initially released in 1994, "killer instinct"s arcade based ultra 64 hardware is different than the home console version which would be renamed to nintendo 64 in 1996. the ultra 64 arcade is a proprietary hardware platform co-developed by rare and midway, and created by chris stamper and pete cox. this hardware uses a 64-bit mips cpu and the nintendo 64 file format for data structure, but not the nintendo 64 memory media or graphics technology. the game's attract mode advertises plans to be "available for your home in 1995 only on nintendo ultra 64". the game was slated to be part of the north american launch lineup for the system. however, the nintendo 64's release was delayed to december 1996 and the game was converted to the super nintendo entertainment system and the game boy for 1995 release.