Early Online Services

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This page lists and documents early online services that predate Xbox LIVE (pre-2003) the service that kick started the modern era of online services.

GameLine (Atari 2600)

GameLine was created by Control Video Corporation (now AOL). Gameline allowed users to download games using dial up. Needing a modem and storage cartridge from Control Video Corporation. Launched in 1983 the the Gameline was soon discontinued in ????[N 1].
$15 for the membership fee, with 1 year subscription to the monthly magazine GameLiner, "command module" cartridge (roughly $39.95). The service allowed you to download 1 of the 30 monthly games for a rough 40-minute play session for $1[1]

PlayCable (Intellivision)

PlayCable was developed by Mattel and General Instrument, How you got games was an PlayCable adapter. You needed a cable company that supported PlayCable. Launched in 1980, Discontinued in 1984.[2]
A monthly subscription for PlayCable was $4.95 a month.[3]

PlayNET (Commodore 64)

The PlayNET service featured Email, online chat, bulletin boards. Launched 1984, discontinued 1988.[4]
The service had two membership tiers: $8 a month service charge + $2.75 an hour charge for connection. or no service charge and $3.75 an hour connection charge. File Downloads were $0.50 each.[5]

Quantum Link (Commodore 64 & 128)

The Quantum Link (Q-Link) Q-link featured Email, Online chat (People Connection department), online news, instant messaging, multiplayer games. In late 1986 Q-link added casino games. Q-link was a modified version of PlayNET.[6] Launched in late 1985, Discontinued ????.
Q-Link had a monthly fee of $9.95 (including "basic services" and a free hour of "plus services") and additional fees of ¢6 per minute for "plus services".[7]

Games Computers Play (Atari 8-bit & ST)

The Games Computers Play (GCP) service was developed by Gardner Pomper and Greg Hogg. Launched 1985, Discontinued ????
The Signup fee was $30 which included 5 hours for free. $6 an hour between 6 PM and 7 AM Weekdays and $6 an hour throughout the weekend, $15 an hour Weekdays between 7 AM and 6 PM.

CD-Online (Philips CD-i)

CD-Online. Using the internet on the CD-i was facilitated by the use of an modem and CD-Online disc (Web-i in the US) CD-Online had online shopping, email, and supported for online multiplayer (in select CD-i games).
CD-Online was initially released in Britain for roughly $150. CD-online was available in the UK in 1995, The Netherlands in 1996 (for ƒ399). Placeholder text for additional info

Famicom Modem \ Network System (NES)

The Famicom Modem \ Network System Was a Japan-exclusive network peripheral that allowed users to connect to a Nintendo server that provided extra content such as jokes, news, game tips, weather forecasts, horse betting and downloadable content via dial-up modem.

Satellaview (SNES)

The Satellaview was a subscription-based add-on released only in Japan that streamed content to the Super Famicom. BS-X or Satellaview software was broadcast to the console add-on and stored as temporary data to be deleted shortly afterward. As such, a wealth of games went undumped and lost forever.

Many of these games had Soundlink features and would have assets like streamed music and voice acting, as well as some extra data, but these have been lost forever outside of video recordings and OST releases. These games will likely play without music on your emulator. The entirely fan-made MSU-1 feature on the higan emulator tries to replicate the BS-X Satellaview and unreleased SNES-CD concept for streamed music in SNES games far beyond the 12 MB cartridge capacity,, but it's not the same thing.

Some games like BS Treasure Conflix make use of the additional RAM provided by the BS-X add-on. While you can try playing them on regular SNES emulators, you may face issues for many of these games (no font appearing, hangs with a black screen, and so on). You'll need Satellaview emulation to properly emulate those games.

bsnes and snes9x are recommended. They use your PC clock with no option to modify it, though. SNESGT had the option to modify the clock, but it wasn't updated for a while and isn't really recommended for SNES emulation in general. No$SNS has good BS-X emulation (and the best debugger tools for ROM hackers and translators) but falls behind the others when it comes to general emulation.

You'll need the BS-X BIOS to properly emulate the Satellaview. It goes as "BS-X.bin" under the "BIOS" folder when using snes9x. There are many variants. You'll want the translated one (with English text) with removed DRM so that you can play a given broadcast without restrictions on how many times you can do so, like in the original hardware.

Whenever you open a BS-X compatible ROM (that wasn't modified to behave like a normal SNES game, like most BS Zelda translations were), you'll be greeted by the BIOS software. It will ask you to choose your name and avatar, which you can control in a city. Of course, the St-GIGA broadcast service went defunct in 2000, so the big radio tower will just give you a "Hello Satellaview" test broadcast. However, you may be interested in seeing how Nintendo used to do loading screens. To see them without them shutting down instantly, open BSX0001-47.bin (bsxdat folder) in a hex editor and change offset 0x06 from 0x30 to 0x00. Most houses will be closed, though.

