XBAND
Encyclopedia
XBAND was an early online console gaming network for SNES
and Sega Genesis systems. It was produced by Catapult Entertainment, a Cupertino, California
based software company, and made its debut in various areas of the United States in late 1994 and 1995. It is the precursor to modern online gaming
social networks seen in the sixth and later generations of video games
, such as the PlayStation Network, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
, and Xbox Live
services.
.
The concept of playing online was, at the time, fairly new. Arcades were still quite popular, and online gaming was not yet a household term.
The client-side system worked by manipulating the game's memory, in a way similar to Game Genie
and various other cheating devices, and in third-party computer game modifications such as Multi Theft Auto
.
The XBAND modem was widely available at most local Blockbuster Video branches during its time. The modem itself was useless without a subscription. Two pricing plans were available: one with a monthly fee of $
4.95, which allowed the user to connect to the service up to 50 times a month with each additional connection costing 15 cents; and one with a monthly fee of $9.95 which granted the subscriber an unlimited number of connections per month. Activities that consumed a player's monthly allowance of connections included dialing in to the XBAND service for matchmaking; downloading mail (called "XMAIL"); and downloading the daily edition of the two XBAND newsletters, one containing generic news and the other containing platform-specific information such as leaderboards and contest announcements. Players were also assessed a fee of $3.95/hour for connecting to opponents outside their local calling area; player-to-player connections inside their local calling area were free.
The modem featured built-in storage for up to four users ("codenames"). It stored the users' friends list
s, which could contain the codenames of up to ten of the user's friends; the users' XMAIL boxes, storing up to ten incoming and ten outgoing messages for each user; the users' rankings and win/loss records and accumulated scores; a short profile section; and the user's avatar (chosen from 40 preset avatars). Text entry was done either through an on-screen keyboard or an optional XBAND keyboard add-on.
XBAND also had an official website where a member could check any other player's statistics, along with other information and updates that were not available to view on consoles.
At its height, XBAND had 7,000 subscribed members.
for the SNES
was nearly unplayable, due to the complexity and speed of the game. Although the game's playability improved over time, it still retained a large number of exploitable glitches. To this day, many XBANDers remember the SNES MK3 as being cumbersome due to lag, whereas simpler games such as Super Mario Kart
, or NBA Jam
, rarely experienced such trouble. The Sega Genesis counterpart, being much simpler, had nowhere near the same synchronization problems with its games.
When connecting to play, unless a player specified a particular user from their friends list, players would be matched with a random player elsewhere in the country (or the player's local area code depending on their preference settings), who was also connecting to play the same game. When the network matched two players up, one player's telephone would ring once, the XBAND modem would answer, and the players would see the XBAND logo slide together, followed by the matchup screen, which displayed each player's codenames, avatars, locations, and a pre-typed "taunt".
to hack the icons of XBAND players. This enabled players to use icons that were otherwise restricted, such as unreleased icons or icons reserved for matches between XBAND team members. Icon hacking resulted in complaints from other users. Some who wished to learn how to hack the icons resorted to relentlessly emailing known hackers, even using threats of physical violence and death. Rumors about XBAND icon hackers often claimed they were part of elite hacking organizations or members of Catapult Entertainment. Eventually, the method used by the hackers was leaked and quickly spread throughout the community.
XBAND published in their newsletter a month prior that they were shutting down, with the newsletter writers citing the service's lack of popularity. During XBAND's existence, only a handful of advertisements were ever made, and only one game, Weaponlord
, had the XBAND logo on its box. XBAND stated in their newsletter that players were their best form of advertising, and offered the "XBAND 6 pack", where members could discount order six modems in exchange for a month of free gaming if they signed up a certain number of people to the service.
Heavy contributors to XBAND's demise was the lack of support from game developers and limited internal resources. With the exception of Weaponlord, Catapult had to individually reverse engineer each game's code, then develop a hack to intercept two-player activity so the game could be shared over a hi-latency (slow-response time) 2400 baud modem connection.
Catapult's next-gen attempts were blocked by the hardware manufacturers. The XBAND was tested in Japan (14,400 baud modem) for a short time for the Sega Saturn, but met competition from Sega's own Sega NetLink
service, which used XBAND technology. An expansion into the PC market also didn't pan out as developers frequently opted to include their own TCP/IP network linking rather than deal with Catapult's subscription based service.
