Sega Saturn consoles

There exist various Sega Saturn models, which differ from each other to varying degrees.

Perhaps the most well-known difference is that between “Model 1” and “Model 2” Saturns, which are easily distinguishable through the differing designs of their Power and Reset buttons—oval in the former, round in the latter—and also differ internally, chiefly in having different types of CD cable, which can complicate efforts to install a modchip. Moreover, within the broad categories of Model 1 or 2, several types of motherboard exist, with different arrangements of components and paths.

All Sega Saturns are either NTSC or PAL. Within these categories, US and Canadian (NTSC) Saturns are identical, as are European and Australian (PAL) models. There was no SECAM Saturn: the ‘SECAM’ models released in France were simply PAL models with a bundled PAL-to-SECAM converter.

The model number shown represents the model number of the box set, not the model number of the console. For example: Box set model number HST-0001 (printed on the box) includes a gray console with model number HST-3200 (printed on the rear sticker of the console).

• Saturn consoles in Europe
• Saturn consoles in Asia
• Saturn consoles in Brazil
• Saturn consoles in South Korea
• Saturn consoles in North America
• Saturn consoles in Australia

Japan

Grey Japanese Saturn

The original Japanese Saturn model is grey in color—excepting the cartridge slot flap and the front, which are black. It has three blue buttons (Power, Open, and Reset), and a drive access led. Production was later ended in favor of the white Saturn. Model numbers/revisions: HST-3200 (VA0), HST-3210 (VA1, VA2, VA3).

Box	Name	Distributor	Date & Price	Console	Label	Hardware	Software	Documentation	Comments
	Sega Saturn (セガサターン)		¥44,800 (1994-11-22)	HST-0001		Control Pad
	Sega Saturn 1,000,000th Campaign Box Including Virtua Fighter Remix (セガサターン100万台！バーチャファイター リミックスゲームCD付)		¥34,800 (1995-06-16)	HST-0001		Control Pad	Virtua Fighter Remix
	Sega Saturn 1,000,000th Campaign Box Including Virtua Fighter Remix (セガサターン100万台！バーチャファイター リミックスゲームCD付)		¥34,800 (1995-06-16)	HST-0005		Control Pad	Virtua Fighter Remix	Manual
	Sega Saturn (セガサターン)		¥34,800 (1995-07-05)	HST-0004		Control Pad		Manual
	Sega Saturn Multimedia Set (セガサターンマルチメディアセット)		? (≥ 1995)	HST-0013		Control Pad Shuttle Mouse Video CD Card		Manual

White Japanese Saturn

‘White’ Saturns are no more white in reality than Dreamcasts are: both are, in fact, a very light gray. It has round gray Power and Reset buttons, a pink Open button, and no drive access led. Toys 'R' Us sold an exclusive white Saturn with a silhouette of Sonic printed on the drive lid. Model number/revisions: HST-3220 (VA4, VA5, VA6, VA7, VA8, VA9, VA10, VA11, VA13, VA15). Note: the integrated sound block on revisions VA13 and VA15 has a bug in certain 68000 commands. The result is that certain games are incompatible with these boards. The Japanese only releases of Space Harrier and Outrun are the only two that come to mind, and both have received second pressings that eliminate this bug and work in all machines equally.

Box	Name	Distributor	Date & Price	Console	Label	Hardware	Software	Documentation	Comments
	Sega Saturn (セガサターン)		¥20,000 (1996-03-22)	HST-0014		Control Pad
	Sega Saturn +1 Limited Edition (セガサターンプラスワン限定セット)		? (≥ 1996)	HST-0014		Control Pad	unknown
	Saturn Bomberman Kit (サターンボンバーマンキット)		? (≥ 1996)	HST-0014		Control Pad	Saturn Bomberman
	Sega Saturn (セガサターン)		? (≥ 1996)	HST-0014		Control Pad'	Flash Sega Saturn: Ochikadzuki-hen unknown
	Sega Saturn (セガサターン)		? (≥ 1996)	HST-0014		Control Pad'	Flash Sega Saturn: Ochikadzuki-hen
	Sega Saturn (セガサターン)		? (≥ 1996)	HST-0014		Control Pad'
	Sega Saturn Lawson Ice Cream & Softdrink Summer Present (セガサターン)		? (≥ 1996)	HST-0014		Control Pad'
	Sega Saturn (セガサターン)		? (≥ 1996)	HST-0014		Control Pad'	NiGHTS into Dreams
	Sega Saturn Sega Rally Pack (セガサターンセガラリーパック)		? (≥ 1996)	HST-0014		Control Pad'	Sega Rally Championship
	Sega Saturn (HST-0019-like slip cover) (セガサターン)		? (≥ 1996)	HST-0014		Control Pad'
	Sega Saturn Christmas Nights Winter Limited Edition (セガサターンクリスマスナイツ冬季限定版)		¥20,000 (1996-11-22)	HST-0017		Control Pad	Christmas Nights
	Sega Saturn (セガサターン)		¥20,000 (1997-07-10)	HST-0019		Control Pad
	Sega Saturn +1 Limited Edition Set (セガサターンプラスワン限定セット)		(≥ 1997)	HST-0019		Control Pad	unknown
	Sega Saturn Otoshidama Campaign (セガサターンお年玉キャンペーン)		? (≥ 1997)	HST-0014		Control Pad	Otoshidama Catalog Video
	Sega Saturn (セガサターン)		¥20,000 (≥ 1997)	HST-0019		Control Pad

Skeleton Saturn

The two ‘Skeleton Saturns’ were the final models to be produced in Japan (and hence the world), and they were the only non-standard models brought to other regions(?). They are a valuable collector’s item, being quite rare. The unique feature that provides their name are their see-through body and matching controllers. Other than that, they’re basically identical to the second version of the white Saturn. Model number/revisions: HST-3220 (VA13, VA15). Note: the integrated sound block on revisions VA13 and VA15 has a bug in certain 68000 commands. The result is that certain games are incompatible with these boards. The Japanese only releases of Space Harrier and Outrun are the only two that come to mind, and both have received second pressings that eliminate this bug and work in all machines equally..

