****************************************************** * ______ _______ _ ______ * * |\ /| ( ___ \ ( ___ )( ( /|( __ \ * * ( \ / ) | ( ) )| ( ) || \ ( || ( \ ) * * \ (_) /_____ | (__/ / | (___) || \ | || | ) | * * ) _ ((_____)| __ ( | ___ || (\ \) || | | | * * / ( ) \ | ( \ \ | ( ) || | \ || | ) | * * ( / \ ) | )___) )| ) ( || ) \ || (__/ ) * * |/ \| |/ \___/ |/ \||/ )_)(______/ * * * * ___ ___ _ * * | \/ | | | * * | . . | ___ __| | ___ _ __ ___ * * | |\/| |/ _ \ / _` |/ _ \ '_ ` _ \ * * | | | | (_) | (_| | __/ | | | | | * * \_| |_/\___/ \__,_|\___|_| |_| |_| * ****************************************************** +-+-+-+ +-+-+-+-+-+ +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ |F|o|r| |S|u|p|e|r| |N|i|n|t|e|n|d|o| +-+-+-+ +-+-+-+-+-+ +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ =========================================== = X-Band Modem = = Super Nintendo (SNES) = = Version 1.1 = = Last Updated 6/17/2004 = = Written by Kris Valdez (yankfan87) = = Email: yankfan87@hotmail.com = = AIM: yankfan872 = = Copyright 2004 Kris Valdez (yankfan87) = =========================================== =================== =TABLE OF CONTENTS= =================== I. What is X-Band? II. SNES games compatible with the X-Band Network III. Can you still do anything with the X-Band Modem? IV. Codes/Secrets V. Credits VI. Copyright/Legal Information -------------------- -I. WHAT IS X-BAND?- -------------------- X-Band was the first attempt for gamers to play against each other anywhere in the nation through a network, the X-Band network. The X-Band Modem was just like any regular cartridge, except that you would put an X-Band compatible game on top of it. The modem would connect you to a network through the phone line (that plugged into the side of the modem) so you can play other gamers. The X-Band Network was first tested in San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, NY and LA around May of 1995 and it later became available nation-wide. The X-Band Modem was developed by Catapult Entertainment and it was available for both the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis. However, SNES players could not play against Genesis players. The original price for the modem was only $19.95! Connecting on the XBAND Network costed $4.95 for 50 separate connections a month. This is the amount of times the network connected you. For $9.95, you could've had unlimited local connections and you could've played gamers long distance for only $3.95 an hour, anywhere in the continental US. Before you can play on the network, you had to input a credit card number and create an account and a password. You can even send and recieve e-mail, or "x-mail" as it was called using an on-screen keyboard and cursor. There was a daily x-mail newsletter called X-Band news that told you all the current events about the X-Band and future happenings. After a match, players can then chat, using something similar to the x-mail. There was even player rankings for all of the X-Band compatible games. This allowed players to really show off their skills to other gamers. The X-Band, however wasn't perfect. Gamers suffered from games freezing and slow downs on games when too many people were on. Luckily, if your game froze, it would save your game once you reset. The X-Band also featured a parental-control system, that allowed parents to specify the days and hours that they wanted their children to use it. You can even restrict the long-distance calling! Something interesting about the X-Band was that it had a call-waiting feature, so when people tried to call you while you were on the X-Band network, it would inform you. That way, you wouldn't miss any important phone calls! Sadly, after only two years, Catapult closed the X-Band network on April 30, 1997. There are many reasons for this. First of all, it didn't take the gaming world by storm. If it came out five years earlier it might have done better because it came out during the last days of the SNES and the 16-bit era. At the time, the Internet was gaining popularity and players versuing other gamers online was already happening with PC games. Not to mention that the next generation of consoles were on their way, the Sega Saturn, Sony Playstation, and the Nintendo 64; all which are much more powerful than the 16-bit systems. The X-Band did do reasonably well for it's lifetime, but not well enough to create a huge impact, but it will always be fondly remembered for what it did do. --------------------------------------------------- -II. SNES GAMES COMPATIBLE WITH THE X-BAND NETWORK- --------------------------------------------------- Doom Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball Killer Instinct Kirby's Avalanche Madden NFL 95 Madden NFL 96 Mortal Kombat II Mortal Kombat III NBA Jam Tournament Edition NHL 95 NHL 96 Super Mario Kart Super Street Fighter II WeaponLord ------------------------------------------------------- -III. CAN YOU STILL DO ANYTHING WITH THE X-BAND MODEM?- ------------------------------------------------------- Yes, you can still do some stuff with X-Band modem. NO you can't go on any network to play other people across the nation or anything. In fact you can't do anything with it really except play the unlockable mini games. You can find one on EBAY pretty easily. It is a small, but important part of gaming history... ------------------- -IV. CODES/SECRETS- ------------------- Maze mini-game Press Down(2), Left(2), Right, B at the main menu. Blockade mini-game Press Up(2), Left, Right, Left(2), Right, L at the main menu. Change Font To change the text font, enter these codes at the Player Select screen. Green and yellow font - Up, Up, Right, Right, Down, Down, Left Rainbow font - Left, Left, Up, Up, Right, Right, Down Searchlight font - Down, Down, Left, Left, Up, Up, Right Alternate screen Press Up, Up, Left, Right on the title screen. Screen Saver Press Left, Right, Down, Down, R at the "X-Mail" and "Newsletters" screens. ------------ -V. CREDITS- ------------ -Gamefaqs for posting this guide -myself for taking the time to write this -http://www.gamersgraveyard.com -KasketDarkfyre's review -Bobo The Clown's review --------------------------------- -VI. COPYRIGHT/LEGAL INFORMATION- --------------------------------- This Document is Copyright 2004 KRIS VALDEZ (yankfan87). All Rights Reserved. This file is a GameFAQs-Exclusive guide. This may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise distributed publicly without advanced written permission. Use of this guide on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. The following laws apply to the useage of this FAQ: http://www.copyright.gov/title17/ - US Copyright Laws http://www.copyright.gov/title17/92appv.html - DMCA of 1998