X-Band video game modem FAQ

 

This is version 0.1 of the X-Band video game modem FAQ.  If you have any

comments, additions, or suggestions for this posting, please contact the

author, Greg Gibson, at ggg4st@aol.com.

Anything and everything that Catapult and/or T-HQ might consider to be

their legal property is, in fact, quite likely their legal property.

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"What is the X-Band video game modem?"

The X-Band video game modem allows a game player to play against another

player over a standard telephone line.  Both players must have the modem

as well as their own copy of the game to be played.

The players must connect to the X-Band network in order to be matched to

another player.  This connection must happen for blind game challenges

(playing for network points vs. an unknown player) as well as for arranged

games between friends.

 Does the X-Band video game modem require special games to be purchased? 

No.  The modem works with currently available games (presently Mortal

Kombat, Mortal Kombat II, NBA Jam, and NHL '94) and will support any

popular 2-player competitive type games released in the future.  The

system will include support for NHL '95 and Madden '95 soon.

 When will the X-Band modem be available, and how much will it cost? 

The Sega Genesis version should be available mid-November '94, with the

SNES version following in the 1st Quarter of '95.  Initial pricing for the

modem will be $69.95, monthly network charges will start from $7.95/mo.

for 32 credits.  (It costs 1 credit each time you connect to the network

to find an opponent, once connected to an opponent you may rematch an

unlimited number of times for no additional credits.)

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OVERVIEW OF MODEM MENUS

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The modem will accommodate up to four individual players per account. 

Each player selects an image to represent their network alter-ego (i.e. a

Ninja, Football Player, etc.) and create their network name.  The player

may also input a Taunt that is shown prior to a game, as well as Personal

Information about themselves.

CHALLENGE

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The Challenge icon will connect the player into the network for a blind

player match-up.  The network will then seek out a player of similar skill

that has logged in with the same game.  If there are no other players

currently on-line, the network will notify you that it is searching for a

worthy opponent and should find one within 5 minutes.  If no opponent is

found your credit will be refunded and you can try again or try a

different game.

Once an opponent is found and the two modems have connected, a match-up

screen is displayed.  This screen shows both players images, names, the

cities they are playing from and their taunts.  The players then enter the

game.

Each of the supported games has a different 'Challenge  format:

NBA Jam & NHL '94: One complete game

Mortal Kombat: Best 3 of 5

Mortal Kombat II: Best 5 of 9

After the round has been completed, the players may select to rematch the

other player and begin another round.  Both players must agree to play

again.

When the player selects the 'Challenge  option, he is enabling the ability

to earn points for winning.  These points are tracked by the network and

are used for net-wide player rankings per game.  Points will only be

awarded for the first round of a 'Challenge , the results of a rematch

will not be counted towards a players 'Challenge  points.

PLAYER LIST

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The player list is used to store the names of network players that you

play against frequently.  Up to ten player names can be stored in the

player list.  In addition to the players name, the list also tells the

date you last played each opponent, your win/loss record for that

opponent, and the opponents personal information.

You may select to play against a player from your player list, this will

dial the network and specify that you only want to play against this

particular player on the game you currently have plugged in.  This is best

used for a pre-arranged game set up via telephone or X-Mail (E-Mail).

MAILBOX

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The Mailbox icon enters the modems X-Mail area.

X-Mail:

This is the players personal mailbox.  All incoming messages are stored

here.  The mailbox will hole up to 10 messages at one time, messages must

be deleted before new messages will arrive.  Messages will wait on the

network until space is made inside of the mailbox.  The screen displays

the author of the message followed by message title.

To send outgoing mail, the player would select the 'Write  icon.  This

will bring up the message input screen (To:, Title:, Body of 5 lines max).

 Messages are input by moving a cursor around a graphic keyboard and

pressing 'A  to type.  The keyboard can be configured in an ABC... or

QWERTY format.

Bandwidth:

Bandwidth is an electronic newsletter that is updated whenever the modem

connects to the network.  I believe this will be changed on a daily basis,

giving game tip information, news bites, music and video game news.  

X-Band News:

Updated weekly, the X-Band News will show listings of top network players

(a different top 10 list for each game), upcoming tournaments, games

supported on the network, and network stats (what games are played how

much).

STATS

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This displays the players  statistics for 'Challenge  games on the

network.  Each supported game will have its own Stats screen, showing the

number of X-Band points earned, the players current level, and the number

of points needed to reach the next level.  Points are awarded for

defeating your opponent in a 'Challenge , in the event of a tie the player

will earn .5 of a win and .5 of a loss, with no change in X-Band points.

Pressing Up-Down in the stats screen will display your win/loss totals for

the displayed game.  Pressing Up-Up displays your total points for

(baskets for/against in NBA Jam, goals in NHL, individual fight

wins/losses in MK/MKII).  Pressing Up-Down-Down displays the number of

challenges played, and your network points.  Network points are used to

determine your overall ranking on the system, these points increase after

a victory and decrease after a loss.  The higher your network points the

higher your overall ranking.

OPTIONS

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The Options icon enters the options area.

Account Info:

Displays detailed account information (Calling area, local/long distance;

Hours of play, unlimited/specific hours; Credits used this month; Credits

remaining in account)

Setup:

The player can toggle on or off the following options-

Accept Challenges:  allows players to select and play you from

their player list when you call the network for a 'Challenge  game.

Call Waiting:  allows incoming calls to interrupt a game in

progress.  If an incoming call comes in, a message is displayed on the

screen, if call is completed within 2 minutes the game can be restarted

without reconnecting to the network.

Calling From:  displays last number the modem was plugged into. 

When you move the modem to another number, New Number must be selected

here.

Keyboard Type:  selects either ABC... or QWERTY keyboard layout.

Player ID:

Enters the Player Setup menu.

   Code Name:  Allows player to change their network code name.

   Character:  Allows player to change their player graphic.

   Taunt:    Player can enter one-line taunt for display on match-up

screen.

   Personal Info: Player can enter personal info for other net players to

see.

   Password:   Player can enter 8 character password to lock their

character 

               from other players on the same modem.

End of Menu Items

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HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS (NON-TECH DESCRIPTION)

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The players are NOT connected the X-Band network while playing a game, the

modem is only on-line with the network for 30-45 seconds when you

initially dial in.  After connecting, the modem tells the network what you

want to do (Challenge, Play against a particular player, or Send/Collect

mail only) and the network sends the necessary information back to the

modem.  Once all information has gone back and forth, the modem

disconnects from the X-Band network.

When a player calls in for a Challenge, the network will either download

another players information (player id, phone #, etc.) or will place your

info into a queue.  If your modem receives another players information,

your modem will disconnect from the network and dial the other player

direct.  If your placed into a queue, the network will send information to

your modem instructing it to wait for 5 minutes.  During this 5 minutes,

the network will be waiting for another player to connect, this player

will receive your information and will then dial you direct.

Due to the direct connect system used in this technology, each account can

be set-up for local or long distance play.  Local play will consist of

calls only to your local calling area (a free call in most places, a flat

rate call in others).  Long distance play has only boundaries within the

United States (and they will show up on your phone bill).  I assume that

most accounts will be set up for local play.

--Greg Gibson

  ggg4st@aol.com