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[[File:Gameband + Minecraft box.png|thumb|width=329x329|Gameband + Minecraft box]]
'''Gameband + Minecraft''' was a series of wearable rubber wristbands with embedded USB flash memory that contained a portable copy of [[Minecraft:Java Edition|''Minecraft: Java Edition'']]. The devices were manufactured by the startup company NowComputing, which officially collaborated with [[Minecraft:Mojang Studios]].<ref>{{cite|url=https://vimeo.com/130181654|title=Building Gameband|website=Vimeo|date=June 9, 2015}}</ref>

The band included a laser engraved design based on ''Minecraft'' [[Minecraft:ore]]s. The redstone edition, which featured a red display and button, was the most common version. A diamond edition with cyan colored elements was also produced.<ref name=":0">{{cite|url=https://www.facebook.com/minecraft/photos/hey-the-diamond-gameband-is-now-available-and-the-holiday-season-is-almost-upon-/942863722415784/|title=Hey! The DIAMOND Gameband is now available. And the holiday season is almost upon us. And it comes in a nice box that's easy to wrap, and stick a label on, and give to a friend or family member. Just sayin' http://shop.gameband.com/product/gameband-diamond-edition/|website=Facebook|author=Minecraft|date=November 23, 2015}}</ref> A limited [[Minecraft:MINECON 2012]] pre-release version featured a [[Minecraft:Creeper]] face engraving and a green diode panel molded into green silicone rather than the standard black material.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/Gameband/comments/1gafhc5/what_is_this_green_version/ what is this green version?] – Reddit, u/Fantastic-Dig8949 </ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnmsILYzt-s Minecraft exclusive GAME BANDS - Taking everything on the go!] – Bebop Vox on YouTube, November 7, 2013</ref>

== Background ==
NowComputing was a startup company founded by Feargal Mac Conuladh in Barcelona, Spain.<ref>{{cite|url=https://thenextweb.com/news/stormfly-hits-100000-funding-goal-on-kickstarter-for-its-pc-on-a-wrist-video|title=StormFly hits $100k Kickstarter funding goal, hopes you’ll wear its ‘PC on your wrist’|website=The Next Web|author=Robin Wauters|date=March 1, 2013}}</ref>{{better source|Include more sources other than Crunchbase}}

The company's first Kickstarter product was StormFly,<ref>{{cite|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/750308586/stormfly-like-a-pc-on-your-wrist|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/0/https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/750308586/stormfly-like-a-pc-on-your-wrist|title=StormFly: Like a PC On Your Wrist|website=Kickstarter}}</ref> a device similar in concept to Gameband. Instead of including ''Minecraft'', StormFly contained a portable operating system. It was marketed as a cost saving solution for small businesses. The concept was based on purchasing multiple wearable system drives that employees could connect to a shared computer, rather than buying separate computer workstations for each employee.<ref>{{ytl|mSUGOxDf7mI|Introducing Now Computing|NowComputing|November 13, 2012}}</ref>

== Features ==
The concept behind Gameband was to store all files required to run ''Minecraft'' directly on the wristband, including player worlds and settings. Users could connect the band to any {{w|Microsoft Windows|Windows}}, {{w|Linux}}, or {{w|macOS}} computer and launch the game without installing additional software on the host system, provided that the Java runtime environment was already installed. This also allowed players to use the same installation without downloading the game again when switching between computers.

The device included 8 GB of storage, although some users reported owning a band with 16 GB of storage<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Gameband/comments/1drea53/comment/lljjh89/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button</ref><ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Gameband/comments/1co0bza/i_have_the_only_16gb_gameband/</ref>. Approximately 2 GB was used by ''Minecraft'' and the included software, leaving about 6 GB available for user files.<ref name=":1">{{cite|url=https://www.amazon.com/ask/questions/Tx37VM5TKHDHMKG/ref=ask_ql_ql_al_hza|title=Q: 1. How much memory does it have? 2. Back up to cloud storage costs? 3. Only a demo of minecraft?--we have paid acct. other information not on page?|website=Amazon|quote=Gameband comes with 8GB and back up service costs just a mere $4.99. And yes, you can use your paid account and play Minecraft directly from the band. Hope this answers your questions.}}</ref> Gamebands also came pre-loaded with content from Hypixel, SethBling and Dragonz.<ref>{{cite|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108125240/http://www.gameband.com/|title=What is Gameband|website=Gameband}}</ref>

