Sega Saturn Modem

From Sega Retro

NetLink Japan.jpg
Sega Saturn Modem
Made for: Sega Saturn
Manufacturer: Sega
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥14,800 (15,244)14,800e[2] HSS-0127

The Sega Saturn Modem (セガサターンモデム) is a modem attachment for the Sega Saturn which allows the system to connect to the internet. It was only released in Japan, with its North American, equivalent being the NetLink Internet Modem.

Hardware

The Sega Saturn Modem is a grey 14.4kbps modem designed to be placed in the Saturn's cartridge port, and is built upon the XBAND technology used for North American Sega Mega Drives (Genesis). It was originally bundled with Sega Saturn Internet Vol. 1 (software that allows access to the world wide web and email), the SegaNet version of Virtua Fighter Remix (not sold separately) and Pad Nifty. Later it was released with Sega Saturn Internet 2 and the SegaNet version of Virtua Fighter Remix and Decathlete. The latter version is extremely rare.

In order to use the device with games, users were forced to purchase "Sega Saturn Media Cards" (セガサターン メディアカード) for ¥2,000 each. Much like telephone cards, these allowed the user to connect to Sega's online network and play against other users for a specified amount of time. Cards are inserted into the modem from the side - a similar system may have been planned for the Genesis in North America (as a card slot exists), but instead users were offered monthly subscriptions through the phone line.

In 2019, fans have been able to patch select XBAND titles to be playable over voip again, this makes the modem usable again along with the Netlink. With more titles being patched down the road.[3]

Compatible games

There are more Japanese games which make use of the peripheral than US games using NetLink. Games that support it sport a "SegaSaturn Networks" logo on the box.

Magazine articles

Main article: Sega Saturn Modem/Magazine articles.

Photo gallery

Media Cards

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-13: "1996-13 (1996-08-09)" (1996-07-26)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Saturn, JP (HSS-0127)
Saturn HSS-0127 box-1.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (HSS-0148)
Saturn HSS-0148 box-1.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (HSS-0157)
Saturn HSS-0157 box-1.jpg
Cover

External links

  • Sega of Japan catalogue pages (Japanese): Saturn

References

Sega Saturn
Topics Technical Specifications (Hardware Comparison) | History (Development | Release | Decline and legacy) | List of games (A-M) | List of games (N-Z) | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise
Hardware Japan | North America | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | South America | Asia | South Korea | Australasia | Africa

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Online Services/Add-ons NetLink Internet Modem (NetLink Keyboard | NetLink Keyboard Adapter | NetLink Mouse) | Saturn Modem (Floppy Drive | Keyboard)
Connector Cables 21 Pin RGB Cable | Monaural AV Cable | RF Unit | Stereo AV Cable | S-Video Cable | Taisen Cable
Development Hardware Programming Box | Sound Box | E7000 | CartDev | SNASM2 | Address Checker | PSY-Q Development System | MIRAGE Universal CD Emulator
Misc. Hardware 6Player | SBom Multitap‎ | Saturn region converter cartridges | Action Replay | Pro Action Replay | Action Replay Plus | X-Terminator (Version 3) | S-S Promoter | Other cartridges