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SEGA SATURN FAQ
(FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)

Version 1.0

The Saturn FAQ
Wesley Reiser
([email protected])

This file is Copyright (c) 1995/96, Wesley Reiser.
All Rights Reserved.

Free distribution of this file is permitted,
provided it isn't modified in any way
and credit is given to ALL the people who contribute to this FAQ.
Meaning, kept the entire Credits section intact!

Sale of this FAQ is strictly forbidden
without written consent of the author.

Use of this FAQ in commercial publication is strictly forbidden
without written consent of the author.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Last-modified on April 7'th 1996

Please send additions, questions, comments, and corrections to
Wesley Reiser at [email protected]

The newest version of this FAQ can be obtained via me, or FTP to...
ftp.netcom.com pub/vi/vidgames/faq

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

0. Contents

1. About the Author
2. Sega Saturn Intro
3. Hardware specifications
4. Compared to the 32X
5. Compared to the Sony Playstation
6. A sound experience
7. Saturn Developing
8. Infinite Possibilities
9. Saturn's Peripherals
10. About the Saturn's creators
11. Let The Games Begin
12. List of games available at release
13. Release date
14. Other Sources of Saturn Information
15. Where do I send fan mail?
16. Where to get new releases
17. Misc Info
18. Whats new?
19. Acknowledgements (credits)
20. Revision List

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

(1) About the Author
--------------------

Name: Wesley Reiser

Age: 19

Systems: Super Nintendo
Sega Genesis
Sega CD
Nintendo Gameboy
486SX Tandy PC

Current FAQ's: Sega Saturn FAQ
Slide (Windows EXE FAQ on the hit )
(FOX television show "Sliders")

Interests: Astronomy
Space Travel
Science
Science Fiction
Computer Programming
Music (Alanis Morissette!) :)

Enough about me...

(2) Sega Saturn Intro
---------------------

Ending months of speculation, the most powerful, technologically advanced
video game system created HAS arrived! The powerhouse Sega Saturn delivers
state-of-the-art 3-D-modeled graphics, dynamic perspective with constantly
changing points of view, true 3-D Audio, and phenomenal game-play speed
surpassing that of an ordinary multimedia PC and challenging even a high-end
work station. With the much-anticipated arrival of Sega Saturn in the United
States comes a completely new definition of video gaming, transporting
players into a previously unrealized realm of interactive entertainment.
-Sega Visions, May 1995

But is it enough to satisfy Hard-Core gamers?
Is what Sega says true?
You decide...

(3) Hardware Specifications
---------------------------

EIGHT PROCESSORS
* 2 Hitachi 28.6MHz, 50-MIPS SH2 32-bit
RISC processors
* Hitachi SH1 32-bit RISC processor
* VDP 1 32-bit video display processor
* VDP 2 32-bit video display provessor
* Saturn Control Unit (SCU)
* Motorola 68EC000 sound processor
* Yamaha FH1 DSP sound processor

MEMORY
* 2MB (16 Megabits) RAM
* 1.54MB (12 Megabits) video RAM
* 540KB (4 Megabits) audio RAM
* 540KB (4 Megabits) CD-ROM cache
* 32KB nonvolatile RAM (battery backup)

AUDIO
* 22.6MHz Yamaha FH1 24-bit digital
signal processor
* 11.3MHz Motorola 68EC000 sound processor
* 32 PCM (pulse-code modulation) channels
* 8 FM channels
* 44.1KHz sampling rate

VIDEO
* VDP 1 32-bit vidoe display processor
* Sprite, polygon, and geometry engine
* Dual 256KB frame buffers for rotation
and scaling effects
* Texture Mapping
* Goraud shading
* 512KB cache for textures
* VDP 2 32-bit background and scroll plane
video display processor
* Background engine
* Five simultaneous scrolling backgrounds
* Two simultaneous rotating playfields
* 200,000 texture-mapped polygons per second
* 500,000 flat-shaded polygons per second
* 60 frames of animation per second
* 24-bit true-color graphics
* 16.7 million colors
* 320 by 224, 640 by 224, 720 by 576 resolution

STORAGE
* Double-Speed CD-ROM
* 320KB per second transfer speed
* Audio CD compatible
* CD+G compatible
* CD+EG compatible
* CD single (8cm CD) compatible
* Video CD, Photo CD, Electronic Books, digital
karaoke (optional)
* 512KB memory cartridges for game save (optional)

INPUT/OUTPUT
* High-speed serial communications port
* Internal 32-bit expansion port
* Internal multi-AV port for video CD
(MPEG) adaptor
* Composite video/stereo (standard)
* NTSC RF (optional)
* S-Video compatible (optional)
* RGB compatible (optional)
* HDTV compatible (optional)
* Analog control pad

(4) Compared to 32X
--------------------

The first difference you would notice between the 32X and the Saturn
is the speed. While the 32X is a nice system and more powerful then the
16-Bit systems, it does not add up to the Saturn, or even close.

