Satellaview
Encyclopedia
The is a satellite modem
add-on for Nintendo
's Super Famicom
system that was released in Japan
in 1995. Available for pre-release orders as early as February 13, 1995, the Satellaview retailed for between ¥
14,000 and 18,000 (then between USD$
141 and 182) and came bundled with the BS-X Game Pak and an 8M Memory Pak.
The Satellaview system was developed and released by Nintendo to receive signals broadcast from satellite TV station
WOWOW
's satellite radio
subsidiary, St.GIGA
. St.GIGA was responsible for file server management, maintenance, and vocalization for "SoundLink games." Nintendo data broadcasts were given a fixed time-slot known as the during which scrambled
Satellaview-related data was streamed via radio waves to be unscrambled by St.GIGA's . As a subscription-based ambient/New Age music station, St.GIGA listeners were already equipped with "BS tuners" prior to St.GIGA's contract with Nintendo, however Satellaview owners who lacked a "BS tuner" had to purchase one separately from St.GIGA (at a price of ¥33,000) as well as sign up for Nintendo's and St.GIGA's monthly joint membership fees. Alternatively, users could rent "BS tuners" from St.GIGA for a 6-month period at a price of ¥5,400. Despite the price, by March 1997 St.GIGA subscriptions peaked at 116,378 households; by June 2001 the number of subscribers had dropped to around 46,000.
Because the Satellaview was only released in Japan, there has been some confusion among English-speaking enthusiasts as to what the "BS" prefix means. As a result, a number of mistranslations have been introduced into common use today and are prevalent on English-speaking fan sites, most commonly either "Bandai
Satellaview" or "Broadcast Satellaview." Another common mistake that can be found on English-speaking fan sites is the application of the "BS" prefix to all Satellaview titles. While it is true that a number of Satellaview titles do employ the "BS" prefix, the majority of them do not. The most standard method used to title Satellaview games used three formats for three different purposes:
As the Broadcast Satellite (BS) system was in use in Japan prior to the release of the Satellaview; the term "BS" may refer to programming prior to the Satellaview.
The basic Satellaview system comprises:
The deluxe system contained all the above as well as a rewritable 8-Megabit Memory Pak. The BS-X base unit contained around 512 KB of memory of its own, however the deluxe Memory Pak was required for larger games and to allow the player to have multiple saved games. Memory Paks were sold separately as well, and today these Memory Paks serve as a primary source of data retrieval for members of the subculture of collectors and enthusiasts devoted to the restoration of these games via emulation.
Apart from downloads, players could also travel to in-game locations such as the to read brief text-only postcard-like messages from St.GIGA and Nintendo that announced contest winners, revealed future games and future programming schedule details, and served to raise awareness for celebrity events relating to SoundLink Magazine performers' off-Satellaview activities. Furthermore, the avatar was equipped with an inventory and game currency which could be spent on various in-game items such as telephone cards, vehicle tickets, fish bait, and shoes that would enable the player to dash rather than walk everywhere. While the BS-X application cartridge had none of the challenges typically associated with games, it featured a plot of sorts and thus can be considered a video game in a narratalogical
sense.
A series of downloadable games including (April 22, 1996), (June 29, 1997), and (Feb. 15, 1998) were also released featuring plotlines set in the Town Whose Name Has Been Stolen. The SatellaWalker SoundLink game series notably involved extended RPG-like adventures with the avatar as the main character and the two Satellaview mascots, (an anthropomorphic satellite) and (an anthropomorphic parabolic satellite dish) providing the main supporting roles. Designed by with help from , these two characters featured heavily in all materials relating to the Satellaview appearing not only on the BS-X cassette, but also in the Satellaview manual and brochures, various print ads and magazines, and on certificates of achievement awarded with prizes for various events (see below for an example of a prize certificate bearing the likeness of Parabô).
servers broadcast material via the BS network to be received and unscrambled by subscribers to Nintendo's Satellaview service. Although St.GIGA and Nintendo worked as partners between April 1995 and April 1999, tensions between them caused a rift in April 1999 which led to Nintendo's splitting from St.GIGA as well as the end of Nintendo's support for the Satellaview system. Despite this, St.GIGA continued broadcasting alone from between April 1999 and June 2000 when it ceased support for the system as well.
