Control Pad (Saturn)

From Sega Retro

SaturnPad.jpg
Control Pad
Made for: Sega Saturn
Manufacturer: Sega
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥4,8004,800 HSS-0101
Sega Saturn
JP
(White)
¥4,8004,800 HSS-0101-S
Sega Saturn
JP
(Cool Pad)
¥2,5002,500 HSS-0162
Sega Saturn
JP
(V-Saturn grey)
RG-CP5
Sega Saturn
JP
(V-Saturn coloured)
RG-CP6
Sega Saturn
JP
(HiSaturn)
HSS-0118
Sega Saturn
US
$34.9934.99[2] MK-80100
Sega Saturn
US
(Arcade Control Pad grey)
MK-80114
Sega Saturn
US
(Arcade Control Pad black)
$24.9924.99[2] MK-80116
Sega Saturn
EU
MK-80301
Sega Saturn
EU
(JP-style)
MK-80313
Sega Saturn
UK
(JP-style)
£19.9919.99[3] MK-80313
Sega Saturn
BR
R$40.0040.00
Sega Saturn
KR
(Samsung model)
SATURN-0001
Sega Saturn
KR
(Sega model)
HSS-0101

The Sega Saturn Control Pad, later known simply as the Controller in North America, is primary method of user input for the Sega Saturn. It is an evolution of the Six Button Control Pad for the Sega Mega Drive and was originally seen in 1994 along with the Saturn console.

Hardware

It has a circular D-Pad, a  START  button, and six face buttons; A, B, C, X, Y and Z. New to the Saturn is the addition of two shoulder buttons, L and R, which replace the Mega Drive's "mode" button to bring the total number of buttons to nine. Like the Mega Drive Control Pad(s), it is ergonomically designed for maximum comfort.

The Saturn controller debuted in Japan in 1994 and remained largely unchanged throughout the lifespan of the console. In North America and Europe however, a different, much bulkier controller was released to supposedly accommodate for the "bigger hands" of western consumers. This "MK-80100" control pad is functionally identical to its Japanese cousin, but is slightly larger and has a peculiar concave D-Pad, not seen in a Sega console since. This particular model is often regarded to be worse than the Japanese variant, and was replaced entirely during the summer of 1996, cutting costs as the console was redesigned.

The Control Pad saw an "upgrade" in the form of the 3D Control Pad, which featured an analogue thumbstick. Its design is similar to the XE-1AP, a 1989 analogue thumbstick controller released for the Sega Mega Drive exclusively in Japan.

Media/transport control buttons

In addition to giving more control options for games, X, Y, Z, L and R double up as "media control" (or "transport control") buttons:

  • X: Repeat
  • Y: Stop
  • Z: Start/pause
  • L: Previous track
  • R: Next track

This was intended for the console's CD player, to save the user from navigating extra menus, however the layout was adopted by some games (at least in part), typically those with replay functions or video players:

Versions

There are many slightly different colour variations of the controller, mostly to match the colour of the console. Japan initially received grey pads, but eventually saw white and clear varieties as well as those designed for V-Saturns and HiSaturns. The transparent "Cool Pad" was sold in Japan for one month, between 20 June 1997 and 19 July 1997[1]. In the rest of the world (bar Brazil), only black controllers were released. It should also be noted that all versions of the Control Pad (Saturn) are Region Free and can be used on any Saturn console.

Magazine articles

Main article: Control Pad (Saturn)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Computer & Video Games (UK)
100
[3]
Sega Saturn
100
Based on
1 review

Control Pad (Saturn)

Saturn, JP (Grey)
Saturn HSS-0101 box-2.pngNospine-small.pngSega Saturn HSS-0101 A.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (White)
Sat digi gamepad jp box back.jpgNospine-small.pngSat digi gamepad jp box front.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (Cool Pad)
Coolpad Saturn JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngSaturn HSS-0162 box-1.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (V-Saturn, RG-CP5)
Saturn RG-CP5 box-2.jpgNospine-small.pngSaturn RG-CP5 box-1.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (V-Saturn, RG-CP6)
ControlPad Saturn JP Box Back RG-CP6.jpgNospine-small.pngSaturn RG-CP6 box.jpg
Cover
Saturn, JP (HiSaturn)
Saturn HSS-0118 box-2.jpg
Cover
Saturn, US (MK-80100)
Saturn 80100 box back.jpgNospine-small.pngSaturn 80100 box.jpg
Cover
Saturn, US (MK-80114)
Saturn 80114 box back.jpgNospine-small.pngSaturn 80114 box.jpg
Cover
Saturn, US (MK-80116)
Saturn 80116 box back.jpgNospine-small.pngSaturn 80116 box.jpg
Cover
Saturn, EU (MK-80301)
Saturn MK-80301 Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngSaturn MK-80301 box.jpg
Cover
Saturn, EU (MK-80313)
Saturn MK-80313 box back.jpgNospine-small.pngSaturn MK-80313 box.jpg
Cover
Saturn, BR
Joystick Saturn BR Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngJoystick Saturn BR Box Front.jpg
Cover
Saturn, KR (Samsung Saturn)
Samsung Saturn Control Pad Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngSamsung Saturn Control Pad Box Front.jpg
Cover

References


Sega Saturn
Topics Technical Specifications (Hardware Comparison) | History (Development | Release | Decline and legacy) | List of games (A-M) | List of games (N-Z) | Magazine articles | Promotional material | Merchandise
Hardware Japan | North America | Western Europe | Eastern Europe | South America | Asia | South Korea | Australasia | Africa

HiSaturn Navi | SunSeibu SGX | Sega Titan Video

Add-ons Backup Memory (third-party) | Sega PriFun | Video CD Card (third-party) | Extended RAM Cartridge (third-party) | Twin Advanced ROM System
Controllers Control Pad | Control Pad (Australia) | 3D Control Pad | Arcade Racer | Infrared Control Pad | Mission Stick | Shuttle Mouse | Twin Stick | Virtua Gun | Virtua Stick | Virtua Stick Pro
Online Services/Add-ons NetLink Internet Modem (NetLink Keyboard | NetLink Keyboard Adapter | NetLink Mouse) | Saturn Modem (Floppy Drive | Keyboard)
Connector Cables 21 Pin RGB Cable | Monaural AV Cable | RF Unit | Stereo AV Cable | S-Video Cable | Taisen Cable
Development Hardware Programming Box | Sound Box | E7000 | CartDev | SNASM2 | Address Checker | PSY-Q Development System | MIRAGE Universal CD Emulator
Misc. Hardware 6Player | SBom Multitap‎ | Saturn region converter cartridges | Action Replay | Pro Action Replay | Action Replay Plus | X-Terminator (Version 3) | S-S Promoter | Other cartridges