The Sega Saturn...

[anime_junkie]

So I'm really considering buying a Sega Saturn, but I want to know things first.

1) How do regions work? How much modding (if any) will it take to run Japanese games on a US console? Soft mods preferred.

2) Backups. Yeah, I don't like pirating sometimes, and this is one of those times. I would love to buy a copy of, say, Shining Force III. But it's just way too expensive. How hard is it to get backups running? Do you need special discs? Do you need special software? (I am grabbing the tools in the UG Saturn Collection, fyi)

3) What are some good games? I'm mostly an RPG and shmup fan, which is why I'm worried about regions.

4) Anything to watch out for when I'm shopping for the console itself? I know a place that has one for 50 bucks, anything I should look for to make sure it's okay, or any certain models that don't do things right, etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

[TrolleyDave]

1) The regions are stored as a code on the CD. There's software around that lets you patch ISO's to any region. You're better off buying an Action Replay cart as then you've got a region free saturn plus a 4 meg memory upgrade and a backup cart for your saves.

2) You can do the swap trick or install a mod chip. From what I understand the Saturn has the easiest to install mod chip of them all.

3) Check out the Saturn essentials list that's stickied up the top.

4) Make sure you don't get a model 1 Saturn (oval buttons instead of round) as you can't mod them. Personally I've got a modded Japanese JVC V-Saturn, but any Model 2 upwards NTSC Saturn is the best to go for.

So I'm really considering buying a Sega Saturn, but I want to know things first.

1) How do regions work? How much modding (if any) will it take to run Japanese games on a US console? Soft mods preferred.

2) Backups. Yeah, I don't like pirating sometimes, and this is one of those times. I would love to buy a copy of, say, Shining Force III. But it's just way too expensive. How hard is it to get backups running? Do you need special discs? Do you need special software? (I am grabbing the tools in the UG Saturn Collection, fyi)

3) What are some good games? I'm mostly an RPG and shmup fan, which is why I'm worried about regions.

4) Anything to watch out for when I'm shopping for the console itself? I know a place that has one for 50 bucks, anything I should look for to make sure it's okay, or any certain models that don't do things right, etc.

Thanks in advance!Â

 

[anime_junkie]

Thanks! I've heard about the AR thing, thanks for confirming it. I looked up modchips, and you're right, there's only 2 wires. Easy peasy. I'll be sure to watch out for model 1s. They have an oval power button, if I've done my research right. And model 2s have a circular button.

Thanks for the help, now I know what I have to do to get a saturn. The AR and Modchip run the price up quite a bit though.

It'll be worth it in the end.

 

[TrolleyDave]

Thanks! I've heard about the AR thing, thanks for confirming it. I looked up modchips, and you're right, there's only 2 wires. Easy peasy. I'll be sure to watch out for model 1s. They have an oval power button, if I've done my research right. And model 2s have a circular button.

Thanks for the help, now I know what I have to do to get a saturn. The AR and Modchip run the price up quite a bit though.

It'll be worth it in the end.

It's a shame you live in the US as you can buy pre-modded Saturns in the UK pretty easily, usually at a pretty decent price. Yep the model-1s are the ones with the oval buttons. The AR definitely bumps the price up but it's worth it for sure. For 1 you can play an arcade perfect SF Zero 3 (if you're used to the PSX version you're in for a real treat when you play the Saturn version)! If you buy a ram pack and save cart seperately it works out more, you'll definitely need a save cart as well. The Saturn has built in save memory but it only holds like 250 save blocks or something and the AR cart has 8000+.

There's 1 game that won't work without the original ram expanision port which is KOF 98 (or 97) becauise there's code on the original expansion ram that isn't in the AR cart obviously.

Yeah it' definitely worth getting a modded Saturn, it's one of my favourite consoles of all time (II've gota around 100 originals for it!). There's alot of shit for it (what console doesn't have that though) but when a programmer actually knew how to use the Saturns capabilities they produce some amazing results.

 

[adgloride]

The model 2 saturn is pretty easy to fit a mod chip. Its only the one wire that need soldering, then you need to bride 2 easy points with solder.