SharkWire Online

Lore & Background

The SharkWire Online was developed by Datel in the UK for InterAct to sell in the US. Its dial-up portal system was built in collaboration with Spyglass, Inc. (which provided the Mosaic web browser), D3 Networks (which built and operated the dial-up network and content portal), and GTE Internetworking (which supplied local dial-up access via its DiaLinx network and Global Network Infrastructure backbone). The product was first shown to the public at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles on May 13–15, 1999. A PlayStation version was preannounced but later canceled during development.

Later in 1999, the device was test marketed in Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; and Minneapolis, Minnesota, before its full US release on January 1, 2000. InterAct considered eventually supporting online multiplayer gaming and opening access to the wider Internet beyond the proprietary portal. The company ran a $5–10 million advertising campaign created by J. Walter Thompson across TV, print, radio, direct, and interactive media, portraying an aggressive image of a teenager 'hacking' versus the FBI, which 'gives kids a feeling of control and power over the establishment'. In 2003, SharkWire Online and all other GameShark trademarks were sold to Mad Catz, and InterAct ceased operations.

Reader's Guide

The SharkWire Online cartridge contains a modem and the Mosaic web browser, and requires Nintendo's Expansion Pak for RAM. Because it is unlicensed by Nintendo, a security workaround is needed: the user inserts a Nintendo 64 game cartridge into the SharkWire's rear slot with the label facing up. The keyboard and telephone cords plug directly into the cartridge, and Controller 1 must be attached to the console for navigation.

The dial-up service was intended as a safely proxied and customized Internet access method for children aged 7 to 14. It allowed uploading and downloading game save data via the Controller Pak and downloading cheat codes directly into the cartridge. The portal contained articles from content partners including Fox Sports, Electronics Boutique, GamePro, Prima, Eidos, Capcom USA, Jones Soda, Airwalk, UPN, and Arnette Sunglasses.

However, due to Nintendo's continual updates to its security chips, the SharkWire Online is incompatible with several games, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Yoshi's Story, Major League Baseball Featuring Ken Griffey, Jr., Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside, F-Zero X, Diddy Kong Racing, Cruis'n World, Banjo-Kazooie, and 1080° Snowboarding. Bypassing these lockouts would require re-manufacturing the cartridge's hardware, which was never done. A review by Oklahoma City television station KOTV found the online portal content well-written and suitable for young children, though very limited in content and scope and less suitable for mature gamers; the email functionality was considered good once the faulty keyboard was replaced.