NES Four Score and Satellite

The NES Four Score and NES Satellite are multitap accessories produced by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). With supported games, both peripherals allow the connection of up to four controllers to input simultaneously on the NES;<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> they are interchangeable in their compatibility with supported games.<ref name="Overview - NPSG 19">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

The major difference between the NES Four Score and the NES Satellite is that the former connects directly to the NES, while the latter uses infrared wireless communication instead; the latter acts as a range extender adaptor for all wired controllers, extending the usable range from around 3 feet (for a standard controller) to 15 feet.<ref name="Overview - NPSG 19" /><ref name="Choice - NYT">Template:Cite news</ref> The Satellite consists of two units: a small infrared receiver that plugs into the console's controller ports, and a main unit that is powered by six C batteries and must have a line of sight to the receiver.<ref name="Satellite manual">Template:Cite book</ref> Both devices have four controller ports and two "Turbo" switches to simulate rapid pressing of the A and B buttons.<ref name="Satellite manual" /><ref name="Four Score manual">Template:Cite book</ref> The NES Satellite includes a switch to enable either a controller or light gun (NES Zapper) mode; the NES Four Score does not have such a switch and is incompatible with the latter peripheral as well as the Power Pad, but includes a different switch that enables either a two-controller or four-controller mode.<ref name="Satellite manual" /><ref name="Four Score manual" />

NES games released prior to the introduction of the multitaps required the sharing of an NES controller if they supported more than two players (such as Anticipation); such games do not support the multitaps' individual controller feature as a result.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref><ref name="NES Satellite - NP" /> Both devices were shown at the 1990 Winter Consumer Electronics Show.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Nintendo initially revealed the NES Satellite, designed by Rare Coin-It,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> to journalists in June 1989;<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> it was previewed in the September–October 1989 issue of Nintendo Power<ref name="NES Satellite - NP">Template:Cite magazine</ref> before releasing in North America in December 1989 at an MSRP of Template:US$<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref><ref name="Release date - CE">Template:Cite magazine</ref> and was also featured in the NES Sports Set console bundle, which retailed for $150.<ref name="Choice - NYT" /> The adapter was released in Sweden in February 1991 for Template:SEK.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The NES Four Score was released in North America in March 1990 for Template:US$.<ref name="Release date - CE" /><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Games

These licensed games are compatible with the NES Four Score for more than two concurrent controllers:Template:Efn Template:Div col

• Bomberman II (up to three players)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Letters - Total 16">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

• Championship Bowling<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• Gauntlet II<ref name="Letters - Total 16" />
• Greg Norman's Golf Power<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref>
• Harlem Globetrotters<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Kings of the Beach<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• Magic Johnson's Fast Break<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• Monster Truck Rally<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• M.U.L.E.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• NES Play Action Football<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• A Nightmare on Elm Street<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• Nintendo World Cup<ref name="Letters - Total 16" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• R.C. Pro-Am II<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• Rackets & Rivals<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Roundball: 2 on 2 Challenge<ref name="Letters - Total 16" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Spot: The Video Game<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• Smash TV (two players with two controllers each)<ref name="Letters - Total 16" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Super Off Road<ref name="Letters - Total 16" />
• Super Jeopardy!<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Harvnb</ref>
• Super Spike V'Ball<ref name="Letters - Total 16" />
• Swords and Serpents<ref name="Letters - Total 16" />
• Top Players' Tennis<ref name="Letters - Total 16" />

These homebrew games are also compatible: Template:Div col

• Justice Duel
• Micro Mages

These cancelled games were planned to support the devices: Template:Div col

• Hit the Ice<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Famicom counterparts

Since the Famicom has hardwired controllers, all games supporting more than two controllers require the use of a controller or peripheral that plugs into the console's expansion port.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some titles (such as Nekketsu Kakutō Densetsu and Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu) require separate controllers to connect to it,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> while others (such as Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundōkai and Wit's) require the Template:Nihongo foot, a multitap manufactured by Template:Interlanguage link.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

See also

• Multitap
• List of Nintendo Entertainment System accessories