For an additional $9.99 per year, players could purchase a cloud storage service.<ref name=":2">{{Citation|url=https://uk.pcmag.com/controllers-accessories/42319/gameband-minecraft?p=1|author=Timothy Torres|website=PCMag UK|date=May 29, 2015|title=Gameband + Minecraft}}</ref> The players' worlds were then periodically saved to the cloud whenever the band was connected to a computer with an active internet connection. If the wristband was lost or damaged, the company offered replacements that restored the user's files.

=== Pixel Furnace software ===
Gameband featured a battery powered panel consisting of 140 diodes. Users could program the display using the included Pixel Furnace software. The panel could show the current date, time, or short animations imported as 20 by 7 pixel black and white GIF files.<ref>{{cite|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718173054/http://www.pixelfurnace.com/|title=PixelFurnace|website=PixelFurnace}}</ref> White pixels activated the corresponding diodes. The software also allowed users to create text animations or draw custom animations frame by frame. Both frame rate and frame count could be adjusted.
{{yt|R_fgl6MW2RU|caption=A video showing the process of downloading a GIF and setting it as Gameband's animation}}

== Price ==
[[File:Map of Gameband + Minecraft markets.png|thumb|width=368x368|All stores around the world where Gameband + Minecraft was sold]]
Gameband was priced at approximately 79.99 USD<ref name=":3">{{Citation|url=https://thenextweb.com/news/cannot-save-you-from-creepers|title=Minecraft wearable review: Love the game? You want the Gameband Redstone|author=Mic Wright|website=The Next Web|date=August 18, 2015}}</ref> or 64.99 GBP<ref name=":3" />.{{better source}} The purchase price did not include a ''Minecraft'' license, which had to be bought separately from Mojang.<ref name=":2" />{{better source}}

== Discontinuation ==
The product was discontinued around 2017, when the Gameband website started redirecting users to a new Kickstarter page, announcing a new edition of the watch no longer assosiated with ''Minecraft''.<ref>{{cite|url=https://web.archive.org/web/0/https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gameband/gameband-the-first-smartwatch-for-gamers|title=Gameband: The First Smartwatch for Gamers|website=Kickstarter}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Gameband {{!}} One of the fastest, most powerful, Smartwatches ever made|website=gameband.com|date=April 29, 2018|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429220937/https://www.gameband.com/}}</ref>{{better source}}

For some time after that, an FAQ was available at NowComputing's website explaining the project's sudden end.<ref>{{cite|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403020410/https://www.nowcomputing.com/about-us/|title=Gameband | Gameband + Minecraft|website=Gameband}}</ref> Around December 2019 the page had become unavailable by then.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20191216031045/http://nowcomputing.com/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi</ref>

Following the closure of NowComputing and the end of official support, Gameband devices no longer function with the original software.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/Gameband/comments/1cr9wkx/does_minecraft_still_work_on_gameband/</ref>{{better source}} Users who wish to operate the device as originally intended must rely on unofficial community modifications.<ref>{{Reddit2|sub=Gameband|id=ugc70x|text=Gameband Software Repair Guide (Come here if your Gameband doesn't work)|author=Zaprit}}/</ref> Alternatively, the internal storage can be formatted and used as a standard USB flash drive.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Gameband3.jpg|A Gameband wristband
Gameband1.jpg|Front of a Gameband + Minecraft box
Gameband2.jpg|Back of a Gameband + Minecraft box
GamebandMojang.jpeg|A promotional image posted on Minecraft's Facebook page<ref name=:0/>
</gallery>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Navigation ==
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[[Category:Collaborations]]

Minecraft:Gameband - Revision history

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