Gonna buy/find a Sega Saturn, need recommendations !

[enkyotmp]

Hello,

Ok, heres the story : I'm planing to buy a Japanese region Sega Saturn just so I could
finally play both of my import Saturn games that I bought years ago.

Now I did a bit of searching and there seems to be a good number of Saturn variants
out there. Now is there any one particular version of Saturn hardware thats a good buy ?

Is there a version of the Saturn that is more prone to problems than the rest ?

Anything to look out for when buying a used Saturn ?

Thanks !

[Fabrizo]

Now is there any one particular version of Saturn hardware thats a good buy ?

Model 2 (round buttons as opposed to oval) is considered better by some due to mod chips being available for it, but other then that, no.


Is there a version of the Saturn that is more prone to problems than the rest ?

Their all quite equal in terms of quality. But if possible try to get one that hasn't had the 'swap-trick' used on it, as those have shortened life spans.


Anything to look out for when buying a used Saturn ?

Sometimes the video out port is broken, make sure it doesn't have excessive wear. Also, avoid model 1 controllers, they break easily.

[AntiPasta]

Nah, nothing wrong with Model 1 "dogbone" controllers :D
(which were never released in Japan anyway, by the way)

and if you want God's own Saturn, get a HiSaturn, or a skeleton one :D
(I know the HiSaturn Navi is cooler but not exactly easy to find)

[enkyotmp]

Ookay. . .

So what can you say about the quality of the CD drive on the Saturn Fabrizo ?
I'm shouldn't be expecting the laser to go kaput like it does on a PS1 or even
a PS2 for the forseeable future on a good one right?

I remember those model 1 controllers :) . My friend had that black US
Saturn at one time. Had a blast playing Sega Rally at his house too. If I remember
right is was more "clicky" I think than the JAP controller which he also had. But
I dunno, I prefer the JAP one :) . Looked and felt like a 6-button Mega Drive pad
which I really liked.

Yup, just saw a complete HiSaturn on Y!Japan AntiPasta and the price was just this
side of ridiculously expensive. I would rather replace my laptop for the price the
seller was asking ! $2000 for a ( admitedly damn sexy looking ) Saturn is just too
much for my taste :) . I also saw a Derby Stallion Saturn, is this the skeleton
Saturn that you've mentioned ? Doesn't look too special though, aside from being
transparent. Ain't cheap but way better in price than the HiSaturn.

Somebody there is also selling an apparently brand-new VSaturn. A really cheap
VSaturn. So what your take on this one guys ?

[WarGames]

the model 2 should work fine, however, if you are good with a soldering iron you can just make a 3 in 1 switch, or buy a 4-in-1 cart.

You still have the other option to get a modchip and manually patch all your games and play them on cd-rs.

Peace

[the_steadster]

Theres 2 clear saturns:
The skeleton "This is cool" Saturn (Has "This Is Cool" written on lid and is "plain" see-through)
The Derby Stallion Saturn (Has a blue tint to its see-through-ness. Came with a bunch of stickers - if you're a completist you'll want these to be included)

The "This is cool" saturn is my favourite design of any console, must buy one one day...

[Divine Evolution]

I've got a VSaturn, just like they said before if it's got round buttons you're in business, it's model should be RG-JX2.
I got INCREDIBLY lucky and had a RG-VC3 VCD card in there from the previous owner! Anyway, it's a nice and slightly different model.
~Krelian

[AlbinoLove]

actually 2 grand isn't a terrible price for a navi-saturn. i have seen them go for 2,500 or even 3,000!

[Fabrizo]

So what can you say about the quality of the CD drive on the Saturn Fabrizo ?
I'm shouldn't be expecting the laser to go kaput like it does on a PS1 or even
a PS2 for the forseeable future on a good one right?

Saturn cd drives are of exceptional quality. It is unlikly that you could ever burn them out without some form of abuse (ex: swap trick) or neglect (ex: moisture damage).


the model 2 should work fine, however, if you are good with a soldering iron you can just make a 3 in 1 switch, or buy a 4-in-1 cart.

