Difference between revisions of "Saturn region converter cartridges"

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The [[Sega Saturn]] is region locked, meaning discs can only be played on hardware from the same region. Various factors led to the Saturn being under-supported in the west, so in order to play the plethora of Japanese releases, one requires a '''Saturn Region Converter'''.
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The '''[[Sega Saturn]]''' is region-locked, meaning that games can only be played on hardware from the same region. Various factors led to the Saturn being under-supported in the West. Thus, in order to play the plethora of Japanese releases, to play American games in Europe, or ''vice-versa'' of either scenario, one requires a '''region converter'''.
  
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Saturn region converters come in all shapes and sizes, most notably that of an [[Action Replay Plus]], which bypasses region locking as well as offering storage space and cheat facilities. But before the Action Replay Plus became the de facto accessory for Saturn collectors, consumers would have to make do with a basic region converter. Saturn region converters are cartridges which plug into the Saturn's cartridge slot. The majority of converters start working as soon as the console is swiched on, i.e. there is no need to swap cartridges and discs to play games (unlike later consoles such as the [[Sega Dreamcast]]).
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Saturn region converters are cartridges which plug into the Saturn's cartridge slot. The majority of converters start working as soon as the console is swiched on, i.e. there is no need to swap cartridges and discs to play games (unlike later consoles such as the [[Sega Dreamcast]]). Converters come in all shapes and sizes, most notably the [[Action Replay Plus]], which bypasses region locking as well as offering storage space and cheat facilities. But before the Action Replay Plus became the ''de facto'' accessory for Saturn collectors, consumers had to make do with a basic region converter, which offered no additional features.
  
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Unlike [[Mega Drive Region Converter|Mega Drive region converters]], it is usually easier for Saturn region converters to open the door to every region at once, rather than unlocking one specific region. They are, however, similar in the sense that they cannot solve all regional issues - a game designed for 60Hz NTSC televisions will run roughly 17% slower on a 50Hz PAL television due to the difference in refresh rate (and likewise a European game running on an NTSC TV will likely run too fast), and games will not be translated for obvious reasons.
+
Unlike [[Mega Drive Region Converter|Mega Drive region converters]], it is usually easier for Saturn region converters to enable playing of games from all regions at once, rather than unlocking one specific region. They are, however, similar in the sense that they cannot solve all regional issues. A game programmed for 60 Hz display on NTSC televisions will run slower, at 83.3% of its correct speed, on the 50 Hz televisions used (at least then) in PAL territories, due to the difference in refresh rate. Conversely, a European game running on an NTSC TV will run too fast – that is, if it was correctly adjusted for 50 Hz display during localisation for Europe, which many were not<!-- ; see [[List of Sega Saturn games by native refresh rate]] HELP WE NEED THIS PAGE AND WHAT SHOULD I CALL IT AND WHAT IS TIHS -->. Finally, and for obvious reasons that do not constitute a flaw in the region converter, games cannot be automatically translated; a converter may enable you to play a Japanese game on your Western Saturn, or ''vice-versa'', but it will not guarantee that you can understand any of its text.
  
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==Physical Scans==
+
{{AccessoryReleaseTable|
−
{{Scanbox
+
{{AccessoryRelease
−
| console=Saturn
+
| front=CDPlus Saturn Unknown Box Front.jpg
−
| region=<br/>(Pro Universal Adapter; [[Datel]])
+
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=CD+Plus
 +
| brand=[[Super UFO]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice={{DatePrice|||{{gte}} 1995}}
 +
 
 +
| image1=CDPlus Saturn Unknown.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=CDPlus Saturn Box Front Blaze.jpg
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=CD+Plus
 +
| brand=[[Blaze]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice={{DatePrice|||{{gte}} 1995}}
 +
 
 +
| image1=CDPlus Saturn Blaze.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Box Front Alt.jpg
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=Pro Universal Adapter
 +
| brand=[[Datel]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice={{DatePrice|||{{gte}} 1995}}
 +
 
