“‘It’s the universe you’ve been longing for…’ Oh, that stinks. Don’t write that down.”

- Shigeru Miyamoto

That quote provides a typically fun, good-natured moment in the Starfox-centered “Iwata Asks” feature on Nintendo’s website. It’s been available since the beginning of August, but as the release of Starfox 64 3D draws near, now’s a great time to take the trip behind the scenes. These round-table game-creator interviews provide amazing backstage glimpses of Nintendo’s creative process. If you have any interest at all in game design or the company’s history, you definitely should check the columns out. (more…)

Do you remember the first time you experienced the N64 Rumble Pak? In 1997 I walked into EB Games to find the manager demonstrating his imported Starfox 64 (due in the States two months later). I joined the line of customers eager to give it a whirl, and soon found myself flying over Corneria and grinning as the controller shook, buzzed and rattled with every hit. The effect was great fun, and the store sold a lot of pre-orders that day.

The Rumble Pak (included with Starfox 64) changed the course of console controller design for both Nintendo and its rivals. Many N64 games supported the add-on, but I only recall three titles in which the rumble effect added a huge amount of impact to the gameplay: Top Gear Rally, 1080 Snowboarding, and–of course–Starfox 64. In each case, the tactile element–wheels on gravel, different snow types, a ship on the verge of destruction–played a major part in the experience and actually gave you constant useful feedback. (more…)