When discussing the global history of Super Smash Bros., most fans focus on its 1999 release on the Nintendo 64. However, the game also received a unique release in China through the iQue Player, a system created specifically for the Chinese market. This version is especially interesting for collectors and historians because it represents Nintendo’s attempt to enter China with a digital distribution platform years before digital console marketplaces became common.
The iQue Player
The iQue Player was released in China in 2003 as a joint venture between Nintendo and the Chinese company iQue, founded by Nintendo engineer Wei Yen. Instead of using cartridges like the Nintendo 64, the iQue Player stored games digitally in flash memory built directly into the controller unit.
Players would visit an iQue Depot kiosk to purchase and download games onto their system. This allowed Nintendo to distribute games legally in China while complying with local regulations on game consoles.
Smash Bros. on iQue
Super Smash Bros. was one of the Nintendo 64 titles adapted for the iQue Player. The game remained largely the same as the original release, with only minor adjustments for the system and language localization.
Key differences from the Nintendo 64 version include:
Simplified Chinese menus and text
Digital download instead of cartridge distribution
Integration into the iQue Player system menu
Minor firmware compatibility adjustments
Despite these changes, the gameplay experience remained identical to the original Nintendo 64 version.
Fighter Roster
The iQue version of Super Smash Bros. includes the same roster of twelve characters as the original game:
Starting Fighters
Mario
Donkey Kong
Link
Samus
Yoshi
Kirby
Fox
Pikachu
Unlockable Fighters
Luigi
Captain Falcon
Ness
Jigglypuff
These characters represent Nintendo’s major franchises of the era, including Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Pokémon, and Star Fox.
Collecting the iQue Version
For collectors, the iQue release of Super Smash Bros. is particularly unique. Unlike most Nintendo games, this version was never sold on a physical cartridge or disc. Instead, the game existed only as a digital download stored on the console’s internal memory.
Because of this distribution method, surviving examples today typically appear in the following forms:
An iQue Player console with Smash Bros. installed
Chinese-language manuals and documentation (see link below for manual)
iQue download cards or purchase receipts
Promotional materials used at iQue Depot kiosks
This makes the iQue version one of the more unusual official releases in the history of the Smash Bros. series.
Historical Significance
The iQue version of Super Smash Bros. represents an important moment in Nintendo’s history. It demonstrates an early attempt at digital distribution and highlights the company’s strategy for entering the Chinese market during a period when traditional consoles faced regulatory challenges.
Today, it remains an intriguing chapter in the legacy of the original Super Smash Bros. and an important piece for collectors documenting the global history of the franchise.
