Satellaview (BS-X)
Release date: date March 1995

The Satellaview is a modem add-on for the SNES, released 1995, in Japan only. The Satellaview uses a Japanese satellite system called "St GIGA" to get it's information. With the Satellaview you could download updates of new games and get hot news, cheats, tips, demos, info about new Nintendo games, events or interviews, charts and rumours. A problem with the system was that you could only download a certain game, for example the new "Chrono Trigger demo" when it was being "broadcasted" at a certain time. You had to wait until a certain time or day to be able to download it (just like recording a TV-show from the TV). The things you downloaded could then be saved in a Ram Cartridge that you plugged into the cartridge slot, that could hold 1 Megabit of data. These little thingies were called BS-X Special Broadcast Cassettes.
It was only from 4 pm to 7 pm you actually could download stuff with the BS-X because at the other time of the day the satellite channel that the Satellaview  System used broadcasted normal TV-shows! On the other hand everything you downloaded was for free. Nintendo managed to blend in some advertising to make it profitable. When it was released in 1995, both Konami, Square, Taito and Data East was planning to use the Satellaview for their advertising but the only two companies that actually supplied software for the St GIGA channel was Nintendo and Square!

The Base Unit

Tech Specs
The base unit had a 512 Kbit memory (RAM) chip to boost the SNES's capabilities and 1 Megabit ROM chip that contained the operating system needed to control the Satellaview. It also had a 256 Kbit flash memory if the user hadn't bought him/herself an BS-X Special Broadcast Cassette that contained a 1 Megabit flash memory chip.

Navigating the Satella view
The first picture you see when you turn on the unit is a picture of a town where the buildings acts as different stations, where you can do different things. There are 4 different stations:

Electronic Magazine
Here the "surfers" could check out previews and demos of new games.

Nation-wide game competition
In this section you could solve Quizzes and play with other gamers in multiplayer games. I'm not sure if this section really existed because I don't know if the users could really upload data to the satellite. If they couldn't do that, it would be impossible to play multiplayer games over the BS-X!

Data Present
This section was packed with cheats, maps, tips and other relevant information on a bunch of different games.

Town News
It's here you could find all the latest gossip, high scores etc. and if you were really lucky you might even find an exclusive demo or two!

Exclusive games...
Many games were released exclusively for the BS-X, most of them from Nintendo and Square.
Obviously now, downloads are IMPOSSIBLE on this old technology (plus here in the UK it is impossible anyway), but games can still be copied from cart to cart, or bought if the owner is willing to sell?? E-Mail me
So now, for me the system is of collectors value, and all I can do is play these stand alone games on it with no hope of ever seeing it's on-line functions in action!!! BAH!!!
Here follows a list of the games I own (No boxes or instructions for ANY of them, just BS Carts!!!)

(The companies behind the games are written in brackets.)

BS F-Zero 2 - Grand Prix (Nintendo)
A kind-of-sequel to F-Zero containing new vehicles and one new league, the ace league.
BS Zelda 1 (Nintendo)
A redesigned Zelda 1 with updated graphics!
BS Super Mario Bros 3 (Nintendo)
different "scenes" from SMB3 with updated graphics...
BS Super Mario Bros USA (Nintendo)
Super Mario Bros 2 (Western version) in a new updates version.
Wrecking Crew '98 (Nintendo)
This game contains both the original Wrecking Crew for the NES and a new Wrecking Crew inspired puzzle game.
Mario Excite Bike (Nintendo)
The old Excite Bike for the NES with enhanced graphics featuring Mario & Co!
BS Dr. Mario (Nintendo)
A SNES version of Dr. Mario.
BS Cu on Pa
A mystery...I can't get past the first screen! DOH!!!
BS Golf Out
Mini Golf.
BS Marvelous
A Japanese RPG.
BS Chrono Trigger Character Library (Square)
A presentation off the heroes, and enemies from Chrono Trigger.
BS Chrono Trigger Jet Bike Special (Square)
The Jet Bike mini game from Chrono Trigger as a stand alone game.
BS Let's Pachinko
An virtual arcade simulator.
BS Shubimano
Manga platform beat 'em up.
BS Sutte Hakkon (Nintendo)
A puzzle game.
BS Dragon Quest (Enix)
The original NES game with enhanced graphics.
BS Famicom Wars
Wage war on your SNES.
Radical Dreamers (Square)
A sequel to Chrono Trigger. The new PS-X adventure Chono Cross is based on the story from this game .

Complete system, boxed with instructions

If you know where I can find any of the game that I haven't listed or wrote anything about, E-Mail Me!!!

Price: On release in March 1995, the main unit cost 150 Dollars or 14,000 Yen. and 50 Dollars, 5,000 Yen extra for the adaptor