You'll want to enter the little red house you start in front of and load the stored data. Sometimes, you might have to wait a while before actual gameplay starts or until a given time. On real hardware, people would wait for up to 6 minutes!

Data Pack emulation

AKA DLC for the Super Famicom.

Data Packs are Satellaview 8M Memory Paks, which have data meant to be used as an expansion for a Data Pack-compatible game. Data Pack-compatible game cartridges look like the BS-X Cartridge. For most of these games, data was distributed via St.GIGA’s Satellaview streaming services. Same Game and SD Gundam G-Next had some Data Packs sold in physical form via retail stores. RPG Tsukuru 2, Sound Novel Tsukuru and Ongaku Tsukuru Kanaderu could save user-created data to 8M Memory Paks.

The following games were compatible with Data Packs:

  • Derby Stallion 96
  • Joushou Mahjong Tenpai
  • Ongaku Tsukuru Kanaderu
  • RPG Tsukuru 2
  • Same Game
  • SD Gundam G-NEXT
  • Shigesato Itoi no Bass Tsuri No. 1
  • Sound Novel Tsukuru

These Data Packs are available on ROM sites as regular SFC files, but their actual nature couldn't be more different. Unlike regular SNES games, they won't load in SNES emulators by themselves. These emulators support this feature:

  • Snes9x: To play SFC games with Memory Pack support (also works with BS-X): Use File -> Load MultiCart... and put the main game in Slot A and the Memory Pack dump in Slot B. Memory Pack changes are not saved automatically, you need to use Save Other -> Save Memory Pack. (Optional) You can put Satellaview Broadcast Files in a folder named SatData (can be changed in the settings). Satellaview Time & Date are based on current time.
  • bsnes-plus: To play SFC games with Memory Pack support: Under "File/Load Slotted BS-X Cartridge". Memory Pack changes are not saved automatically, you need to use File -> Save Memory Pack... bsxdat folder contains Satellaview Broadcast Files. Satellaview expansion needs to be enabled to work. You can change the Satellaview Time & Date in the settings to either use the current time or start with a specific time setup (recommended).
  • higan: Importing a memory pak is like importing a regular game, but the name of the memory pak file must end in .bs (if it’s in a .zip file, that’s OK, but the name inside the .zip file must end in .bs) in order for it to be successfully imported. Sometimes memory pak filenames end in .sfc, which will make higan try to import them as regular Super Famicom games and fail. Rename the file and it should work beautifully. Playing a game that has a slot for a memory pak is just like playing a regular game, but after you have selected which game you want to play higan will open another filesystem browser to let you pick which previously-imported memory pak you want to insert into the game. If you press “Cancel” at this point, the game will load without any cartridge in its memory pak slot. If you load the control cartridge into higan, make sure the emulated Satellaview is connected to the emulated Super Famicom’s expansion port by opening the “Super Famicom” menu, selecting the “Expansion Port” sub-menu, and choosing “Satellaview”. If the expansion port was previously configured with a different option, power-cycle the Super Famicom (also in the “Super Famicom” menu) to make sure the control cartridge will find the Satellaview when it starts up. Note that higan’s Satellaview emulation is not very accurate, so the control cartridge may not work as it should. Playing a memory pak on its own doesn’t make much sense, it’s not a standalone cartridge. Play a game with a memory pak slot, and choose which memory pak you want when higan asks for it.

Sega Meganet (Genesis)

The Sega Meganet was a commercial failure in Japan, When released in Brazil the focus was on the Meganet's main focus was email, the service was capable of online multiplayer and chat. Launch 1990 Japan, 1995 Brazil, Discontinued ????.

Mega Modem

The Mega Modem is a modem for the Sega Mega Drive released in 1990 exclusively in Japan. It allowed Mega Drive owners to connect their consoles to various online services provided by Sega and third parties.

List of compatible games with Mega Modem

Sega Channel (Genesis)

'Sega Channel was an online service through cable television services. Launched 1994 in the USA, 1995 in Canada, discontinued 1998. Fees varied by location. Released in the United States of America and Canada. Placeholder Text

Modem cartridge (N64)

The modem cartridge (NUS-029) connects at up to 28.8 kbit/s, for the defunct Randnet service and compatible 64DD games and web browser.

SharkWire Online (N64)

SharkWire Online was a GameShark device with a serial port and modem added. developed by Interact and Spyglass inc. SharkWire was unlicensed hardware and was the United States' equivalent of Randnet. Launched 2000, discontinued 2003.

NetLink (Sega Saturn)

Sometimes called "XBAND" and is a modem for Sega Saturn. Possibly can be emulated by YabaSanshiro.

SegaNet (Dreamcast)

SegaNet. Placeholder Text. Launched 7 September 2000, discontinued 20 July 2001 (online service) 30 September 2003 (online game servers)

Broadband Adapter

The Dreamcast came out of the box equipped with a 56k dial-up modem that was supported by every DC game with online functionality. However, some of those games had additional support for the Broadband Adapter (BBA) accessory, which replaced the 56k modem and used Ethernet networking to deliver much higher internet speeds.[8] Many games have been brought back due to private servers run and operated by fans such as:

For more information about other revive projects see Preservation projects page.