Models:

• HST-0020/HST-0021: These two models were both translucent smoky grey, with “This is Cool” printed on the CD drive lid and the controllers. Approximately 30,000 units were produced. HST-0020 was not for sale and only given away as a prize in a contest. HST-0021 was released in Japan on 4 April 1998 retailing at ¥20,000.
• HST-0022: This model was a promotional tie-in with ASCII's popular Derby Stallion horse racing simulation franchise; it came with stickers for the game. The console differs in the hue of its transparent case and also does not have the line “This is Cool” printed anywhere on it. Approximately 20,000 were produced for Japan. This model was released in Japan on 25 March 1999 retailing at ¥20,000. An unknown number of units were imported by Tectoy then modified, repackaged and sold in Brazil.

Box	Name	Distributor	Date & Price	Console	Label	Hardware	Software	Documentation	Comments
	Sega Saturn 1998 Special Campaign Original (セガサターン)		N/A (≥ 1998)	HST-0020		Control Pad
	Sega Saturn (セガサターン)		¥20,000 (1998-04-04)	HST-0021		Control Pad
	Sega Saturn (セガサターン)		¥20,000 (1999-03-25)	HST-0022		Control Pad

Hi-Saturn

Sega licensed the rights to produce Saturns to some of their hardware partners. One was Hitachi, who provided the CPUs, disc drives and several other chips. The Hi-Saturn is yet another Saturn but with the Video CD Card included, and Hi-Saturn printed on the CD drive lid. It was sold at high-end department stores and was marketed as a multimedia player instead of just a video game console.

The start up screen is different as well. Instead of a bunch of pieces forming together, the word Hi-Saturn shoots out from the middle of the screen and then flips around 'till it's readable and then it flashes on screen like other Saturns do.

Models:

• MMP-1: These models are based on the first major Saturn model, with oval buttons and Drive Access LED and is two toned charcoal gray with black as the bottom color.
• MMP-11: This model is based on the second major Saturn model, with round buttons and is two toned charcoal gray with black as the bottom color.
• MMP-1000NV: Known as the Game & Car Navi Hi-Saturn (ゲーム＆カーナビ ハイサターン), this model is much different from all other Saturn models, both in design and funcionality. It has a lower, more square profile and the system is completely flat on top and lacks the bulge of the CD drive. The system also had a LCD monitor and GPS receiver sold separately (with only Japanese regional software being available). 2000 units were produced by Hitachi each month, while the LCD screens had a run of 1000 per month.

Box	Name	Distributor	Date & Price	Console	Label	Hardware	Software	Documentation	Comments
	Hi-Saturn (ハイサターン)		¥64,800 (1995-04-01)	MMP-1		Control Pad Video CD Card
	Hi-Saturn 1,000,000th Campaign Box Including Virtua Fighter Remix (ハイサターン100万台！バーチャファイター リミックスゲームCD付)		¥64,800 (1995-06-16)	MMP-1		Control Pad Video CD Card	Virtua Fighter Remix
	Game & Car Navi Hi-Saturn (ゲーム＆カーナビ ハイサターン)		¥150,000 (1995-12-06)	MMP-1000NV		Control Pad Video CD Card
	Hi-Saturn (ハイサターン)		? (≥ 1996)	MMP-11		Control Pad Video CD Card
	Hi-Saturn Christmas Nights Winter Limited Edition (ハイサターンクリスマスナイツ冬季限定版)		? (≥ 1996)	MMP-11		Control Pad Video CD Card	Christmas Nights

JVC/Victor V-Saturn

JVC-Victor also produced their own version of the Saturn hardware called the V-Saturn. There are two versions of this system. The casing is similar to that of any standard Saturn, except for the front fascia which has a different mold and is matte instead of glossy. The colors are different and "V-Saturn" is printed on top of the machine.

The boot-up sequence on a V-Saturn has the polygons form a V-Saturn logo instead of the Sega Saturn logo.

Models:

• RG-JX1: This model is based on the first major Saturn model, with Drive Access LED and oval buttons and is two toned blueish gray and dark gray as the bottom color.
• RG-JX2: This model is based on the second major Saturn model, with round buttons and is two toned light gray with darker gray as bottom color.

Box	Name	Distributor	Date & Price	Console	Label	Hardware	Software	Documentation	Comments
	V-Saturn (Vサターン)		¥44,800 (1994-11-22)	RG-JX1		Control Pad
	V-Saturn 1,000,000th Campaign Box Including Virtua Fighter Remix (Vサターン100万台！バーチャファイター リミックスゲームCD付)		¥34,800 (1995-06-16)	RG-JX1		Control Pad	Virtua Fighter Remix
	V-Saturn (Vサターン)		? (≥ 1995)	RG-JX1		Control Pad
	V-Saturn (Vサターン)		? (1996-06-07)	RG-JX2		Control Pad
	V-Saturn Christmas Nights Winter Limited Edition (Vサターンクリスマスナイツ冬季限定版)		? (≥ 1996)	RG-JX2		Control Pad	Christmas Nights
	V-Saturn Special Pack (Vサターンスペシャルパック)		? (≥ 1996)	RG-JX2S		Control Pad	Vatlva