Sega Saturn cartridge options

[bobrocks95]

So I just got a Sega Saturn and I had researched beforehand about Action Replay carts and whatnot, but information is pretty scattered and I'd like to hear from anyone here who might have opinions on them.

I've got two main questions:

-What's the cheapest cart that Pseudo Saturn can be installed on? All I really hear about are Action Replay Pro carts, but since they're going to lose the save backup functionality anyway, is there a cheaper option that just allows booting backups (Gameshark maybe)?

If the 1MB/4MB expansion RAM still works on an Action Replay cart with Pseudo Saturn, are any of the expansion RAM carts flashable, or any other cart that didn't have save backup functionality? Since the Action Replay Pro won't end up as an all-in-one any more, just curious what my other options are, since I may end up getting two carts.


-What fan-made cart projects are coming soon or in development? The Pseudo Saturn Kai developer looks to be working on a cart that will add SD card saving, though I'm not sure if it's direct access or just backup functionality (might be game-dependent anyway?). I've heard of at least one more being worked on that would allow backups, saving, and RAM expansion but don't recall the name of it.

Are there any other homebrew carts in development that look promising? Or is there any further development being done on Pseudo Saturn that will allow an Action Replay Pro to keep all it's functionality? I don't think Kai does right now.

Thanks in advance, I figure most every Saturn enthusiast has dealt with expansion cartridges at some point or another.

[BuckoA51]

Can always just install a modchip, save worrying about messing up the AR functionality. There's guys over on assembler selling them.

[darcagn]

Just get one of the universal modchips for sale on Assembler. They are cheap and were developed recently for the purpose of having compatibility with all models of the Saturn, which takes out a lot of the headache there used to be when talking about Saturn modchips. They are also super easy to install.

That having been said, the modchip will not let you play games from other regions, but you can install a region-free BIOS (this is what I did, but it is difficult to do on most models), or use an Action Replay, or patch the discs manually.

[lechu]

Check out the Rhea or the Phoebe (depending on your model of Saturn): https://gdemu.wordpress.com/. Replace the disk drive with an SD Card reader. That way you can leave the cartridges alone for saving and ram.

[bobrocks95]

I had kind of written off/forgotten about modchips given a lack of ability, but the Phantom board looks like it's literally just one wire to solder given the ribbon to the disc drive daughterboard.
Not in stock until July, so I'll probably go ahead and order an Action Replay Plus and install Pseudo Saturn Kai, then flash it back to stock later if I decide to get the modchip.

As for an SD card drive replacement, that's not for me at all. And at 130 Euros I don't really see the point at all unless your laser is broken.

[Shoryukev]

+1 for a universal mod chip. I have one in my saturn and it works great (I got it from a website called Segastyle, but it doesn't seem to exist anymore). You can also play backups using a fairly simple disc swap trick, but I wouldn't recommend it. Opening the tray and grabbing the disc while it's spinning has to be really abusive on the drive.

I use an action replay 4/1 mb RAM cart with mine, and it works great for both playing import games and backing up the saves on my saturns internal memory. I've tried it on american games that have an option for 1mb expansion (marvel super heroes if I'm remembering correctly), and imports that use both 1mb and 4mb and have had no issues. The only thing I don't like about mine is the white/grey cartridge shell....personally I think it looks stupid sticking out of an all black console. I've seen black cartridge shells for them on ebay, just haven't gotten one yet lol

The idea of a SSD replacement for the optical drive on these consoles is interesting to me. Load times on some of these early disc based systems was really slow....it might make the gaming experience much better (maybe it would make the neo geo-CD decent? LOL)

[Shoryukev]

but the Phantom board looks like it's literally just one wire to solder given the ribbon to the disc drive daughterboard.

Yep, just one wire to solder to give the modchip-board 5v power, and then it just plugs in with a ribbon cable. I had mine in there in under 10 minutes, and that was with my 3 year old daughter "helping me" LOL

Easiest mod I've ever done, and very reversible.

