Of Koopa's and Kremlings Redux

starwarsfan · Oct 29, 2013

(I am restarting my earlier TL with a earlier PoD)

June 1994:

Sega-Namco Merger Announced

Today two of the biggest arcade and video game companies announced a merger between the two companies that will undoubtedly create a titan in the Japanese Arcade Industry.

The news came to a shock to many, as many people were expecting to announce a new Sega Genesis add on rumored to be called the Sega 32x, but after the conference Sega denied the existence of the add on and scheduled a date a week from now to unveil their new system.

Sega Announces their Next Gen System the Sega Neptune
Today, Sega-Namco announced the Sega Neptune the successor of the Sega Genesis which would be run by disks like the Sega CD and not use cartridges and would be capable of 3D graphics as they displayed a tech demo of a new Sonic game.

The hardware is supposedly identical to the recently announced Sega Model 2 arcade board with further enhancements which would make this system the master of arcade ports.

Hiroshi Yamuachi Announces Surprise Retirement, Nintendo of America CEO Minoru Arawaka to become next CEO of Nintendo

In a major shock, Nintendo CEO Hiroshi Yamuachi announced he was retiring and would be succeed by his son in law and CEO of Nintendo of America Minoru Arawaka.

Nintendo Announces The Nintendo 64

Following Sega's announcement of the Sega Neptune, Nintendo has unveiled their new console as well the Nintendo 64 will be backwards compatible with SNES games with a add on and will use high capacity cartridges and will have 8 MB or Ram at launch that can be upgraded at a later date for better graphics.

DStecks · Oct 29, 2013

First question: why is the N64 backwards compatible with the SNES? What is the logical business reason for this? How does that even work, unless the N64 is just a beefier version of the SNES architecture?

Furthermore, the mid nineties were towards the end of the period where arcade ports were really a "thing". I can possibly see a business wanting to target arcade ports as a priority, but I can't see it working as an effective business strategy for more than a few years.

Nivek · Oct 29, 2013

So a new version, nice thing fella, the other have potential but this one will be better organized and the POD are pretty Interesting.

So Sega-Namco Alliance(OTL was discuted but nothing come at the end, much like later Sega and Bandai), now this one not only created an arcade Titan, but would free resources for Sega console division and Namcot used to have an excellent console support, that would be interesting, the Sega Neptune will be the system for Arcade Enthusiast This gen.(I think Now Tales of Phantasia would be a Neptune launch game, no reason to keep production as SNES game)

Yamauchi Retires? that would be interesting, the old fox was a genius with his maneauvre(even if won pretty powerful enemies, like Namco, Sony,etc) but Arakawa was pretty talented, managing relationship with american studios, winning key exclusive, he hired rareware and a long etc, here would be interesting, he use to be a friend with the people of Square USA, waiting for more.

The N64 looks incredible, and with thr BW compatibility can be a good thing, heck the 8MB and a future Expasion Pack would become a killer for other games.

starwarsfan · Oct 29, 2013

DStecks said:
First question: why is the N64 backwards compatible with the SNES? What is the logical business reason for this? How does that even work, unless the N64 is just a beefier version of the SNES architecture?

Furthermore, the mid nineties were towards the end of the period where arcade ports were really a "thing". I can possibly see a business wanting to target arcade ports as a priority, but I can't see it working as an effective business strategy for more than a few years.

That was Sega's OTL strategy.

N64 is a bit different than OTL, I just couldnt think of a better name.

Kalvan · Oct 29, 2013

The problem with cartridges is that ROM chips and battery packs (Flash won't make a console debut until the generation after) make things so much bulkier and more expensive, and the former is far less dense than optical discs.

BTW, what sort of sound hardware does the Nintendo 64 use, and does it use a 65832 or some derivative for the CPU?

Nivek · Oct 29, 2013

Kalvan said:
The problem with cartridges is that ROM chips and battery packs (Flash won't make a console debut until the generation after) make things so much bulkier and more expensive, and the former is far less dense than optical discs.