 +
| image1=ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Alt.jpg
 +
| image1back=ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Alt Back.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 
| front=ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Box Front.jpg
 
| front=ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Box Front.jpg
 
| square=yes
 
| square=yes
−
| cart=ProUniversalAdapter Saturn.jpg
+
 
 +
| name=Pro Universal Adapter
 +
| brand=[[Datel]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice={{DatePrice|||{{gte}} 1995}}
 +
 
 +
| image1=ProUniversalAdapter Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=Game Adapter
 +
| brand=[[Datel]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice={{DatePrice|||{{gte}} 1995}}
 +
 
 +
| image1=GameAdapter Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1back=GameAdapter Saturn Back.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=MultiGameAdapter Saturn Box Front.jpg
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=Multi-Game Adaptor
 +
| brand=[[Trend Master]]
 +
| code=SS-239
 +
 
 +
| dateprice={{DatePrice|US||{{gte}} 1995}}
 +
 
 +
| image1=MultiGameAdaptor Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1back=MultiGameAdaptor Saturn Back.jpg
 +
 
 +
| doc1=Multi-GameAdapterSaturnEUManual.pdf
 +
| doc1name=Manual
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{Scanbox
+
 
−
| console=Saturn
+
{{AccessoryRelease
−
| region=<br/>(ST Key)
+
| front=SegaSatellite Saturn Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=SegaSatellite Saturn Box Back.jpg
 +
| spinemissing=yes
 +
| name=Sega Satellite
 +
| brand= [[EMS]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice={{DatePrice|||{{gte}} 1995}}
 +
 
 +
| image1=SegaSatellite Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1back=SegaSatellite Saturn Back.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=SSKey Saturn KR Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=SSKey Saturn KR Box Back.jpg
 +
| spine=SSKey Saturn KR Box Spine.jpg
 +
| spine2=SSKey Saturn KR Box Spine2.jpg
 +
 
 +
| name=S-S Key
 +
| brand=??
 +
 
 +
| dateprice={{DatePrice|KR||{{gte}} 1995}}
 +
 
 +
| image1=SSKey Saturn KR.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 
| front=STKey Saturn Box Front.jpg
 
| front=STKey Saturn Box Front.jpg
−
| cart=STKey Saturn.jpg
+
| back=STKey Saturn Box Back.jpg
−
}}{{Scanbox
+
| spinemissing=yes
−
| console=Saturn
+
| name=ST-Key
−
| region=<br/>(Ultra Madness ST Key)
+
| brand=??
 +
 
 +
| dateprice={{DatePrice|||{{gte}} 1995}}
 +
 
 +
| image1=STKey Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1back=STKey Saturn Back.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 
| front=
 
| front=
−
| cart=UMSTKey Saturn.jpg
+
 
 +
| name=ST-Key
 +
| brand=??
 +
 
 +
| dateprice={{DatePrice|||{{gte}} 1995}}
 +
 
 +
| image1=STKey Saturn Alt.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=UMSTKey Saturn Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=UMSTKey Saturn Box Back.jpg
 +
 
 +
| name=Ultra Madness ST-Key
 +
| brand=[[Madness]]
 +
| code=SSREP-2
 +
 
 +
| dateprice={{DatePrice|US||{{gte}} 1998}}
 +
 
 +
| image1=UMSTKey Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1back=UMSTKey Saturn Back.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=Mega Converter
 +
| brand=[[HiCom]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice={{DatePrice|KR|pack|{{gte}} 1995}}
 +
 
 +
| image1=Samsung Saturn Mega Converter Front.jpg
 +
| image1back=Samsung Saturn Mega Converter Back.jpg
 +
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
==References==
 +
<references/>
  
 
{{Saturn}}
 
{{Saturn}}
−
 
 
[[Category:Saturn accessories]]
 
[[Category:Saturn accessories]]

Latest revision as of 08:25, 27 October 2021

The Sega Saturn is region-locked, meaning that games can only be played on hardware from the same region. Various factors led to the Saturn being under-supported in the West. Thus, in order to play the plethora of Japanese releases, to play American games in Europe, or vice-versa of either scenario, one requires a region converter.

