The iQue Player (Games & Content)

bman78
Full Member

Posts: 139

The iQue Player (Games & Content) Jan 29, 2017 22:02:26 GMT

Quote

Post by bman78 on Jan 29, 2017 22:02:26 GMT

Hey, guys!

So here's a thing or things that can be considered lost media.

So if you guys don't know, or for those who do know. The iQue Player is a video game console that was manufactured by iQue, a joint venture between Nintendo and Chinese-American scientist Wei Yen. iQue's Chinese name is 神游科技; traditional Chinese: 神遊科技; pinyin: Shényóu Kējì. The system's Chinese name was Shén Yóu Ji (神游机/神遊機), literally "Divine Gaming Machine". Shényóu (神游/神遊) serves a double entendre because the term also means "to make a mental journey". Although the console wasn't released in any English speaking countries, the name "iQue Player" appears in the console's instruction manual. The console itself takes the form of the controller and plugs directly into the television. A box accessory is available that allows multiplayer gaming. It was only marketed in mainland China, as the console's unusual game distribution method is an attempt to curb game piracy in that region.

Games for the iQue Player are stored on a 64 MB flash card which is contained within a cartridge that plugs directly into the controller/console. Games were purchased at a special "iQue depot", where games may be downloaded onto the cartridge and played later, in a similar manner to the Famicom Disk System, Satellaview, Nintendo 64DD and Nintendo DS Download Play. Games can also be downloaded, by connecting the iQue to a PC. Demo games that come with the iQue include The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Super Mario 64, and Star Fox 64. These demos are time-limited versions of the games. Full versions of the three titles are available, as are other first party Nintendo titles such as Dr. Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Wave Race 64, and F-Zero X.

More information is available here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IQue_Player
www.mariowiki.com/IQue
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/iQue

iQue's website:
www.ique.com/index.html

iQue's website related to the iQue Player and its online system and contents:
www.ique.com/products/M_athome.htm

www.ique.com/products/M_Player.htm

osc.idc.ique.com:16976/osc/public/iQueHome?OscAction=navigate&locale=zh_CN

www.ique.com/products/img/athomehandbook/athome.htm

Info about the iQue Online @ Home system, translated into English:
www.mariowiki.com/index.php?title=User_talk:Glowsquid&oldid=2115963&diff=cur#Re:_iQue-related_inquiry

So, why am I making this post? well it's because on December 31, 2016, iQue officially shut down the iQue Player Online service, meaning that you cannot buy anymore games and the online system is defunct. I translated their notice via Google translate:
pastebin.com/GnnDcg5m

I downloaded the iQue@Home application and archived it here. I believe it only works on Windows XP, at least the iQue drivers do:
mega.nz/#!J8sCCaob!wUlMC4FQvRZKEnytsutr5zP1oMgPRQwMrbbTXMEn3DA
mega.nz/#!5lcURTaB!KLhTwNFP9T7-O8EUtPE35NOqZn89mCvNRxLNPvQNm1U

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IQue_Player#Online_services

And because of the system's unique way and the very strong encryption, I believe that the 14 Nintendo 64 Games that were translated into Chinese and released on the system are lost media.

I think it's gonna be very hard cracking the security measures in terms of data, kiosks, etc etc.

bman78 Full Member Posts: 139	The iQue Player (Games & Content) Jan 29, 2017 22:07:08 GMT StarviendSir likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by bman78 on Jan 29, 2017 22:07:08 GMT Also, Here are some videos that go in-depth and talk all about the iQue Player system in general and its online service:
	Last Edit: Jan 29, 2017 22:13:14 GMT by bman78

PirateBear
New Member

Posts: 9

The iQue Player (Games & Content) Jan 30, 2017 8:12:53 GMT lammyvox likes this

Quote

Post by PirateBear on Jan 30, 2017 8:12:53 GMT

In some quick searching, I found this (All the downloads work from Archive). Someone made a cartridge simulator, which would be one of the first steps in reverse engineering the system. These days only Orcirana of Time speedrunners care about the iQue thanks to it running smoother and having faster text for reducing run times (and because iQue is considered real hardware). Unfortunately, thanks to low demand and a lack of exclusives I don't think the iQue will be hacked any time soon, either to play other games or to dump the games available (namingly OoT).

database Full Member Posts: 112	The iQue Player (Games & Content) Jan 30, 2017 21:42:12 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by database on Jan 30, 2017 21:42:12 GMT I'm confused. What exactly is lost?

bman78 Full Member Posts: 139	The iQue Player (Games & Content) Jan 30, 2017 21:52:05 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by bman78 on Jan 30, 2017 21:52:05 GMT Jan 30, 2017 21:42:12 GMT database said: I'm confused. What exactly is lost? All of the 14 games that were released for the system. All of them are Chinese versions of N64 games.

bman78
Full Member

Posts: 139

The iQue Player (Games & Content) Jan 30, 2017 21:54:14 GMT

Quote

Post by bman78 on Jan 30, 2017 21:54:14 GMT

Jan 30, 2017 8:12:53 GMT PirateBear said:

In some quick searching, I found this (All the downloads work from Archive). Someone made a cartridge simulator, which would be one of the first steps in reverse engineering the system. These days only Orcirana of Time speedrunners care about the iQue thanks to it running smoother and having faster text for reducing run times (and because iQue is considered real hardware). Unfortunately, thanks to low demand and a lack of exclusives I don't think the iQue will be hacked any time soon, either to play other games or to dump the games available (namingly OoT).