There was another company at the time (SkyTel) that was having similar problems with XBANDers and their own customers. XBANDers, with the aid of the XBAND modems, hacked into SkyTel's mobile paging system by entering random voice mail boxes using the same number as the login and password. XBANDers used SkyTel's voice mail system to create an extension to XBANDers communication with others on XBAND. Most were simply Shout-out with music blaring in the background.
Another serious problem was "plug-pulling" as it was termed. Where if someone was losing a match they could simply pull their phonecord out (or turn off their system) so they wouldn't take the loss and the other player wouldn't get the win. In spite of complaints the company could never find a way to discern who disconnected. Catapult was also unable to prevent harassment; there were no filters or privacy controls to prevent vulgar language and obscene mail. Details of this can be found here.
and then later in the print magazine Tips and Tricks Magazine. Daily stats were accessible via 'XBAND News' on the modem although they were not visible to the general public. Publishing stats added a 'cool' factor to brag about in the early forefronts of online gaming. The top ranked gamers of the previous months were published first in January 1996 in Game Zero (see external link below) and then later on in Tips & Tricks
starting in early 1996.
SNES:
Saturn (Japan XBAND branded releases only)
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
and Sega Genesis systems. It was produced by Catapult Entertainment, a Cupertino, California
Cupertino, California
Cupertino is an affluent suburban city in Santa Clara County, California in the U.S., directly west of San Jose on the western edge of the Santa Clara Valley with portions extending into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The population was 58,302 at the time of the 2010 census. Forbes...
based software company, and made its debut in various areas of the United States in late 1994 and 1995. It is the precursor to modern online gaming
Online game
An online game is a game played over some form of computer network. This almost always means the Internet or equivalent technology, but games have always used whatever technology was current: modems before the Internet, and hard wired terminals before modems...
social networks seen in the sixth and later generations of video games
History of video game consoles (seventh generation)
In the history of video games, the seventh generation of consoles is the current generation , and includes consoles released since late by Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony...
, such as the PlayStation Network, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
The is an online multiplayer gaming service run by Nintendo to provide free online play in compatible Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS and Wii games. The service includes the company's Wii Shop Channel, DSi Shop, and Nintendo eShop game download services...
, and Xbox Live
Xbox Live
Xbox Live is an online multiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft Corporation. It is currently the only online gaming service on consoles that charges users a fee to play multiplayer gaming. It was first made available to the Xbox system in 2002...
services.
History
Initially, Catapult Entertainment had a very limited staff and virtually no advertising. Many avid gamers first learned of it via small news articles that were published in the popular console gaming magazines and strategy guides of the day. By January 1996, XBAND network playability had reached practically every metropolitan area in the country, and several rural areas, but there had only been a handful of advertisements published: the most well known of these such advertisements had appeared in gaming magazines, and were directed towards people wanting to be able to play their favorite videogames against anyone, anywhere, at anytime. The actual XBAND modems were carried by a handful of software and video rental chains across the United States. Internationally, the XBAND saw some limited expansion in the Japanese market, and Catapult was working on PC and Saturn based versions of the platform, when they were acquired by Mpath Interactive, and the focus shifted to the online PC Gaming service, Mplayer.comMPlayer.com
Mplayer, referred to as Mplayer.com by 1998, was a free online PC gaming service and community that operated from late 1996 until early 2001. The service at its peak was host to a community of more than 20 million visitors each month and offered more than 100 games...
.
Service
The client-side system worked by manipulating the game's memory, in a way similar to Game Genie
Game Genie
The Game Genie is a series of cheat systems designed by Codemasters and sold by Camerica and Galoob for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Mega Drive/Genesis, and Sega Game Gear that modifies game data, allowing the player to cheat, manipulate various...
and various other cheating devices, and in third-party computer game modifications such as Multi Theft Auto
Multi Theft Auto
Multi Theft Auto is a multiplayer mod for the Microsoft Windows version of Rockstar North games Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas that adds an online multiplayer component.-Background:The release of Grand Theft Auto III, a critically acclaimed...
.
