Satellaview

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The BS-X logo
The BS-X logo

The Satellaview (サテラビュー Saterabyū?) was a satellite modem add-on for Nintendo's Super Famicom system in Japan released in 1995.[1] It retailed for ¥14,000 (about US$144.29).

The Satellaview was developed and released by Nintendo, and Satellite Digital Audio Broadcasting Co. (also known as St. GIGA) was responsible for the file servers and the maintenance side of things after each game had been added.

Contents

[edit] Hardware

Diagram showing how the Satellaview interacts with other multimedia devices to deliver the game to the player
Diagram showing how the Satellaview interacts with other multimedia devices to deliver the game to the player

The basic system contains:

  • Satellaview adapter, attached to the bottom of Super Famicom and plugged into the (previously unused) expansion port.
  • L-shaped bracket; this supplied power to the Satellaview via the Super Famicom.
  • Application cartridge "BS-X : Sore wa namae o nusumareta machi no monogatari" (translates as The Story of The Town Whose Name Has Been Stolen). This application was like a game in itself. The player entered their name and chose their gender, then moved their player character around the town. Each house or shop in the town was a direct link to a particular game, which would load and be ready for play if the player chose to enter that building.

The deluxe system contains all the above, plus:

  • 8-Megabit Memory Pak: (downloaded games are saved on this memory cart if the user puts it in)

The BS-X base unit contained some memory of its own, but not much (about 512 KB) so for larger games, or (it is to be assumed) for mulitple games to be saved at the same time, the player needed to purchase this Memory Pak, otherwise previous data would have to be erased.

[edit] Name

The name Satellaview is assumed to be a portmanteau of "satellite" and "view". However, the console's full name is seldom used; the official abbreviation seen everywhere is BS-X; BS stands for Broadcast Satellaview, and X is literally "unknown" or "nameless". In other vernaculars, the X can stand for "transfer", thus "Broadcast Satellaview Transfer".

It is erroneously credited in some webpages as the "Bandai" Satellaview, which as a result, some people continue to refer to it as such. [2] There is no trace of any Bandai logo or name in any known documentation or indeed in the BIOS overworld interface itself. The most probable reason for this confusion is because of the physical similarity between the Satellaview's Application cartridge and the Sufami Turbo, an accessory which actually was made by Bandai.

[edit] Game categories

The BS-X titles fell into several categories:

  • Exclusive releases, new entries in established series available only on the BS-X; they are still exclusive, as none has been re-released as of yet.
  • Re-releases, exact replicas of the cartridge data of normal Super Famicom games, except in a format for broadcast over the satellite.
  • Remakes of previous Famicom games, often hugely enhanced.
  • Remixed Super Famicom titles were occasionally released.
  • Original games: there were a handful of BS-X titles that were not part of any established series, and had almost never seen release in other consoles.

No matter what the game was, it was released in weekly or sometimes daily installments, usually with a total of four parts. Some games went on to have multiple stages beyond the scope of the original game. For example, BS Zelda no Densetsu's Second Map, which included nine entirely new dungeons beyond the nine already featured in the first BS Zelda broadcast. However the player data could not be transferred onto the new maps, and, just like The Legend of Zelda's "Second Quest", the player had to start over.

[edit] Interactive features

The system required a subscription to the St. GIGA satellite radio station, and during a limited time (between 4:00 and 7:00 PM), 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.

[edit] Live Voice

Some games featured "Live Voice" (streaming voice data), where a "narrator" would guide the players through the game and give helpful hints and advice. Because of the inclusion of Live Voice, 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.

As a Nintendo-console first, in BS Zelda no Densetsu Kodai no Sekiban, all cutscenes were fully voice acted.

[edit] Broadcast dates and support

Satellaview was broadcast from April 23, 1995 to June 30, 2000. It continued receiving new games up until March 1999. The first game on the system was BS Zelda no Densetsu, based on the Nintendo Entertainment System game The Legend of Zelda.

Most of these game were developed and published by Nintendo. A few third-party developers developed games for it, including Squaresoft and Enix.

[edit] See also

[edit] Game List (incomplete?)

BS 3ji no Wide Syou (J)

BS Albert Odyssey (J)

BS Arkanoid - Doh It Again (J)

BS Bdash 2 Gatsu Gou (J)

BS Bdash 3 Gatsu Gou (J)

BS Busters - Digital Magazine 4-12-98 (J)

BS Busters - Digital Magazine 5-10-98 (J)

BS Busters - Digital Magazine 5-24-98 (J)

BS Busters - Digital Magazine 8-23-98 (J)

BS Cheap de Gorgeous (J)

BS Chrono Trigger - Jet Bike Special (J)

BS Chrono Trigger Character Library (J)

BS Chrono Trigger Music Library (J)

BS Columbus no Tamagoyaki 1 (J)

BS Columbus no Tamagoyaki 2 (J)

BS Columbus no Tamagoyaki 3 (J)

BS Cu-On-Pa (J)

BS Daibakusyou Jinseigekijyou (J)

BS Dan Dan Belt Conveyor Milk no Maki (J)

BS Dan Dan Belt Conveyor Ukulele no Maki (J)

BS Do-Re-Mi No.2 5-10 (J)

BS Do-Re-Mi No.2 5-25 (J)

BS Dokapon Gaiden - Hono no Audition (J)

BS Dr. Mario (J)

BS Dragon Quest 1 (J)

BS Dragon Slayer Eiyu Densetsu (J)

BS Dynami Tracer! (J)

BS F-Zero 2 (J)

BS F-Zero Ace (J)

BS F-Zero Castle (J)

BS F-Zero King (J)

BS F-Zero Knight (J)

BS F-Zero Queen (J)

BS Fenek - June Edition (J)

