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GamelineThe CVC GameLine was a cartridge for the Atari 2600 which could download games from a phone line. In the early 80s a cable pioneer named Bill Von Meister was looking for a way to use his satellite transmission technology, which he had recently acquired in ill-fated attempts of sending music to cable companies. Because of legal issues the cable providers stepped away from using the service. This left Von Meister with a delivery tool and no content. Von Meister coupled his satellite system with the newly developed 1200-baud modem standard to transmit data over his network. This would allow users to call up a system and for a fee download games to their GameLine modules. 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 little unit to be very versatile in the field. 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! Unfortunately, along with many of the smaller companies that went bust in the 80s video game crash the GameLine too was buried under the slag. If you are lucky enough to have one of these units plug it into the wall to see the little unit hopelessly try to call home. 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 infostructure they had built. Shortly after the demise of CVC Steve Chase among others started a new company America Online. The gameline is remembered for its pioneering vision and its unique selection of games like Save The Whales. External links * a picture of a GameLine http://www.pelikonepeijoonit.net/egscans.html
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