The XBAND modem was widely available at most local Blockbuster Video branches during its time. The modem itself was useless without a subscription. Two pricing plans were available: one with a monthly fee of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
4.95, which allowed the user to connect to the service up to 50 times a month with each additional connection costing 15 cents; and one with a monthly fee of $9.95 which granted the subscriber an unlimited number of connections per month. Activities that consumed a player's monthly allowance of connections included dialing in to the XBAND service for matchmaking; downloading mail (called "XMAIL"); and downloading the daily edition of the two XBAND newsletters, one containing generic news and the other containing platform-specific information such as leaderboards and contest announcements. Players were also assessed a fee of $3.95/hour for connecting to opponents outside their local calling area; player-to-player connections inside their local calling area were free.
The modem featured built-in storage for up to four users ("codenames"). It stored the users' friends list
Contact list
A contact list is a collection of screen names in an instant messaging or e-mail program or online game or mobile phone. It has various trademarked and proprietary names in different contexts....
s, which could contain the codenames of up to ten of the user's friends; the users' XMAIL boxes, storing up to ten incoming and ten outgoing messages for each user; the users' rankings and win/loss records and accumulated scores; a short profile section; and the user's avatar (chosen from 40 preset avatars). Text entry was done either through an on-screen keyboard or an optional XBAND keyboard add-on.
XBAND also had an official website where a member could check any other player's statistics, along with other information and updates that were not available to view on consoles.
At its height, XBAND had 7,000 subscribed members.
Gaming
Due to the limits of dial-up, many of the games were high in latency, and the company only improved this based on the demand of the games. For example, in January 1996, Mortal Kombat 3Mortal Kombat 3
Mortal Kombat 3 is a fighting game developed by Midway and released in 1995, first as an arcade game. It is the third game in the Mortal Kombat series...
for the SNES
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
was nearly unplayable, due to the complexity and speed of the game. Although the game's playability improved over time, it still retained a large number of exploitable glitches. To this day, many XBANDers remember the SNES MK3 as being cumbersome due to lag, whereas simpler games such as Super Mario Kart
Super Mario Kart
is a go-kart racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The first game of the Mario Kart series, it was launched in Japan on August 27, 1992, in North America on September 1, 1992, and in Europe on January 21, 1993. Selling eight million copies...
, or NBA Jam
NBA Jam
NBA Jam is a basketball arcade game developed by Midway in 1993. It is the first entry in the NBA Jam series, and was written entirely in assembly language. The main designer and programmer for this game was Mark Turmell...
, rarely experienced such trouble. The Sega Genesis counterpart, being much simpler, had nowhere near the same synchronization problems with its games.
When connecting to play, unless a player specified a particular user from their friends list, players would be matched with a random player elsewhere in the country (or the player's local area code depending on their preference settings), who was also connecting to play the same game. When the network matched two players up, one player's telephone would ring once, the XBAND modem would answer, and the players would see the XBAND logo slide together, followed by the matchup screen, which displayed each player's codenames, avatars, locations, and a pre-typed "taunt".
Icon Hacking
During the last few months of service, several users discovered a way to use a Game GenieGame Genie
The Game Genie is a series of cheat systems designed by Codemasters and sold by Camerica and Galoob for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Mega Drive/Genesis, and Sega Game Gear that modifies game data, allowing the player to cheat, manipulate various...
to hack the icons of XBAND players. This enabled players to use icons that were otherwise restricted, such as unreleased icons or icons reserved for matches between XBAND team members. Icon hacking resulted in complaints from other users. Some who wished to learn how to hack the icons resorted to relentlessly emailing known hackers, even using threats of physical violence and death. Rumors about XBAND icon hackers often claimed they were part of elite hacking organizations or members of Catapult Entertainment. Eventually, the method used by the hackers was leaked and quickly spread throughout the community.
Demise
By March 16, 1997, people could only play within their local area code. On April 30, 1997, the entire network was removed.XBAND published in their newsletter a month prior that they were shutting down, with the newsletter writers citing the service's lack of popularity. During XBAND's existence, only a handful of advertisements were ever made, and only one game, Weaponlord
Weaponlord
Weaponlord is a 1- or 2-player fighting game originally designed for release on the Super Nintendo by Visual Concepts, and published by Namco. During the inception of the title, the development team also began work on a Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version and both were released in October 1995...
, had the XBAND logo on its box. XBAND stated in their newsletter that players were their best form of advertising, and offered the "XBAND 6 pack", where members could discount order six modems in exchange for a month of free gaming if they signed up a certain number of people to the service.