BTW, what sort of sound hardware does the Nintendo 64 use, and does it use a 65832 or some derivative for the CPU?

OTL N64 doesn't have Chipset thanks to Sony being a bitch for licesing issues, the whole sound was CPU and cartidge(a little flaw but easily overcome,that allow dinamic music in-game)

Cartidge have this benefit, good care endure forever-

Kalvan · Oct 29, 2013

Nivek said:
OTL N64 doesn't have Chipset thanks to Sony being a bitch for licesing issues, the whole sound was CPU and cartidge(a little flaw but easily overcome,that allow dinamic music in-game)

Cartidge have this benefit, good care endure forever-

I know about OTL, I meant TTL. And besides, with ROM data at a premium, I would suspect that Nintendo would much prefer some sort of sound hardware...

DStecks · Oct 29, 2013

starwarsfan said:
N64 is a bit different than OTL, I just couldnt think of a better name.

No shit. My question is why: why have backwards compatibility? Conventional thinking for years has been that it hurts initial sales of games for the console, and whether or not that's true, it's the notion that Nintendo will be working from. And when you consider that Nintendo is not only the primary publisher on the console, but the primary developer, anything that could hurt game sales makes no sense as a business move.

starwarsfan · Oct 29, 2013

DStecks said:
No shit. My question is why: why have backwards compatibility? Conventional thinking for years has been that it hurts initial sales of games for the console, and whether or not that's true, it's the notion that Nintendo will be working from. And when you consider that Nintendo is not only the primary publisher on the console, but the primary developer, anything that could hurt game sales makes no sense as a business move.

Not seeing where it hurts game sales.

N64 had huge droughts and late gen SNES games got cancelled or sent to die.

I might change it to them selling an adapter for it like the power base.

Nivek · Oct 29, 2013

Kalvan said:
I know about OTL, I meant TTL. And besides, with ROM data at a premium, I would suspect that Nintendo would much prefer some sort of sound hardware...

Don't Know ask Starwasfan.

to DStecks(nice name,

), OTL the SNES was intended to be backward compatible but dropped, the N64 rumored and again later dropped, but since wii, all the system are backward, thus is a posibility but again have more logic use legacy system as budget one, that help the company more.

starwarsfan · Oct 29, 2013

Kalvan said:
I know about OTL, I meant TTL. And besides, with ROM data at a premium, I would suspect that Nintendo would much prefer some sort of sound hardware...

I presume they use Sony's since their is no Playstation in this TL.

I edited the OP N64 backwards compatibility is now based on an add on.

Nivek · Oct 29, 2013

starwarsfan said:
I presume they use Sony's since their is no Playstation in this TL.

I edited the OP N64 backwards compatibility is now based on an add on.

Well that explain a lot ot thing, you should have mentioned it before.

Etto, reading, Model 3 is impossible, that wasn't even in design in 1994-5(was in 1995-6), Model 2 should be the one you refer, one arcade version would be more that enough for a lot of games.
http://segaretro.org/Sega_Model_2
http://segaretro.org/Sega_Model_3 (for more info)

That is for more pausability and a Model 2 with some Namco System feature can be an excellent console.

starwarsfan · Oct 29, 2013

Nivek said:
Well that explain a lot ot thing, you should have mentioned it before.

Etto, reading, Model 3 is impossible, that wasn't even in design in 1994-5(was in 1995-6), Model 2 should be the one you refer, one arcade version would be more that enough for a lot of games.
http://segaretro.org/Sega_Model_2
http://segaretro.org/Sega_Model_3 (for more info)

That is for more pausability and a Model 2 with some Namco System feature can be an excellent console.

Fixed, I mixed them up accidentally.

starwarsfan · Oct 30, 2013

Sega Neptune Launch Titles

Today, Sega announced some of their first party launch titles being Tales of Phantasia, Virtua Fighter and Sonic Xtreme a 3D Sonic Game.

The planned release date of 1995 is still on track and will have a launch price of 350$ and will have great arcade ports that are near perfect due to the same architecture as the Sega-Namco Model 2 board and to expect ports after in the launch window.

