Nintendo shrunk a 64 console down into a controller to break into the Chinese market

A controller disguised as a console helped Nintendo legally enter China's once-banned gaming market, and now the unique console didn't have a very high total number of units produced.

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The console is called the iQue Player, and it was Nintendo's first official console sold in China. Its existence is unique compared to traditional consoles, as its design was a clever engineering solution to what was, at the time, a widespread ban on gaming consoles by the Chinese government.

Instead of selling a traditional console, Nintendo and partner iQue developed a plug-and-play controller that housed a full Nintendo 64 system inside. The controller-console functioned similarly to a traditional console, as it could be plugged into TVs and used flash memory cards for games. These design decisions, among others, including its shape, sidestepped China's legal restrictions.

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The device, with its blue and red buttons and no visible screen, was just a controller, and while it wasn't an overly successful console throughout China, it was enough to get Nintendo into the market, where it later released the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, two incredibly successful devices.

The iQue Player sold between 8,000 and 12,000 units, and only had a library of just 14 localized games in simplified Chinese. Some of the most popular titles, such as "Super Mario 64" and "Mario Kart 64," arrived as time-limited demos. Additionally, the system even found a surprising second life among speedrunners, who said the iQue had faster load times and smoother performance compared to the original N64.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Question #1

How did the iQue Player’s controller design allow Nintendo to legally enter China despite the console ban?

Nintendo and partner iQue created a plug-and-play device that looked and was sold as a controller but actually housed a full Nintendo 64 system inside. Because it was presented as a controller with no visible screen and a different shape, and used TV output and flash memory cards, its design sidestepped China’s ban on traditional gaming consoles and allowed Nintendo to legally enter the market.

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Question #2

What hardware features of the iQue Player matched a traditional Nintendo 64 (e.g., TV output, memory cards)?

The iQue Player functioned similarly to a traditional Nintendo 64 in that it could be plugged into TVs and it used flash memory cards for games. These design choices let it match key hardware features of a conventional N64 despite its controller form factor.

Answered

Question #3

Why did speedrunners prefer the iQue Player for faster load times and smoother performance compared to the original N64?

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Question #4

How many iQue Player units were produced and what were typical sale prices then versus current graded market prices?

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Though commercially a failure on paper, its historical value within Nintendo's history is pivotal, and since very few were made, the iQue Player has become quite a valuable collector's item. Graded examples have sold for over $1,500, despite a retail price of just $72 at launch. For retro gaming enthusiasts, it's a rare legal artifact of Nintendo's history, and a testament to the lengths companies will go to break into new markets.