Teleplay Modem
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The Teleplay Modem was a modem for the Nintendo Entertainment System created by Keith Rupp and Nolan Bushnell, designed to provide online play between NES users, while also possessing compatibility with the Sega Genesis and Master system. The first prototype, called the "Ayota Modem", had a maximum speed of only 300 bit/s, too slow to render normal NES quality graphics. It was unveiled at the 1992 consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, where it received a fairly good reception. Bushnell later dropped out of the project, and Keith Rupp founded the company Baton Technologies. He continued to develop the modem, changing it's name to the Baton Teleplay Modem, increasing the speed to 2400 bit/s, and also conceiving the idea of Sega Genesis/Master system compatibility. Three compatible games were developed, but never released. Sega Refused to license the Baton Teleplay Modem because AT&T had also developed a modem for the Genesis, and the failing popularity of the NES killed off the Teleplay Modem for good.
