Product Details
While the Net Link was not the first accessory to allowed console gamers in America to play games online, it was the first to allow players to use their own Internet Service Provider (ISP) to connect. While Sega recommended that players use (Concentric), Net Link enabled players to choose any ISP that was within its technical specifications. The device was capable of connecting at a 28.8 kilobit/s connection in America and 14.4 kbit/s in Japan. The success of the Net Link was limited by factors such as high cost, the small number of Saturn owners compared to the competition, and lack of games that took advantage of Net Link capabilities.
The Net Link modem was an XBAND device, which had previously been used in the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Sega Genesis modem games. In Japan, the Net Link required the use of smartcards with prepaid credits. These smartcards or "Saturn media cards" cost ¥2,000 and one game credit was ¥20, which means that one could play about 100 games per card. The Saturn had a floppy drive (Japan only) and printer cable converter (Japan only) which could be used with the Net Link. A web browser from Planetweb was included, and a mouse and keyboard adapter were available to simplify navigation.
Before the Net Link was not made available for wide release in Europe, Sega performed a test release in Finland before deciding not to widely release the unit in the European market.
Despite the Saturn's relative lack of success in America, the Net Link had a number of users, and five games were released domestically that supported it. Sega of America originally wanted to sell 100,000 Net Links Sales records show that the unit only sold 15,000 to 25,000 units.
Net Link games can still be played today, as the Net Link modem can use direct-call to connect two players to each other, but the "Net Link Zone" method, which allowed gamers to meet in IRC, can no longer be used as the servers were shut down in 2001.
Read more about this topic: Sega NetLink
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