Difference between revisions of "Saturn Floppy Drive"

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(Created page with 'frameless|right The '''Saturn Floppy Disk''' peripheral is an add-on to the Sega Saturn console released by Sega on July 27, 1996, for 9,800Y…')
 
(updated the main text to reflect the fact that the Floppy Drive is compatible with all versions of Panzer Dragoon Saga, and not just the Japanese version.)
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[[File:Saturn HSS-0128.jpg|frameless|right]]
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{{AccessoryBob
The '''Saturn Floppy Disk''' peripheral is an add-on to the [[Sega Saturn]] console released by [[Sega]] on July 27, 1996, for 9,800Y. The drive uses commercially-available 3.5-inch floppy disks (MF-2HD) for external storage from the console. It connects to the Saturn using the console's rear extension communication terminal. By using the included FDD software, users can copy data from the console's internal RAM. It can also be used by games or software to save to floppy disk directly. The floppy disk's set includes the floppy drive, AC adapter, FDD Operator CD-ROM and a floppy disk.
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| accessoryimage=Saturn HSS-0128.jpg
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| imgwidth=320
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| title=
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| maker=[[Sega]]
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| madefor=[[Sega Saturn]]
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| releases={{releasesSat
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| sat_date_jp=1996-07-27{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/floppy.html}}
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| sat_code_jp=HSS-0128
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| sat_rrp_jp=9,800{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/floppy.html}}
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}}
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}}
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The '''Saturn Floppy Disk Drive''' ('''Saturn FDD''') peripheral is an add-on to the [[Sega Saturn]] console, allowing for data to be saved to commercially-available 3.5-inch floppy disks (MF-2HD). It was only released in Japan, debuting on July 27, 1996, for ¥9,800{{ref|https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/ss/floppy.html}}.
  
The floppy disk drive is a rare peripheral, and it's not even listed on the peripheral sheet that came with late Saturn consoles, though it was listed earlier. The Japanese version of  ''[[Panzer Dragoon Saga]]'' supports it directly, as does ''[[Dezaemon 2]]'''s shooter construction kit. Although it might not have been on external peripheral lists, the floppy disk extension was in the dev kit info. In fact, anyone who used Sega's libraries (they're in the BIOS) to write savegames could have supported the floppy drive. They might have intentionally not done that, given that it would have been impossible to test without the drive, but the save libraries do
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The floppy disk drive connects to the Saturn using the console's rear extension communication terminal, however requires its own AC adaptor to function. Also included in the package is a FDD Operator CD-ROM, allowing users to manage data. Primarily the Saturn FDD acts as a substitute for the console's internal save memory, with a floppy disk offering 50 times more storage for save games or online data.
support removable storage to some extent. (Internally, it supports selecting partitions,directories, etc.)
 
  
[[Category:Saturn Accessories]]
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The drive appears to have been planned from the beginning of the Saturn's lifespan, being documented within Saturn development kits and supported through libraries in the Saturn's BIOS, however the peripheral was not released to the Japanese public until mid-1996, and was not widely supported by commercial software. Furthermore Sega appears to have downplayed the Saturn FDD's existence in the later years of the system, omitting it from lists of peripherals. It is now very rare to find working units.
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Only a handful of games can communicate directly with the Saturn FDD, such as ''[[Panzer Dragoon Saga]]'' and ''[[Dezaemon 2]]'''s shooter construction kit.
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External storage was also offered by Sega in the form of [[Saturn Backup Memory]] cartridges, which although can't hold as much data (512kB vs. 1.44MB) and may have worked out as being more expensive in the long-run, ultimately proved more popular.
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==Supported games==
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* ''[[Culdcept]]''
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* ''[[Dezaemon 2]]''
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* ''[[Eiyuu Shigan: Gal ACT Heroism]]''
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* ''[[Game Basic for Sega Saturn]]''
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* ''[[Mouri Motonari: Chikai no Sanshi]]''
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* ''[[Pad Nifty]]''
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* ''[[Pad Nifty 1.1 & Habitat II]]''
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* ''[[Panzer Dragoon Saga]]'' (JP, US and EU versions)
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* ''[[Sangokushi Koumeiden]]''
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* ''[[Sega Saturn-you Word Processor Set]]''
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==Physical scans==
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{{Scanbox
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| console=Saturn
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| region=JP
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| front=Saturn HSS-0128 box-1.jpg
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| back=
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| square=yes
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| disc=SSFDDop_Saturn_JP_Disc.jpg
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| jewelcase=yes
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| jewelcasefront=SSFDDop_Saturn_JP_Box Back.jpg
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}}
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==Screenshot==
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<gallery>
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File:SSFDDop_Saturn_JP_SStitle.png|Utility Menu
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</gallery>
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==References==
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<references />
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{{clear}}
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{{Saturn}}

Revision as of 18:24, 14 June 2018

Saturn HSS-0128.jpg
Saturn Floppy Drive
Made for: Sega Saturn
Manufacturer: Sega
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Saturn
JP
¥9,8009,800[1] HSS-0128

The Saturn Floppy Disk Drive (Saturn FDD) peripheral is an add-on to the Sega Saturn console, allowing for data to be saved to commercially-available 3.5-inch floppy disks (MF-2HD). It was only released in Japan, debuting on July 27, 1996, for ¥9,800[1].

The floppy disk drive connects to the Saturn using the console's rear extension communication terminal, however requires its own AC adaptor to function. Also included in the package is a FDD Operator CD-ROM, allowing users to manage data. Primarily the Saturn FDD acts as a substitute for the console's internal save memory, with a floppy disk offering 50 times more storage for save games or online data.

The drive appears to have been planned from the beginning of the Saturn's lifespan, being documented within Saturn development kits and supported through libraries in the Saturn's BIOS, however the peripheral was not released to the Japanese public until mid-1996, and was not widely supported by commercial software. Furthermore Sega appears to have downplayed the Saturn FDD's existence in the later years of the system, omitting it from lists of peripherals. It is now very rare to find working units.

Only a handful of games can communicate directly with the Saturn FDD, such as Panzer Dragoon Saga and Dezaemon 2's shooter construction kit.

External storage was also offered by Sega in the form of Saturn Backup Memory cartridges, which although can't hold as much data (512kB vs. 1.44MB) and may have worked out as being more expensive in the long-run, ultimately proved more popular.

Supported games

Physical scans

Saturn, JP
Saturn HSS-0128 box-1.jpg
Cover
SSFDDop Saturn JP Disc.jpg
Disc
SSFDDop Saturn JP Box Back.jpg
Jewel Case

Screenshot

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