Broadcast material consisted of three types of data:
Broadcast material followed a regular schedule that allowed Satellaview owners to plan their daily schedules in order to catch the games they wished to play. This regular schedule was changed, however, a number of times throughout the lifetime of the Satellaview to make allowances for such things as increased or decreased SoundLink voice actor availability, customer demands for SatellaGuide support, and reduced support in the later years. Below is a table displaying these changes. (Please see the note below the table)
NOTE: This table displays times when new — formerly unbroadcast — content was transmitted. Rebroadcasts of "Regular broadcast" games were transmitted throughout the lifetime of the Satellaview. As such, non-SoundLink reruns were available for players at some times simultaneously with new SatellaGuide broadcasts between 1998 and 2000.
Games could be downloaded from within the BS-X BIOS, a game city known as BS-X The City Whose Name Has Been Stolen that was used as an interface. After turning the Satellaview on with the BS-X BIOS cartridge inserted, a player could roam the city and could visit a number of BS-X buildings. Visiting these buildings would allow the player to download and play the game or episode that the building contained. The contents of the buildings changed from hour to hour, making it helpful players who wished to play a specific game to look up the correct time and location in various tables published online by Nintendo and in hard copy by magazines such as .
Broadcast Game Data fell into four distinct categories: — Satellaview versions of top-selling and popular titles for the Famicom and Super Famicom were re-released as "Best Selection" games (the equivalent of the SNES
's Player's Choice
games). These games ranged from direct ports and exact replicas of the earlier games to remakes and remixes of the games with improved graphics and increased functions. — Events were held monthly to allow players to compete against other Satellaview users in a national rankings. Event games were often heavily advertised in the Magazine Data Broadcasts, and at the Nintendo website. The winner(s) and/or a few of the highest ranking players in these events would be awarded prizes (see below). — Games that were released for the first time via Satellaview and new entries in established series available only via Satellaview were released exclusively as BS Original games. These games were often designed to make use of the peculiar episodic structure of the Data Broadcasts, and in almost every case these games remain exclusive to the Satellaview as almost none of them have been re-released on more modern systems. — Immersive audio experiences, SoundLink games provided narrated voice-acting
gameplay to Nintendo fans for the first time. SoundLink games were often broadcast on strict timing schedules requiring players across the nation to begin at the same time and end at the same time. For this reason, competition events were quite common among SoundLink games, and prizes were often awarded for contest winners.
satellite radio
station, and during a limited time (between 11:00AM and 2:00AM), users could download games and receive news about the gaming world (as well as see some ads), and save it on a memory card that plugged into the Satellaview. It was also possible to play quizzes, and also at the end of each game users receive a score readout. By submitting their game or quiz high scores, their score would be recorded, and if they scored high enough they might get a free gift, such as a telephone card or flash-cart.
format that could be unscrambled by the BS Tuner unit for a monthly 600 yen fee.
On August 6, 1995, as a Nintendo-console first, BS Zelda no Densetsu became the first SoundLink game as all cutscenes were fully voice acted. The last SoundLink game to be broadcast via the Satellaview was BS Zelda no Densetsu: Inishie no Sekiban on May 30, 1999.
but instead of holding entire games, they held game data.
To download a data packet via the Satellaview, players would start with the BS-X cartridge inserted and would walk in the BIOS overworld (The City Whose Name Has Been Stolen) to the appropriate download location. The data packet would be downloaded to the 8M memory pak inserted into the BS-X cartridge and when the download had finished, the player would shut the system down. The BS-X cartridge would then be removed and swapped for one of the special application cartridges. Finally the 8M memory pak would be detached from the BS-X cartridge and inserted into the application cartridge's memory slot. A list of slotted application cartridges compatible with the Satellaview can be seen here.
The data downloaded typically took the form of additional content such as new playable characters, new levels, or other new perks that could be accessed in-game. As such, data downloads functioned as patches
and expansions
. Examples included additional horses and racetracks for Derby Stallion '96, additional maps and characters for RPG Tsukūru 2
, and an additional magazine accessible in game in Itoi Shigesato no Bass Tsuri No. 1. Occasionally data downloads would also be available that were not intended for use with application cartridges but instead could be accessed from the BS-X Cartridge. An example of this is the Chrono Trigger Music Library data broadcast.
In March 1996, three different separately-sold 8M memory paks were produced already containing prerecorded data of this sort. These special 8M paks bore all new decals and contained EPROM
s that could not be overwritten by new download data from the Satellaview.
— Text data associated intimately with the game with which they were downloaded. Magazine Data files were broadcast exactly 10 minutes prior to their associated games and were used by players to fill time while the game download completed. Included in this subcategory were both describing how to play the games and describing basic strategy for the game. Despite the frequency with which they were originally broadcast (commonly once every half-hour), these magazine files rank among the rarest of download data still retained by collectors today.
