Editing Sega Net Link

{{Short description|Attachment for the Sega Saturn}}
{{Redirect|NetLink|the Linux program|Netlink}}
[[File:Sega-Saturn-NetLink.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Sega Net Link]]

'''Sega Net Link''' (also called '''Sega Saturn Net Link''') is an attachment for the [[Sega Saturn]] game console to provide Saturn users with [[internet access]] and access to [[email]] through their console. The unit was released in October 1996.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=December 1996|title=Sega Turns to Net Link and Digital Camera|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_089_December_1996#page/n31/mode/2up|magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|issue=99|page=33}}</ref> The Sega Net Link fit into the Sega Saturn cartridge port and consisted of a 28.8&nbsp;kbit/s [[modem]], a custom chip to allow it to interface with the Saturn, and a browser developed by Planetweb, Inc.<ref name="NextGen20">{{cite magazine|date=August 1996|title=Nintendo, Sega, & Sony Under One Roof|url=https://archive.org/stream/NEXT_Generation_20#page/n9/mode/2up|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=20|page=9}}</ref> The unit sold for [[US$]]199,<ref name="NextGen20" /> or US$400 bundled with a Sega Saturn.{{Citation needed|date=March 2019}} In 1997 Sega began selling the NetLink Bundle, which included the standard NetLink plus the compatible games ''[[Sega Rally Championship]]'' and ''[[Virtual On: Cyber Troopers|Virtual On: Cyber Troopers NetLink Edition]]'', for $99.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=E3's Best Deal: The $99 NetLink Bundle |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=98|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=September 1997|page=74}}</ref>

The Net Link connected to the internet through standard dial-up services. Unlike other online gaming services in the US, one does not connect to a central service, but instead tells the dial-up modem connected to the Saturn's cartridge slot to call to the person with whom one wishes to play. Since it requires no servers to operate, the service can operate as long as at least two users have the necessary hardware and software, as well as a phone line.<ref name="Discover">{{cite web|url=http://www.revrob.com/sci-a-tech-topmenu-52/127-discovering-the-world-through-a-sega-saturn-netlink|title=Discovering the World Through a Sega Saturn NetLink|last=Vinciguerra|first=Robert A.|date=4 August 2010|website=The Rev. Rob Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216190323/http://www.revrob.com/sci-a-tech-topmenu-52/127-discovering-the-world-through-a-sega-saturn-netlink|archive-date=16 December 2013|url-status=dead|accessdate=16 December 2013}}</ref>

In Japan, however, gamers did connect through a centralized service known as [[SegaNet]], which would later be taken offline and converted for [[Dreamcast]] usage.

==History==
[[File:Sega-Saturn-Net-Link-US-Keyboard.jpg|thumb|An official Sega-branded keyboard for the Saturn, used for browsing the internet with Net Link]]
[[File:Sega-Saturn-Net-Link-Keyboard-Adapter.jpg|thumb|A [[PS/2]] keyboard adapter, required for connecting a keyboard to the Saturn for web browsing]]
According to Yutaka Yamamoto, Sega of America's director of new technology, the Saturn's design allowed it to access the internet purely through software: "Sega engineers always felt the Saturn would be good for multimedia applications as well as game playing. So they developed a [[Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] in the [[operating system]] to support communications tasks."<ref>{{cite magazine|author=The Whizz|date=June 1996|title=Saturn Surfs the 'Net|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_083_June_1996#page/n25/mode/2up|magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|issue=93|page=22}}</ref>

While the Net Link was not the first accessory which allowed console gamers in North America to play video games online (see [[online console gaming]]), it was the first to allow players to use their own [[Internet Service Provider]] (ISP) to connect.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} While Sega recommended that players use [[Concentric Network|Concentric]], the Sega Net Link enabled players to choose any ISP that was within its technical specifications.<ref name=EGM84>{{cite magazine |title=Internet Access, Network Games Hit Saturn - For Less than $400 |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] |issue=84|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=July 1996 |page=18}}</ref> The device was capable of connecting at a 28.8 kilobit/s connection in America<ref name=EGM84/> and 14.4 kbit/s in Japan.{{citation needed|date=November 2016}} However, it suffered from memory limitations; the modem's [[static RAM]] could store only account information and [[Bookmark (World Wide Web)|bookmarks]], leaving only the Saturn's limited internal RAM for any downloaded data. This makes it impossible to download audio or video clips, save e-mail messages, or put previously loaded web pages into cache.<ref name=EGM84/>

In Japan, the Net Link required the use of [[smartcards]] with prepaid credits. The Saturn had a floppy drive and printer cable converter (both Japan only) which could be used with the Net Link. A web browser from Planetweb was included, and a mouse and keyboard adapter were available to simplify navigation.<ref name=EGM84/> Sega also released a dedicated Saturn mouse and Saturn keyboard.<ref name=GPro99>{{cite magazine|author=The Whizz|date=December 1996|title=Online with the Saturn|url=https://archive.org/stream/GamePro_Issue_089_December_1996#page/n43/mode/2up|magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|issue=99|page=46}}</ref> In addition, to allow users to browse with just the Saturn joypad, Sega produced a series of CDs containing hundreds of website addresses.<ref name=NGen13/><ref>{{cite magazine|date=March 1996|title=Saturn to Get Internet Connection Facilities in '96!|url=https://archive.org/stream/Sega_Saturn_Magazine_Issue_05_1996-03_EMAP_Images_GB#page/n7/mode/2up|magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]|issue=5|page=8}}</ref> The browser included a space magnifying function.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=July 1996|title=See the World!|url=https://archive.org/stream/Sega_Saturn_Magazine_Issue_09_1996-07_EMAP_Images_GB#page/n7/mode/2up|magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|issue=9|page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Navigating the Net Link |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=89|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=December 1996|page=24}}</ref>

