money the Expansion Pack is offering so I wouldn't be surprised to see most of their N64 lineup shows up, which includes the Hudson games they own as well.

        Ah. I never use the Genesis app. Didn't know there were a couple Castlevania games there. Welp, then that changes my thinking in the above post. We may see more Konami games in the future after all if the price is right for Nintendo and Konami. Right now, their stuff seems more likely than Square Enix and Battle Ogre based on this.

        There's also the possibility of connecting the game with Pokémon Home, which seems like it'd be a lot of work that Game Freak wouldn't want to do.

        Oh yeah! They did not want to do that.

        If they wanted to get really ambitious they could add Game Boy games to the service and let you transfer Pokémon from those to Stadium.

        Man, I just want a few translations done on some of the simpler games. You want some whole cross app game connection services done. Talk about ambition!

        I'm betting Goldeneye 007 will release in 2022, since we haven't gotten a game yet this month, so there are four more slots left.

        Not quite. January 2023 is when GoldenEye did come out. Just missed the 2022 expectation. The game a month schedule has long dropped off though. At this point, the app should be around 48 titles even with some leeway in the fact that it launched with like 13(?) titles. Only coming to 35 now. That said....

        There is getting to be enough games I would want to play that I don't have physically that I could consider buying the expansion plan. But there is a time issue for me. Maybe once things settle down in life and I actually get to play Switch more consistently it would be worth it.

        What are the feelings towards the N64 app compared to two years ago when it launched? Are people happy with its offerings? Has the amusement of revisiting older titles worn off? Still using it or don't think about it much anymore? Any titles not mentioned before that you still hope may grace it like Space Station Silicon Valley or Mickey's Speedway USA?
        Title: Re: What's Next For The N64 Expansion Pack?
        Post by: Khushrenada on October 29, 2024, 12:13:57 AM
        Super Smash Bros-Owned
        Perfect Dark-Not Owned
        Jet Force Gemini-Not Owned
        Turok 2-Owned
        Beetle Adventure Racing-Not Owned
        Excitebike 64-Owned
        Ogre Battle 64-Not Owned
        Pokemon Puzzle League-Owned
        Vigilante 8-Owned
        Rayman 2:The Great Escape-Not Owned
        Fighting Force 64-Owned
        Extreme G 1 and 2-Owned both
        Bio F.R.E.A.K.S.- Not Owned
        Rampage World Tour- Not Owned
        Fighters Destiny-Owned
        Mischief Makers-Not Owned
        Dark Rift- Owned

        I would like all the n64 wrestling games but I bet there are rights issues.  Same reason why I didn't list Golden Eye

        Oh ho! A list. And there's been some progress on it. I also stand corrected. Extreme G had been mentioned by someone for their N64 suggestions. Of the 18 games mentioned, 5 have since made the leap. There's also GoldenEye but it wasn't technically on the list. Natsume Championship Wrestling has appeared on the SNES app. While still a long shot, maybe a wrestling game could appear for the N64 app after all. Of the other games listed, if Turok 1 could be released than Turok 2 should be able to make the leap. Same with Extreme G 2.

        Whelp! I did not see Shadowman and Turok 2 as being next for the app but here we are! Just like that, there are now 37 N64 games through the normal and mature apps. With Turok 2, BShy gets another game off her list.

        What's a bit more significant here is that Shadowman has a remaster available on Switch and is even on sale right now. Turok 2 has also been for sale on the eShop. Despite that, both original versions are now coming to the app. So, the idea that because a third party is selling a game on their own means it won't come to these apps is sort of ruined and shows that their addition could still be a possibility after all. But Shadowman before DK64? Why, Nintendo, why?