Is it advisable to open a Sega Saturn tray to switch games?

[Lawfer]

To switch games on both the original Xbox and Sega Saturn if you want to switch games, you can just open their disc trays and the game will automatically quit and go back to the dashboard, then you can remove the disc, insert a new one, close the trays and start playing the game, but I was wondering, is it advisable to do that? Or is it better to turn off the console to switch games?

[nmalinoski]

Disc-based consoles are [should be?] smart enough to stop the disc spinning so it's physically safe to remove. On consoles like the Dreamcast and PS3 (I think? It's early here.), at least some game software automatically quits. On consoles like the PS1, the game usually locks up unless it's a multi-disc game that's specifically waiting for you to switch to the next disc, but you need to reset that console to boot up the next game anyway.

In any case, opening the tray and removing the CD will only cause issues if you don't wait for the disc to stop spinning (in consoles that have disc lids instead of trays) or if you didn't bother to save your game. If the console doesn't automatically go back to the home screen.

[SavagePencil]

In the original manual, Sega recommends that to end a session you press the Reset button while holding down Button A so that it goes to the dashboard. When the CD Control screen appears, it means that the disc has stopped spinning.

https://segaretro.org/images/d/d5/SegaS ... Manual.pdf Page 14.

[Lawfer]

In the original manual, Sega recommends that to end a session you press the Reset button while holding down Button A so that it goes to the dashboard. When the CD Control screen appears, it means that the disc has stopped spinning.

https://segaretro.org/images/d/d5/SegaS ... Manual.pdf Page 14.

Wait, so does that mean that when you want to turn off the console, you shouldn't simply press the "power button"?

In any case, opening the tray and removing the CD will only cause issues if you don't wait for the disc to stop spinning (in consoles that have disc lids instead of trays) or if you didn't bother to save your game. If the console doesn't automatically go back to the home screen.

No but I mean, does it wear/out damage the console? On both the Saturn and Dreamcast you can simply open the lid and the game quits right away and the console goes back the the dashboard, the console automatically stops the disc from spinning at the same time.

[the Goat]

No but I mean, does it wear/out damage the console? On both the Saturn and Dreamcast you can simply open the lid and the game quits right away and the console goes back the the dashboard, the console automatically stops the disc from spinning at the same time.

Switching games like that is totally fine.

[DialKnight]

In the original manual, Sega recommends that to end a session you press the Reset button while holding down Button A so that it goes to the dashboard. When the CD Control screen appears, it means that the disc has stopped spinning.

https://segaretro.org/images/d/d5/SegaS ... Manual.pdf Page 14.

twenty plus years with a system and you think you read the manual enough! Thanks I've been power cycling for way too long.

[Lawfer]

In the original manual, Sega recommends that to end a session you press the Reset button while holding down Button A so that it goes to the dashboard. When the CD Control screen appears, it means that the disc has stopped spinning.

https://segaretro.org/images/d/d5/SegaS ... Manual.pdf Page 14.

twenty plus years with a system and you think you read the manual enough! Thanks I've been power cycling for way too long.

Can't you just push the "power" button to just shut down the console when you are done playing? I doubt almost anybody does the whole "Press reset + the A button, open the lid, take out the CD and then press the power button".

[DialKnight]

In the original manual, Sega recommends that to end a session you press the Reset button while holding down Button A so that it goes to the dashboard. When the CD Control screen appears, it means that the disc has stopped spinning.

https://segaretro.org/images/d/d5/SegaS ... Manual.pdf Page 14.

twenty plus years with a system and you think you read the manual enough! Thanks I've been power cycling for way too long.

Can't you just push the "power" button to just shut down the console when you are done playing? I doubt almost anybody does the whole "Press reset + the A button, open the lid, take out the CD and then press the power button".

There's a typo here somewhere, what is meant is that A+reset is like the home button on a modern console, only slightly more convenient than going through the initial bootup process. Then you press the launch game button at that space ship menu screen. It's a cool trick to have gone unnoticed and I will utilize it in the very near future. Maybe it saves on some disc drive wear and tear. At the very least it cuts down the time when I want to jump from Crypt Killer to an impromptu Karaoke jam.

[SavagePencil]

I play mostly JP games on my US Saturn via an Action Replay. If I just hold A+B+C and hit Start enough times, I will go back to the CD dashboard, which then tells me that the disc isn't recognized and lets it spin down. Which I guess spares me from hitting the Reset button?