Heavy contributors to XBAND's demise was the lack of support from game developers and limited internal resources. With the exception of Weaponlord, Catapult had to individually reverse engineer each game's code, then develop a hack to intercept two-player activity so the game could be shared over a hi-latency (slow-response time) 2400 baud modem connection.
Catapult's next-gen attempts were blocked by the hardware manufacturers. The XBAND was tested in Japan (14,400 baud modem) for a short time for the Sega Saturn, but met competition from Sega's own Sega NetLink
Sega NetLink
Sega NetLink was an attachment for the Sega Saturn game console to provide Saturn users with internet access, a web browser, and access to email through their console. NetLink consisted of a 28.8 kbit/s modem that fits into the Sega Saturn cartridge port, although there was a cheaper version that...
service, which used XBAND technology. An expansion into the PC market also didn't pan out as developers frequently opted to include their own TCP/IP network linking rather than deal with Catapult's subscription based service.
Service issues
A severe issue for the XBAND service was free long distance phone calls. It was discovered that a user could record the tones sent from an XBAND modem and then receive the long distance service number, the authentication code, and phone number of the player you were connecting to. This information allowed anyone to access long distance phone calls that were charged to Catapult.There was another company at the time (SkyTel) that was having similar problems with XBANDers and their own customers. XBANDers, with the aid of the XBAND modems, hacked into SkyTel's mobile paging system by entering random voice mail boxes using the same number as the login and password. XBANDers used SkyTel's voice mail system to create an extension to XBANDers communication with others on XBAND. Most were simply Shout-out with music blaring in the background.
Another serious problem was "plug-pulling" as it was termed. Where if someone was losing a match they could simply pull their phonecord out (or turn off their system) so they wouldn't take the loss and the other player wouldn't get the win. In spite of complaints the company could never find a way to discern who disconnected. Catapult was also unable to prevent harassment; there were no filters or privacy controls to prevent vulgar language and obscene mail. Details of this can be found here.
Publishing statistics
Despite poor marketing the XBAND team took another attempt to attract the mainstream of gamers who were left in the dark about the modem by joining forces with a number of gaming magazines, starting on the web with Game Zero magazineGame Zero magazine
Game Zero Magazine was a U.S. based video game magazine published from 1992 to 1998 . Initially starting out as a photo-copy based zine with a print circulation of 500. By the start of 1994 the publication had become a two-color magazine with a print circulation of 1,500, published bi-monthly...
and then later in the print magazine Tips and Tricks Magazine. Daily stats were accessible via 'XBAND News' on the modem although they were not visible to the general public. Publishing stats added a 'cool' factor to brag about in the early forefronts of online gaming. The top ranked gamers of the previous months were published first in January 1996 in Game Zero (see external link below) and then later on in Tips & Tricks
Tips & Tricks
Tips & Tricks is an American video game magazine published by Larry Flynt Publications . For most of its existence, the publication was devoted almost exclusively to strategies and codes for popular video games...
starting in early 1996.
Supported XBAND games
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- Mortal KombatMortal Kombat (video game)Mortal Kombat is a 1992 fighting-game developed and published by Midway for arcades. In 1993, home versions were released by Acclaim Entertainment. Released in the Fall of 1994, the Microsoft Windows 3.1x version was released by Activision Interactive. It is the first title in the Mortal Kombat...
- Mortal Kombat IIMortal Kombat IIMortal Kombat II is a competitive fighting game originally produced by Midway Games for the arcades in . It is the second game in the Mortal Kombat series. Like its predecessor, various home versions were produced...
- Mortal Kombat 3Mortal Kombat 3Mortal Kombat 3 is a fighting game developed by Midway and released in 1995, first as an arcade game. It is the third game in the Mortal Kombat series...
- NBA JamNBA JamNBA Jam is a basketball arcade game developed by Midway in 1993. It is the first entry in the NBA Jam series, and was written entirely in assembly language. The main designer and programmer for this game was Mark Turmell...
- NBA Live 95
- NBA Live 96
- NHL '95
- NHL '96
- Primal RagePrimal RagePrimal Rage is a versus fighting game developed and published by Atari Games in 1994 as an arcade video game. Toys, comics, a novel and other merchandise tie-ins were also produced.-Storyline:...
