Famicom Modem

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Inside-Back

The Famicom Modem (ファミコンネットシステム lit. Family Computer Network System) is a video game peripheral for the Family Computer released only in Japan in 1988 that uses a card based format like NEC's PC Engine. It allowed the user access to a server that provided game cheats, jokes, weather forecasts, and a small amount of downloadable content. It could also be used to make live stock trades. It did provide online play but all of its games with online play were ports of cartridge games and are now very rare to find. The idea of downloading content would later be used in the Super Nintendo's Satellaview, the Nintendo 64DD, the GameCube, the Game Boy Advance Cable, the Nintendo DS's DS Download Play, the Wii's WiiConnect24 and its shop, the Nintendo DSi's DSi Shop, and the eShop for the Nintendo 3DS and for the Wii U.

A modem was, tested in the US, by the Minnesota State Lottery, which would have allowed players to buy scratchcards and play the lottery with their NES. It was not released in because some parents and legislators voiced concern that minors might learn to play the lottery illegally and anonymously, despite assurances from Nintendo to the contrary.