New Nintendo System Enters Video-Game Fray

Is it Christmas already?

Nintendo, getting an early start, is already coming out with something that will be on a lot of kids’ wish lists: a new 64-bit game system.

Just when parents were becoming accustomed to Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation, Nintendo of America is about to hit the U.S. market with Nintendo 64, the world’s first true 64-bit, cartridge video-game system.

Expect to see N64 on store shelves Sept. 29.

Nintendo 64 will do the same things that other cartridge video-game systems do - the 16-bit Super Nintendos and Sega Genesises - only faster and with better graphics.

Based on a test of the system, it’ll also outperform the 32-bit Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn systems and offer one other feature that may appeal to parents: Unlike those CD-based game systems, which take a while to load, N64 uses hard-shelled cartridges that you plug in and play. Also, there’s less chance of the kids (or you) damaging the games.

Touting those features, Nintendo’s expecting a sellout. The company says it will ship 500,000 units to the United States.

In Japan, where it’s been available since May, more than 800,000 systems have been sold so far.

Nintendo’s even taking steps to guarantee a sellout. Last month, the company was saying the system would have a list price of $250. But it since has dropped the price to $199, the same price that PlayStation and Saturn list for.

But no matter how much all the expected hype has your kid begging you to prepurchase or order the game system now, it’s a good bet that plenty of them will remain on shelves at least the first couple of weeks.

And, as when other new game systems have come out, it’s also a good bet that you’ll be able to find discounts of $10 or so if you shop around.

Nintendo 64 looks a little like the Super Nintendo game system. But the graphics are far more complex than with that or any other system. The colors look painted-on.

Also, it comes with a new, three-grip controller that has an analog joystick.

For video games, that’s great. It allows for fairly precise, 360-degree movement of the various game characters. And with auto racing games, it makes acceleration and turning more lifelike.

I’ve been trying out the Japanese version of Nintendo 64 (which is the same as the American version except everything’s in Japanese) for more than two months, and let my nephews and nieces - ages 7, 8, 9 and 10 - try it, too. They’d already asked their parents for PlayStation or Saturn for Christmas. Now, they’re asking for N64 instead.

One problem: As with any new game system, there won’t be that many games available for a while. About 12 games will be available the first three weeks, Nintendo says, including the flagship “Super Mario 64” ($69.95).

More than 25 titles are expected to be available for the Christmas rush, including the much-hyped “Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire” and “PilotWings 64,” as well as an arcadelike “Killer Instinct 64,” the newest version of the gory classic that kids love and parents, well, don’t.

Game prices are expected to be in the same ballpark as games sold for PlayStation and Saturn - $49.95 to $79.95.