— The magazine version of the SoundLink Games, SoundLink Magazines functioned as variety show
s bringing celebrities and pop idols into the homes of Satellaview owners. Comedic troupes such as All Night Nippon
, Bakushō Mondai
, and Hikaru Ijuin
featured prominently in most SoundLink Magazine broadcasts and in some cases participated in certain SoundLink Games as well (notably and ). The longest-running and perhaps best-known SoundLink Magazine series was which was broadcast between April 24, 1995 and April 3, 1999.
In addition to downloadable magazine files, the BS-X cartridge also featured a constantly updated portion of the BIOS named the that was devoted to receiving brief text-only messages from St.GIGA and Nintendo regarding future plans, upcoming contests and games, and for announcing contest winners' names. Although this material was not specifically selected by the player for download and was not included on "Super Famicom Hour" schedules, it has been described as a digital postcard or fax in the same vein as the Magazines.
Satellite modem
A satellite modem or sat modem is a modem used to establish data transfers using a communications satellite as a relay.There is a wide range of satellite modems from cheap devices for home internet access to expensive multifunctional equipment for enterprise use.A "modem" stands for...
add-on for Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
's Super Famicom
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
system that was released in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1995. Available for pre-release orders as early as February 13, 1995, the Satellaview retailed for between ¥
Japanese yen
The is the official currency of Japan. It is the third most traded currency in the foreign exchange market after the United States dollar and the euro. It is also widely used as a reserve currency after the U.S. dollar, the euro and the pound sterling...
14,000 and 18,000 (then between USD$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
141 and 182) and came bundled with the BS-X Game Pak and an 8M Memory Pak.
The Satellaview system was developed and released by Nintendo to receive signals broadcast from satellite TV station
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
WOWOW
WOWOW
WOWOW was the first private satellite broadcasting and pay TV station in Japan. It has its headquarters on the 21st floor of the Akasaka Park Building in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo...
's satellite radio
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
subsidiary, St.GIGA
St.GIGA
is the name of a defunct satellite radio company that was formed as a subsidiary of satellite television company WOWOW and later became semi-independent, forming a keiretsu with its parent. Using the BS network to broadcast digital radio via direct broadcast satellite as a test on November 30,...
. St.GIGA was responsible for file server management, maintenance, and vocalization for "SoundLink games." Nintendo data broadcasts were given a fixed time-slot known as the during which scrambled
Scrambler
In telecommunications, a scrambler is a device that transposes or inverts signals or otherwise encodes a message at the transmitter to make the message unintelligible at a receiver not equipped with an appropriately set descrambling device...
Satellaview-related data was streamed via radio waves to be unscrambled by St.GIGA's . As a subscription-based ambient/New Age music station, St.GIGA listeners were already equipped with "BS tuners" prior to St.GIGA's contract with Nintendo, however Satellaview owners who lacked a "BS tuner" had to purchase one separately from St.GIGA (at a price of ¥33,000) as well as sign up for Nintendo's and St.GIGA's monthly joint membership fees. Alternatively, users could rent "BS tuners" from St.GIGA for a 6-month period at a price of ¥5,400. Despite the price, by March 1997 St.GIGA subscriptions peaked at 116,378 households; by June 2001 the number of subscribers had dropped to around 46,000.
Name
The name Satellaview is a portmanteau of "Satellite" and "view," and the official abbreviation for the system is "BS-X". "BS" stands for Broadcast Satellite, a common name of one of the direct broadcast satellites in Japan.Because the Satellaview was only released in Japan, there has been some confusion among English-speaking enthusiasts as to what the "BS" prefix means. As a result, a number of mistranslations have been introduced into common use today and are prevalent on English-speaking fan sites, most commonly either "Bandai
Bandai
is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
Satellaview" or "Broadcast Satellaview." Another common mistake that can be found on English-speaking fan sites is the application of the "BS" prefix to all Satellaview titles. While it is true that a number of Satellaview titles do employ the "BS" prefix, the majority of them do not. The most standard method used to title Satellaview games used three formats for three different purposes:
- The "BS" prefix was only used for the Satellaview's SoundLink Games (e.g. BS Zelda no Densetsu). All "BS-" titles are SoundLink games, but not all SoundLink games bear the "BS" prefix.
- The suffix was used solely for non-SoundLink Satellaview-original releases (e.g. ). Although all "BS Version" games are Satellaview originals, not all Satellaview originals bore the "BS Version" suffix.
- The original title was used for Satellaview ports and conversions (e.g. Zelda no Densetsu Kamigami no Triforce).
- A fourth variety of title using the prefix was also common for the Satellaview (e.g. ). These games were Satellaview originals that often took the form of Satellaview-themed quiz games or that related to the world of the BS-X BIOS, BS-X The City Whose Name Has Been Stolen.
