Sega Saturn consoles
From Sega Retro
Contents
Saturn Models
US and Canadian Saturns are the same or as near as I can tell. Consequently, I try to refer to them as "North American" or "NA" models.
I have been told that European and Australian Saturns are identical, although I don't know that for sure. It would make sense since the AC voltage and TV standard is the same for both.
Japanese models are self-explanatory.
All Saturns are either NTSC or PAL. There was no SECAM Saturn. The "SECAM" Saturn models released in France were PAL models with a converter.
I'm not sure about the rest of Asia or anyplace else. I would assume that places like Hong Kong or Korea would probably get the Saturn, but I can't say for sure. Hong Kong is weird in that it's offically PAL as a former British colony, but they have a VERY strong NTSC market thanks to their proximity to Japan.
U.S./Canadian Models
All NA Saturn models are black in color. There were at least three different subversions were released, and the differences varied, but were generally minor except cosmetic and jumper locations. Model numbers can be ascertained by viewing the back of the Saturn.
MK-80000 (?): Manufactured from approximately 8/95 to 3/96. Looks very much like the Japanese Gray Saturn except in color.
MK-80000A: Manufactured from 3/96 to 7/96. It featured a notched power cord, no drive access light, round power and reset buttons, and a 1.00a BIOS. Jumper locations are once again different.
MK-80001: Manufactured starting 7/96. It's similar in appearance to the MK-8000A model, with difference being the jumper locations.
Japanese Models
Gray Japanese Saturn
The original Japanese Saturn model is grey in colour (except the cartridge slot flap and the front which are black). It has three blue buttons (Power, Open and Access), a drive access LED, a non-notched power cord. Production was later ended in favor of the White Saturn.
HST-0001
HST-0004
HST-0005 (console is equal to HST-004)
White Japanese Saturn
There are two models of the White Saturn. The first is based off the first generation Saturn with purple buttons, and the second is identical to the second generation with gray buttons and with no access LED. The systems came packed with a matching white controller with multi-colored buttons similar to a Super Famicom controller except only the bottom row buttons are colored green, yellow, and blue respectively. It is also rumored that the White Saturn may have a slightly faster CD access time. The Cartridge slot flap is also gray in color. "White" Saturns are no more white in reality than Dreamcasts are; both are very light gray.
| Reference | Designation | Bios | Date | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HST-0001 | Saturn console gray HST-3200 / HST-3210 | 1.00/1.01 | 22-11-1994 | 44,800¥ | |
| HST-0004 | Saturn console gray HST-3210 | 1.01 | 16-06-1995 | 34,800¥ | |
| HST-0005 | Saturn HST-3210 | 1.01 | 16-06-1995 | 34,800¥ | 1,000,000th Campaign Box + Virtua Fighter Remix |
| Reference | Designation | Bios | Date | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HST-0014 | Saturn console white - HST-3220 | 1.01 | 03-96 | 20,000¥ | Some were bundled with Virtua Fighter 2 |
| HST-0017 | Christmas Nights Campaign Box - HST-3220 | 1.01 | 11-96 | 20,000¥ | |
| HST-0019 | Saturn console white - HST-3220 | 1.01 | 20,000¥ | Some were bundled as a Toys 'R' Us edition with a Sonic stencil |
- Sega saturn white 1.jpg
HST-014
HST-0014 box
HST-0014 + VF2 box
- Sega saturn white 2.jpg.jpg
HST-0017 and HST-0019
HST-0017 box
HST-0019 box
HST-0019 - Toys 'R' Us Edition
HST-0019 - Toys 'R' Us Edition box
Hi-Saturn
The Hi-Saturn is yet another early style Saturn but with the MPEG decompression hardware built in, and Hi-Saturn printed on the CD drive lid. It's manufactured by Hitachi, and was supposed to cost less then a White Saturn with an optional MPEG card added in (so, it's a good deal).
The unit is a dark charcoal color. It's not as black in color as the US Saturn but pretty close. You wouldn't think otherwise unless you got really close and examined the hues. Also, the buttons on it are circular, not oval, like subsequent Saturn units. The buttons are a khaki looking color. The machine has a very drab feel to it. The box it comes in is very plain looking almost all black with a light gray/white border.
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.
Controllers have the same color layout as the unit. The buttons are khaki and a gloomy looking blueish/gray. The controllers say Hitachi on them.
MMP-1000NV: "Hi-Saturn Navi". This model has a lower, more square profile, and an add-on LCD monitor for playing games on. The system is completely flat on top and lacks the bulge of the CD drive. Also reportedly included an modem and a GPS receiver (with only Japanese regional software being available). This model intended to be a "portable" system for use in luxury cars though a joint deal with Nissan. In an earlier version of the FAQ, it was stated that NCS sold these models for $1,000 a pop. It is now believed that this was a somewhat misleading statement. NCS ordered the Navi Saturn only once, and in a very limited number. Five total were purchased. Three with the LCD screen and the special navigation software. One was kept in their private collection. Three were sold to other stores and the fifth went to a private customer (who bought one of the complete units). Due to the exceptionally high price, and low interest, NCS never received any more than these five.