The power that the Saturn puts out is much greater then the 32X.
One way to explain the difference is that if Sega were to try to create
Virtua Fighter 2 for the 32X, it would run like DOOM runs on a 386 (probably
even slower then that). Actually, I heard that the 32X couldn't even handle
the extreme polygons at any speed but I am not really sure.

Here are some things you have to think about before purchasing between
the 32X and the Saturn...

Price. The Saturn is running for about $350 without a game (Sampler CD)
while the 32X runs for about $150. However with the 32X you MUST
have a Sega Genesis system to connect it to since the 32X is not a
single running system, it simply improves the Genesis (and CD).

Support. Although Sega has said they are going to continue to support
the 32X, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Sega Game Gear, and Sega Saturn
from what the public has seen, they are trying to push the Saturn
a lot (which is understandable), however the other systems are
getting slightly left behind which really is not fair to the
consumer. Before you run out and buy something, make sure the
manufacturer is backing that product up HEAVILY or chances are
its going to be another Sega CD (which IMHO has the capability to
be a good system if Sega would make some games for it).

Power. Although both systems are 32-bit, the Saturn has a LOT more power
and capabilities then the 32X. Games that use full 32-bit power
such as Virtua Fighter 2 will not be able to be converted for use
on the 32X.

32X System Specifications.

MAIN PROCESSOR
Twin Hitachi (SH2) 32 bit RISC processors
- clock speed of 23 MHZ
- 40 MIPS

CO-PROCESSOR(s)
- Genesis 68000, Z80, Genesis 32X VDP
- Video processor
- 50,000 texture-mapped polygons/sec
- texture mapping
- hardware scaling and rotation

VIDEO
- 32,768 simultaneous colours on screen
- Genesis resolution
- Overlaying over existing Genesis/SegaCD video

MEMORY
- 512k (4 MBit) additional RAM to Genesis/SegaCD memory

AUDIO
- Stereo PCM chip
- audio mixing with Genesis sound
- additional 2 channels (therefore 14 all together?)
- I/O: Same as Genesis
- 32X upgradable; can upgrade the 32X

STORAGE
- CD-ROM if you have a SegaCD
- speed same as SegaCD
- compatible with audio CD, CD&G, SegaCD, Cartridge
- compatible with Genesis
- can store save game/score information (as with many
Genesis games)

(5) Compared to the Sony Playstation
------------------------------------

During the release of the Saturn in June 1995, sales for the system were
not very good although they were not very bad either. In September, the
Sony Playstation was released and by Christmas the sales matched that of
the Saturn with about 500,000. Most people believe that this boost of sales
for the Playstation was because of the release of Mortal Kombet 3 with the
system which was supposed to be the best platform to own since it was a high
end 32 bit system and Sega didn't have rights to release MK3 until April I
think, and at the time, Mortal Kombat 3 is what people wanted.

Once the fade of MK3 died down and people realised that the SNES version
was just as good, the sales of the Playstation dropped dramatically while
the Saturn maintained its sales scoring (in rumor) 2.5 Million sales at the
time of this writing. Whether the system has actually sold 2.5 million units
(worldwide) or not is not known to me, however I also heard that the
Playstation sales are at about 1 million making the Saturn the best system
available right now (Until N64 is released?).

Compare the systems yourself.

Playstation Specifications...

* R3000A from MIPS(SGI) and LSI Logic Technologies
* 32 bit RISC processor
* Clock 33.8688MHz
* Operating performance 30 MIPS
* Instruction Cache 4 KB
* Data Cache 1 KB
* BUS 132 MB/sec.

