SharkWire Online
Encyclopedia
SharkWire Online is a specialized GameShark with a serial port and modem added. It was designed by InterAct which is most famous for their GameShark
and Dexdrive
. It is the only Nintendo 64 add-on and online service to be released outside of Japan.
, Dallas, Texas
, Minneapolis, Minnesota
, but not released to the rest of the USA until January 1, 2000, it uses a modem
and web browser
licensed by Spyglass, Inc. It required the user to insert an N64 video game into the back of it, label facing up, and then attach the keyboard and telephone cord directly to the SharkWire Online cartridge. To navigate the menus, Controller 1 also had to be inserted into the Nintendo 64
. Being online allowed the player to upload-download game saves to their "Control Pak" and even cheat codes directly into the SharkWire cartridge, it was also intended as a safe way for children 7 to 14 to be able to get online, allowing them to visit specially provided sites from companies such as Fox Sports
, Electronics Boutique
, Gamepro
, Prima
, Eidos
, Capcom
, Jones Soda
, Airwalk
, UPN
, and even Arnette Sunglasses. However due to the continual changing of lockout codes, even at the time of it release it was incompatible with the following games:
In order to bypass these lockouts, it would require re-manufacturing of the SharkWire-GameShark Cartridge's hardware. While subsequent GameSharks were released for the N64, the SharkWire Online was not updated, and more games continued to be made that it was unable to unlock, and were unplayable using it. Before InterAct closed down operations SharkWire Online and all other trademark
s of GameShark where sold to Mad Catz
.
GameShark
GameShark is the brand name of a line of video game cheat cartridges and other products for a variety of console video game systems and Windows based computers. Currently, the brand name is owned by Mad Catz, who actively markets GameShark products for the PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and Sega game...
and Dexdrive
DexDrive
DexDrive was a brand of game console memory card readers that allowed data to be accessed by a PC. The DexDrive products were made by now-defunct InterAct for use with PlayStation and Nintendo 64 memory cards. It was shipped to retail stores in January 1997....
. It is the only Nintendo 64 add-on and online service to be released outside of Japan.
Internet and use
The Sharkwire was presented to the public at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles on May 13–15, 1999. Later in 1999, it was test marketed in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, but not released to the rest of the USA until January 1, 2000, it uses a modem
Modem
A modem is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data...
and web browser
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
licensed by Spyglass, Inc. It required the user to insert an N64 video game into the back of it, label facing up, and then attach the keyboard and telephone cord directly to the SharkWire Online cartridge. To navigate the menus, Controller 1 also had to be inserted into the Nintendo 64
Nintendo 64
The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
. Being online allowed the player to upload-download game saves to their "Control Pak" and even cheat codes directly into the SharkWire cartridge, it was also intended as a safe way for children 7 to 14 to be able to get online, allowing them to visit specially provided sites from companies such as Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
, Electronics Boutique
Electronics Boutique
EB Games is an American computer and video games retailer. First established as an American company in 1977 by Emmanuel Baxter with a single electronics-focused location in the King of Prussia Mall near Philadelphia, the company has grown into an international corporation...
, Gamepro
GamePro
GamePro Media was a United States gaming media company publishing online and print content on the video game industry, video game hardware, and video game software developed for a video game console , a computer, and/or a mobile device . GamePro Media properties include GamePro magazine and...
, Prima
Prima
Prima may refer to:*Prima , a human rights news agency in Moscow*Prima , a locomotive type by Alstom*Prima , an Autobot leader in Transformers*Prima TV, a Romanian television channel...
, Eidos
Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive Ltd. is a British video game publisher and is a label of Square Enix Europe. As an independent company Eidos plc was headquartered in the Wimbledon Bridge House in Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton....
, Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
, Jones Soda
Jones Soda
Jones Soda Co. is a beverage company based in Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington. It bottles and distributes soft drinks, non-carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and candy. Jones Soda is a carbonated soft drink that has many unusual flavors that are not offered by other soft drink makers.Founded...
, Airwalk
Airwalk
The airwalk is a skateboarding trick invented in 1983 by Tony Hawk, who performed it on ramps and half pipes. In 1986, Rodney Mullen invented the Ollie Airwalk, a flatground version of the Airwalk. The name Ollie Airwalk is often mistaken by the Ollie Airwalk trick in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater...
, UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
, and even Arnette Sunglasses. However due to the continual changing of lockout codes, even at the time of it release it was incompatible with the following games:
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timeis an action-adventure video game developed by Nintendo's Entertainment Analysis and Development division for the Nintendo 64 video game console. It was released in Japan on November 21, 1998; in North America on November 23, 1998; and in Europe on December 11, 1998...
- Yoshi's StoryYoshi's Storyis a side-scrolling platform game, published and developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 entertainment system. It is the sequel to the Super Nintendo game Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island. It was released on December 21, 1997 in Japan, March 1, 1998 in North America and April 9, 1998 in Europe...
- Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr.Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr.Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr. is an arcade-style baseball video game produced by Nintendo and developed by Angel Studios for the Nintendo 64 platform. It was released on May 25, 1998, and allows players to choose any contemporary Major League Baseball franchise and play through...
- Kobe Bryant in NBA CourtsideKobe Bryant in NBA CourtsideKobe Bryant in NBA Courtside is a basketball simulation game for the Nintendo 64. It was released in 1998 and received a Player's Choice designation after selling one-million copies...
- F-Zero XF-Zero X, is a futuristic racing video game for the Nintendo 64 console. Developed by Nintendo's EAD division, it was released in Japan, Europe and North America, in 1998. In 2000, an expansion of the game was exclusively released in Japan providing numerous extra features not in the original game. F-Zero...
- Diddy Kong RacingDiddy Kong RacingDiddy Kong Racing is a 1997 racing game for the Nintendo 64 developed by Rareware. 800,000 copies were ordered in the two weeks before Christmas 1997, making it the fastest selling video game at the time, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. It is the first game to spin off from the...
- Cruis'n WorldCruis'n WorldCruis'n World is the 1996 sequel to the 1994 arcade racer Cruis'n USA. As the title implies, Cruis'n World allows players to race on various tracks around the world. The game also features more cars than Cruis'n USA. This game introduced stunts to the Cruis'n series. They served to dodge obstacles,...
- Banjo-KazooieBanjo-KazooieBanjo-Kazooie is a platform and action-adventure video game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It was originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998...
- 1080° Snowboarding1080° Snowboarding, often referred to as just 1080°, is a snowboard racing video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 and first released in Japan on February 28, 1998. It was re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console service in 2008...
In order to bypass these lockouts, it would require re-manufacturing of the SharkWire-GameShark Cartridge's hardware. While subsequent GameSharks were released for the N64, the SharkWire Online was not updated, and more games continued to be made that it was unable to unlock, and were unplayable using it. Before InterAct closed down operations SharkWire Online and all other trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
s of GameShark where sold to Mad Catz
Mad Catz
Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. is a peripherals manufacturer for various video game consoles headquartered in San Diego, California. It produces a wide range of accessories including control pads, memory cards, connection cables, headphones and other human interface devices.- History :The company was...
.
See also
- PR Newswire, May 12, 1999 1,068 words, "InterAct Accessories Announces Content Providers for SharkWire Online Community."
- Education Technology News, August 4, 1999 "NEW ONLINE ACCESS TOOL".