You still have the other option to get a modchip and manually patch all your games and play them on cd-rs.

The switch is the best route for playing games from multiple regions, as your only other options are:

1. Buying multiple saturns for specific regions
2. Ripping your originals, using Satconv to change the region code, burn the disc, use the swap method or instal a mod chip, and then have a 3/10 chance the region conversion didn't work.
3. Use an import cart, which none of work for 100% of the games available. Although ram carts will be necessary to play certain import games.

[madhatter256]

Last time I checked, modchips are hard to comeby these days. Places that carry them seem very dodgy. I'd get a saturn model that has been well taken care of, and then buy a modchip. Those 4 in 1 carts are great for imports but dont trust them with your saved games as I have heard that people lost their save files on them. Once you buy a saturn, open the expansion bay in the back and replace the silver battery. It will last you a few years because it enables you to save games right on the saturn, but again, space is limited and if you have a lot of Saturn RPGs you'll want to get some memory carts for it.

[Fabrizo]

Last time I checked, modchips are hard to comeby these days.

Racketboy on Segaxtreme has been selling saturn mod chips for quite some time if im not mistaken.


Those 4 in 1 carts are great for imports but dont trust them with your saved games as I have heard that people lost their save files on them.

I can vouch for their lack of reliability, at least when it comes to the 3rd party ones with compressed memory (I've heard good things about the 1st party ones). Gameshark for the saturn can also hold a great deal of saves, but isn't trustworthy (because of it I will never end up beating the original Resident Evil).


Once you buy a saturn, open the expansion bay in the back and replace the silver battery. It will last you a few years because it enables you to save games right on the saturn, but again, space is limited and if you have a lot of Saturn RPGs you'll want to get some memory carts for it.

Actualy, their are several games that will fill up all the memory with just a single save.

[enkyotmp]

WarGames:
Hmm, some of you seem to favor the mod chip/switch route but I really
don't plan to mod at all. The thing is I only have 2 Saturn games, both
Japanese and all of my games in my to-get list are well, Jap imports.

the steadster:
I think I saw one of those "This is Cool" Saturns you've mentioned.
Play-Asia had one for sale days ago, promptly sold shortly after :) .
At $100 or so, it would have been a good deal methinks.

Divine Evolution:
Thanks for the info. I'll be looking into that one, as well as a skeleton
Saturn, if I'm lucky !

AlbinoLove:
Woah. Maybe it isn't so bad, but still. I'll be thinking long and hard before
I plunk 4-digit prices into what is basically a Sega Saturn with some serious
bells and whistles :) . The most I would spend would be $500 for any
console, though I doubt thats the case for most of the collectors on this
board :D .

Fabrizo:
Thanks !

madhatter256:
Ok, so basically a Saturn can save its games internally, but its temporary
at best right ? Do the memory carts use some form of battery as well ?
Do games differentiate between the internal saves and the memory cart ?

Anyways, thanks for all the comments so far guys !

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Ok, so basically a Saturn can save its games internally, but its temporary
at best right ? Do the memory carts use some form of battery as well ?
Do games differentiate between the internal saves and the memory cart ?
Yeah, some games differentiate between cartridge and internal memory and will ask you which you want to save to, not all of them will do that, though, so they'll just automatically save to the internal memory. The internal memory on the Saturn is fine and perfectly reliable (as long as you change the battery every couple years), it's just that it's too small to store larger game saves or lots of saves.


...word is bondage...

[enkyotmp]

Thanks to everyone with their help and comments !

Just bought a skeleton Saturn and 4MB ram cart. Added a copy of Cotton
Boomerang too just in case :) . Can't wait to play my long dusty copies of
Metal Fighter Miku and Princess Crown !

Thats all folks.

[dj898]

Princess Crown is amazing game...

check out my collection page for other saturn related items if you like...
http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49139