* 3D Geometry Engine (High speed matrix calculator)
* Clearing capacity: 66 MIPS
* 1.5 million flat-shaded polygons/sec
* 500,000 texture-mapped and light-sourced polygons/sec

* Motion JPEG Hardware Decompression Engine
* Operating performance 80 MIPS (Clearing Capacity)
* Directly connected to CPU bus
* Compatible with MPEG1, H.261 files (both via additional har2 Kilobytes (4Mbits)
* RAM cards - 128 Kilobytes (1Mbit) flash-memory cards

* Rendered in hardware - Upto 360K polygon/sec.
* Texture mapping
* Flat or Gouraud shading

* ADPCM audio source
* 24 Channels
* 44.1KHz sample rate
* Digital effects include:
- Pitch Modulation
- Envelope
- Looping
- Digital Reverb
* Load up to 512K of sampled waveforms
- Supports MIDI Instruments
* 16.7 million colours
* Adjustable frame buffer
* No line restriction
* 5 Simultaneous backgrounds
* NTSC Display Resolution
+-------+--------------------+-------------------+
| Mode | Resolution (H x V) | Scan |
+-------+--------------------+-------------------+
| 0 | 256 x 240 | |
| 1 | 320 x 240 | Non-Interlaced |
| 2 | 512 x 240 | |
| 3 | 640 x 240 | |
+-------+--------------------+-------------------+
| 4 | 256 x 480 | |
| 5 | 320 x 480 | Interlaced |
| 6 | 512 x 480 | |
| 7 | 640 x 480 | |
+-------+--------------------+-------------------+
* Colour Depth
+-------+--------------+
| Mode | Colours |
+-------+--------------+
| 4 | 16 |
| 8 | 256 |
| 15 | 32,768 |
| 24 | 16,777,216 |
+-------+--------------+
* All calculations are performed to 24 bit accuracy
* Texture mapping colour mode
- 4 bit CLUT (Colour Look-Up Table) (16 colours)
- 8 bit CLUT (256 colours)
- 15 bit direct (32768 colours)
* 2D Graphical Capability

(6) A sound experience
----------------------

Sound plays an enormous role in an interactive experience. So when it came
to designing and building Sega Saturns sound processor, Sega turned to the
most respected experts in the field; Yamaha (electronic keyboards, pianos,
stereo equipment, synthesizers--yeah, that Yamaha). This potent system not
only reads the CD-ROM but also creates and manipulates sound data by using
16 channels combined with a digital mixer. It also has the
capability for 3-D audio resulting in very realistic sound.
With QSound(tm) the sound literally comes at you from 360 degrees
(imagine a Mig 29 roaring right over you in your next flight sim game).
Sega Saturn's sound specs include two CPU interfaces, 32 voices, built-in
sound effects, and FM and PCM synthesis. It uses a motorola 16-bit 68EC000
processor and Yamaha digital signal processor. Incidentally, the 16-bit
68EC000 processor is a close relative of the Genesis's main processor, only
in the Sega Saturn its used exclusively for sound. To put this in
perspective, the least powerful chip in the Sega Saturn's sound system is
more powerful than the chip that runs the entire Genesis.
But if you think about it, is the Genesis really very powerful? :)
Sega Saturn also boasts built-in DMA for file transfer, the 16-channel
mixer previously mentioned, and a 128-step digital signal processor
(or programmable DSP) Additionally, Sega Saturn supports the musical
instrument digital interface (MIDI) To the sound creators, MIDI means its
possible to hook up a keyboard during sound development to experiment in
real time while creating music sequences or sound effects.

(7) Saturn Developing
---------------------

What Sega Saturn's processing capabilities mean to game developers is yet
another story. Often, game companies tout their hardware systems'
capablilties--which are important in understanding the potential quality of
the game experience--but equally importand are the advantages that the
hardware architecture offers the game creators. Sega Saturn gives developers
unlimited reign. Take the VDP 2 chip for example. This specialized chip
enables programmers to generate up to five simultaneous backgrounds and
rotate two playfields at the same time. The chip also makes Sega Saturn the
only machine that supports 16.7 million colors on active video displays.
These photorealistic graphical allowances give developers the tools needed
to construct more realism in each and every frame, however I am unaware of
the Playstations power in this field, it may match the Saturn here.

Actually, word has it that the complex layout of the board in the Saturn
makes the system very complicated in the programmers aspect.
What this means is that although the system is very powerful, its hard for
companies to make games that take advantage of all its advanced technology
because it was made too quick. This may be a drawback to the system as if
companies can progrm another system easier, they will most likely want to
stick with the easier one because time is money.

