Lodgenet hotel N64

[DinnerX]

I was in a hotel a few days ago that had a N64 controller hooked into it's TV. It seems I could use this Lodgenet service to play "the hottest N64 games," listen to music, and watch movies all in a pay per view manner. Here are some pictures and a video.

The controller connects to the TV using a phone cord.

Here is the plug. I have spray paint on my thumb if you're wondering what that spot is.

There was also a lodgenet remote.

The TV had this nice little holder for the controller.


The TV said it was a Zenith Concierge

More pictures of the controller.
The large buttons say Order, Select, and Menu. The small black one says reset.


The back of the controller looked normal except for this. I wrote down the text somewhere. I'll find it later.

Starts up to this.

It tells you about all the things you can access with lodgenet going from the top down. Before it did that it thanked me for visiting the town. It actually said the town's name so hotels must be able to customize things.
Here is a video of the N64 part.

After you press menu it's this loading screen.

Main menu

After selecting N64.

N64 games.












I've got some pics of the other menus I might post later.

The only things connected to the TV where the controller and the cable. There must be N64 hardware in the TV. It seems the ROMs are downloaded over the cable.

There's some info on lodgenet setups in these threads from Retrogaming Roundtable and Zetaboards.

Has anyone else run into these things?

[Jamisonia]

I've ran into them many many times when I was younger. Mainly N64 ones, although I did run into the SNES ones. There are SNES Lodgenet controller for sale on eBay, not for a lot of money though. I always remembered thinking the N64 controllers must be in atrocious condition due to people playing with them. Not literally playing games, just messing with the controller.

According to those threads you linked there's GCN version too, and a later model N64 controller that used GCN sticks, possibly made my Hori using their sticks for the Hori Mini on an official N64 controller. I honestly don't feel like its an all that interesting part of history. Yeah an improved official N64 controller might be nice, thats it though.

[sevin0seven]

nice! that might sell a lot on ebay someday.

[Dakinggamer87]

Thanks for posting!! Good memories from my vacations years ago

[CRTGAMER]

I was in a hotel a few days ago that had a N64 controller hooked into it's TV. It seems I could use this Lodgenet service to play "the hottest N64 games," listen to music, and watch movies all in a pay per view manner.

I've got some pics of the other menus I might post later.

The only things connected to the TV where the controller and the cable. There must be N64 hardware in the TV. It seems the ROMs are downloaded over the cable.

There's some info on lodgenet setups in these threads from Retrogaming Roundtable and Zetaboards.

Has anyone else run into these things?

I have seen the N64 Lodgnet a couple of years ago at some motels, amazing the N64 games are still available. There is a server handling both the game roms and the unique to the hotel guest services TV programming. The server is not even at the motel, it is a cable company specific to motel chains and hospitals. I wonder if the controller and cable box has the hardware to run the game roms. I don't think it is inside the TV.

http://www.lodgenet.com/AboutUs/Pages/Home.aspx

The screenshots you posted of all the games are great! This shows the exact games that are offered. A bit of history showing N64 rental medium thru cable.

Do you have larger linked pics? A bug hit me, what if the Lodgenet game icons in the pics could be made for a front end of a N64 Emulator?

An interesting read: http://www.pagetable.com/?p=108

[FiftyDollarCurse]

I have seen a few of these, in wildly different areas (Arizona, Michigan and Canada), and they are still being used. I can't imagine too many kids are impressed when their parents finally give in and pay $10 for an hour of The New Tetris.

[Croooow!]

Seeing this makes me wonder why someone like OnLive doesn't try to get its service running in hotel rooms.

[Hobie-wan]

Saw these all the time while working conventions with an old job. I was surprised to still see them in 2006 when I quit that job. I suppose they were a huge investment though and the price was always ridiculous.

[vlame]

According to those threads you linked there's GCN version too, and a later model N64 controller that used GCN sticks, possibly made my Hori using their sticks for the Hori Mini on an official N64 controller. I honestly don't feel like its an all that interesting part of history. Yeah an improved official N64 controller might be nice, thats it though.

zomg i need more info!!!!

[The Last Horseman]

I see these extremely often. I take trips with school for FFA contests often, and the La Quinta's we usually stay in have them. Higher end hotels usually don't however. I know for a fact that they have them in the La Quinta's at San Angelo and Houston.