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NES Four Score and Satellite#4-Players Adaptor

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{{short description|Video game console multiplayer peripherals}}

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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;{{Cite magazine |date=September 1989 |title=Up to Four Players with NES Satellite |magazine=Computer Entertainer |page=12 |volume=8 |issue=6}} they are interchangeable in their compatibility with supported games.{{Cite magazine |date=1990 |title=Get With It! Accessorize! |magazine=Nintendo Power Strategy Guide |page=6 |issue=19 |publisher=Nintendo of America}}

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.{{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}} 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.{{cite book |title=NES Satellite Instruction Booklet |date=1989 |publisher=Nintendo of America |page=2 |chapter=Instruction Manual}} Both devices have four controller ports and two "Turbo" switches to simulate rapid pressing of the A and B buttons.{{cite book |title=NES Four Score Instruction Booklet |date=1990 |publisher=Nintendo of America |page=2 |chapter=Instruction Booklet}} 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.

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.{{Harvnb|Scullion|2019|page=23}} Both devices were shown at the 1990 Winter Consumer Electronics Show.{{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}}

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

Games

These licensed games are compatible with the NES Four Score for more than two concurrent controllers:{{efn|Game compatibility with the NES Four Score extends to the NES Satellite since they are interchangeable with each other.}}

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  • Bomberman II (up to three players){{cite web |last1=Barbato |first1=Steven |title=Bomberman II |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/bomberman-ii/ |website=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=December 25, 2024 |date=November 13, 2022}}{{Cite magazine |date=April 1993 |title=Letters! |magazine=Total! |last=Jarratt |first=Steve |page=26 |issue=16 |publisher=Future Publishing}}
  • Championship Bowling{{Cite magazine |date=1990 |title=Championship Bowling |magazine=Nintendo Power Strategy Guide |page=73 |issue=19 |publisher=Nintendo of America}}{{Cite magazine |date=January 1990 |title=More bowling from Romstar |magazine=Computer Entertainer |page=17 |volume=8 |issue=10}}
  • Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat{{Cite magazine |date=September 1992 |title=Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat |magazine=Nintendo Power |last=Sinfield |first=George |page=100 |issue=40 |last2=Noel |first2=Rob |publisher=Nintendo of America}}{{Cite magazine |date=August 1992 |title=Pro Review: Danny Sullivan's Indy Heat |magazine=GamePro |author=Otter Matic |volume=4 |issue=8 |page=32 |publisher=IDG Communications |issn=1042-8658}}
  • Gauntlet II
  • Greg Norman's Golf Power{{Harvnb|Scullion|2019|page=87}}
  • Harlem Globetrotters{{cite book |title=Harlem Globetrotters Instruction Booklet |date=1990 |publisher=GameTek |page=6 |chapter=Getting Started}}
  • Kings of the Beach{{Cite magazine |date=April 1990 |title=Kings of the Beach |magazine=VideoGames & Computer Entertainment |last=Bieniek |first=Chris |page=34 |publisher=LFP, Inc.}}
  • Magic Johnson's Fast Break{{Cite magazine |date=January 1990 |title=Magic Johnson’s Fast Break |magazine=VideoGames & Computer Entertainment |last=Ratcliff |first=Matthew J. W. |page=30 |publisher=LFP, Inc.}}
  • Monster Truck Rally{{cite book |title=Monster Truck Rally Instruction Manual |date=1990 |publisher=INTV |page=2 |chapter=Part 1: Monster Menu – Game Options}}
  • M.U.L.E.{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=Benj |title=Retro Scan: Mindscape NES Games |url=https://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/1205/retro-scan-mindscape-nes-games |website=Vintage Computing and Gaming |access-date=December 26, 2024 |date=August 25, 2016}}
  • NES Play Action Football{{Cite magazine |date=September–October 1990 |title=NES Play Action Football |magazine=Nintendo Power |page=28 |issue=16 |publisher=Nintendo of America}}
  • A Nightmare on Elm Street{{Cite magazine |date=April 1990 |title=ProView: A Nightmare on Elm Street |magazine=GamePro |author=Brother Buzz |page=30 |publisher=IDG Communications |issn=1042-8658}}
  • Nintendo World Cup{{cite web|url= http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1271&tab=review |title=Nintendo World Cup Review|publisher=allgame|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114214057/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1271&tab=review|archive-date=November 14, 2014}}
  • R.C. Pro-Am II{{Cite magazine |date=March 1993 |title=RC Pro-Am 2 Review |magazine=Nintendo Magazine System |page=72 |issue=6 |publisher=EMAP}}{{Cite magazine |date=May 1993 |title=NES Reviews: RC Pro-Am II |magazine=Total! |last=Dyer |first=Andy |page=56 |issue=17 |publisher=Future Publishing}}
  • Rackets & Rivals{{cite book |title=Konami Games Guide |date=1993 |publisher=Konami Deutschland |page=122 |language=de |chapter=Rackets & Rivals}}
  • Roundball: 2 on 2 Challenge{{cite book |title=Roundball: 2-on-2 Challenge Instruction Booklet |date=1992 |publisher=Mindscape |page=6 |chapter=Game Options and Choices}}
  • Spot: The Video Game{{Cite magazine |date=July–August 1990 |title=Spot |magazine=Nintendo Power |page=75 |publisher=Nintendo of America}}
  • Smash TV (two players with two controllers each){{cite book |title=Smash TV Game Pak Instructions |date=1990 |publisher=Acclaim Entertainment |page=2 |chapter=Ready Camera One! 10 Seconds to Air!}}
  • Super Off Road
  • Super Jeopardy!{{cite book |title=Super Jeopardy! Instruction Booklet |date=1990 |publisher=GameTek |page=4 |chapter=How to Use the Controller}}{{Harvnb|Scullion|2019|page=178}}
  • Super Spike V'Ball
  • Swords and Serpents
  • Top Players' Tennis