(8) Infinite Possibilities
--------------------------

Besides its superior game-play features, Sega Saturn has an architecture
that allows for expansion. Possible additions include multimedia extras like
a Video CD via an optional MPEG adaptor, PhotoCD, Electronic books, audio
CD, and digital karaoke. There is also at least five ports, which give
Sega's product-development people access to the bus signals, should they
have any super expansion ideas in the future. Maybe something network
related--who knows? Lets just say that they've been known to have some
awesome tricks up their sleeves.

(9) Saturn's Peripherals
--------------------------

These are some of the peripherals that should be available where you
buy Sega Saturn systems, games, etc...

* ARCADE RACER <joystick>
--------------------------------------------
If you like vehicle-sim games, you'll
love the Arcade Racer. Its the controller
that puts you behind the wheel. And it
gives you the most realistic control
because its analog. Whereas digital
controllers rely on values assigned to
on/off switches (like light switches, they
react in steps), analog controllers respond
in a smoother arc (like dimmer switches).
You're in the drivers seat with super,
oh-so-sensitive control. Its perfect for
Time Warner Interactive's V.R. Virtua Racing
or Sega's Daytona USA.

* 6PLAYER <controller adaptor>
-----------------------------------------------
Have friends? Want more? 6Player, the ultimate
multiplayer adaptor, allows up to six buddies
or rivals (12 buddies/rivals if you use two
adaptors) to play in the same game. Team up in
NHL All-Star Hockey and a 6Player--you'll have
friends galore (or rivals galore)!

* BACKUP <Backup cartridge>
-----------------------------------------------
Sega Saturn backs up sports fans on this one.
Backup's a RAM cart with a whooping 512
kilobytes of storage! Thats enough to handle
everything from your best scores on Pebble
Beach Golf Links to your stats on Grand Slam
Baseball. By the way, you dont have to be a
sports fan to take advantage of backup--just
think how many Sim City 2000 games you can
keep. You could save the world!

* CONTROL PAD <uhhhh, I forgot what this is>
------------------------------------------------
All gamers have a favorite control pad. This
one is likely to be yours. Sega Saturn's control
pad puts you in charge with 8 buttons--thats 6
action buttons and 2 shift (left and right)
buttons. Plus its ergonomically correct: You get
the advantage at your fingertips with easy eight
button play for all your killer combo moves.

(10) About the Saturn's creators
--------------------------------

What Sega-select team of people worked for an entire two years exclusively
to make certain Sega Saturn was launched with the some of the worlds best
hardware and software? Of course it would be Sega's Away Team.
The 27-member Away Team comprises Sega employees from every aspect of
hardware engineering, product development, and marketing. They devoted
countless hours, resources, and brain cells into launching Sega Saturn.
Their sole mission was to ensure that Sega Saturn's hardware and design met
the precise needs of both the U.S. and Japanese markets, in some ways it did
and in other ways it didn't.
In conjunction with developing titles for the launch in the States, the
Away Team was responsible for bringing the first wave of premimum games from
Japanese third-party developers. Thanks to the global efforts of the Away
Team, killer titles like Virtua Fighter, Daytona USA, NHL All-Star Hockey,
and Panzer Dragoon were all primed and ready to show off Sega Saturn's
awesome power when it was released.

(11) Let The Games Begin
------------------------

More than 100 third-party publishers and developers are creating software
for the Sega Saturn.
More than 20 titles were available at launch with an additional library of
about 100 games by Christmas 1996 from both Sega and third-party developers.
Here is a small list of some of the publishers developing for the
Sega Saturn at release time...

Absolute
Acclaim
Accolade
Activision
American Laser Games
American Softworks
Capcom
Caps
Crystal Dynamics
Data East
Digital Pictures
Domark
Electronic Arts
Gametek
GT Interactive
Interplay
JVC
Maxis
Microprose
Namco
Papyrus
Philips
Readysoft
Rocket Science
Sega
Sierra On-Line
Stragetic Simulations
Sunsoft
Taito
Takara
Tecmo
Time Warner Interactive
Titus
Ubi Soft
Universal Interactive Studios
U.S. Gold
Viacom
Virgin Interactive

(12) List of games available at release
---------------------------------------

The following is an updated list of games that are currently available or
will be coming out very soon for the Sega Saturn system... Some updates of
these games were taken from the Saturn/32X FAQ ([email protected])
which I cant find a newer version then 2.10 (12/22/94) so I dont know if
any of these games will be coming out for sure in the United States, but
you can bet that they probably are. Some entries were taken from GamePro
magazine volume 7, #7, June 1995. And some entries were taken from
Sega Visions magazine May 1995.
If you know of any additions that are not on this list, please E-Mail me.

