Sega Saturn consoles

From Sega Retro

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 is printed on the information label on the rear of the console.

Japan

Grey Japanese Saturn

The original Japanese Saturn model is grey in color—excepting the cartridge slot flap and the front, which are black—and came in a box labeled HST-0001. It has three blue buttons (Power, Open, and Reset), a drive access LED, and a non-notched power cord. Production was later ended in favor of the white Saturn.

Models:

  • HST-3200: The earliest version with a VA0 motherboard. Power supply, power switch, reset switch and door switch are all mounted to the upper casing. Power and Access lights each have a pair of 2 leds.
  • HST-3210: Power supply, power switch, reset switch and door switch are now mounted to the bottom casing. Power and Access lights each have 1 led. There are less vent holes on the bottom casing.
Box Name Date & Price Console Label Hardware Software Documentation
Saturn JP Box TopBottom HST-0001.jpg
Saturn JP Box Back HST-0001.jpgSaturn JP Box Left HST-0001.jpgSega Saturn model HST-0001.jpgSaturn JP Box Right HST-0001.jpg
Saturn JP Box TopBottom HST-0001.jpg
Sega Saturn
SegaSaturn HST-0001.jpg
HST-0001
Saturn VF Remix Campaign Box HST-0001 Box Front.jpg
Sega Saturn 1,000,000th Campaign Box
SegaSaturn HST-0001.jpg
HST-0001
Sega Saturn model HST-0005 box.jpg
Sega Saturn 1,000,000th Campaign Box
SegaSaturn HST-0001.jpg
HST-0005
SegaSaturnJPManual.pdf
Manual
Sega Saturn model HST-0004.jpg
Sega Saturn
SegaSaturn HST-0001.jpg
HST-0004
SegaSaturnJPManual.pdf
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. 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; the upper buttons are grey, as is the cartridge slot flap. Toys 'R' Us sold an exclusive white Saturn with a silhouette of Sonic printed on the drive lid.

Box Name Date & Price Console Label Hardware Software Documentation
Sega saturn white HST-0014 BOX.jpg
Sega Saturn
Sega saturn white 2.jpg
HST-0014
Sega saturn white HST-0019 box.jpg
Sega Saturn
Sega saturn white 2.jpg
HST-0019
Saturn Bomberman Kit HST-0014 Box Front.jpg
Sega Saturn Bomberman Kit (サターンボンバーマンキット)
Sega saturn white 2.jpg
HST-0014
Sega saturn white HST-0017 BOX.png
Sega Saturn Christmas Nights Campaign Box
Sega saturn white 2.jpg
HST-0017
Sega saturn white HST-0014 VF.jpg
Sega Saturn Otoshidama Campaign Box
Sega saturn white 2.jpg
HST-0014
Saturn JP Box Back HST-0019 ToysRUs.jpgNospine-small.pngSega saturn white HST-0019 TOYSRUS box.jpg
Sega Saturn Sonic Toys 'R' Us
Sega saturn white HST-0019 TOYSRUS.jpg
HST-0019

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. The exception is that both may have compatibility problems with the games Space Harrier, Metal Slug, and Outrun; however, some users have reported that their skeleton Saturn works with their copy of a particular game, so it may be that only certain consoles and/or games (or the combination thereof) were affected by this issue[1].

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.
Box Name Date & Price Console Label Hardware Software Documentation
Sega Saturn HST-0020 box.jpg
Sega Saturn Skeleton (This is Cool) - 1998 Special Campaign Original
Sega Saturn HST-0020.jpg
HST-0020
Saturn JP Box Top HST-0021.jpg
Saturn JP Box Back HST-0021.jpgSaturn JP Box Spine HST-0021.jpgSega Saturn HST-0021 box.jpgSaturn JP Box Spine2 HST-0021.jpg
Saturn JP Box Bottom HST-0021.jpg
Sega Saturn Skeleton (This is Cool)
Sega Saturn HST-0020.jpg
HST-0021
Saturn JP Box Back HST-0022.jpgNospine-small.pngSega Saturn HST-0022 box.jpg
Sega Saturn Skeleton (Derby Stallion)
Saturn JP HST-0022.jpg
HST-0022

Hi-Saturn

Sega licensed the rights to produce Saturns to some of their hardware partners. One was Hitachi, who provided the CPUs and several other chips. The Hi-Saturn is yet another early style 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 an add-on LCD monitor for playing games on. The system is completely flat on top and lacks the bulge of the CD drive. The system also had a 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 Date & Price Console Label Hardware Software Documentation
Sega Saturn model MMP-1 box.jpg
Hi-Saturn
Sega Saturn model MMP-1.jpg
MMP-1
Sega Saturn model MMP-1-C box.jpg
Hi-Saturn - 1,000,000th Campaign Box
Sega Saturn model MMP-1.jpg
MMP-1
Sega Saturn model MMP-1000NV box.jpg
GameNavi Hi-Saturn
Sega Saturn model MMP-1000NV.jpg
MMP-1000NV
Sega Saturn model MMP-11 box.jpg
Hi-Saturn
Sega Saturn model MMP-11.jpg
MMP-11
Hi-Saturn MMP-11 Christmas Nights Box Front.jpg
Hi-Saturn Christmas Nights Campaign Box
Sega Saturn model MMP-11.jpg
MMP-11

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. The colors are different, as is the machine's circuitry, 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 Date & Price Console Label Hardware Software Documentation
VSaturn JP Box Back RGJX1 L.jpgNospine-small.pngSega Saturn model RG-JX1-L box.jpg
V-Saturn
Sega Saturn model RG-JX1 console.jpg
RG-JX1
VSaturn JP Box Back RGJX1 LC.jpgNospine-small.pngSega Saturn model RG-JX1-LC box.jpg
V-Saturn - 1,000,000th Campaign Box
Sega Saturn model RG-JX1 console.jpg
RG-JX1
Sega Saturn model RG-JX1-S box.jpg
V-Saturn
Sega Saturn model RG-JX1 console.jpg
RG-JX1
Sega Saturn model RG-JX2.jpg
V-Saturn
Sega Saturn model RG-JX2 console.jpg
RG-JX2
Sega Saturn model RG-JX2-C.jpg
V-Saturn Christmas Nights Campaign Box
Sega Saturn model RG-JX2 console.jpg
RG-JX2
Sega Saturn model RG-JX2-B.jpg
V-Saturn Vatlva Special Pack
Sega Saturn model RG-JX2 console.jpg
RG-JX2S

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