Nintendo Power (SNES \ Game Boy)

Nintendo Power (ニンテンドウパワー) was a Online video game distribution service for the Super Famicom and Gameboy. Launched 1996, Discontinued 2007. Japanese Exclusive service.

i-mode (PS1)

The i-mode Adaptor cable (SCPH-10180) allows to connect an i-mode compatible mobile phone to the PlayStation's controller port; granting a mobile internet connection to Japanese games. If you have an i-mode donating it no$psx may help it to be emulated. More info on the i-mode: [1], [2].

The i-mode is a Japanese exclusive device. Currently no emulators support it. List of games compatible with the i-mode adaptor

Lightspan Online Connection CD (PS1)

The Lightspan Online Connection CD Unreleased web browser/email client for the PS1 (Lightspan Online Connection CD | Game-Rave TV Ep. 100)

Network Adaptor (PS2)

Revived private servers for PS2 online play
List of games that supported the online functionality of the PlayStation 2 and revived private servers

The Network Adapter is a peripheral that is used to play PS2 games online (Network Play) via Ethernet, broadband, or analog modem. PlayStation 2 slim models Ethernet functionality of the Network Adaptor has been integrated onto the motherboard, slim models don't have an external interface to connect a Network Adapter. Many games have been brought back due to servers run and operated by fans such as PS2Online and the SOCOM Community server;

MAWK3: Most Active PlayStation 2 Online Games in 2023, How to Connect and Play Online on PlayStation 2 in 2023
For more information about other revive projects see Preservation projects page.

Broadband Adapter (Gamecube)

This shouldn't be confused with netplay, which synchronizes emulation over an internet connection.

This add-on allowed the console to use LAN technology over ethernet. Mario Kart: Double Dash!! used it to play on a local network with up to eight other GameCubes, while Phantasy Star Online took it a step further to allow an internet connection for Sega's now-offline official game servers[9]. Kirby Air Ride and 1080° Avalanche also support this adapter. This feature was unavailable on the Wii despite having 802.11 b/g connectivity built-in and an official USB LAN adapter.

It's possible to hook up zero or more of each of these configurations on one networked game:

XBAND Modem (Multi Platform)

The XBAND was the very first console modem to allow online multiplayer using a dial-up connection. It was released on the SNES for a range of games in the mid-nineties - as well as the Genesis and Saturn.[10] Launched in late 1994, 1995 nationwide (USA) for the Genesis, 1995 for the Super Nintendo and 1996 for the Super Famicom.

SNES XBAND Modem compatible games list

Prodigy (Multi Platform)

Prodigy. Placeholder Text

GEnie (Multi Platform)

GEnie (General Electric Network for Information Exchange) was created by General Electric Information Services (GEIS, now GXS Inc.). Placeholder Text

Compunet (Multi Platform)

The Compunet (a.k.a CNet) was a service originally for the Commodore 64, later the Amiga and Atari ST, with an unreleased PC version. Launched 1984, discontinued 1993.

CompuServe (Multi Platform)

Placeholder Text.

Game.com Online

Service \ Device Description
Internet Cartridge with Modem Placeholder Text
Web Link cartridge Placeholder Text

PC Services

Service \ Device Description
GameSpy Revived thanks to OpenSpy project.
RealArcade Placeholder Text
Total Entertainment Network Placeholder Text
Wireplay The service endured for a time but was finally shut down in 2014.
World Opponent Network Placeholder Text
GameRanger Server-matching / IRC application (similar to Xfire)
It's possible to use supported games with this application for multiplayer.

References

  1. ↑ March 1983 issue (issue 13) of Electronic Games, page 10 (1983 prices)
  2. ↑ March 1984 issue of C-ED (Page 16 "Communication News") ("PlayCable strikes out" section)
  3. ↑ Look ma, no cartridge! by Stewart Schley (cedmagazine.com article)
  4. ↑ A 1980s Quantum Link to a modern-day Mutiny (paleotronic.com) (Halt and Catch Fire section)
  5. ↑ Info Magazine Issue 09 Page 35 (1985 prices)
  6. ↑ A 1980s Quantum Link to a modern-day Mutiny (paleotronic.com)
  7. ↑ Commodore Microcomputers issue 38 (1985 prices)
  8. ↑ ConsoleMods: Broadband (BBA) Mode for Dreamcast
  9. ↑ Spawn Wave's Playing The Nintendo GameCube Online In 2022 video about this
  10. ↑ XBAND: Wonders of the Retro Gaming World

Notes

  1. ↑ Discontinued in 1983 or 1984, due to the Video Game crash of 1983. Unable to find reliable answer

See also

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