Sega Saturn Modem
From Sega Retro
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| Sega Saturn Modem | ||||||||||
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| Made for: Sega Saturn | ||||||||||
| Manufacturer: Sega Enterprises, Ltd. | ||||||||||
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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.
Contents
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.
- Bust-A-Move 3 (1997)
- Cyber Troopers Virtual-On (1996)
- Cyber Troopers Virtual-On NetLink Edition (1997)
- Daytona USA Circuit Edition (1997)
- Decathlete (1996)
- Dragon's Dream (1997)
- Habitat II (1996)
- Pad Nifty (1996)
- Pad Nifty 1.1 & Habitat II (1997)
- Puyo Puyo Sun (1996)
- Saturn Bomberman (1996)
- Sega Rally Championship Plus (1996)
- Sega Saturn Internet 2 (?)
- Sega Saturn Internet Vol. 1 (1996)
- Sega Touring Car Championship (1996)
- Sega Worldwide Soccer 98 (1997)
- Shadows of the Tusk (1998)
- Special Disc with Sega Saturn Internet 2 (?)
- Virtua Fighter Remix (1995)
Magazine articles
- Main article: Sega Saturn Modem/Magazine articles.
Photo gallery
Back of unit
Modem with card
Media Cards
Sega Rally Championship (1) (front)
Sega Rally Championship (1) (back)
Sega Rally Championship (2) (front)
Sega Rally Championship (2) (back)
Virtua Fighter 2 (1) (front)
Virtua Fighter 2 (1) (back)
Virtua Fighter 2 (2) (front)
Virtua Fighter 2 (2) (back)
Promotional material
Physical scans
| Saturn, JP (HSS-0127) |
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 Cover
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| Saturn, JP (HSS-0148) |
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 Cover
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| Saturn, JP (HSS-0157) |
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 Cover
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| Saturn, JP (HSS-0160) |
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 Cover
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External links
- Sega of Japan catalogue pages (Japanese): Saturn
References
- ↑ http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/modem.html (Wayback Machine: 2012-11-13 09:09)
- ↑ File:SegaRallyPlus Saturn JP Spinecard.jpg
- ↑ https://www.dreamcast-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8453
