Satellaview

Satellaview is a video game platform.
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The Satellaview was an add-on for the Super Famicom, released only in Japan. It downloaded games and news via satellite broadcast, and received live, streaming voice acting and hints for some games.

Overview
Broadcast Satellaview X
Broadcast Satellaview X

The Nintendo Satellaview, or Broadcast Satellaview X (BS-X), is a satellite game and news delivery add-on for the Super Famicom, which was only released in Japan.  It allows players to subscribe and connect to St. GIGA and download games and news updated from 4-7PM.  The unit was released in 1995 and retailed for ¥14,000.  Some games could only be played at certain times, while others were downloaded to the BS-X Cassette, a small  memory cartridge.  The service stayed in placed and was supposed up until 2000 with the last game release being in 1999.  Sales numbers are unknown for the device, although it gained a good deal of support.

Hardware
The Satellaview and its box.
The Satellaview and its box.

The Satellaview itself was a bulky added on that snapped into the expansion port of the bottom of the Super Famicom.  It was the first device to actually use the expansion port.  A power transfer bracket was supplied which connected the Super Famicom to the BS-X to supply power so a separate adapter wasn't needed.  An Satellaview-branded AV selector is also included with the package.  The BS-X Cassette, the units storage device, could hold around 512kb of data.  A deluxe package was available that included an 8Mbit memory pak, which was necessary for larger games or multiple game saves.  The BS-X was the result of the failed SFC CD add-on.  The CD add-on sparked interest in using the expansion port for something, but instead of a different storage medium, the developers created a digital distribution service in conjunction with the St. GIGA satellite radio station.

Software

Updates were only broadcast between 4PM and 7PM (JST) by St. GIGA satellite radio.  These updates contained game news, new games, quizzes and some advertisements.  Quizzes had high score lists on the network and highest scorers could receive prizes such as telephone cards or a memory pak.  Most games were only available for a limited time, being released in parts over the course of an amount of days or weeks (usually 4).  For example, a game might have 25% of the world map revealed in it's first week, with the full world map available by the end of the month.  Games on the Satellaview are often exclusive to the platform and many have not been released anywhere else; this makes units with exclusive games on them especially valuable to collectors.
An example of a voice-acted scene that may appear.
An example of a voice-acted scene that may appear.

Some games had a live, satellite streaming voice broadcast along with them, much like a radio drama and a coinciding real time in-game clock.  Zelda no Densetsu Kodai no Sekiban for example, had live voice acted cut scenes, as well as voice acted optional side quests.  These could only be played at certain times and not saved to the BS-X Cassette.  There is a 13 minute window during which a side quest character can be saved, and the voice would only play if the player was on the same screen.  It is assumed that the voice actor simply repeated the cries for help for 13 minutes and it was streamed if the player was "within earshot" in the game. Some games, such as the BS Zelda games were rebroadcast, but since the St. GIGA subscription ended in 2000, there is no way to play these games anymore. However, there are illegal ROM copies of the game made available on the internet.

Other than Satellaview-exclusive releases, there were also standard Super Famicom games broadcast, was well as vastly updated versions of popular games or "remixed" versions.  There were a few original games for the device as well.  Despite being a seemingly obscure add-on, the Satellaview garnered quite a bit of support, even getting third party releases from Square and Enix.

Notable Games
BS Zelda no Densetsu
BS Zelda no Densetsu
Satellaview games Edit
Add a Game to Satellaview
Name Platforms Developer
BS Fire Emblem: Akaneia Senki BS-X Intelligent Systems Co., Ltd.
Picross NP BS-X, SNES Jupiter Corp., Game Freak, Inc., Creatures, Inc.
Mario Excite Bike BS-X Nintendo
BS Zelda no Densetsu Kodai no Sekiban BS-X Nintendo
BS F-Zero 2 Grand Prix BS-X Nintendo
BS Excitebike Bun Bun Mario Stadium BS-X Nintendo
Dynami Tracer BS-X Square Co., Ltd.
BS Super Famicom Wars BS-X, SNES Intelligent Systems Co., Ltd.
BS Tantei Club: Yuki ni Kieta Kako released on Feb. 9, 1997 BS-X Nintendo R&D1
Radical Dreamers: Nusumenai Houseki BS-X Square Co., Ltd.
General Information Edit
Platform Name: Satellaview
Release Date: April 23, 1995
Online Support: False
Install Base: 0
Original Price: $145
Producing Company: Nintendo
Total Games: games
Recurring Appearances
2D first in Tennis for Two Simulator
5
Health first in
3
Boss Fight first in DND
3
Male Protagonists first in
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Game Over first in
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Finish Line first in
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Virtual Console first in
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Player Character first in
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Boost first in
2
Collectibles first in
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Coin first in Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds
3
Bomb first in B-17 Bomber
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Sword first in
3
Heart first in The Legend of Zelda
3
Dirt Bike first in
2
Mustache first in Donkey Kong
2
Heart Container first in The Legend of Zelda
2
Water first in
2
Motorcycle first in Motocross
2
Potion first in Rogue
2
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