Difference between revisions of "Saturn region converter cartridges"

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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.
 
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.
  
==Physical scans==
+
{| class="prettytable sortable"
{{Scanbox
+
!Box
| console=[[Sega Saturn]]
+
!Name
| region=<br/>Pro Universal Adapter, by [[Datel]]
+
!Brand
 +
!Date & Price
 +
!Images
 +
!Documentation
 +
|-
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=CDPlus Saturn Unknown Box Front.jpg
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=CD+Plus
 +
| brand=[[Super UFO]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=CDPlus Saturn Unknown.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=CDPlus Saturn Box Front Blaze.jpg
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=CD+Plus
 +
| brand=[[Blaze]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=CDPlus Saturn Blaze.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=Pro Universal Adapter
 +
| brand=[[Datel]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Alt.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
| image2=ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Alt Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{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]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=ProUniversalAdapter Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 
}}
 
}}
{{Scanbox
+
 
| console=[[Sega Saturn]]
+
{{AccessoryRelease
| region=<br/>ST Key
+
| front=
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=Game Adapter
 +
| brand=?
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=GameAdapter Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
| image2=GameAdapter Saturn Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=MultiGameAdapter Saturn Box Front.jpg
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=Multi-Game Adaptor
 +
| brand=[[Trend Master]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=MultiGameAdaptor Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1name=SS-239
 +
| image2=MultiGameAdaptor Saturn Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=SS-239
 +
 
 +
| doc1=Multi-GameAdapterSaturnEUManual.pdf
 +
| doc1name=Manual
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=SegaSatellite Saturn Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=SegaSatellite Saturn Box Back.jpg
 +
| spinemissing=yes
 +
| name=Sega Satellite
 +
| brand= [[EMS]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=SegaSatellite Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
| image2=SegaSatellite Saturn Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{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=??
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=KR: (>=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=[[Sega Saturn]]
+
| name=ST-Key
| region=<br/>Ultra Madness ST Key
+
| brand=??
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=STKey Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
| image2=STKey Saturn Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 
| front=
 
| front=
| cart=UMSTKey Saturn.jpg
+
 
 +
| name=ST-Key
 +
| brand=??
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=STKey Saturn Alt.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=UMSTKey Saturn Box Front.jpg
 +
 
 +
| name=Ultra Madness ST-Key
 +
| brand=[[Madness]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=UMSTKey Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
| image2=UMSTKey Saturn Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=Ultra Madness 4M Turbo Key (region converter+1MB/4MB RAM)
 +
| brand=[[Madness]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=? (>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=UM 4M Turbo Key Front.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
| image2=UM 4M Turbo Key Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=ST-Key+4MB RAM (region converter+1MB/4MB RAM)
 +
| brand=[[Madness]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=? (>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=STKeyPlus4MBRAM Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1name=SCK2-9768
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=8 Meg Direct Access Memory Card Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=8 Meg Direct Access Memory Card Box Back.jpg
 +
| spinemissing=yes
 +
| square=
 +
 
 +
| name=8 Meg Direct Access Memory Card (region converter+1MB memory)
 +
| brand=[[Innovation]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(1997)
 +
 
 +
| image1=8 Meg Direct Access Memory Card Front.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
| image2=8 Meg Direct Access Memory Card Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=8MegMemoryCard Saturn Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=8MegMemoryCard Saturn Box Back.jpg
 +
| spinemissing=yes
 +
| square=
 +
 
 +
| name=8 Meg Memory Card (region converter+1MB memory)
 +
| brand=[[Joytech]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=8MegMemoryCard Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=MemoryCardPlus Saturn Box Front Performance.jpg
 +
| back=MemoryCardPlus Saturn Box Back Performance.jpg
 +
| spinemissing=yes
 +
| square=
 +
 
 +
| name=Memory Card Plus (region converter+1MB memory)
 +
| brand=[[Performance]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(1997)
 +
 
 +
| image1=MemoryCardPlus Saturn Performance.jpg
 +
| image1name=P-465A
 +
| image2=MemoryCardPlus Saturn Performance Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=P-465A
 +
 
 +
| doc1=MemoryCardPlus Saturn Manual Performance.pdf
 +
| doc1name=manual
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=MemoryCardPlus Saturn Alt Box Front Performance.jpg
 +
| back=MemoryCardPlus Saturn Alt Box Back Performance.jpg
 +
| spinemissing=yes
 +
| square=
 +
 
 +
| name=Memory Card Plus alt (region converter+1MB memory)
 +
| brand=[[Performance]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(1997)
 +
 
 +
| image1=MemoryCardPlus Saturn Performance.jpg
 +
| image1name=P-465A
 +
| image2=MemoryCardPlus Saturn Performance Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=P-465A
 +
 
 +
| doc1=MemoryCardPlus Saturn Manual Performance.pdf
 +
| doc1name=manual
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=
 +
 
