180:
83:
290:"DS1" add-ons to allow (EEPROM and SRAM respectively) saves to be made without using the inserted cartridge. These devices were inserted into the top-slot of the N64 with the game cartridge being then inserted into the top of them to just provide the security bypass. Save slots on the DX256 were selected using an alpha and numeric encoder knobs on the front of the device.
25:
539:
power draw of different manufacturers drives at different speeds caused issues with disc spin-ups exceeding the wattage rating of the included Bung PSU. This led to users swapping out the Bung PSU for a more powerful model, or selecting low draw drives (mainly
Panasonic drives sometimes badged as Creative).
584:) for connecting the power supply cord. Power supplies included with Doctor V64s were very unreliable. Bung replaced the power supply with a sturdier version in later V64 units. Replacing broken power supplies became one of the most common maintenance problems with the V64. It is possible to modify an
369:
The Doctor V64 implemented text-based menu-driven screens. The menus consisted of white text superimposed over a black background. Utilizing the buttons on the V64 unit, a user would navigate the menus and issue commands. Though the menu was mainly designed for game developers, it is possible to back
567:
Depending on the model, V64s came with either 128 megabits (16 MB) or 256 megabits (32 MB) of RAM. Original V64 units shipped with 128 megabits of RAM. V64 units started shipping with 256 megabits when developers started using bigger sized memory carts for their games. Users had the option of buying
339:
Original Doctor V64 units sold by Bung did not allow the playing of backups. A person would have to modify the unit by themselves in order to make it backup friendly. This usually required a user to download and install a modified Doctor V64 BIOS. Additionally, the cartridge adapter had to be opened
312:
connection. The Doctor V64 Jr. has up to 512 megabits (64 MB) of memory storage. This was done to provide for future
Nintendo 64 carts that employed larger memory storage, but the high costs associated with ordering large storage carts kept this occurrence at a minimum. Only a handful of 512-megabit
307:
Following the Doctor V64's success, Bung released the Doctor V64 Jr. in
December 1998. This was a condensed, cost-efficient version of the original V64. The Doctor V64 Jr. has no CD drive and plugs into the normal cartridge slot on the top of the Nintendo 64. Data is loaded into the Doctor V64 Jr.'s
298:
The Doctor V64 could be used to read the data from a game cartridge and transfer the data to a PC via the parallel port. This allowed developers and homebrew programmers to upload their game images to the Doctor V64 without having to create a CD backup each time. It also allowed users to upload game
263:
The V64 unit contains a CD-ROM drive which sits underneath the
Nintendo 64 and plugs into the expansion slot on the underside of the Nintendo 64. The expansion slot is essentially a mirror image of the cartridge slot on the top of the unit, with the same electrical connections; thus, the Nintendo 64
538:
Many Doctor V64s shipped internationally were ordered without an installed CD-ROM drive, to save on shipping costs associated with weight, to avoid import duty on the drive, and to allow users to customize the units in response to the ever-increasing speeds of drives available. The variance in the
352:
Nintendo made many legal efforts worldwide in order to stop the sale of Doctor V64 units. They sued Bung directly as well as specific store retailers in Europe and North
America for copyright infringement. Eventually, Nintendo managed to have the courts prohibit the sale of Doctor V64 units in the
321:
In 1998 and 1999, there was a homebrew competition known as "Presence of Mind" (POM), an N64 demo competition led by dextrose.com. The contest consisted of submitting a user-developed N64 program, game, or utility. Bung
Enterprises promoted the event and supplied prizes (usually Doctor V64 related
597:
The ROM extensions ".v64" and ".z64" started out as the preferred naming conventions by Doctor V64 and Z64 users, respectively. It would also imply the file's "endianness" as those units employed little endian (V64) and big endian (Z64) byte alignment. ".n64" was used as well but not as much (it
289:
The second problem concerned saving progress. Most N64 games are saved to the cart itself instead of external memory cards. If the player wanted to keep their progress, then the cartridge used had to have the same type of non-volatile memory hardware. Alternatively, Bung produced the "DX256" and
348:
During the N64's lifetime, Nintendo revised the N64's model, making the serial port area smaller. This slight change in the N64's plastic casing made the connection to the Doctor V64 difficult to achieve without user modification. This revision may have been a direct reaction from
Nintendo to
534:
8X CD-ROM . During the manufacturing lifetime of the device, latter V64 models shipped with 16X and eventually 20X drives. V64 units could be purchased without a CD-ROM drive. It is possible to replace the unit with a faster IDE CD-ROM unit (such as the 52X model in the image on this page).
335:
The Doctor V64 unit was the first commercially available backup device for the
Nintendo 64 unit. Though the unit was sold as a development machine, it could be modified to enable the creation and use of commercial game backups. Unlike official development units, the purchase of V64s was not
236:, was a comparatively expensive development machine. The V64 served as a lower-cost development machine, though its unofficial status would later lead to conflict with Nintendo. Some third-party developers used a number of V64s in their development process, with games such as
370:
up cartridges with it (through the use of an unofficial V64 BIOS). Some of the menu items related to game backups were removed from the V64's BIOS near the end of its life due to pressure from
Nintendo. These items are only available by obtaining a patched V64 BIOS.
