Net Jet is a Windows PC-based game system introduced by

Hasbro Hasbro, Inc. (; a syllabic abbreviation of its original name, Hassenfeld Brothers) is an American multinational corporation, multinational toy manufacturing and entertainment holding company founded on December 6, 1923 by Henry, Hillel and Herma ...

(under the

Tiger Electronics Tiger Electronics Ltd. (also known as Tiger and Tiger Toys) is an American toy manufacturer best known for its handheld electronic games, the Furby, the Talkboy, Giga Pets, the 2-XL robot, and audio games such as '' Brain Warp'' and the ...

brand) in 2007. The game system is a controller that is somewhat similar in design to a

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...

gamepad. The Net Jet controller is plugged into the

USB Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard, developed by USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), for digital data transmission and power delivery between many types of electronics. It specifies the architecture, in particular the physical ...

port in a

computer A computer is a machine that can be Computer programming, programmed to automatically Execution (computing), carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (''computation''). Modern digital electronic computers can perform generic set ...

and automatically started up. It downloaded games via a required

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. A dozen featured games could be played on a trial basis, or unlocked via plug in "game keys" (which are essentially jumper blocks). The Net Jet came in seven different color variations. Net Jet support officially ended December 31, 2009.

Operation and features

Unlike other self-contained game systems that fit entirely in a controller, the Net Jet itself can not play games on its own. It does not contain any circuitry to display graphics, generate sound or a microprocessor to play games, instead it relies entirely on the host computer to act as the "game console". For this reason, its performance was potentially hindered by slower and less capable computers. Games consist of a mix of real-time 3D

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, to simple 2D

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and flash-based games. The Net Jet makes itself plug n play by containing a small bit of

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in the controller. When plugged in, a virtual

CD-ROM A CD-ROM (, compact disc read-only memory) is a type of read-only memory consisting of a pre-pressed optical compact disc that contains computer data storage, data computers can read, but not write or erase. Some CDs, called enhanced CDs, hold b ...

image (400K in size) would automatically mount, then proceed to download and install its software via the Internet so to display a menu selection screen. Any games selected would then also need to be downloaded and stored on the computer. The Net Jet is a proprietary controller, it can only be used for its own games and not as a standard PC gamepad controller (it was detected as a USB hub, as opposed to a game controller by the computer). The controller itself had 7 buttons (two shoulder, four front and one 'start'),

d-pad The D-pad (short for directional pad) is a compact input method developed for video games, designed to translate thumb movement into directional control through a flat, cross-shaped surface that rests on four internal switches. Each switch corres ...

and analog thumb stick.

Game keys

The Net Jet system is played by inserting a key into the controller. It came with a free demo key. The demo key allowed a user to try each of the Net Jet games for 30 minutes. Players would then have to purchase one of twelve different game keys in order to unlock each individual game already on the computer. Despite the actual games being stored on the computer's

hard drive A hard disk drive (HDD), hard disk, hard drive, or fixed disk is an electro-mechanical data storage device that stores and retrieves digital data using magnetic storage with one or more rigid rapidly rotating hard disk drive platter, pla ...

, without a key inserted the game system would not function. Later on, the demo key was replaced in branded bundled with some of the Net Jet's marquee titles, such as ''

Transformers Battle Universe ''Transformers'' is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Tomy, Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two Extraterrestrials in fiction, alien robot fac ...

'' or '' Bubble Bonanza'', for example. Game keys primarily function as jumper blocks (an activation switch) to unlock games on the computer. Actual games are downloaded and stored, along with save game settings, onto the computer through an Internet connection. Games or save-status are ''not'' stored on the keys. The keys however permanently "remember" which three choice games the player selected via a 1K embedded

EEPROM EEPROM or E2PROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) is a type of non-volatile memory. It is used in computers, usually integrated in microcontrollers such as smart cards and remote keyless systems, or as a separate chip d ...

IC.

Featured games

Physical releases sold at retail in the form of USB game keys. * Bubble Bonanza *

The Fairly OddParents ''The Fairly OddParents'' is an American animated television series created by Butch Hartman for Nickelodeon. The series follows the adventures of Timmy Turner, a 10-year-old boy with two Fairy godmother, fairy godparents named List of The Fai ...

- Timmy's Roach Rampage *

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- Bugging Out *

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- Freaky Freezeday * Kool Kart Racers *

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* Marble Blast XP * Mission: Paintball * Peak Performance Snowboarding *

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- SpongeBob's Pizza Toss * Super Soaker Water Fight *

- Features various Transformers characters from different series in a side-view fighting game.

Choice games

Purchasing a game key also enabled a user to unlock three

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Java/Flash-based games playable with the controller, called "Choice Games". Many of these titles were also available on other web gaming portals but had been retooled to support Net Jet specific button inputs.

Deluxe games

With a game key, the user was also granted a free 30-minute demo, with the option to purchase the full game, of a variety of standard computer games, called "Deluxe Games." These titles were played with the keyboard and mouse, rather than the Net Jet controller itself. * Dino & Aliens * Galapago * Granny in Paradise * Magic Match * Treasures Of The Deep * Wik and the Fable of Souls

Discontinuation

As of January 1, 2009, Hasbro was no longer legally obligated to maintain or continue its website operation. Support, however, was extended a year past said date, as at start up the software displays a pop-up disclaimer stating the product has been discontinued and support ended as of December 31, 2009.Net Jet startup screen All online service has since been shut down, and as a result, the product no longer functions. The actual message from Net Jet software when controller is plugged-in:

"''PLEASE NOTE: We hope you have enjoyed your NET JET Online Gaming System. Unfortunately, NET JET products have been discontinued. This site will no longer be available on or about December 31, 2009. We appreciate your interest in Hasbro products. If you have any questions, please contact Hasbro Customer Service.''"

References

{{reflist

External links

Net Jet Home PageInstructions online at Hasbro web site
Products introduced in 2007 Products and services discontinued in 2009