The Planetweb browser was written in [[C (programming language)|C]], and runs on just 570&nbsp;KB, whereas a typical PC browser of the time used up about 6&nbsp;MB.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=November 1996|title='Sega City' Nears Online Launch|url=https://archive.org/stream/NextGeneration23Nov1996_2400#page/n19/mode/2up|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=23|page=19}}</ref> At the time most television screens ran at a lower resolution than computer monitors, so the browser used [[Spatial anti-aliasing|anti-aliasing]] to smooth out the edges of onscreen text characters.<ref name=GPro99/> The browser could not properly display web sites which use [[Frame (World Wide Web)|frames]].<ref name="GPro111">{{cite magazine|author=Dan Elektro|date=December 1997|title=The Saturn's Net Worth|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_111_Volume_09_Number_12_1997-12_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n33/mode/2up|magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|issue=111|pages=32–33}}</ref>

Five games were released that supported the NetLink. All five were released in late 1997, nearly a year after the NetLink itself.<ref name=GPro111/> Players could search for other players either on the Internet or using the [[XBAND]] matchmaking system, then connect peer-to-peer via modem, or alternatively, use two NetLinks to connect two Saturns and two televisions set up in the same room (thus eliminating the need for a phone line and essentially using the NetLink to emulate the Saturn Link Cable).<ref name=GPro111/>

Launching at 15,000 yen in Japan and $199 in the USA, it was considered very inexpensive compared to competing online services.<ref name=EGM84/><ref name=NGen13>{{cite magazine |last=Ramshaw|first=Mark James|date=January 1996|title=Generator|url=https://archive.org/stream/nextgen-issue-013#page/n31/mode/2up|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=13|page=31}}</ref> It was a runner-up for ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''{{'}}s Best Peripheral of 1996 (behind the Saturn analog controller).<ref>{{cite magazine|date=March 1997|title=The Best of '96|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/8/8f/EGM_US_092.pdf|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|issue=92|page=90}}</ref> Despite the media excitement over the device and its prominent appearance in Sega's marketing campaign, less than 1% of Saturn owners purchased the NetLink in 1996.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=April 1997|title=Who Won the Videogame Wars of 1996?|url=https://archive.org/stream/NextGeneration28Apr1997#page/n19/mode/2up|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=28|page=18}}</ref> Over its lifetime, an estimated 50,000 NetLink units were sold in North America, half of Sega's original goal.<ref name=Discover/> Another 1,100 units were donated by Sega of America to schools, in partnership with the nonprofit group Projectneat.<ref>{{cite magazine|date=February 1997|title=Tidbits|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/b2/EGM_US_091.pdf|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|issue=91|page=22}}</ref>

In 2017, fans were able to make the NetLink work a modern highspeed connection with [[Voice over IP|VoIP]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://segaretro.org/NetLink_Internet_Modem |title=NetLink Internet Modem|website=Sega Retro}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FdU11umRRM|title=Sega Saturn Netlink Games With Voip 2017 (Sega Rally And Daytona Usa, Bomberman and Virtual On)|date=16 July 2017 |last=Itsstillthinking|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66xKiknr_tY|title=Sega Saturn Netlink Games With Voip 2017, Virtual On And Saturn Bomberman Netlink Editions|date=17 March 2017|last=Itsstillthinking|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead Youtube links|date=February 2022}}</ref>

==Net Link Zone==
The Net Link Zone connected to an [[Internet Relay Chat]] (IRC) server irc.sega.com which was changed to the server irc0.dreamcast.com on the release of Sega's [[Dreamcast]]. These servers were originally run by Sega employees but were given over to be run by Net Link chat users Leo Daniels and Mark Leatherman.

==Successor==
[[SegaNet]] was launched in 2000 for the [[Dreamcast]], carrying the same name in Japan. The European counterpart was called [[Dreamarena]].

==Games compatible with Net Link==
The following games are compatible with the Net Link:<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Scary Larry|date=August 1997|title=NetLink: The Saturn Savior?|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_107_Volume_09_Number_08_1997-08_IDG_Publishing_US/page/n23/mode/2up|magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|issue=107|pages=22–23}}</ref>

*''[[Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition|Daytona USA CCE NetLink Edition]]''
*''[[Duke Nukem 3D]]''
*''[[Saturn Bomberman]]''
*''[[Sega Rally Championship|Sega Rally Championship Plus]]''
*''[[Virtual On: Cyber Troopers|Virtual On: Cyber Troopers NetLink Edition]]''
*''[[Space Hulk]]''

== See also ==

*[[Sega Meganet]]
*[[SegaNet]]
*[[Dreamarena]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/19961229224655/http://www.planetweb.com/ Planetweb]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050404183745/http://www.gue-tech.org/darkgrue/attic/sega/saturn/internet/ Learn Planetweb's Self-Download Feature]
*[http://www.saturnleague.com Sega Saturn NetLink League: Information about the NetLink and a resource to find other NetLink players]
*[http://www.way2live4u Netlink & Dreamcast Old Users @ Way2Live4U.com]{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[https://www.dreamcast-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8453 Official Sega Saturn NetLink VoIP Guide]

{{Sega|Saturn}}

[[Category:Online video game services]]
[[Category:Sega hardware|NetLink]]
[[Category:Sega Saturn|NetLink]]

[[pl:Sega Saturn#Akcesoria]]