That’s big money for a controller.
The Star Fox 64 Competition controller is a solid (opaque) two-tone controller. The top half of the controller is a solid gold color, identical to others such as the Mario Kart 64 Cup controller. The bottom half of the controller is identical to the shell color of Black of the Solid Colors.
The 1997 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) took place at the Georgia World Congress Center and Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia between June 19th-21st. Nintendo had their booth located within the GWCC show floor and held four-player Star Fox 64 tournaments that was open to the public.
As described by several attendees of E3 that year, the Star Fox 64 tournament had a very elaborate setup. After waiting in long lines, four competitors each time were taken off to an enclosed room/tent with stars on the ceiling designed to simulate deep space. Each player was then seated into the cockpit of a life-size Arwing that was mounted on motorized lifts that raised and lowered. The game was projected onto a large screen in which the four-player split view was displayed. The game mode used was the Time Trial, and the winner was the person with the highest number of enemy kills when time expired. The large projection screen was within view of those waiting in line as well as others at the Nintendo booth and an announcer did some play-by-play of each competition match. At the end of the match, the winner was awarded a Star Fox 64 Competition controller. It is also noted that at least one “winners-only” match was held whereby four winners from previous rounds were invited to play against each other – with the grand prize of four Star Fox 64 Competition controllers awarded to the champion.
The Star Fox 64 Competition controller has also been identified by some to have been given away to Nintendo employees. This has been confirmed by some pictures of controllers that have been signed by Nintendo executives such as Shigeru Miyamoto, Minoru Arakawa, and Howard Lincoln.
The front of the controller has a special insignia/sticker between the start button and the engraved “Nintendo” logo. The sticker is a gold, metallic N64 logo with a shiny reflective appearance that has been confused by many to be engraved on the face of the controller.
Thanks Alex!