As the Broadcast Satellite (BS) system was in use in Japan prior to the release of the Satellaview; the term "BS" may refer to programming prior to the Satellaview.
Hardware
- Satellaview adapter (SHVC-029), attached to the bottom of Super Famicom and plugged into the (previously unused) expansion port.
- L-shaped bracket (SHVC-033), supplied power to the Satellaview via the Super Famicom.
- AC Adapter (SHVC-032), an ACAlternating currentIn alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
power cord. - AV Selector (SHVC-030), the Audio-visualAudio-visualThe term Audio-Visual may refer to works with both a sound and a visual component, the production or use of such works, or to equipment used to create and present such works...
Selector. - Application cartridge, (SHVC-028), plugged into the cartridge slot on top of the Super Famicom to provide the menu system for the downloading of broadcasts and the playing of games. (See below).
- 8M Memory Pak (SHVC-031), plugged into the BS-X application cartridge allowing players to save game data and other data. Memory paks were rewritable and could be used in conjunction with a handful of other compatible application cartridges. The basic Satellaview set came with a number of rewritable blank labels which could be applied to 8M Memory Paks to allow players to record the name of the data files they had recorded.
The deluxe system contained all the above as well as a rewritable 8-Megabit Memory Pak. The BS-X base unit contained around 512 KB of memory of its own, however the deluxe Memory Pak was required for larger games and to allow the player to have multiple saved games. Memory Paks were sold separately as well, and today these Memory Paks serve as a primary source of data retrieval for members of the subculture of collectors and enthusiasts devoted to the restoration of these games via emulation.
BS-X: Sore wa Namae o Nusumareta Machi no Monogatari
Bundled with the Satellaview came a slotted application cartridge with the title . The application on this cartridge took the form of a game, however its actual purpose was to serve as an interactive menu system for the console subunit. On start-up the player would enter a name, selected either a male or female character avatar, and then move the avatar around a virtual town. Houses and shops in the town served as download locations where the player could directly download games, particular game data, or digital magazines. The download would write game data into temporary memory locations which would remain until the player downloaded a new game to take its place.Apart from downloads, players could also travel to in-game locations such as the to read brief text-only postcard-like messages from St.GIGA and Nintendo that announced contest winners, revealed future games and future programming schedule details, and served to raise awareness for celebrity events relating to SoundLink Magazine performers' off-Satellaview activities. Furthermore, the avatar was equipped with an inventory and game currency which could be spent on various in-game items such as telephone cards, vehicle tickets, fish bait, and shoes that would enable the player to dash rather than walk everywhere. While the BS-X application cartridge had none of the challenges typically associated with games, it featured a plot of sorts and thus can be considered a video game in a narratalogical
Narratology
Narratology denotes both the theory and the study of narrative and narrative structure and the ways that these affect our perception. While in principle the word may refer to any systematic study of narrative, in practice its usage is rather more restricted. It is an anglicisation of French...
sense.
A series of downloadable games including (April 22, 1996), (June 29, 1997), and (Feb. 15, 1998) were also released featuring plotlines set in the Town Whose Name Has Been Stolen. The SatellaWalker SoundLink game series notably involved extended RPG-like adventures with the avatar as the main character and the two Satellaview mascots, (an anthropomorphic satellite) and (an anthropomorphic parabolic satellite dish) providing the main supporting roles. Designed by with help from , these two characters featured heavily in all materials relating to the Satellaview appearing not only on the BS-X cassette, but also in the Satellaview manual and brochures, various print ads and magazines, and on certificates of achievement awarded with prizes for various events (see below for an example of a prize certificate bearing the likeness of Parabô).
St.GIGA Satellite broadcasts
Every day between April 23, 1995 and June 30, 2000, St.GIGASt.GIGA
is the name of a defunct satellite radio company that was formed as a subsidiary of satellite television company WOWOW and later became semi-independent, forming a keiretsu with its parent. Using the BS network to broadcast digital radio via direct broadcast satellite as a test on November 30,...
servers broadcast material via the BS network to be received and unscrambled by subscribers to Nintendo's Satellaview service. Although St.GIGA and Nintendo worked as partners between April 1995 and April 1999, tensions between them caused a rift in April 1999 which led to Nintendo's splitting from St.GIGA as well as the end of Nintendo's support for the Satellaview system. Despite this, St.GIGA continued broadcasting alone from between April 1999 and June 2000 when it ceased support for the system as well.
