Editing NES Four Score and Satellite (section)

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{short description|Video game console multiplayer peripherals}}
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| image1            = NES-Four-Score.jpg
| caption1          = NES Four Score
| image2            = NES-Satellite.jpg
| caption2          = NES Satellite
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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>{{Cite magazine |date=September 1989 |title=Up to Four Players with NES Satellite |magazine=[[Computer Entertainer]] |page=12 |volume=8 |issue=6}}</ref> they are interchangeable in their compatibility with supported games.<ref name="Overview - NPSG 19">{{Cite magazine |date=1990 |title=Get With It! Accessorize! |magazine=[[Nintendo Power Strategy Guide]] |page=6 |issue=19 |publisher=[[Nintendo of America]]}}</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">{{cite news | last=Brooks | first=Andree | title=Picking Out a Home Video Game System | work=[[The New York Times]] | page=1-48 | date=May 4, 1991 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/04/news/picking-out-a-home-video-game-system.html | access-date=December 24, 2015}}</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 battery|C batteries]] and must have a [[Line-of-sight propagation|line of sight]] to the receiver.<ref name="Satellite manual">{{cite book |title=NES Satellite Instruction Booklet |date=1989 |publisher=Nintendo of America |page=2 |chapter=Instruction Manual}}</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">{{cite book |title=NES Four Score Instruction Booklet |date=1990 |publisher=Nintendo of America |page=2 |chapter=Instruction Booklet}}</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 (video game)|Anticipation]]''); such games do not support the multitaps' individual controller feature as a result.<ref>{{Harvnb|Scullion|2019|page=23}}</ref><ref name="NES Satellite - NP" /> Both devices were shown at the 1990 Winter [[Consumer Electronics Show]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 1990 |title=New Games & Licensees Keep NES On Top! |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |last=Harris |first=Steve |page=52 |issue=9 |publisher=Sendai Publications}}</ref>

Nintendo initially revealed the NES Satellite, designed by [[Rare Coin-It]],<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=September 1990 |title=Nintendo Expands Horizons |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |last=White |first=David |page=50 |issue=3 |publisher=Sendai Publications}}</ref> to journalists in June 1989;<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 1989 |title=Nintendo Showcases New Games, Accessories |magazine=Computer Entertainer |page=9 |volume=8 |issue=3}}</ref> it was previewed in the September–October 1989 issue of ''[[Nintendo Power]]''<ref name="NES Satellite - NP">{{Cite magazine |date=September–October 1989 |title=NES Satellite |magazine=Nintendo Power |page=28 |publisher=Nintendo of America}}</ref> before releasing in North America in December 1989 at an [[MSRP]] of {{US$|39.95|link=yes}}<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Product Introductions Launch Nintendo Into New Decade |date=January 6, 1990 |publisher=Nintendo of America |location=Las Vegas}}</ref><ref name="Release date - CE">{{Cite magazine |date=January 1990 |title=Availability Update |magazine=Computer Entertainer |page=22 |volume=8 |issue=10}}</ref> and was also featured in the NES Sports Set console bundle, which retailed for $150.<ref name="Choice - NYT" /> The adapter was released in Sweden in February 1991 for {{SEK|525|link=yes}}.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 1991 |title=NES Satellite |magazine=[[Nintendo-Magasinet]] |page=7 |issue=1 |publisher=Atlantic Förlags |issn=1101-5209}}</ref> The NES Four Score was released in North America in March 1990 for {{US$|24.95}}.<ref name="Release date - CE" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 1990 |title=Nintendo and Licensees show huge number of new games |magazine=Computer Entertainer |page=11 |volume=8 |issue=10}}</ref>