 +
| name=Ultimate Game Memory Card (region converter+memory card)
 +
| brand=?
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=(>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=Saturn Ultimate Game Memory Card Front.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
| image2=Saturn Ultimate Game Memory Card Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=
 +
| image3=Saturn Ultimate Game Memory Card Top.jpg
 +
| image3name=
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=MagicCardV2 Saturn Box Front.jpg
 +
| back=MagicCardV2 Saturn Box Back.jpg
 +
| spinemissing=yes
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=Magic Card V2 (swap trick enabler+region converter)
 +
| brand=?
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=? (>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=MagicCardV2 Saturn.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
| image2=MagicCardV2 Saturn Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=
 +
| image3=MagicCardV2 Saturn disc.jpg
 +
| image3name=disc
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
{{AccessoryRelease
 +
| front=
 +
| back=
 +
| spinemissing=
 +
| square=yes
 +
 
 +
| name=Mega Converter (only packaged with Samsung Saturn consoles)
 +
| brand=[[HiCom]]
 +
 
 +
| dateprice1=? (>=1995)
 +
 
 +
| image1=Samsung Saturn Mega Converter Front.jpg
 +
| image1name=
 +
| image2=Samsung Saturn Mega Converter Back.jpg
 +
| image2name=
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
|}
  
 
{{Saturn}}
 
{{Saturn}}
  
 
[[Category:Saturn accessories]]
 
[[Category:Saturn accessories]]

Revision as of 08:04, 20 July 2019

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


Pro Universal Adapter Datel (>=1995)
ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Alt.jpg
ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Alt Back.jpg


ProUniversalAdapter Saturn Box Front.jpg
Pro Universal Adapter Datel (>=1995)
ProUniversalAdapter Saturn.jpg


Game Adapter ? (>=1995)
GameAdapter Saturn.jpg
GameAdapter Saturn Back.jpg


MultiGameAdapter Saturn Box Front.jpg
Multi-Game Adaptor Trend Master (>=1995)
MultiGameAdaptor Saturn.jpg
SS-239
MultiGameAdaptor Saturn Back.jpg
SS-239


Multi-GameAdapterSaturnEUManual.pdf
Manual
SegaSatellite Saturn Box Back.jpgNospine.pngSegaSatellite Saturn Box Front.jpg
Sega Satellite EMS (>=1995)
SegaSatellite Saturn.jpg
SegaSatellite Saturn Back.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 ?? KR: (>=1995)
SSKey Saturn KR.jpg


STKey Saturn Box Back.jpgNospine.pngSTKey Saturn Box Front.jpg
ST-Key ?? (>=1995)
STKey Saturn.jpg
STKey Saturn Back.jpg


ST-Key ?? (>=1995)
STKey Saturn Alt.jpg


UMSTKey Saturn Box Front.jpg
Ultra Madness ST-Key Madness (>=1995)
UMSTKey Saturn.jpg
UMSTKey Saturn Back.jpg


Ultra Madness 4M Turbo Key (region converter+1MB/4MB RAM) Madness ? (>=1995)
UM 4M Turbo Key Front.jpg
UM 4M Turbo Key Back.jpg


ST-Key+4MB RAM (region converter+1MB/4MB RAM) Madness ? (>=1995)
STKeyPlus4MBRAM Saturn.jpg
SCK2-9768


8 Meg Direct Access Memory Card Box Back.jpgNospine.png8 Meg Direct Access Memory Card Box Front.jpg
8 Meg Direct Access Memory Card (region converter+1MB memory) Innovation (1997)
8 Meg Direct Access Memory Card Front.jpg
8 Meg Direct Access Memory Card Back.jpg


8MegMemoryCard Saturn Box Back.jpgNospine.png8MegMemoryCard Saturn Box Front.jpg
8 Meg Memory Card (region converter+1MB memory) Joytech (>=1995)
8MegMemoryCard Saturn.jpg


MemoryCardPlus Saturn Box Back Performance.jpgNospine.pngMemoryCardPlus Saturn Box Front Performance.jpg
Memory Card Plus (region converter+1MB memory) Performance (1997)
MemoryCardPlus Saturn Performance.jpg
P-465A
MemoryCardPlus Saturn Performance Back.jpg
P-465A


MemoryCardPlus Saturn Manual Performance.pdf
manual
MemoryCardPlus Saturn Alt Box Back Performance.jpgNospine.pngMemoryCardPlus Saturn Alt Box Front Performance.jpg
Memory Card Plus alt (region converter+1MB memory) Performance (1997)
MemoryCardPlus Saturn Performance.jpg
P-465A
MemoryCardPlus Saturn Performance Back.jpg
P-465A


MemoryCardPlus Saturn Manual Performance.pdf
manual
Ultimate Game Memory Card (region converter+memory card) ? (>=1995)
Saturn Ultimate Game Memory Card Front.jpg
Saturn Ultimate Game Memory Card Back.jpg
Saturn Ultimate Game Memory Card Top.jpg


MagicCardV2 Saturn Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngMagicCardV2 Saturn Box Front.jpg
Magic Card V2 (swap trick enabler+region converter) ? ? (>=1995)
MagicCardV2 Saturn.jpg
MagicCardV2 Saturn Back.jpg
MagicCardV2 Saturn disc.jpg
disc


Mega Converter (only packaged with Samsung Saturn consoles) HiCom ? (>=1995)
Samsung Saturn Mega Converter Front.jpg
Samsung Saturn Mega Converter Back.jpg



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