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These homebrew games are also compatible:

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These cancelled games were planned to support the devices:

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  • Hit the Ice{{Cite magazine |date=June 1993 |title=Hit the Ice |magazine=Nintendo Power |page=90 |issue=49 |publisher=Nintendo of America}}

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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.{{cite web |last1=Bivens |first1=Danny |last2=Kaluszka |first2=Aaron |title=Nintendo's Expansion Ports |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/27664/nintendos-expansion-ports |website=Nintendo World Report |access-date=January 1, 2025 |date=October 26, 2011}} Some titles (such as Nekketsu Kakutō Densetsu and Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu) require separate controllers to connect to it,{{cite book |title=Nekketsu Kakutō Densetsu Instructions |date=1992 |publisher=Technos Japan |page=5 |language=ja |chapter=Game Mode Selection}}{{cite book |title=Nekketsu Kōkō Dodgeball Bu Instruction Manual |date=1988 |publisher=Technos Japan |page=9 |language=ja |chapter=About Game Modes}} while others (such as Downtown Nekketsu Kōshinkyoku: Soreyuke Daiundōkai and Wit's) require the {{nihongo foot|Four Players Adapter|フォープレイヤーズアダプタ|Fō Pureiyāzu Adaputā|lead=yes}}, a multitap manufactured by {{Interlanguage link|Hori (company)|ja|ホリ (ゲーム周辺機器メーカー)|lt=Hori Electric}}.{{cite book |title=ダウンタウン熱血行進曲 それゆけ大運動会: 取つ扱い説明書 |date=1990 |publisher=Technos Japan |page=15 |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/ja/pdf/CLV-P-HACLJ.pdf |language=ja |chapter=勝ち抜き格闘大会 |via=Nintendo}}{{cite book |title=Wit's Operating Instructions |date=1990 |publisher=Athena |page=5 |language=ja |chapter=Battle Mode}}

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{reflist | 30em}}

{{cite book |last1=Scullion |first1=Chris |title=The NES Encyclopedia: Every Game Released for the Nintendo Entertainment System |date=2019 |publisher=White Owl |location=Havertown |isbn=9781526737793}}

See also

{{Nintendo Entertainment System}}

{{Nintendo hardware|NES}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nes Four Score}}

Category:Nintendo Entertainment System accessories

Category:Computer-related introductions in 1990

de:NES Four Score