| User | Post |
Colin
Posts: 3033/11302 |
Yeah, why did Konami decide to give the Saturn users extra goodies (like some extra kickass remixes)?
Didn't make sense... I want to play that version one day when Saturn emulation becomes more advanced. |
Legion
Posts: 1383/5657 |
I still have my Saturn. This thing ruled.
My games:
---------------
Magic Carpet
Ghen War
Panzer Dragoon Saga
Quarterback Attack
Galactic Attack
Battle Arena Toshinden: Remix
NBA Jam: TE
Baku Baku Animal
Virtua On: Cyber Troopers
NiGHTS
Wing Arms
Warcraft II
Up next on my list, is Castlevania: SotN with bonus areas not in the PSX version. 
|
Colin
Posts: 3021/11302 |
Oh, some of the graphics for the system were great, no question.
But despite the programming issue, the Saturn got burned at two separate E3's. At the first, one of Sony's representatives got up to the microphone at the PSX news conference, shuffled his papers and said "$299" then left to thunderous applause. In other words, Sega got slapped in the face at that price point since there was no way they could sell the Saturn for that.
Then the next year, there was an agreement NOT to announce any price drops at E3. Of course, Sony immediately announces the PSX is going down to $199, and Sega had to react quickly by slashing the Saturn's price by $100. It didn't go well.  |
Kasumi-Astra
Posts: 655/1867 |
Elmo: Good to hear 
Colin: The Saturn's pre-release history is fascinating. Apparently, the Saturn only had only one Hitachi SH2 chip in it before the PSX become the Playstation after it's official announcement. The Playstation's specifications were stunning on announcement, and Sega needed to up the ante immediately if it stood any chance.
Sega of America were given a chance to find a hardware solution in the US, where the PS got it's hardware from, and Sega of Japan was given a chance as well.
Sega of America actually secured a deal with the same manufacturer of Sony's CPU, albeit a faster breed.
Sega of Japan's solution was to throw in another SH2 CPU...
However, the US solution required a total re-working of the hardware, whereas the Japanese solution required comparitively little redesign.
This is how the Saturn got it's three CPUs, two parallel SH2s and one SH1.
It was difficult to program for, but the parallel processing really let the Saturn do some staggering graphics. Shenmue, Panzer Saga and Radiant Silvergun are great examples...
The SH2 chip is primarily a 2d chip, as well. This is why the Saturn is such a spectacular console for the classic shoot'em ups and beat'em ups |
Uncle Elmo
Posts: 510/1062 |
Kas - Yep, the latest work he did was on "Headhunter" , but nothing can surpass the Metropolis Street Racer OST.
Utter class. |
Colin
Posts: 3005/11302 |
Yeah, the programming thing was covered in my big video game history book. 
Basically one of the magazines took apart a PSX (everything nicely ordered) and a Saturn (looked like Sega just tossed in a bunch of parts and hoped for the best). That wasn't good PR right off the bat.  |
Kasumi-Astra
Posts: 614/1867 |
I find sarchasm hard to pick up only in the written word  Anyway, I had no idea that Richard Jaques did anything past the Saturn generation... Is he still out and about doing stuff? |
Uncle Elmo
Posts: 502/1062 |
You forget Kas that "Cingeworthy" is right up my street, although I was being sarcastic, as the songs are terrible  (Richard Jaques best work can be found on Metropolis Street Racer, that stuff was genius. ) |
Kasumi-Astra
Posts: 605/1867 |
The lyrics in Sonic R are kinda cringeworthy... And the announcer at the beginning of each race / replay also sounds awful
The movies no longer work on my copy of Sonic Jam... Damn, that Japanese Sonic 3 advert was great |
NightHawk
Posts: 460/621 |
I would love to get a Saturn, if only just for the Virtua Fighter games... but there's always the lack of spare cash problem.
That, and my wife would probably kill me for wasting the money for a Saturn just for 2 games. |
Uncle Elmo
Posts: 501/1062 |
Yep still have my Saturn but I hardly play it nowadays. I've seen the Saturn footage of Shenmue you get it as a bonus extra for finishing Shenmue 1 (or is that 2) on the DC.
I've got...
Sonic R (Some of Richard Jaques' besat work)
Sonic Jam (Not superceeded by the GC's Sonic Mega Collection)
Daytona: Championship edition
Sega Ages
Panzer Dragoon
Discworld
Nights
|
Kasumi-Astra
Posts: 595/1867 |
The biggest problem was that the Saturn was tough to program for. It has three CPUs, whereas the Playstation only had one. You only needed to learn C++ to make a basic game for the PSX... You needed to learn the whole machine for the Saturn because it required the developers to be skilled at using the parallel processing.
That's not to say that it can't do awesome graphics... The Saturn shone far greater than the Playstation in numerous games, but only a few. Shenmue is a great example of this
Anyways, having got my Saturn, I'm in trouble... E-bay is burning a whole in my pocket... I've already got my eyes set on Panzer Dragoon Saga and Burning Rangers... No Radiant Silverguns yet, though  |
Colin
Posts: 2962/11302 |
Basically you have most of the Saturn's A library.
It wasn't a TERRIBLE system but the price thing killed it right off the bat. It was extremely expensive when it first came out (despite a surprise launch announced at E3) and KB Toys cut off all ties with Sega when they weren't given a piece of that launch. Then Sony did the price cut thing after a year and... |
Dracoon
Posts: 982/3727 |
Not bad, but the only reason I would have gotten or will get a saturn is for SF3 and maybe I need to learn japanese. I don't think I could find the money for it unless I knew I would get something I really wanted though. |
Kasumi-Astra
Posts: 594/1867 |
I bought my second Saturn today, because my old one has long been defunct
Anyone else have a Saturn, and which games have you got?
I have:
Sega Rally Championship
Sonic R
Sonic Jam
Daytona Championship Circuit Edition
Virtua Fighters 1 and 2
Virtua Cop 2
WipeOut
Sega Tourning Car Championship
NiGHTS and Christmas NiGHTS
And, I wondered if anyone had seen the footage of the Saturn version of Shenmue? This game would've silenced all the Saturn's hardware critics. This game looks awesome.
Saturn Shenmue Footage |