3D Baseball | C. Dynamics | !3D! Baseball
4D Boxing | Victor Ent. | Boxing
Armoured Troops Race 2 | Nihon | Action
Astal | Sega | Adventure
A.IV | Artdink | Simulation
Battle Monsters | Sega | Action
Basketball '95 | ??? | Basketball
Bermuda Triangle | Ask Kodansha | Role Playing
Blue Seed | Sega | ???
BUG! | Sega | Action/Adventure
Chinese Detective | Sega | Adventure/interactive
Clockwork Knight | Sega | Action/Adventure
Clockwork Knight 2 | Sega | Action/Adventure
Congo | ??? | 3D Action/Adventure
College Jam | Acclaim | Basketball
Cotton 2 | Success | Action/shooter
CyberRace | Sega | Driving
Dark Legends | Data East | Fighting
Daytona USA | Sega | Driving
Deadlus | Sega | Action/shooter
Defcon 0 | Data East | Action/Strategy
Derby Stallion | Ascii | Simulation
D-Game | Media Ent. | Adventure/interactive
Doom 2 | Sega | 3D Action/shooter
Dragons O T Square Table| C. Dynamics | Graphical Adventure
Dynamic Fantasy | Sega | Action
Ecco the Dolphin | Sega | Action
Fantasy Earth | Sega | Role Playing
Fantasy Gallery | Media Ent. | Adventure/interactive
Fantasy Labyrinth | Sun Elctrncs | Adventure/interactive
Fire Pro Wrestling | Human | Wrestling
Fist of the North Star | Banpresto | Action
Freerunner | Sega | ???
Gail Racer | Sega | Driving
Gamemaster | Sunsoft | ???
Ghen War | ??? | 3D Action
Goal Racer | Sega | ???
Gotha | Sega | ???
Grandslam Baseball | Sega Sports | Baseball
Greatest 9 | Sega | Golf
Great Wall of China | Sunsoft | ???
Guile Racer | Sega | Driving
Hard Core | Virgin Games | Simulation
Hyperderby | CRI | Simulation
Ice Hockey | Sega | Ice Hockey
Keio Karate Squad 2 | Victor Ent. | Fighting
League Road | Sega | ???
Magic Night, RayEarth | Sega | Role Playing
Mahjong Goku | Shanor | Majong
Masters | Sega | Golf
Mortal Kombat 3 | Midway | Arcade Fighting
Musashi | Bell | Action/shooter
Myst | Sunsoft | Adventure/interactive
NBA Basketball | Sega | Basketball
NHL All-Star Hockey | Sega Sports | Hockey
Off-Road Interceptor | C. Dynamics | sci-fi vehicle sim.
Okushimitama Blue Seed | Sega | Role Playing
Overdrive | Zoom | Action
Panzer Dragoon | Sega | Action/shooter
Pebble Beach Golf | Sega | Golf
Pinball Arena | ??? | Pinball
Quo Vadis | Gramus | ???
Race Drivin' | Time Warner | Driving
Rampo | Sega | Adventure/interactive
Real Yumemi | Sega | Action/Adventure
Rigroad Saga | Sega | Role Playing
Sankokushi TV | Koei | Simulation
Saturn Basketball | Sega | Basketball
Sega Rally | Sega | Racing
Shinobi EX | Sega | Action/shooter
Side Pocket | Sega | 8 ball
SimCity 2000 | Sega | Strategy
Soccer | EA Victor | Soccer
Solar Eclipse | ??? | 3D Shooter
Sonic 4 | Sega | Action
Suiji Martial Arts | Data East | Fighting
Super 301 SQ | Nihon Bussan | Simulation
Super Street Fighter 2 | Capcom | Arcade conversion
Tama | Time Warner | ???
The 11th Hour | Virgin | Adventure
The Legend Of Kain | ??? | ???/Action?
The New Dream Mansion | Sega | Adventure/interactive
Tomcat Alley | Sega | Action/shooter
US Drag Champ | Nihon Bussan | Driving
Van Battle | Sega | Fighting
Victory Goal | Sega | Soccer
Virtua Cop | Sega | 3D Arcade Shooter
Virtua Fighter | Sega | 3D Arcade Fighting
Virtua Fighter Remix | Sega | 3D Arcade Fighting
Virtua Fighter 2 | Sega | 3D Arcade Fighting
Virtua GP | Atlas | Driving
Virtua Hangon | Sega | Motorcycle racing
Virtua Racing | Sega | Arcade conversion
Virtua Tennis | Sega | Tennis
Virtual Hydlide | Sega? | Role Playing
V.R. Virtua Racing | Time Warner | Racing
Wanchai Connection | Sega | ???
War Baddies | Grams | Simulation
Waves of Pebble Beach | Sega | Golf
World Striker | Sega | Soccer
Worldwide Soccer | Sega Sports | Soccer
Yumemi Mansion ][ | Sega | Adventure
Zero Four Champ Special | Media Ring | Boxing

