• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Gameranx

Gameranx

Video Game News, Lists & Guides

  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides
  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides

Fans Discover Scrapped Nintendo 64 Peripheral That Sparked Sega To Create The VMU

January 15, 2020 by Dennis Patrick

Did you know about the N64 Secret Screen?

It’s not anything new to see peripherals get announced before being tossed aside. This was especially true for older consoles but one peripheral that was advertised years ago has since become a new means of discussion with retro fans today. We’re referring to the Nintendo 64 Secret Screen which got another chance at receiving some limelight thanks to a collector who shared the peripheral on his Twitter account.

While the Nintendo 64 has a relatively big following, there are a few peripherals that didn’t quite make the cut for the system. One of the peripherals is the Secret Screen, a device that acted somewhat similar to the Dreamcast VMU. With a small advertisement in EGM 1997, there wasn’t much of a push to bring the Secret Screen into the market. 

https://twitter.com/shanebattye/status/1216834600544043014

Since then the peripheral’s creator decided to sell the device on eBay but the listing had been removed. Even though it was removed, screenshots of the listing did offer gamers some new details on the device. Apparently, the Secret Screen connected to the Nintendo 64 controller where it would be used to see in-game options. Only two games were reportedly going to use the peripheral which was a football title that could allow players to select plays without being shown on the television screen and Battleground Domination which would show a map. 

What may be more interesting is that the article within EGM had a small blurb about Sega’s unnamed console coming out at the time now known as the Sega Dreamcast. It’s believed that Sega read the advertisement and took notice of the Secret Screen which they opted to make something similar known as the Dreamcast VMU. Essentially the VMU offered a few little features such as not only be a memory card but it offered a few little mini-games as well. 

Source: Twitter 

Share this post:

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPinterest

Recent Videos

Top 10 NEW Games of AUGUST 2025

Top 10 NEW Games of AUGUST 2025

20 Best ZOMBIE Games You Shouldn't Miss

20 Best ZOMBIE Games You Shouldn't Miss

10 Games That DESERVED Better

10 Games That DESERVED Better

10 WORST Games Where The Story ROCKS

10 WORST Games Where The Story ROCKS

CYBERPUNK 2077 PATCH 2.3 MAKES BIG CHANGES, FALLOUT 5 GREENLIT & MORE

CYBERPUNK 2077 PATCH 2.3 MAKES BIG CHANGES, FALLOUT 5 GREENLIT & MORE

Donkey Kong Bananza - Before You Buy

Donkey Kong Bananza - Before You Buy

Ready or Not - Before You Buy

Ready or Not - Before You Buy

10 Game Moments That Broke Every Rule You Expected

10 Game Moments That Broke Every Rule You Expected

The Story Behind 2025's Biggest Gaming Disaster

The Story Behind 2025's Biggest Gaming Disaster

Category: UpdatesTag: Cancelled, N64, Nintendo

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Latest Mafia: The Old Country Trailer Gives Us Another Peek At Its Gameplay
  • Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Remake: Everything We Know So Far
  • Most Anticipated Game Releases for Late 2025 & Early 2026
  • Pokémon Go: Adventure Week Schedule and Bonuses
  • Ubisoft Believe it’s “More Fun” To Have Microtransactions In Single-Player Titles

Copyright © 2025 · Gameranx · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme