The WebTv, a service that allowed you to use the internet on your tv with a plug and play like system, was released in the same year (1996) and was much more popular.
the netlink adapter for the sega saturn was indeed finally released in finland, but not the rest of europe due to europe's overall phone internet being very slow at the time, and was also released in brazil; i just saw the cover art of the Brazilian version of the Sega Saturn's NetLink adapter on sega retro
If this modem had been successful, it could have been an incentive to release the Sega Pluto (Saturn with modem built in). Alas, that never happened. I like the Pluto's aesthetics.
Really nice video and channel. I subscribe! I have done a video about the different modems for the Saturn and how to get online ( Dreampi, VoIP and the fake online with a Viking line simulator)
5:20 - Wait. Out of the 5 games listed as the only games to support the NetLink, only 4 offered 2-player multiplayer over the net? I don't understand. So one of the five games listed doesn't even support multiplayer, or do you mean the phrase *over the net?* Because if you mean "over the net," the correct number is 0. None of the games were playable "over the net" -- only direct dial modem to modem. Yes, it's true Saturn Bomberman allowed 2 versus 2 which was awesome and I've got plenty of VHS recordings of plenty of matches from back then. Interestingly, each of the 4 players in Bomberman had 3 different voice taunts while alive, and 3 different ones while dead. For example, black bomberman could say, "I let you win!" when you died. "Honey can take care of you!" "Cool!" "Now I'm MAD!" You couldn't use these taunts in single player -- only via the NetLink. Good times back then! FYI the direct competitor at the time (at least in our minds as NetLink users) was Sony's WebTV. Not much is heard about the WebTV anymore though.
Just watched several of your videos. Very fascinating that you recorded so many games to VHS at the time, almost as if you had the foresight to know how otherwise difficult it would be to see any gameplay footage decades later. Thank you for sharing! If you don't mind me asking, how old were you in 1998 (which seems to be the year most of those videos were recorded during, I think?)? Seemed like the connection was good in those recordings. Do you recall having connection issues much at all back then?
Where I lived at the time only an few sotres selled the Saturn and only about 5% offered the Netlink for sell. I fell it was same kind of iusse that got The SEGA Channel and Mortal Kombat baned "The School system".
Great video! Please don't stop making them!
I don't plan to anytime soon :D
This channel is super underrated.
Thanks, Tomtin. Appreciate the comment.
The WebTv, a service that allowed you to use the internet on your tv with a plug and play like system, was released in the same year (1996) and was much more popular.
the netlink adapter for the sega saturn was indeed finally released in finland, but not the rest of europe due to europe's overall phone internet being very slow at the time, and was also released in brazil; i just saw the cover art of the Brazilian version of the Sega Saturn's NetLink adapter on sega retro
I had the netlink, it was my first time on the internet. I even got the extra keyboard. It was super exciting and I had my first cybersex on it lmao.
Same
Great content! I love these videogame history videos, hope you get more attention soon!
Keep on that ;)
The netlink bundle with the 2 games doesnt come with the modem as stated in the video. It came with 2 games and browser 3.0.
If this modem had been successful, it could have been an incentive to release the Sega Pluto (Saturn with modem built in).
Alas, that never happened.
I like the Pluto's aesthetics.
I believe the pluto (netlink built in saturn) would've been affordable during the end of the 90s.
Hi, can Netlink can still be used today to play online games?
Yes, there are videos out there with instructions on how to do it.
Really nice video and channel. I subscribe! I have done a video about the different modems for the Saturn and how to get online ( Dreampi, VoIP and the fake online with a Viking line simulator)
5:20 - Wait. Out of the 5 games listed as the only games to support the NetLink, only 4 offered 2-player multiplayer over the net? I don't understand. So one of the five games listed doesn't even support multiplayer, or do you mean the phrase *over the net?* Because if you mean "over the net," the correct number is 0. None of the games were playable "over the net" -- only direct dial modem to modem.
Yes, it's true Saturn Bomberman allowed 2 versus 2 which was awesome and I've got plenty of VHS recordings of plenty of matches from back then. Interestingly, each of the 4 players in Bomberman had 3 different voice taunts while alive, and 3 different ones while dead. For example, black bomberman could say, "I let you win!" when you died. "Honey can take care of you!" "Cool!" "Now I'm MAD!" You couldn't use these taunts in single player -- only via the NetLink.
Good times back then!
FYI the direct competitor at the time (at least in our minds as NetLink users) was Sony's WebTV. Not much is heard about the WebTV anymore though.
He just means four of the games have one player on each end while Saturn Bomberman can have 2 players on each end totalling 4 players.
Just watched several of your videos. Very fascinating that you recorded so many games to VHS at the time, almost as if you had the foresight to know how otherwise difficult it would be to see any gameplay footage decades later. Thank you for sharing! If you don't mind me asking, how old were you in 1998 (which seems to be the year most of those videos were recorded during, I think?)? Seemed like the connection was good in those recordings. Do you recall having connection issues much at all back then?
great content man
Thanks for watching!
Yea I paid a few $650 phone bills back then. :D
Where I lived at the time only an few sotres selled the Saturn and only about 5% offered the Netlink for sell. I fell it was same kind of iusse that got The SEGA Channel and Mortal Kombat baned "The School system".
I had one back in the day, paid 100 totally useless. 2 minutes to upload a picture. It had nothing to do with the game play.
that's rough buddy
Awesome video! Here's a recommendation for a peripheral that is somewhat well known: the Nintendo 64DD.