(13) Release date
-----------------

As you all know, the release date for the Saturn was supposed to be in
September, but Sega decided that they wanted to get the jump on the Market
and release it early. If you have been keeping track of the Saturn, you
probably already know that it is already out in stores right now. But if
you haven't, well, now you know. Go check your local listings, and call all
the local electronic, software, video game stores possible, because...
"Its out there"
You can get more information such as where copies are available by visiting
Sega's Saturn home page on the World Wide Web at URL "http://www/segaoa.com"

(14) Other Sources of Saturn Information
----------------------------------------

There are many ways to get Sega Saturn information, here are the
few ways I know. This will be updated each release version...
If you have any information to add, please send it to...
[email protected]
If I use it, you will get full credit...

~World Wide Web~

http://www.segaoa.com/
http://128.95.248.147/ (currently down?)

~FTP~

ftp.netcom.com /pub/vi/vidgames/

~NewsGroups~

alt.sega.genesis
rec.games.video.sega

~Mailing Lists~

E-Mail [email protected] with the word SUBSCRIBE as subject...

~Commercial Networks~

America OnLine - keyword VIDEOGAMES
CompuServe - GO VIDGAM
Delphi - GO ELE WOR

(15) Where do I send fan mail?
------------------------------

If you are a fan of this FAQ, send mail to me at...
[email protected]

Send mail to Sega at...
[email protected]

Thats currently all I know of. Please send additions if you know of any to..
[email protected]

(16) Where to get new releases
------------------------------

You can get new releases in the following ways or simply request them from
me via my internet address...
send mail to [email protected] and ask for newest version...

~FTP~

ftp.netcom.com /pub/vi/vidgames/faqs/

~WWW~

I am currently trying to get into contact with Sega
to request a spot on their site for my FAQ.
I am still waiting ANY responce whatsoever...
http://www.segaoa.com is that site...
If you would like my FAQ on your page E-Mail me.

~NewsGroups~

Dozens of people have offered to post this FAQ to
Internet Newsgroups. So I guess you can find it
at the following Newsgroups plus many more...

alt.sega.genesis
rec.games.video.sega

~Bulletin Board Systems~

I will upload the newest FAQ to the following BBS's
about 10 minutes after being finished... :)

Rainmans Sporadic = 609-794-8883
609-692-9163
Bigfoot Express = 609-327-6672
Mystic Realms BBS = 609-691-3105
Crossroads BBS = 609-794-2220

~Commercial Networks~

America OnLine - keyword VIDEOGAMES
CompuServe - GO VIDGAM
Delphi - GO ELE WOR
MSN - Unknown

(17) Misc Info
--------------

Thanks go out to [email protected] for this Misc Info on the
Sega Saturn...

1)Packaging-White and Silver box (slightly larger and heaverier then
sega-cd)

2)Whats inside-Saturn, 1 controller, a.v. cable, power cord, lithium
battery (in machine), Virtua Fighter CD, Choice cuts CD, warranty card,
and saturn stickers.
Newer systems come with Sampler CD only.

