GameLine
This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2012) |
GameLine was a dialup game distribution service for the
In 1983, cable pioneer
He then converted his variable speed adaptive modem technology to download games from central servers to individual households. This allowed users to dial a system and, for a fee, download games to their GameLine modules. The game would typically work for 5-10 plays, after which the user would have to connect to GameLine again and pay for another download.[3]
The "Master Module" has 8 KB of RAM and a 1,200
Membership benefits
When a user registered with the service, they were given a
GameLine provided players an opportunity to compete in contests with selected games, where they could upload a high score. Prizes would be awarded to regional (and supposedly national) champions. One such regional prize was a GameLine windbreaker.
Each subscriber to GameLine also received a professionally printed magazine titled GameLiner. GameLiner consists of information about new games added to the service, questions and answers, advice on better gameplay, and a list of all currently available games on GameLine.[5]
Discontinuation
GameLine was originally envisioned to provide not just games, but also news (NewsLine), stock quotes (StockLine), sports reporting and scores (SportLine), electronic mail (MailLine), online banking (BankLine), online forums (OpinionLine), and a wide variety of information including airline schedules, horoscopes, and classified ads (InfoLine). GameLine ceased operations before any of these expanded services were offered, though StockLine and SportsLine were reportedly near complete implementation.
Control Video Corporation was one of many smaller companies that went bust in the video game crash of 1983.
Legacy
Even though the GameLine was discontinued, the investors and founding members of CVC went on to start a new company that would continue to use the technological infrastructure they had built. The company, named Quantum Computer Services, was created by
The game titled Save The Whales was exclusive to the GameLine and although it was never released on a cartridge, a prototype was found in early 2002.
Game list
GameLine offered the following games:
- Airlock
- Alien
- Atlantis
- Bank Heist
- Bermuda Triangle
- Boing
- Bugs
- Cakewalk
- China Syndrome
- Coconuts
- Commando Raid
- Cosmic Ark
- Cosmic Creeps
- Cosmic Swarm
- Cross Force
- Crypts of Chaos
- Deadly Duck
- Demolition Herby
- Demon Attack
- Dragonfire
- The Earth Dies Screaming
- Eggomania
- Encounter at L-5
- Entombed
- Fantastic Voyage
- Fast Food
- Fire Fighter
- Flash Gordon
- Frankenstein's Monster
- Gangster Alley
- Gopher
- Guardian
- Infiltrate
- Jawbreaker
- King Kong
- Lost Luggage
- M. A. D.
- Marauder
- M*A*S*H
- Megaforce
- Mines of Minos
- Moonsweeper
- Name This Game
- Nexar
- Nightmare
- No Escape
- Picnic
- Piece O' Cake
- Planet Patrol
- Polaris
- Porky's
- Raft Rider
- Ram It
- Revenge of the Beefsteak Tomatoes
- Riddle of the Sphinx
- Room of Doom
- Save the Whales
- Shark Attack
- Shootin' Gallery
- Sneak & Peek
- Solar Storm
- Space Cavern
- Space Jockey
- Spacemaster X-7
- Squeeze Box
- Sssnake
- Stargunner
- Star Voyager
- Tape Worm
- Threshold
- Towering Inferno
- Trick Shot
- Turmoil
- Warplock
- Word Zapper
- Worm War I
See also
- Intellivision's PlayCable
- Sega Genesis's Sega Channel
- Super Famicom's Satellaview, and Nintendo Power cartridges
- XBAND, a third party online game network and service for the Super NES and Sega Genesis created and run by Catapult
- Famicom Modem
- Teleplay Modem, a third party modem made for the NES, Super NES, and Sega Genesis
References
- ^ Katz, Arnie (June 1983). "Games on the Phone". Electronic Games Magazine: 32–36. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
- ^ Vinciguerra, Robert. "A Complete History of Online Console Gaming in the United States". The Rev. Rob Times. revrob.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ a b "CVC GameLink". The Metal Misfit. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- Imagine Media. May 1997. p. 26.
- ^ a b Dean Gillett (May 15, 2011). "Opinion: DLC isn't the devil". Gaming HUD. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
- ^ Skelton, Dan. "Remembering the Gameline". AtariAge. Retrieved February 18, 2012.
- ^ Andrew Liszewski (July 20, 2011). "CVC's GameLine Atari Cart Was A Lot Like Xbox Live – Except Back In 1983". OhGizmo.com. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2012.