362:
281:, when using the V64, a game cartridge is plugged into the Nintendo 64 through an adapter which connects only the lockout chip. The game cart used for the operation had to contain the same lockout chip used by the game back up.
223:
The V64 was released in 1996 and was priced around US$ 450. It was the one of the first commercially available backup devices for the
Nintendo 64, appearing not long after the console's international release. The
322:
accessories). Though a contest was planned for 2000, the interest in the N64 was already fading, and so did the event. POM contest demo entries can still be found on the Internet.
462:
Used in conjunction with the option "Backup Card Auto → DRAM", this option would transfer the contents of Doctor V64's RAM to a PC through the use of V64's parallel port.
854:
1039:
340:
and soldered in order to allow for the operational procedure. Though Bung never sold backup enabled V64s, many re-sellers would modify the units themselves.
336:
restricted to software companies only. For this reason, the unit became a popular choice among those looking to proliferate unlicensed copies of games.
349:
discourage the use of V64 devices, and may also explain why Bung decided to discontinue the use of this port in the later Doctor V64 Jr. models.
1166:
934:
547:
V64s can read CD-Rs and CD-RWs (provided the installed CD-ROM unit supports rewritable media). Supported media has to be recorded in Mode 1,
35:
598:
became more popular as N64 emulators began to appear). The terms ".v64" and ".z64" are still widely used today by the emulation community.
486:
Another advanced option for DV64 developers. It would transfer the Doctor V64's own program code to the PC through a parallel connection.
46:
813:
1134:
1044:
654:
494:
This command allowed the operation of specific features of the DX256 cartridge adapter (an alternate cartridge adapter sold by Bung).
166:
64:
868:
1161:
104:
890:
726:
608:
used Doctor V64 units as their development hardware of choice during the N64 era. They were best known for developing the
147:
1054:
119:
100:
622:
470:
Another boot-related command to enable the playing of game images. It would only work on certain types of backups.
514:
of a game image already loaded in RAM. Later bios revisions would do this automatically, deprecating this option.
126:
93:
1031:
927:
478:
An advanced option that would read the backup image and extract the game's name, displaying it on the screen.
700:
264:
reads data from the Doctor V64 in the same manner as it would from a cartridge plugged into the normal slot.
951:
727:"U.S. FEDERAL COURT AWARDS JUDGMENT TO NINTENDO AGAINST HONG KONG MANUFACTURER OF VIDEO GAME COPIER DEVICES"
628:
249:
133:
502:
This command allowed the operation of specific features to be downloaded onto the DX256 cartridge adaptor.
1087:
966:
610:
237:
601:
39:
that states a Knowledge (XXG) editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic.
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This option would load a workaround for booting games. It only worked on certain types of game images.
179:
115:
1103:
920:
605:
556:
225:
204:
196:
253:
757:
414:
Same as the previous option, but would transfer the data to a PC through the V64's parallel port.
200:
398:
An advanced option that allowed uploading of program code for the use of boot related problems.
588:
PC power supply for V64 use. Only 4 cables have to be connected to the V64 for it to function.
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and audio CDs. Additionally, it could apply stereo 3D effects to the audio.
1140:
1077:
1002:
730:
548:
233:
212:
361:
616:
581:
577:
406:
This option would read a game cartridge and store it in the V64's RAM.
704:
454:
Diagnostics routine; specifically for units with 256MB of memory.
360:
278:
178:
869:"The Official "Thrift finds" Thread - AtariAge Forums - Page 132"
446:
Diagnostics routine; would check only the first 128MB of memory.
430:
Switch automatic between Screenshots the user made in VCD Movie.
976:
257:
916:
912:
422:
Switch manual between Screenshots the user made in VCD Movie.
76:
18:
36:
personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay
438:
Diagnostics routine; would check all of V64's subsystems.
687:"Turok 64 Official Source Code Analysis · RetroReversing"
42:
16:
Development and backup device made for the Nintendo 64
831:"HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN DOCTOR V64-POWER SUPPLY V1.0"
1096:
1053:
1030:
990:
959:
950:
891:"[Oddities] - A day in the life of Turok 3"
107:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
568:a memory upgrade from Bung and other re-sellers.
313:games were released for the Nintendo 64 system.
530:Most early V64 models shipped with a standard
211:. The Doctor V64 also had the ability to play
928:
893:. Dextrose. November 19, 2000. Archived from
256:, and the operating system is contained in a
8:
510:This command would convert the game image's
853:: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
956:
935:
921:
913:
785:"Nintendo 64: Doctor V64 basic operations"
655:"Nintendo Pirating Device Still for Sale"
240:utilizing the device during development.
167:Learn how and when to remove this message
65:Learn how and when to remove this message
372:
642:
846:
648:
646:
551:format. Doctor V64s only support the
207:that is used in conjunction with the
7:
105:adding citations to reliable sources
756:Benner, Jeffrey (August 13, 2001).