3)System specs:

C.P.U: 2 Main SH2 (28.6 Mhz, 25MIPS)
1 Sound 68EC000 (11.3 MHz)

MEMORY: Work RAM 16 Mbit
Video RAM 12 Mbit
Sound RAM 4 Mbit
CD Buffer RAM 4 Mbit
IPL ROM 4 Mbit
Backup RAM 256 Kbit

GRAPHICS: Resolution 320*224,etc.(640*448 but not in manual.)
Colors 2048/1024(16,770,000 simultaneous transmission)
Sprite enlargement,reduction,rotation,transformation

SCROLL: 5 screen maximum
XY Scroll 4
Rotation 2
Enlargement/reduction 2
Window 2
Special features
Vertical cell scroll
Lateral line scroll
Enlargement/reduction

CG FUCTIONS: Polygons specialized hardware
Special features
Wire frame
Flat shading
Gouraud shading

SOUND: PCM & FM sound sources
32 channels
16 bit sampling
Sampling rate 44.1 KHz max.
Audio DSP

CD-ROM: Intelligent double-speed CD drive

MODEL NUMBER:MK-80000

POWER SOURCE:AC 120V;60Hz

POWER CONSUMPUTION: 25W

OPERATING CONDITIONS: Temperature 41'F TO 95'F
Humidity 10% to 80% RH

DIMENSIONS:Width 260mm (10.2 inches)
Lenght 230mm (9.0 inches)
Height 83mm (3.2 inches)
Weight Manual does not list but is pretty heavy

4)Usable Software: *Sega Saturn game CD's
*CD+G (audio and graphics) discs
*8-centimeter audio CD singles
*Music CD's or audio CD;s
*CD+EG (audio with extended graphics) discs

Note: You CANNOT use Genesis,Sega CD or Genesis 32x games on Saturn.

5)Whats on the saturn console:
TOP:CD Door(flip),Cartidge Slot,Reset Button,
Access Light,Power Light,Power Button
FRONT:Controllers 1&2
BACK:A/V Output Jack,Power Jack,Communications
Jack,Battery Cover.

6)Control Pad:
* Directional Pad(extremely good diagianals as opposed to 3DO)
* Start Button
* 6 Buttons on front A,B,C on bottom, smaller X,Y,Z buttons
on top of A,B,C buttons.
* Right and left shift on top of contoller
* Total 9 buttons and directional pad

7)Internal Ram:
512K Bytes-There is a Memory Manager Screen to Initialize,
Delete,and copy memory.

8)Beginning Screens:
A) SET CLOCK SCREEN:Used to enter time and date(m\d\y).
B) MEMORY MANAGER SCREEN:Used to copy,delete,init. mem
C) LANGUAGE SCREEN:Used to set 6 different languages.
(English,French,Italian,Spanish,Dutch,Japanize).
D) OTHER SETTING SCREEN:Used to disable or enable 3
settings.They are Button labels(enable or disable),
Audio output(Stereo or Mono),and Sound Effects(enable
or disable).
Button Labels:To display or not the buttons for
Audio CD Control Screen.
Audio Output:To choose stereo or mono when playing
CD's,CD+G,andCD+EG disc's.
Sound Effects:To have sound effects on or off in
Audio Control Screen.

E) SYSTEM SETTING SCREEN:Used to choose from the four
above screens.
F) AUDIO CONTROL SCREENS:The central panal for audio CD's
and CD+G discs.It handles both
basic and advanced conrols.
G) BASIC CONTROLS SCREEN:9 Button Icons to choose from:
1)Multi-Button:To sets machine for Saturn CD's,
CD+G discs,and CD+G discs.
2)System settings button:To gets into System
setting screen.
3)Hide control buttons:To hides Audio CD control
screen.When you use CD+G discs the graphics
are displayed.
4)Play/pause button:To play or pause music.
5)Stop button:To stop music.
6)Skip forward button:To skip a track or to
search forward through tracks.
7)Skip backward button:To jump back a track or
to scan backwards through tracks.
8)Repeat Button:To repeat one track or all the
tracks.
9)Change controls button:To switch from basic
to advanced controls.
H) ADVANCED CONROLS SCREEN:Another 9 button Icon menu to
choose from.
1)Program sequence:To program a playlist.
2)Shuffle tracks:To play random tracks.
3)Repeat A-B:To repeat a section of track.
4)Scan Intros:To hear first 10 seconds of each track.
5)Adjust surround:To increase or decrease 3D
Surround sound.
6)Adjust pitch:To adjust the pitch or mute the vocals
of the music(karayokee effect!).The adjust pitch
cannot be used with adjust surround.
7)Clear all settings:To clear all option settings.
8)Change screen:To choose from 4 time display formats.
a)Track time elapsed
b)Total time elapsed
c)Track time remaining
d)Total time remaining
9)Change control button:To switch back to basic
control screen.