BS Fire Emblem Akaneia Senki 1 - Palace Kanraku (J)

BS Fire Emblem Akaneia Senki 2 - Akai Ryu Kishi (J)

BS Fire Emblem Akaneia Senki 3 - Seigi no Tozokudan (J)

BS Fire Emblem Akaneia Senki 4 - Hajimari no Toki (J)

BS Furoito No Chousenjou (J)

BS Furoito No Chousenjou 2 (J)

BS Furoito No Chousenjou 3 (J)

BS Furoito No Chousenjou 4 (J)

BS Furoito No Chousenjou 5 (J)

BS Furoito No Chousenjou 6 (J)

BS Gekkan Coin Toss Deck 1 (J)

BS Goods Press 3 (J)

BS Goods Press 6 Gatsu Gou (J)

BS Goods Press 7 Gatsu Gou (J)

BS Guruguru Ball (J)

BS Heisei Gunjin Shogi (J)

BS Hosi Kuzusi (J)

BS IkarinoYousai (J)

BS Kaizou Tyoujin Shubibinman Zero (J)

BS Kirby no Omotya Bako Baseball (J)

BS Kobo Kensyo Magazine (J)

BS Kodomo Tyosadan Mighty Pockets 1 (J)

BS Kodomo Tyosadan Mighty Pockets 2 (J)

BS Kodomo Tyosadan Mighty Pockets 3 (J)

BS Koi ha Balance - Battle of Lovers (J)

BS Legend of Zelda 1 - Kodai no Sekiban (J)

BS Legend of Zelda 2 - Kodai no Sekiban (J)

BS Legend of Zelda 3 - Kodai no Sekiban (J)

BS Legend of Zelda 4 - Kodai no Sekiban (J)

BS Legend of Zelda Remix, The (J)

BS Lets Pachinko Nante Gindama 1 (J)

BS Lets Pachinko Nante Gindama 2 (J)

BS Lets Pachinko Nante Gindama 3 (J)

BS Lets Pachinko Nante Gindama 4 (J)

BS Lord Monarke (J)

BS Mario Collection 3 (J)

BS Mario Excite Bike Bunbun Mario Stadium 1 (J)

BS Mario Excite Bike Bunbun Mario Stadium 2 (J)

BS Mario Excite Bike Bunbun Mario Stadium 3 (1-11) (J)

BS Mario Excite Bike Bunbun Mario Stadium 3 (2-8) (J)

BS Mario Excite Bike Bunbun Mario Stadium 4 (J)

BS Mario Paint - 1-11 (J)

BS Mario Paint - 6-4 (J)

BS Mario USA 1 (J)

BS Mario USA 2 (J)

BS Mario USA 3 (J)

BS Mario USA 4 (J)

BS Marvelous Camp Arnold Course 1 (J)

BS Marvelous Camp Arnold Course 2 (J)

BS Marvelous Camp Arnold Course 3 (J)

BS Marvelous Camp Arnold Course 4 (J)

BS Marvelous Time Athletic Course 1 (J)

BS Marvelous Time Athletic Course 2 (J)

BS Marvelous Time Athletic Course 3 (J)

BS Marvelous Time Athletic Course 4 (J)

BS Nichibutsu 4 Player Mahjan 1 (J)

BS Nichibutsu 4 Player Mahjan 2 (J)

BS Nichibutsu Mahjong (J)

BS Nintama Rantarou 2 (J)

BS Nintendo HP 5-17 (J)

BS Nintendo HP 5-31 (J)

BS NP Magazine 107 (J)

BS Out of Bounds Golf (J)

BS Paneru De Pon 98 (J)

BS Parlor Parlor 2 (J)

BS Pokekame Magajin (J)

BS Radical Dreamers (J)

BS Same Game Koma Data (J)

BS Satella2 1 (J)

BS Satellaview BS-X (O.S.rom)

BS Saterawalker 2 - Sate Bou wo Sukuidase (J)

BS Shanghai Bannri no Tyojyo (J)

BS Shin Oni Gashima 1 - Kataribe no Koya (J)

BS Shin Oni Gashima 2 - Kataribe no Koya (J)

BS Shin Oni Gashima 3 - Kataribe no Koya (J)

BS Shin Oni Gashima 4 - Kataribe no Koya (J)

BS Sousa Sentai Wappers 1 (J)

BS Sousa Sentai Wappers 2 (J)

BS Special Tee Shot (J)

BS Spriggan Powered (J)

BS St.Giga 10 Gatsu Gou (J)

BS Super E.D.F. (J)

BS Super Famicom Wars (J)

BS Super Mahjong Taikai (J)

BS Super Ninja Kun (J)

BS Super Shogi Problem 1000 (J)

BS Sutte Hakkun (J)

BS Sutte Hakkun 2 10-8 (J)

BS Sutte Hakkun 2 6-3 (J)

BS Sutte Hakkun 98 (J)

BS Tantei Club Saihousou 1 (J)

BS Tantei Club Saihousou 2 (J)

BS Tantei Club Saihousou 3 (J)

BS Tora no Maki 5-17 (J)

BS Tora no Maki 5-31 (J)

BS Treasure Conflix (J)

BS Wai Wai Check 3-7th (J)

BS Wapaaz Souryu Hen (J)

BS Wario (J)

BS Wizardry 5 (J)

BS Yoshi No Panepon (J)

BS Yung Hakase no Shinsatsu Shitsu 1 (J)

BS Yung Hakase no Shinsatsu Shitsu 2 (J)

BS Zelda no Densetsu - Kamigami no Triforce (J)

BS Zoot Mahjong (J)

BS Zootte Mahjong! IVT (J)

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ Super Famicom Central
  2. ^ bs@Everything2.com

[edit] External links

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