733:. December 23, 1999. Archived from
308:battery-backed RAM from a PC via a
277:In order to get around Nintendo's
14:
183:The Doctor V64 attached to an N64
871:. Atariage.com. 24 December 2002
653:Obser, Jeffrey (June 18, 1997).
299:images taken from the Internet.
191:(also referred to simply as the
81:
23:
92:needs additional citations for
559:file system is not supported.
1:
1167:Unlicensed Nintendo hardware
228:, which was manufactured by
758:"Pirates on Game Boy's Bow"
226:Partner N64 development kit
1183:
703:. Dextrose. Archived from
374:Complete V64 menu listing
1129:
829:Nintendo64 (2019-11-27).
553:8.3 DOS naming convention
507:Swap Byte Order in DRAM
467:Fix CRC Code → run game
403:Backup Card Auto → DRAM
395:Load Boot Crack Routine
387:Alternate and BootCrack
1162:Nintendo 64 accessories
521:Detailed specifications
475:Show Game Name in DRAM
344:Conflicts with Nintendo
232:and sold officially by
1088:Nintendo Switch Online
592:Additional information
576:The Doctor V64 uses a
483:Upload V64 BIOS to PC
459:Upload DRAM Data → PC
411:Backup Card Auto → PC
366:
238:Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
184:
45:by rewriting it in an
737:on September 30, 2007
602:Acclaim Entertainment
499:PC Download to DX256
451:Fully Test 256M DRAM
443:Fully Test 128M DRAM
364:
294:Uploading game images
182:
787:. 22 September 2019.
623:NFL Quarterback Club
606:Iguana Entertainment
285:Saving game progress
205:Bung Enterprises Ltd
101:improve this article
667:on November 5, 2012
526:CD-ROM access speed
491:DX256 Upload to PC
375:
816:2012-07-26 at the
580:jack (as used for
419:Manual Slide Show
373:
367:
185:
47:encyclopedic style
34:is written like a
1149:
1148:
1141:Nintendo GameCube
1073:Project Unreality
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1114:SharkWire Online
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897:on June 16, 2002
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707:on June 13, 1998
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663:. Archived from
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427:Auto Slide Show
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252:of the V64 is a
230:Silicon Graphics
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701:"POM - Results"
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365:V64 menu screen
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331:Role in piracy
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303:Doctor V64 Jr.
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244:Specifications
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118: –
117:
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112:Find sources:
106:
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96:
95:
90:This article
88:
84:
79:
78:
69:
66:
58:
55:November 2011
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
21:
20:
1120:N64 Magazine
1119:
1040:Best-selling
1007:
982:Transfer Pak
901:November 18,
899:. Retrieved
895:the original
885:
875:November 18,
873:. Retrieved
863:
838:. Retrieved
834:
824:
807:
793:
779:
767:. Retrieved
761:
751:
739:. Retrieved
735:the original
721:
709:. Retrieved
705:the original
695:
681:
669:. Retrieved
665:the original
658:
632:video games.
627:
621:
615:
609:
575:
572:Power supply
566:
546:
537:
529:
379:Menu option
368:
351:
347:
338:
334:
326:Legal issues
320:
306:
297:
288:
279:lockout chip
276:
273:Game booting
262:
247:
222:
192:
188:
186:
163:
157:January 2016
154:
144:
137:
130:
123:
116:"Doctor V64"
111:
99:Please help
94:verification
91:
61:
52:
33:
1139:Successor:
1109:iQue Player
1063:Mupen64Plus
991:Third-Party
952:Accessories
944:Nintendo 64
769:January 31,
741:January 31,
711:January 31,
671:January 31,
604:subsidiary
555:. As such,
209:Nintendo 64
197:development
1156:Categories
1018:Tristar 64
1008:Doctor V64
972:Rumble Pak
967:Controller
840:2022-11-25
637:References
629:South Park
512:endianness
317:Promotions
189:Doctor V64
127:newspapers
1068:Project64
1055:Emulators
1045:Cancelled
1013:GameShark
357:Main menu
213:video CDs
1104:Game Pak
1078:UltraHLE
1003:DexDrive
960:Nintendo
849:cite web
814:Archived
731:Nintendo
549:ISO 9660
543:CD-Media
234:Nintendo
203:made by
1097:Related
835:Neperos
799:"DX256"
617:NBA Jam
582:S-Video
382:Effect
219:History
195:) is a
141:scholar
41:Please
626:, and
557:Joliet
143:
136:
129:
122:
114:
1032:Games
763:Wired
660:Wired
611:Turok
268:Usage
148:JSTOR
134:books
998:CD64
977:64DD
903:2011
877:2011
855:link
771:2016
743:2016
713:2016
673:2016
258:BIOS
254:6502
248:The
199:and
187:The
120:news
563:RAM
532:IDE
250:CPU
193:V64
103:by
1158::
851:}}
847:{{
833:.
760:.
729:.
657:.
645:^
620:,
614:,
586:AT
260:.
936:e
929:t
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675:.
170:)
164:(
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155:(
145:·
138:·
131:·
124:·
97:.
68:)
62:(
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53:(
49:.
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