Broadcast material consisted of three types of data:
- Games - Original Satellaview titles as well as software versions of regular NES and SNES games were broadcast every day throughout the lifetime of St.GIGA's support for the Satellaview. Games included SoundLink as well as regular titles, and also included beta versions for upcoming titles and student works. A number of the games were additionally the basis of larger National Events in which players would compete for prizes awarded by St.GIGA.
- Magazines - Digital magazines could be read on-screen, and contained information on a variety of topics such as upcoming video games, music, comedic performances, and the lives of pop idols. Like the games, broadcast magazines came in both SoundLink as well as silent formats. SoundLink magazines were performed by members of various comedic troupes such as All Night NipponAll Night NipponAll Night Nippon is a Japanese radio program broadcast by Nippon Broadcasting System and other radio stations from 1–5 am . It preempts broadcasts from TBS Radio's programming.The highest ratings were achieved on the night of October 1, 1967.-DJs:...
, Bakusho MondaiBakusho Mondaiis a Japanese comedy duo consisting of Yūji Tanaka and Hikari Ōta under the entertainment agency, Titan Inc. The comedians first met when they were students in the Department of Fine Arts at Nihon University, and they formed Bakushō Mondai in 1988 after dropping out of school...
, Hikaru IjuinHikaru Ijuin, real name Ken Shinooka , formerly Tanaka , born 11th Nov 1967, is a Japanese celebrity, radio personality, computer game reviewer and commentator. He was born in the Tokyo Metropolitan area of Arakawa-ku Nishiogu...
, etc., and often featured special guests. Regular magazines included , publications by Nintendo PowerNintendo PowerNintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
, comics by , etc. - Data - A smaller number of Satellaview titles were released as special application cartridges (see below) that possessed the basic gameplay data of the series to which they belonged, and required no downloads to play. These cartridges, however, could be swapped for the BS-X application cartridge to download specific scenarios relating to the series. As such, these cartridges functioned similarly to game-specific Nintendo Power cartridgesNintendo Power (cartridge)The flash RAM cartridge was a Japan-only peripheral produced by Nintendo for the Super Famicom and the Game Boy, which allowed owners to download Super Famicom/Game Boy games onto a special flash memory cartridge for less than what the full cartridge would have cost.During the days of the Family...
, where the basic game was purchased separately and then expansion packExpansion packAn expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...
material could be downloaded via Satellaview.
Broadcast material followed a regular schedule that allowed Satellaview owners to plan their daily schedules in order to catch the games they wished to play. This regular schedule was changed, however, a number of times throughout the lifetime of the Satellaview to make allowances for such things as increased or decreased SoundLink voice actor availability, customer demands for SatellaGuide support, and reduced support in the later years. Below is a table displaying these changes. (Please see the note below the table)
| Time/Date | Apr'95—Mar'96 | Apr'96—Mar'97 | Apr'97—Mar'98 | Apr—Oct'98 | Nov—Dec'98 | Jan—Mar'99 | Apr—May'99 | Jun'99-Mar'00 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00-12:00 | St.GIGA Radio | St.GIGA Radio | St.GIGA Radio | St.GIGA Radio | SatellaGuide broadcast | SatellaGuide broadcast | St.GIGA Radio | St.GIGA Radio |
| 12:00-13:00 | Regular broadcast | Regular broadcast | Regular broadcast | Regular broadcast | Regular broadcast | SatellaGuide broadcast | ||
| 13:00-14:00 | SatellaGuide broadcast | |||||||
| 14:00-16:00 | SatellaGuide broadcast | |||||||
| 16:00-17:00 | SoundLink broadcast | |||||||
| 17:00-18:00 | SoundLink broadcast | Regular broadcast | ||||||
| 18:00-19:00 | SoundLink broadcast | SoundLink broadcast | SoundLink broadcast | SoundLink broadcast | SoundLink broadcast | |||
| 19:00-20:00 | Regular broadcast | Regular broadcast | Regular broadcast | Regular broadcast | Regular broadcast | SatellaGuide broadcast | ||
| 20:00-22:00 | Regular broadcast | |||||||
| 23:00-0:00 | St.GIGA Radio | |||||||
| 0:00-1:00 | St.GIGA Radio | |||||||
| 1:00-2:00 | SoundLink broadcast | |||||||
NOTE: This table displays times when new — formerly unbroadcast — content was transmitted. Rebroadcasts of "Regular broadcast" games were transmitted throughout the lifetime of the Satellaview. As such, non-SoundLink reruns were available for players at some times simultaneously with new SatellaGuide broadcasts between 1998 and 2000.