Thanks to NCS for clearing this up.
V-Saturn
Another authorized clone of Saturn. Built by JVC-Victor. There are two versions of this system. The casing is similar to that of any standard Saturn. The colors are different, as is the machine's circuitry, and "V-Saturn" is printed on top of the machine.
RG-JX1: Model with oval buttons. Two toned gray with black as bottom second tone.
RG-JX2: Model with round buttons. Two toned gray with darker gray as bottom color. From inspecting the later version, it is identical in every way to the Sega machine aside from color and markings, to the point one can suspect both are made by the same people, or at minimum are made out of exactly the same parts (all the plastic moldings are identical etc.). The boot-up sequence on a V-Saturn has the polygons form a V-Saturn logo instead of the SegaSaturn logo, of course. The boot-up screen on the second one shows "Ver. 1.01" just as it does on white Saturns have been seen to do...
| Reference | Designation | Bios | Date | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RG-JX1-L | V-Saturn RG-JX1 | 1.00/1.01 | 22-11-1994 | 44,800¥ | Equivalent to HST-0001 |
| RG-JX1-S | V-Saturn RG-JX1 | 1.00/1.01 | 16-06-1995 | 34,800¥ | Equivalent to HST-0004 |
| RG-JX1-LC | V-Saturn RG-JX1 1,000,000th Campaign Box + Virtua Fighter Remix | 1.01 | 16-06-1995 | Equivalent to HST-0005 | |
| RG-JX2 | V-Saturn RG-JX2 | 1.01 | 07-06-1996 | Equivalent to HST-0014 | |
| RG-JX2-B | V-Saturn RG-JX2 BattleBa Campaign Console | 1.01 | |||
| RG-JX2-C | V-Saturn RG-JX2 Christmas Nights Campaign | 1.01 | Equivalent to HST-0017 |
RG-JX1-L
RG-JX1-S
RG-JX1-LC
RG-JX2
RG-JX2-B
RG-JX2-C
Skeleton Saturn
The "Skeleton Saturns" are the final Saturn models to be produced in Japan (and the world).
The single unique feature of the first model is the smoky grayish/black "see-through" case and "This is Cool" printed on the CD drive lid. Other then that, it's basically identical to the second version of the white Saturn. They are a valuable collectors item, albeit rare. In the US, they retailed for a little over $200 (even though you could pick up a stock US model for much less). Approximately 30,000 were produced for Japan and 50,000 for the US.
HST-0022: blue "Skeleton Saturn" Saturn released on March 25, 1999, in a promotional tie-in with ASCII's Derby Stallion Saturn game (it came with stickers for the game and says something about the game on the box). There is no "This is Cool" printed anywhere on the system, and came with the same smoky gray controller as the other one (no clear blue controller was ever made). The BIOS version is 1.01. Supposedly, it's easier to acquire a blue Skeleton Saturn. Though this may just be because by the time it was released, few people cared anymore. Approximately 20,000 were produced.
Also, reliable sources have stated that the blue Skeleton Saturn will not play the Japanese version of "Space Harrier".
| Reference | Designation | Bios | Date | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HST-0020 | Skeleton Campaign Console | 1.01 | Free? | 1998 |
| HST-0021 | Skeleton console - HST-3220 | 1.01 | 04-04-1998 | 20,000¥ |
| HST-0022 | Skeleton / derby stallion - HST-3220 | 1.01 | 25-03-1999 | 20,000¥ |
- Sega Saturn HST-0020.jpgHST-0020
- Sega Saturn HST-0020 box.jpgHST-0020 box
- Sega Saturn HST-0021 box.jpgHST-0021
- Sega Saturn HST-0022 box.jpgHST-0021
European/Australian Models
All black. Externally quite similar to the NA models except they naturally run at a 50Hz PAL frequency. Production run model numbers are very similar except they have a 2 in place of the third digit. A US MK-8000A would be an MK-80200A in Europe. The odd exception is the MK-80200-50, which has no US equivalent. Also, EU/AUS machines will have "PAL" next to the BIOS revision number on the system settings screen instead of "NTSC", unless the system has been modified.
There is no SECAM Saturn. The French used the same PAL Saturn as the rest of Europe but with a different RF/SCART adapter.
MK-80200: Unconfirmed.
MK-80200-50: Jet black, Oval buttons. One green power light next to the power switch, One orange "Drive Access" LED next to the Reset button, large trapezoid like eject button, usual Saturn styling, air holes in the side casing unlike some later models. Version 1.01a BIOS. Dubbed "Model 1"
MK-80200A-50 Jet black, Round buttons (which are gray), Lacks a "drive access" LED. 4+ different motherboard revisions used in these models. Dubbed "Model 2". Something of interest is that some early examples have 'Model 1' revision motherboards.
MK-80201: Also unconfirmed.