The Tristar 64 is an unlicensed add-on for the Nintendo 64

Nintendo 64

The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...

 (N64) video game console

Video game console

A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...

. Produced in Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

 by Future Laboratory, the Tristar 64 features two additional cartridge ports which are designed to accept cartridges created for the Nintendo Entertainment System

Nintendo Entertainment System

The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...

 (NES, a.k.a. Famicom) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...

 (SNES, a.k.a. Super Famicom). The device then emulates the NES or SNES hardware, and allows the cartridge to be run. The device also features built-in cheat cartridge

Cheat cartridge

A cheat cartridge is a device that connects to any sort of cartridge-based video game system. It allows a user to input special cheat codes to manipulate a game in a way not permitted by its original programming. Usually the effect is to gain infinite lives, ammunition, unlock secrets, or do things...

 functionality through a program called the X-Terminator, as well as the Memory Editor, which allows SRAM

Static random access memory

Static random-access memory is a type of semiconductor memory where the word static indicates that, unlike dynamic RAM , it does not need to be periodically refreshed, as SRAM uses bistable latching circuitry to store each bit...

 and EEPROM

EEPROM

EEPROM stands for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory and is a type of non-volatile memory used in computers and other electronic devices to store small amounts of data that must be saved when power is removed, e.g., calibration...

 saved game data to be archived and edited.

The Tristar 64 requires a separate power supply, and connects to a television set by way of RCA composite output cables, with the N64's own video output being first routed through the Tristar device. Although the device boasts compatibility with the majority of titles for both the NES and SNES, cartridges with an extra processor (like the SA-1 chip found on Super Mario RPG) are not supported. The Tristar 64 is similar to the Super 8

Super 8 (video game accessory)

The Super 8 was an unlicensed peripheral for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System video game console designed to allow the system to run games developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System...

, a device which allowed NES cartridges to be played on a SNES console.

External links

• Peak_XV's Tri-Star 64 Lair (Photo Gallery and partial compatibility list)