Games
Satellaview Games were broadcast episodically in weekly or sometimes daily installments, usually with a total of four parts. As new episodes were added, players would either be confronted with new levels and maps or their original gameworld would become further unlocked allowing exploration of new areas in-game. Game items and points often carried over from one week to the next either automatically (requiring that the player use the same data cartridge) or through the use of passwords and codes.Games could be downloaded from within the BS-X BIOS, a game city known as BS-X The City Whose Name Has Been Stolen that was used as an interface. After turning the Satellaview on with the BS-X BIOS cartridge inserted, a player could roam the city and could visit a number of BS-X buildings. Visiting these buildings would allow the player to download and play the game or episode that the building contained. The contents of the buildings changed from hour to hour, making it helpful players who wished to play a specific game to look up the correct time and location in various tables published online by Nintendo and in hard copy by magazines such as .
Broadcast Game Data fell into four distinct categories: — Satellaview versions of top-selling and popular titles for the Famicom and Super Famicom were re-released as "Best Selection" games (the equivalent of the SNES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
's Player's Choice
Player's Choice
Nintendo Selects is a marketing label used by Nintendo to promote video games on Nintendo game consoles which have sold well; Nintendo Selects titles are sold at a lower price point than other games...
games). These games ranged from direct ports and exact replicas of the earlier games to remakes and remixes of the games with improved graphics and increased functions. — Events were held monthly to allow players to compete against other Satellaview users in a national rankings. Event games were often heavily advertised in the Magazine Data Broadcasts, and at the Nintendo website. The winner(s) and/or a few of the highest ranking players in these events would be awarded prizes (see below). — Games that were released for the first time via Satellaview and new entries in established series available only via Satellaview were released exclusively as BS Original games. These games were often designed to make use of the peculiar episodic structure of the Data Broadcasts, and in almost every case these games remain exclusive to the Satellaview as almost none of them have been re-released on more modern systems. — Immersive audio experiences, SoundLink games provided narrated voice-acting
Voice acting
Voice acting is the art of providing voices for animated characters and radio and audio dramas and comedy, as well as doing voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides.Performers are called...
gameplay to Nintendo fans for the first time. SoundLink games were often broadcast on strict timing schedules requiring players across the nation to begin at the same time and end at the same time. For this reason, competition events were quite common among SoundLink games, and prizes were often awarded for contest winners.
Events and prizes
The system required a subscription to the St.GIGASt.GIGA
is the name of a defunct satellite radio company that was formed as a subsidiary of satellite television company WOWOW and later became semi-independent, forming a keiretsu with its parent. Using the BS network to broadcast digital radio via direct broadcast satellite as a test on November 30,...
satellite radio
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
station, and during a limited time (between 11:00AM and 2:00AM), users could download games and receive news about the gaming world (as well as see some ads), and save it on a memory card that plugged into the Satellaview. It was also possible to play quizzes, and also at the end of each game users receive a score readout. By submitting their game or quiz high scores, their score would be recorded, and if they scored high enough they might get a free gift, such as a telephone card or flash-cart.
SoundLink
A number of games featured streaming voice data known as (this term came into use in 1996. Prior to this such voice data was referred to as ). In games featuring SoundLink data, one or more voice-actors would be used to guide players through the game and give helpful hints and advice. More complex games made use of multiple voice-actors to provide an audio drama narrating the plot and exhorting the player to hurry from goal to goal before the timer ran out. Because of the inclusion of a SoundLink soundtrack, the clock, and other live elements, these games could not be played at any time like some of the other BS-X games, but only during the set hours, much like a radio play. SoundLink broadcasts also included SoundLink Magazines that acted more like traditional radio broadcasts rather than games. Vocal SoundLink data was broadcast to Satellaview owners in a scrambledScrambler
In telecommunications, a scrambler is a device that transposes or inverts signals or otherwise encodes a message at the transmitter to make the message unintelligible at a receiver not equipped with an appropriately set descrambling device...
format that could be unscrambled by the BS Tuner unit for a monthly 600 yen fee.
On August 6, 1995, as a Nintendo-console first, BS Zelda no Densetsu became the first SoundLink game as all cutscenes were fully voice acted. The last SoundLink game to be broadcast via the Satellaview was BS Zelda no Densetsu: Inishie no Sekiban on May 30, 1999.
Data
Apart from full games and magazine broadcasts, Satellaview players were also given access to a number of data downloads that could be used in conjunction with various memory-pak-compatible application cartridges (also known as slotted cartridges). These cartridges were structurally identical to the BS-X cartridge - featuring a slot in the top into which could be inserted an 8M memory pak of the kind that the Satellaview employed. Their function was similar to the Nintendo Power cartridgeNintendo Power (cartridge)
The flash RAM cartridge was a Japan-only peripheral produced by Nintendo for the Super Famicom and the Game Boy, which allowed owners to download Super Famicom/Game Boy games onto a special flash memory cartridge for less than what the full cartridge would have cost.During the days of the Family...
but instead of holding entire games, they held game data.