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- WeaponLordWeaponlordWeaponlord is a 1- or 2-player fighting game originally designed for release on the Super Nintendo by Visual Concepts, and published by Namco. During the inception of the title, the development team also began work on a Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version and both were released in October 1995...
SNES:
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- Killer InstinctKiller InstinctKiller Instinct is a fighting game developed by Rare and published by Midway and Nintendo. Initially released in arcades in 1994, and rumored to use an "Ultra 64" hardware engine, in reality the proprietary arcade hardware was co-developed by Rare and Midway. The game received a high profile launch...
- Madden NFL 95Madden NFLMadden NFL is an American football video game series developed by Electronic Arts Tiburon for EA Sports. The game series is named after Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden, a well-known former Super Bowl-winning coach of the Oakland Raiders and color commentator...
- Madden NFL 96Madden NFLMadden NFL is an American football video game series developed by Electronic Arts Tiburon for EA Sports. The game series is named after Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden, a well-known former Super Bowl-winning coach of the Oakland Raiders and color commentator...
- Mortal Kombat IIMortal Kombat IIMortal Kombat II is a competitive fighting game originally produced by Midway Games for the arcades in . It is the second game in the Mortal Kombat series. Like its predecessor, various home versions were produced...
- Mortal Kombat 3Mortal Kombat 3Mortal Kombat 3 is a fighting game developed by Midway and released in 1995, first as an arcade game. It is the third game in the Mortal Kombat series...
- NBA Jam TE
- NHL 95NHL 95NHL 95 is an ice hockey video game developed by Electronic Arts Canada. It was released on October 27, 1994.- Features :...
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- Super Mario KartSuper Mario Kartis a go-kart racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The first game of the Mario Kart series, it was launched in Japan on August 27, 1992, in North America on September 1, 1992, and in Europe on January 21, 1993. Selling eight million copies...
- Super Street Fighter IISuper Street Fighter IIis a head-to-head fighting game produced by Capcom originally released as a coin-operated arcade game in 1993. It is the fourth game in the Street Fighter II sub-series of Street Fighter games, following Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting...
- WeaponLordWeaponlordWeaponlord is a 1- or 2-player fighting game originally designed for release on the Super Nintendo by Visual Concepts, and published by Namco. During the inception of the title, the development team also began work on a Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version and both were released in October 1995...
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(secret maze game)
Saturn (Japan XBAND branded releases only)
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- Decathlete
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- Saturn BombermanSaturn BombermanSaturn Bomberman is a video game for the Sega Saturn. It is part of the Bomberman series.-Story:As from the instruction manual:Like most Bomberman games, Saturn Bomberman features a battle mode as well as a story mode. Along with them is a master mode in which the player races to finish a series...
- Sega Rally Championship Plus
- Sega Worldwide Soccer '98Worldwide SoccerSega Worldwide Soccer '97 is a football video game by Sega released for the Sega Saturn in 1996...
- Virtua Fighter Remix
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See also
- Sega MeganetSega MeganetThe Sega Toshokan, Sega Game Library or Sega Meganet was a network service in Japan for people using the Sega Mega Drive. Debuting in 1990, this was the first time online multiplayer console gaming was possible. However, the service was not very successful and was eventually discontinued...
- Sega's own online gaming service for the Mega Drive - SatellaviewSatellaviewThe is a satellite modem add-on for Nintendo's Super Famicom system that was released in Japan in 1995. Available for pre-release orders as early as February 13, 1995, the Satellaview retailed for between ¥14,000 and 18,000 and came bundled with the BS-X Game Pak and an 8M Memory Pak.The...
- A satellite modem for the Super Famicom with no online play facility - Sega NetLinkSega NetLinkSega NetLink was an attachment for the Sega Saturn game console to provide Saturn users with internet access, a web browser, and access to email through their console. NetLink consisted of a 28.8 kbit/s modem that fits into the Sega Saturn cartridge port, although there was a cheaper version that...
- Sega's Online service for the Sega SaturnSega SaturnThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
External links
- Xband (fan) facebook page
- Some archived pages of Catapult's "XBAND XClusive" on GameZero.com
- A write-up of the service from Sega-16
- Gamer's Graveyard Article
- XBand Forums
- Handling Unsportsmanlike Conduct Online by Andy McFadden - XBAND is an example
- Popular "Blog of the Day" entry on 1up.com about one gamer's look back on his XBand obsession