Gameline
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The CVC GameLine (Control Video Corporation) was a cartridge for the Atari 2600 which could download games using a telephone line.
In the early 1980s a cable pioneer named William von Meister was looking for a way to use his innovative modem transmission technology, recently acquired in ill-fated attempts of sending music to cable companies. Legal issues caused cable providers to step away from the service, leaving Von Meister with a delivery tool and no content.
He then converted his variable speed adaptive modem technology to download games from central servers to individual households. This allowed users to call up a system and for a fee download games to their GameLine modules. The game would work for typically 5-10 plays, after which the user would have to connect to GameLine again and pay for another download.
Physically, the GameLine looked like an oversized silver Atari cartridge, it had a phone jack on the side that was used to link the GameLine with the CVC computers. The GameLine module was able to transmit with pulse or tone dialing, this allowed the unit to be versatile in the field. The games on Gameline were all from third-party gamemakers, the largest of which was Imagic. Gameline tried, but failed to obtain licensing agreements from the largest game makers, such as Atari, Activision, Coleco, Mattel, and Parker Brothers.
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[edit] Membership benefits
When a user registered with the service they were given a PIN. This PIN was used to log into the central CVC computer and download the requested games. One of the benefits of registering was that you were given free games on your birthday.
GameLine provided players an opportunity to compete in contests with selected games, where they could upload a high score. Prizes would be awarded to regional (and supposedly national) champions. One such regional prize was a GameLine windbreaker.
Each subscriber to GameLine also received a professionally printed magazine called Gameliner. GameLiner consisted of information about new games added to the service, questions and answers, advice on better gameplay, and a list of all currently available games on GameLine.
[edit] Potential spinoffs and demise
Gameline was originally envisioned to not provide just games, but also news (NewsLine), stock quotes (StockLine), sports reporting and scores (SportLine), electronic mail (MailLine), online banking (BankLine), online forums (OpinionLine), and a wide variety of information including airline schedules, horoscopes, and classified ads (InfoLine). Gameline ceased operations before any of these expanded services were offered, though StockLine and SportsLine were reportedly near full implementation.
GameLine was one of many smaller companies that went bust in the video game crash of 1983.
[edit] Industry impact
Even though the GameLine died, the investors and founding members of CVC went on to start a new company that would continue to use the technological infastructure they had built. The company, called Quantum Computer Services was created by Steve Case, among others. This company created a service called Quantum Link which linked together Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 users offering many of the expanded services originally envisioned for GameLine. Quantum Computer Services eventually changed its name to America Online in October of 1991. Though the company still (technically) exists, support for the Gameline does not.
The GameLine is remembered for its pioneering vision and its unique selection of games like Save The Whales. (This game was exclusive to the GameLine, was never released on a cartridge, a prototype was found in early 2002.)
[edit] Game selection
Gameline offered the following games:
- Airlock
- Alien
- Atlantis
- Bank Heist
- Bermuda Triangle
- Boing
- Bugs
- Cakewalk
- China Syndrome
- Coconuts
- Commando Raid
- Cosmic Ark
- Cosmic Creeps
- Cosmic Swarm
- Cross Force
- Crypts of Chaos
- Deadly Duck
- Demolition Herby
- Demon Attack
- Dragonfire
- The Earth Dies Screaming
- Eggomania
- Encounter At L-5
- Entombed
- Fantastic Voyage
- Fast Food
- Fire Fighter
- Flash Gordon
- Frankenstein's Monster
- Gangster Alley
- Gopher
- Guardian
- Infiltrate
- Jawbreaker
- King Kong
- Lost Luggage
- M. A. D.
- Marauder
- M*A*S*H
- Megaforce
- Mines of Minos
- Moonsweeper
- Name This Game
- Nexar
- Nightmare
- No Escape
- Picnic
- Piece O' Cake
- Planet Patrol
- Polaris
- Porky's
- Raft Rider
- Ram It
- Revenge of the Beefsteak Tomatoes
- Riddle of the Sphinx
- Room Of Doom
- Save The Whales
- Shark Attack
- Shootin' Gallery
- Sneak & Peek
- Solar Storm
- Space Cavern
- Space Jockey
- Spacemaster X-7
- Squeeze Box
- Sssnake
- Stargunner
- Star Voyager
- Tape Worm
- Threshold
- Towering Inferno
- Trick Shot
- Turmoil
- Warplock
- Word Zapper
- Worm War I
