Famicom Network System

A Famicom with the modem attached

The Famicom Network System (Family Computer Network System, Japanese: ファミリーコンピュータ ネットワークシステム), also referred to as the Famicom Modem was Nintendo's first known online platform for a home console. Released for the Famicom in September 1988, the system comprises a dial-up modem that attaches to the console via the cartridge connector. Software for the system was distributed on long, thin cards called Tsuushin or Communication Cartridges. Unlike the larger, landscape-oriented Famicom Cassettes, the labels on these cartridges are portrait-oriented.

The network itself was a collaboration between Nintendo and financial services company Nomura Securities. Unlike other Famicom peripherals, the Famicom Network System was not used for video games, with the possible exception of Konami's Tsuushin Shogi Club. Nonetheless, several game prototypes have been developed for the platform, including an online version of Go). This particular game was personally requested by Hiroshi Yamauchi, Nintendo's president at the time.

Applications for the service included (but may not have been limited to) live stock trading, betting on horse and motorboat races and video game reviews and information moderated by a network of toy stores. Of these, the horse racing betting application proved the most popular, and it would later see releases on other consoles. The video game reviews were transmitted through the Super Mario Club software and service, introduced in 1991.

The service was reportedly discontinued in 2001, 13 years after its initial release, with the main application being on JRA-PAT, the aforementioned horse race betting service. The peripheral sold a total of around 130,000 units.

Cancelled adaption for Nintendo of America

According to a June 1989 New York Times article by Michael Freitag, an official localization of the network of some kind for the Nintendo Entertainment System in the USA was discussed between Nintendo and a different company, AT&T with Peter Main (Nintendo of America vice marketing president) estimating that it may release in that region in 1990.

In the end, no release candidate modem for the Famicom outside of Japan was ever released. The Teleplay Modem was an unofficial (and unreleased) third party NES modem project with three games known as Battle Storm, Terran Wars and Sea Battle but both Nintendo and SEGA refused to give it a license.

See also

• List of Famicom Network System software
• Finance series
• Other Internet or live services in the Nintendo online services template
• GB Kiss Link Modem (third-party)
• Super Famicom NTT Communication Modem NDM24 with NDK10 controller (Dial-up modem for the Super Famicom, third-party)

Retail hardware Family Computer Nintendo Entertainment System • NES-101 Test hardware Model No. M82  • Famicom Box Test Station • Counter Tester Reproduction hardware NES Classic Edition • Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer • LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System Controllers Nintendo Entertainment System Controller (NES-004 • NES-039) NES Advantage • NES Max • Hands Free Controller • Power Glove • Power Pad • NES Satellite • NES Four Score NES Zapper • R.O.B. Add-on devices NES Four Score • NES Satellite Famicom Disk System Famicom Network System Famicom Fitness System Famicom 3D System Famicom Data Recorder Original releases NES games • Family BASIC • Famicom games • Famicom Disk System games • Famicom Network System software (most non-game) Action series • Adventure series • Sports series • Arcade series • Light Gun series • Programmable series • Education series • Robot series Virtual Console Wii • Nintendo 3DS • Wii U

Nintendo online services

• Famicom Network System (Famicom, 1988)  • Satellaview (Super Famicom, 1995) (scheduled satellite broadcast/download, but not Internet)  • Randnet (Nintendo 64DD 1999)  • Mobile System GB (Game Boy Color/Game Boy Advance w/Mobile GB Adapter and mobile phone, 2001)  • Online Nintendo GameCube gameplay (Nintendo GameCube, w/GameCube Broadband Adapter/Modem Adapter, 2002)  • Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (Wii, Nintendo DS Lite, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DSi XL optionally w/Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector, Nintendo DS & DSi Browser, 2006)  • Nintendo Network (Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Web, 2012/3)  • Nintendo Switch Online (2018; Nintendo Switch)  • Websites (Nintendo web browser games)