[Einzelherz]

The SD card replacement drives are such a nice idea considering they should last as long as the rest of console but they're so cost prohibitive

[noonan2678]

I have an extra action reply 4/1 if anyone's interested. I use one myself (also have it modded) and it works with just about everything. There are only a couple of games out there where you need the included cartridge in the slot as they have game data on then. KOF '95 comes to mind. For those, you'd need the originals with a region appropriate Saturn, or a mod chip.

I have the USB kits for my Dreamcast and 3DO. Both work great, so interesting about the SD option for the Saturn. The biggest attraction of those to me is the convenience of swapping games quickly. Does anyone have it installed? How was the process?

[evil_ash_xero]

I have a Sega Saturn, Model 1, that I have had two chips installed in, and they never work (in terms of backups), when they get back to me. By reputable modders too, so I don't know what the problem is. One was a Phantom.

That 4 in 1 cart works really well. Also, you can just get a region switch, if you're not into backups. I have that, and it works reliably.

[BuckoA51]

Interesting, I had a CD/DVD writer once that seemed perfectly fine in terms of functionality, worked perfectly for audio CDs, data backups, home movies etc but always produced non-working console game "backups", definitely on the Saturn and some other consoles too if I recall, perhaps it's that?

[bobrocks95]

You're still at the mercy of the laser, so it might have had trouble reading burned discs, especially if they were a cheap brand or burned at a high speed.

[darcagn]

My old disc-based consoles (Saturn, PlayStation, Dreamcast) have a lot of trouble reading most brands of CD-Rs. Once I bought Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs off of Amazon, I got basically a 95% success rate. Unfortunately, Taiyo Yudens aren't being manufactured anymore.

[Einzelherz]

For my Saturn, Dreamcast, and PS2 I use Memorex.

[Star1]

The idea of a SSD replacement for the optical drive on these consoles is interesting to me. Load times on some of these early disc based systems was really slow....it might make the gaming experience much better (maybe it would make the neo geo-CD decent? LOL)

Load times on the Saturn won't improve as the bus is limited to the speed of the optical drive (unlike the dreamcast).

[Shoryukev]

The idea of a SSD replacement for the optical drive on these consoles is interesting to me. Load times on some of these early disc based systems was really slow....it might make the gaming experience much better (maybe it would make the neo geo-CD decent? LOL)

Load times on the Saturn won't improve as the bus is limited to the speed of the optical drive (unlike the dreamcast).

That is a good thing to know, because I was seriously thinking about getting a replacement SD drive based on my incorrect assumption on load times LOL. I play my Saturn quite a bit, mainly the capcom arcade fighter ports (they are great ports!!! I prefer them over emulating the arcade versions), but my wife actually really likes the system too. She plays Nights the most.

[creamygarlicdip]

i have the saturn and pro action replay 4 in 1, its very easy to flash it, you can still save games to the internal battery backup. Pretty much the only option that made sense to me.

[creamygarlicdip]

My old disc-based consoles (Saturn, PlayStation, Dreamcast) have a lot of trouble reading most brands of CD-Rs. Once I bought Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs off of Amazon, I got basically a 95% success rate. Unfortunately, Taiyo Yudens aren't being manufactured anymore.

i found with the saturn the brand matters alot, some brands wouldn't read at all.

[Star1]

My old disc-based consoles (Saturn, PlayStation, Dreamcast) have a lot of trouble reading most brands of CD-Rs. Once I bought Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs off of Amazon, I got basically a 95% success rate. Unfortunately, Taiyo Yudens aren't being manufactured anymore.

i found with the saturn the brand matters alot, some brands wouldn't read at all.

I've hard similar stories, but for my part I've had a 100% success rate with the cheapest discs I could find at the local shop.

[evil_ash_xero]

Interesting, I had a CD/DVD writer once that seemed perfectly fine in terms of functionality, worked perfectly for audio CDs, data backups, home movies etc but always produced non-working console game "backups", definitely on the Saturn and some other consoles too if I recall, perhaps it's that?

I just gave up. It's not worth the fuss. Even the modders who said the games worked, would send me the discs they made, and they still wouldn't work. I just don't care.