64DD

Background
The N64 Disc Drive (or the N64DD) was a short lived add-on for the Nintendo 64. It was released in 1999, and had features such as Internet access via RandNet and the use of discs instead of cartridges. The add-on was a commercial failure, selling only around 15,000 units. The RandNet service shut down in 2001. A release outside of Japan was planned, but quickly cancelled due to the low sales.

1st Logo (December 1, 1999-February 28, 2001)
Nickname: "Mario Runs!"

Logo: On a white background, we see the giant "N" from the Nintendo 64 logo rise out of water with ripples already forming. It starts off as white, but the "N" soon turns into its signature rainbow color (the date and time also appears in the bottom right corner in gray). "NINTENDO⁶⁴" (in and, respectively) fades in over the logo. and the N drops, losing a reflection it had just made into the floor only seconds earlier. Mario (in his Super Mario 64 form) then peeks out and waves at the user, and then kicks the N64 logo, making it spin. He begins to run around the logo. Later, he then jumps on the logo, lands below it, gets up, and gets out of it. He then goes off-screen, but then returns with him sliding below the logo. Instead of getting up, he swims away from the logo. Later, the N64 logo turns, causing the logo to stop spinning and fall in the floor. Mario comes back to slowly push the logo, making the logo fade back to its normal colors. Suddenly, the logo quickly spins, causing Mario to be slapped into the floor. Mario runs around the logo for a single time, and then goes off-screen, letting the logo spin for 6 seconds. Suddenly, the N64 logo is shrunk, causing Mario to come back. He curiously looks at the logo, and touches it, which makes the logo suddenly enlarge. The logo is now in a sandy texture, which resets to normal later on. Then, the N64 logo turns into a rocky, golden texture and floats. Mario comes back and jumps on the logo, causing the logo to descend. He then climbs the ledge and loses balance. When the logo is on the floor, it turns into a tree, causing Mario to fall under the logo. He crawls out of the logo and does a backwards somersault inside the logo, causing it to return to its normal colors. The logo loops after this until a disc is inserted.

Trivia: There was an American release set to be released to the public market, though it unfortunately never made its way through. The retail unit (confirmed by Nintendo project manager Mark DeLoura; helped release the N64, Game Boy Advance, and GameCube) was found in Seattle not too long ago. You can watch the video explaining the unit here.

Variants:
 * If no disc was inserted when you powered on the DD, some Japanese text ("ディスクを入カてください") would flash continuously below the giant "N" telling you so. Along with that, the animation would continue to play.
 * There is also an English version of this screen (where in the text telling you to insert a disc reads "Please insert disk"). See Trivia for more info. The  timestamp has also been changed to fit the American market (though it never got publicly released).
 * If you power on the DD with a disc inserted inside of it, only the first part of the animation plays. After that, the logo cuts to black, and the game you are playing starts.

FX/SFX: 3D animation played in real-time.

Music/Sounds: A synthesized "whoosh" and a pounding synth tune. It is silent for the rest of the animation, save for voice clips recycled from Super Mario 64.

Availability: Ultra rare. As the unit was only ever released in Japan, let alone its short life and low sales, it's extremely difficult to obtain a Nintendo 64 Disk Drive, let alone any games. The English version is even rarer, as the add-on never made it to markets outside of Japan.

Editor's Note: None.

2nd Logo (1999-2001)


Logo: On a black background, we see the N64 icon with the white text "64DD" next to it.

Variant: When loading F-Zero X on the N64DD, the green gradient text "DD LOADING" appears below while a scrolling animation of the Blue Falcon leaving a blue trail is seen.

FX/SFX: None. Simplistic animation for the variant.

Music/Sounds: None.

Availability: Ultra rare. Occasionally appears whenever you boot a game into the N64 Disc Drive.

Editor's Note: None.