The Nintendo 64 was the first system to incorporate built-in four player gaming potential, by having four input slots on the face of the console. No longer were game fans limited to sit-and-watch sessions with their friends. A group of gamers could play together in games ranging from first-person-shooters to sports. This innovation transformed the gaming world into a truly interactive experience (Classic Systems).

The controller itself allowed 360-degree control of every game, a first for any console of its time. It's three-pronged design molded perfectly to your hand, and thirteen other buttons allowed for a wide array of game control possibilities.

As an add-on, made possible by the expansion bay on the bottom of the controller, the Rumble Pak allowed a new form of player interaction. This vibrating mechanism let players feel the actions that were taking place on screen in front of them. This feature soon became the standard for controllers that followed, and is seen in virtally every controller now (Nintendo System Info: Nintendo 64).

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