9) VIRTUA FIGHTER CD:
The arcade favoriate with some less polygons but
extremely well done.Good instruction manual.
Just packed in cd case,no box.

10) SATURN PRIME CUTS CD:
Game footage of 12 games.They are:
*Black Fire
*Bug
*Clockwork Knight
*Daytona USA
*Myst
*NHL all-star hockey
*Panzer Dragoon
*Pebble Beach Golf Links
*V.R. Virtua Racing
*Virtua Fighter
*Worldwide Soccer
*Solar Eclipse

11) PROBLEM IF YOU DON'T HAVE A/V ON T.V.:
Since Sega discided not to include R.F connecter
inside Saturn(For $400 you should get everything
including a svhs cable),you must buy it seperatly.
It should be available where you buy system for $25.

12) MAKE SURE YOU GET EVERYTHING THATS LISTED IN THE BACK OF BOX BEFORE YOU
LEAVE THE STORE. FORGET THE SALES PERSON AND OTHERS. IF YOU DONT YOU
MAY REGRET AND HAVE TO MAKE ANOTHER TRIP BACK TO STORE. SINCE SATURN
WAS A RUSH JOB THINGS MAY NOT BE ALL PERFECT INSIDE BOX.
REMEMBER, *YOU* PAYED $400 OR SO FOR THE MACHINE, IT'S YOUR RIGHT TO
CHECK OUT WHAT YOU GOT FOR YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY.!!!

(18) Whats new?
---------------

There are no new sections in this version, however the FAQ has been geared
more toward comparing the system to other ones instead of me bragging
about the system too much (hey, I wanted it REALLY bad :>).
I have however, updated just about all of the sections and added the compare
sections which I spoke about above.

MORE Games added to games list. Actually, there are about 101 games listed
now. *MOST* of them have the manufacturer and Type of game next to it so you
know at least what type of game it is. As always, this will pretty much be
updated by the next version also. By release date of the Saturn expect this
game section to be the major attraction to the list. Please note that not
all of the games on this list will be coming to the United States.

(19) Acknowledgements (credits)
-------------------------------

The following people deserve some credit for whatever they did to
help me in creating this FAQ...

* GOD
<no address that I know of>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Sega
<[email protected]>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Nintendo
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Sony
<www.sony.com>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Myself (for spending all this time writing this FAQ)
<[email protected]>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Salvatore Salpietro
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Author of Saturn/32X FAQ (For some Games info and 32X specs)
<[email protected]>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* James Dunford, author of PS FAQ for PS Specifications
<[email protected]>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Everyone at alt.sega.genesis for their Saturn info input...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Sega Visions magazine May 1995
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
* GamePro magazine June/July 1995
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

(20) Revision list
------------------

0.5 June 1'st 1995
Official beta release, minimal coverage on games, Pretty good info for
first FAQ version.

0.6 June 13'th 1995
Second beta release of the FAQ. Spelling errors corrected.
Games list *MAJORLY* updated.
Revision List added
Whats New Added

0.7 September 7'th 1995
Minor changes, never released.

1.0 April 8'th 1996
First Official release of the Unofficial Saturn FAQ. :)
Total FAQ revision with comparision to other top 32-bit systems.
Just about everything was changed around for this release form the BETA.

Thats all there is so far...

Thanks you for reading/browsing through my FAQ. I have spent a LOT of time
writing this FAQ, maybe just to calm myself down since I cant afford a
Saturn system, but, the main point is, this is NOT the first release!

This is the first OFFICIAL version I have released and it is long overdue.
It would have been out earlier but I have a very tight schedule and dont
exactly have as much time as I would like to have to work on this FAQ, nor
do I have the resources to add the new information that comes out since
Sega has not replied to my E-Mail, I suppose that means they do not want to
contribute any information to this FAQ. :)
They did however write to me snail mail thanking me, but I need more info.

Once again, thanks for reading, comments/suggestions/flames welcome...

[email protected]

-END FAQ-