Saturn region converters are cartridges which plug into the Saturn's cartridge slot. The majority of converters start working as soon as the console is swiched on, i.e. there is no need to swap cartridges and discs to play games (unlike later consoles such as the Sega Dreamcast). Converters come in all shapes and sizes, most notably the Action Replay Plus, which bypasses region locking as well as offering storage space and cheat facilities. But before the Action Replay Plus became the de facto accessory for Saturn collectors, consumers had to make do with a basic region converter, which offered no additional features.

Unlike Mega Drive region converters, it is usually easier for Saturn region converters to enable playing of games from all regions at once, rather than unlocking one specific region. They are, however, similar in the sense that they cannot solve all regional issues. A game programmed for 60 Hz display on NTSC televisions will run slower, at 83.3% of its correct speed, on the 50 Hz televisions used (at least then) in PAL territories, due to the difference in refresh rate. Conversely, a European game running on an NTSC TV will run too fast – that is, if it was correctly adjusted for 50 Hz display during localisation for Europe, which many were not. Finally, and for obvious reasons that do not constitute a flaw in the region converter, games cannot be automatically translated; a converter may enable you to play a Japanese game on your Western Saturn, or vice-versa, but it will not guarantee that you can understand any of its text.

Box Name Brand Date & Price Images Documentation
CDPlus Saturn Unknown Box Front.jpg
 CD+Plus Super UFO
(≥ 1995)
CDPlus Saturn Unknown.jpg
CDPlus Saturn Box Front Blaze.jpg
 CD+Plus Blaze
(≥ 1995)
CDPlus Saturn Blaze.jpg
ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Box Front Alt.jpg
 Pro Universal Adapter Datel
(≥ 1995)
ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Alt Back.jpgProUniversalAdapter Saturn Alt.jpg
ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Box Front.jpg
 Pro Universal Adapter Datel
(≥ 1995)
ProUniversalAdapter Saturn.jpg
Game Adapter Datel
(≥ 1995)
GameAdapter Saturn Back.jpgGameAdapter Saturn.jpg
MultiGameAdapter Saturn Box Front.jpg
 Multi-Game Adaptor
SS-239 		Trend Master
United States of America US: (≥ 1995)
MultiGameAdaptor Saturn Back.jpgMultiGameAdaptor Saturn.jpg
Multi-GameAdapterSaturnEUManual.pdf
Manual
SegaSatellite Saturn Box Back.jpgNospine.pngSegaSatellite Saturn Box Front.jpg
 Sega Satellite EMS
(≥ 1995)
SegaSatellite Saturn Back.jpgSegaSatellite Saturn.jpg
SSKey Saturn KR Box Back.jpgSSKey Saturn KR Box Spine.jpgSSKey Saturn KR Box Front.jpgSSKey Saturn KR Box Spine2.jpg
 S-S Key ??
South Korea KR: (≥ 1995)
SSKey Saturn KR.jpg
STKey Saturn Box Back.jpgNospine.pngSTKey Saturn Box Front.jpg
 ST-Key ??
(≥ 1995)
STKey Saturn Back.jpgSTKey Saturn.jpg
ST-Key ??
(≥ 1995)
STKey Saturn Alt.jpg
UMSTKey Saturn Box Back.jpgUMSTKey Saturn Box Front.jpg
 Ultra Madness ST-Key
SSREP-2 		Madness
United States of America US: (≥ 1998)
UMSTKey Saturn Back.jpgUMSTKey Saturn.jpg
Mega Converter HiCom
South Korea KR: PACK-INpack (≥ 1995)
Samsung Saturn Mega Converter Back.jpgSamsung Saturn Mega Converter Front.jpg

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
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