Nintendo Reveals their Price and Line Up for their New System

Today Nintendo announced that they would be moving several games over to the Nintendo 64 for the launch line up including:
Star Fox 2
Donkey Kong Country 3

Both of these titles will be available at launch with Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64 at a price of 300$ and a launch accessory of the Super Nintendo 64 Adapter to play Super Nintendo games on the Nintendo 64.

Kalvan · Oct 30, 2013

I just realized something:

No Tekken! It looks like the Virtua Fighter series will be taking its niche. Might we see Mishima Heihachi taking on Akira and Jacky and Paul Phoenix exchanging war stories?

Nivek · Oct 30, 2013

Kalvan said:
I just realized something:

No Tekken! It looks like the Virtua Fighter series will be taking its niche. Might we see Mishima Heihachi taking on Akira and Jacky and Paul Phoenix exchanging war stories?

The irony that was OTL Tekken was made for a former SEGA A&M2 employee, so possible some ideas of tekken used in future virtua figther game.

So Starfox 2(who OTL was abandoned in favor of 64) and DKC(who suffer for lack of support against Mario 64) would be moved to N64? interesting, that would help both games and have some other one for early games.

Some other thing? different fates or destiny? will Earthbound 64/Mother 3 being completed here in N64?

starwarsfan · Oct 30, 2013

Kalvan said:
I just realized something:

No Tekken! It looks like the Virtua Fighter series will be taking its niche. Might we see Mishima Heihachi taking on Akira and Jacky and Paul Phoenix exchanging war stories?

Tekken may come about still just as part of Virtua Fighter.

starwarsfan · Oct 30, 2013

Nivek said:
The irony that was OTL Tekken was made for a former SEGA A&M2 employee, so possible some ideas of tekken used in future virtua figther game.

Maybe, just an idea I love Tekken so something will happen with it.
So Starfox 2(who OTL was abandoned in favor of 64) and DKC(who suffer for lack of support against Mario 64) would be moved to N64? interesting, that would help both games and have some other one for early games.

Some other thing? different fates or destiny? will Earthbound 64/Mother 3 being completed here in N64?

Yea, Star Fox 2 will be greatly improved and DKC 3 as well will give the N64 a much more diverse line up and 2D platformers wont be abandoned in this TL.

Could the ex Sega guy go to Nintendo?

Maybe Tekken becomes a Nintendo game instead?

Earthbound will come to N64.

Nivek · Oct 30, 2013

starwarsfan said:
Yea, Star Fox 2 will be greatly improved and DKC 3 as well will give the N64 a much more diverse line up and 2D platformers wont be abandoned in this TL.

Could the ex Sega guy go to Nintendo?

Maybe Tekken becomes a Nintendo game instead?

Earthbound will come to N64.

Yes, 2D platfomer was put into fridge until the New Super mario bros(without taking merit to the mario advance series but those were remake), maybe a Returns esque game after 3d donkey kong?

Umm possible, more that Nintendo would want more 3d games and the guy abandon because difference with SEGA in first place(dont remeber if was Masamichi Abe or seiichi ishii, i think the former) and would still leave, and nintendo was big in 3d promoting the N64, remeber Cruising and Killer Instict Arcades, we can have KI as nintendo 2.5D figther and *Tekken as the 3d one.

Excelllent, if you need help with games or idea how to make it, tell me about it

starwarsfan · Oct 30, 2013

Nivek said:
Yes, 2D platfomer was put into fridge until the New Super mario bros(without taking merit to the mario advance series but those were remake), maybe a Returns esque game after 3d donkey kong?

Umm possible, more that Nintendo would want more 3d games and the guy abandon because difference with SEGA in first place(dont remeber if was Masamichi Abe or seiichi ishii, i think the former) and would still leave, and nintendo was big in 3d promoting the N64, remeber Cruising and Killer Instict Arcades, we can have KI as nintendo 2.5D figther and *Tekken as the 3d one.

Excelllent, if you need help with games or idea how to make it, tell me about it

Got some ideas thanks.