Yea, the iQue player is only popular with Zelda speedrunners due to OOT having faster text scrolls. Also, it's both a lack of demand and the very complex security system. I think some speedrunners may still have the game on real hardware.

database Full Member Posts: 112	The iQue Player (Games & Content) Jan 30, 2017 22:00:26 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by database on Jan 30, 2017 22:00:26 GMT Could listings like these have games on them? www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-Ique-iQue-N64-Game-System-15-Game-Cards-All-Sealed-Boxed-Never-Used-/332082185786?hash=item4d51a4063a:g:yoAAAOSw8gVX9ACj

PirateBear
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Posts: 9

The iQue Player (Games & Content) Jan 30, 2017 22:05:37 GMT

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Post by PirateBear on Jan 30, 2017 22:05:37 GMT

Chinese versions of N64 games that were exclusive to the system, as well as the download service itself. They're loaded on flash cards exclusive to the iQue player and encrypted, so they can't be dumped like normal N64 ROMs. Furthermore, with the discontinuation of the download service the system is stuck with whatever games are currently loaded on the card until bit rot sets in and these games are lost to time. This is all similar to the BS-X and Famicom Disc System Games (except those can be dumped if found).

EDIT:

Could listings like these have games on them? www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-Ique-iQue-N64-Game-System-15-Game-Cards-All-Sealed-Boxed-Never-Used-/332082185786?hash=item4d51a4063a:g:yoAAAOSw8gVX9ACj

Doesn't look like it, those look like vouchers for the now defunct service. Cards exist out there with the games on them, but unless they get dumped, you're now working against a 15-20 year clock until bit rot destroys the game.

Last Edit: Jan 30, 2017 22:10:30 GMT by PirateBear

bman78
Full Member

Posts: 139

The iQue Player (Games & Content) Jan 31, 2017 0:12:00 GMT

Quote

Post by bman78 on Jan 31, 2017 0:12:00 GMT

Jan 30, 2017 22:05:37 GMT PirateBear said:

Chinese versions of N64 games that were exclusive to the system, as well as the download service itself. They're loaded on flash cards exclusive to the iQue player and encrypted, so they can't be dumped like normal N64 ROMs. Furthermore, with the discontinuation of the download service the system is stuck with whatever games are currently loaded on the card until bit rot sets in and these games are lost to time. This is all similar to the BS-X and Famicom Disc System Games (except those can be dumped if found).

EDIT:

Could listings like these have games on them? www.ebay.com/itm/Nintendo-Ique-iQue-N64-Game-System-15-Game-Cards-All-Sealed-Boxed-Never-Used-/332082185786?hash=item4d51a4063a:g:yoAAAOSw8gVX9ACj

Doesn't look like it, those look like vouchers for the now defunct service. Cards exist out there with the games on them, but unless they get dumped, you're now working against a 15-20 year clock until bit rot destroys the game.

I wonder if people in China or collectors will sell some of their flash cards with games still left on them and what the value will be?

ccateni28 New Member I'm that guy who started a big search for dreamfinders, but didn't really do that much else. Posts: 49	The iQue Player (Games & Content) Feb 1, 2017 17:26:16 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by ccateni28 on Feb 1, 2017 17:26:16 GMT I don't believe this is lost, If someone like Rerez can play it today, it's not lost.
	ccateni

bman78
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Posts: 139

The iQue Player (Games & Content) Feb 1, 2017 19:59:06 GMT StarviendSir likes this

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Post by bman78 on Feb 1, 2017 19:59:06 GMT

Feb 1, 2017 17:26:16 GMT ccateni28 said:

I don't believe this is lost, If someone like Rerez can play it today, it's not lost.

Oh he can, but the games will be lost media since the online service is shut down, meaning that you can't get games online anymore, so in about 15-20 years, the games will be lost media because the system is difficult to crack,

ccateni28 New Member I'm that guy who started a big search for dreamfinders, but didn't really do that much else. Posts: 49	The iQue Player (Games & Content) Feb 5, 2017 19:06:29 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by ccateni28 on Feb 5, 2017 19:06:29 GMT Ah, I see.
	ccateni

Post by bman78 on Jan 29, 2017 22:02:26 GMT

Post by bman78 on Jan 29, 2017 22:07:08 GMT

Post by PirateBear on Jan 30, 2017 8:12:53 GMT

Post by database on Jan 30, 2017 21:42:12 GMT

Post by bman78 on Jan 30, 2017 21:52:05 GMT

Post by bman78 on Jan 30, 2017 21:54:14 GMT

Post by database on Jan 30, 2017 22:00:26 GMT

Post by PirateBear on Jan 30, 2017 22:05:37 GMT

Post by bman78 on Jan 31, 2017 0:12:00 GMT

Post by ccateni28 on Feb 1, 2017 17:26:16 GMT

Post by bman78 on Feb 1, 2017 19:59:06 GMT

Post by ccateni28 on Feb 5, 2017 19:06:29 GMT

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