To download a data packet via the Satellaview, players would start with the BS-X cartridge inserted and would walk in the BIOS overworld (The City Whose Name Has Been Stolen) to the appropriate download location. The data packet would be downloaded to the 8M memory pak inserted into the BS-X cartridge and when the download had finished, the player would shut the system down. The BS-X cartridge would then be removed and swapped for one of the special application cartridges. Finally the 8M memory pak would be detached from the BS-X cartridge and inserted into the application cartridge's memory slot. A list of slotted application cartridges compatible with the Satellaview can be seen here.
The data downloaded typically took the form of additional content such as new playable characters, new levels, or other new perks that could be accessed in-game. As such, data downloads functioned as patches
Patch (computing)
A patch is a piece of software designed to fix problems with, or update a computer program or its supporting data. This includes fixing security vulnerabilities and other bugs, and improving the usability or performance...
and expansions
Expansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...
. Examples included additional horses and racetracks for Derby Stallion '96, additional maps and characters for RPG Tsukūru 2
RPG Tsukūru 2
is a program that allows players to design their own traditional role-playing game on Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It has only been released in Japan...
, and an additional magazine accessible in game in Itoi Shigesato no Bass Tsuri No. 1. Occasionally data downloads would also be available that were not intended for use with application cartridges but instead could be accessed from the BS-X Cartridge. An example of this is the Chrono Trigger Music Library data broadcast.
In March 1996, three different separately-sold 8M memory paks were produced already containing prerecorded data of this sort. These special 8M paks bore all new decals and contained EPROM
EPROM
An EPROM , or erasable programmable read only memory, is a type of memory chip that retains its data when its power supply is switched off. In other words, it is non-volatile. It is an array of floating-gate transistors individually programmed by an electronic device that supplies higher voltages...
s that could not be overwritten by new download data from the Satellaview.
Magazines
All downloadable broadcasts that were neither Games nor Data files fell into the category of . The Satellaview's digital magazine broadcasts could also be further subdivided into three distinct styles of magazine:— Text data associated intimately with the game with which they were downloaded. Magazine Data files were broadcast exactly 10 minutes prior to their associated games and were used by players to fill time while the game download completed. Included in this subcategory were both describing how to play the games and describing basic strategy for the game. Despite the frequency with which they were originally broadcast (commonly once every half-hour), these magazine files rank among the rarest of download data still retained by collectors today.
- Periodic Magazines — Electronic versions of several different popular hard-copy video game magazines (e.g. FamitsuFamitsuis a line of Japanese video game magazines published by Enterbrain, Inc. and Tokuma. Currently, there are five Famitsū magazines: Shūkan Famitsū, Famitsū PS3 + PSP, Famitsū Xbox 360, Famitsū Wii+DS, and Famitsū Wave DVD...
, Nintendo PowerNintendo PowerNintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
, or Tokuma ShotenTokuma Shotenis a publisher in Japan, that was established in 1954.The company was also the parent company for the film studio Daiei Motion Pictures, bought in 1974, and the record label Tokuma Japan Communications, bought in 1972, until both were sold off when Yasuyoshi Tokuma, who established this company,...
's Goods Press) comic strips (e.g. ), cooking magazines, etc. These magazines were specially formatted for viewing on the television screen and as such the reader was required to scan through the pages of the electronic magazine using the SNES' control pad.
— The magazine version of the SoundLink Games, SoundLink Magazines functioned as variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
s bringing celebrities and pop idols into the homes of Satellaview owners. Comedic troupes such as All Night Nippon
All Night Nippon
All Night Nippon is a Japanese radio program broadcast by Nippon Broadcasting System and other radio stations from 1–5 am . It preempts broadcasts from TBS Radio's programming.The highest ratings were achieved on the night of October 1, 1967.-DJs:...
, Bakushō Mondai
Bakusho Mondai
is a Japanese comedy duo consisting of Yūji Tanaka and Hikari Ōta under the entertainment agency, Titan Inc. The comedians first met when they were students in the Department of Fine Arts at Nihon University, and they formed Bakushō Mondai in 1988 after dropping out of school...
