After Satellaview was installed, users could connect to the St.GIGA satellite station every evening. During this time they could download games (including some Satellaview exclusives), magazines and more while enjoying special shows. Those shows also contained commercials because Nintendo decided to fund Satellaview by selling advertising space like a traditional TV network.
However, Satellaview didn’t just offer gaming content. Magazines covered everything from cooking to horse racing. In terms of marketing, Nintendo emphasized that Satellaview is aimed at adults, not just children.
SoundLink to the past
Arguably the most fascinating part of Satellaview were the “SoundLink” titles. These games would feature new or remixed gameplay with live audio, with in-game events timed to match things that happened in the audio. Sometimes it took the form of an audio drama, but at others it was closer to a radio show with music or talk show style segments.
However, because the audio was broadcast live using satellite radio technology, the games could only be played during the pre-announced airtime. If you missed this appointment, you would not be able to play the game. In addition, each broadcast lasted for a limited time, so if you played too slowly, you might miss events or not be able to finish the story.
Most SoundLink games were released episodically, on a weekly schedule, with each installment having its own objectives and events, allowing more users to experience at least part of the current event.
The most famous game is SoundLink BS The Legend of Zelda. This was a remake of the first Zelda, with updated graphics, remixed maps and a clock under the life bar. But as you played, the caveman kept talking, with the map and gameplay mechanics changing based on what he said.
BS The Legend of Zelda would also get sequels in the form BS The Legend of Zelda Map 2 and in 1997 BS The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tabletswhich was both a remix and a sequel to A Link to the Past.
But SoundLink was used for much more than Zelda. In all, over 50 SoundLink games were streamed during the service’s lifetime, and many of Nintendo’s biggest franchises were represented, including Mario (BS Super Mario USA Power Challenge), F-zero (BS F-Zero Grand Prix), and Fire Emblem (BS Fire Emblem: Akaneia Nobody). Also, some non-Nintendo games had SoundLink versions, including Harvest Moon (BS Harvest month) and Dragon Quest (BS Dragon Quest).
There is a season for everything
In many ways, these SoundLink games are a forerunner of the modern, seasonal live-play model used to stunning effect in games like Fortnite, Apex Legends and many others, offering players unique, seasonal must-play content within a limited time or completely miss the opportunity. The episodic nature of SoundLink broadcasts meant that players had to come back weekly to experience all the story and gameplay. Once that story was over, a new one would begin (usually in another game).
It’s a shame that Nintendo moved away from the SoundLink idea, because even after all these years, it would still be a unique gaming experience, as no modern game combines gameplay with live performance like this. Technological advances would, in theory, make it much simpler to operate due to the high-speed internet connections that are standard in many homes and on consoles, negating the need for an expensive add-on. Games are routinely built and optimized to handle downloadable content, and players around the world are increasingly embracing timed events.
However, Satellaview didn’t just pioneer the idea of timed gaming events.
Pioneering conservation problems
Much of Satellaview’s content has not been preserved, despite a large fandom working tirelessly to try to do so. This is doubly true for games with SoundLink, since the audio was streamed live and therefore not stored in memory packs. So even when archiving memory pack data dumps, a key part of the experience is still missing.
While many assume that Nintendo must have the original sound files and recordings in its vault, it’s unlikely that the company will ever release them, as that would require permission from the various voice actors, musicians, and radio personalities who worked on the audio. Because of this, most of our information about these games comes from a small amount of home video footage of the players recorded during the original broadcasts.
Satellaview to murder
Satellaview is a fascinating but overlooked part of gaming history. While not the first foray into downloadable gaming, the SoundLink titles in particular represented a unique, semi-communal gaming experience that has not been replicated since.
In retrospect, Satellaview was a key stepping stone to the modern live-service gaming landscape, visibly showcasing many of its best and worst elements and showing how video game preservation is so crucial. The vast majority of the creative work on this pioneering console is now lost to time.
Table of Contents