, and Hikaru Ijuin
Hikaru Ijuin
, real name Ken Shinooka , formerly Tanaka , born 11th Nov 1967, is a Japanese celebrity, radio personality, computer game reviewer and commentator. He was born in the Tokyo Metropolitan area of Arakawa-ku Nishiogu...
featured prominently in most SoundLink Magazine broadcasts and in some cases participated in certain SoundLink Games as well (notably and ). The longest-running and perhaps best-known SoundLink Magazine series was which was broadcast between April 24, 1995 and April 3, 1999.
In addition to downloadable magazine files, the BS-X cartridge also featured a constantly updated portion of the BIOS named the that was devoted to receiving brief text-only messages from St.GIGA and Nintendo regarding future plans, upcoming contests and games, and for announcing contest winners' names. Although this material was not specifically selected by the player for download and was not included on "Super Famicom Hour" schedules, it has been described as a digital postcard or fax in the same vein as the Magazines.
Compatible memory paks
| Title | Release Date | Release Price |
|---|---|---|
| (blank 8M pak) | February 13, 1995 | ¥5,000 (also bundled with the Satellaview system for ¥18,000) |
| March 1, 1996 | ¥8,980 (Bundled with SameGame application cartridge) | |
| May 24, 1996 | ¥2,680 (also bundled with SameGame application cartridge as a contest prize) | |
| March 29, 1996 | ¥3,800 individually (also bundled with the SD Gundam G-NEXT application cartridge for ¥16,600) | |
Compatible application cartridges
| Title | &1995-02-13February 13, 1995 | ¥18,000 (Bundled with the Satellaview system) |
|---|---|---|
| March 15, 1996 | ¥12,800 | |
| September 29, 1995 | ¥8,900 | |
| April 12, 1996 | ¥7,800-¥9,980 | |
| January 31, 1996 | ¥12,800 | |
| March 1, 1996 | ¥8,980 (Bundled with the Character Cassette 8M memory pak; also bundled with the Character Data: Tengai Makyo 8M memory pak as a contest prize) | |
| December 22, 1995 | ¥12,800 individually (also bundled with the Unit & Map Collections 8M memory pak after March 29, 1996 for ¥16,600) | |
| February 21, 1997 | ¥6,800-¥7,800 | |
| May 31, 1996 | ¥8,200 | |
See also
- IntellivisionIntellivisionThe Intellivision is a video game console released by Mattel in 1979. Development of the console began in 1978, less than a year after the introduction of its main competitor, the Atari 2600. The word intellivision is a portmanteau of "intelligent television"...
's PlayCablePlayCableThe PlayCable system, introduced in 1981, allowed local cable-TV system operators to send Intellivision games over the wire alongside the normal TV signal...
(1981) - Atari 2600Atari 2600The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
's GameLineGamelineThe CVC GameLine was a cartridge for the Atari 2600 which could download games using a telephone line.In the early 1980s a cable pioneer named William von Meister was looking for a way to use his innovative modem transmission technology, recently acquired in ill-fated attempts of sending music to...
(early 1980s) - Sega Mega DriveSega Mega DriveThe Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
's Sega MeganetSega MeganetThe Sega Toshokan, Sega Game Library or Sega Meganet was a network service in Japan for people using the Sega Mega Drive. Debuting in 1990, this was the first time online multiplayer console gaming was possible. However, the service was not very successful and was eventually discontinued...
(1991) and Sega ChannelSega ChannelSega Channel was a project developed by Sega for the 16-bit Sega Mega Drive/Genesis console. Starting in December 1994, Sega Channel service was provided to the public by Time Warner Cable and TCI, which later was acquired by AT&T during its cable acquisition spree that formed AT&T...
(1994) - Nintendo Entertainment SystemNintendo Entertainment SystemThe Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
's Famicom ModemFamicom ModemThe is a video game peripheral for Family Computer released only in Japan in 1988. It allowed the user access to a server that provided game cheats, jokes, weather forecasts, and a small amount of downloadable content. It could also be used to make live stock trades. Unlike the NES Teleplay Modem,...
and Teleplay ModemTeleplay ModemThe Teleplay Modem was a modem for the Nintendo Entertainment System created by Keith Rupp and Nolan Bushnell, designed to provide online play between NES users, while also possessing compatibility with the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. The first prototype, called the "Ayota Modem", had a...
(1992) - Nintendo 64DDNintendo 64DDThe is a peripheral for the Nintendo 64 game console. It plugged into the N64 through the EXTension Port on the Nintendo 64's underside, and allowed the N64 to use proprietary 64 MB magneto-optical discs for expanded data storage...
's RANDnetDD (1999)
External links
- BS-X General Information, Software Downloads
- N-sider.com - NintendOnline - Page 2 article about Nintendo's online history