lparsons7641
Novice
Joined: January 2011
Posts: 41
Location:
|
Post by lparsons7641 on Jan 19, 2011 0:40:21 GMT
I apologize in advance if this is straightforward or not, I am not to up on these things so again, my apologies if it is easy.
I live in the U.S, and own a U.S Saturn. Now I've read the Japanese Saturns are the way to go IF you want the most for your system because it can play imports etc.
A few questions about such a product/process.
Would a Japanese Saturn play games made for an American Saturn?
Would I need a special power converter to make it work in an American outlet?
Would I be able to hook it up to an American TV set easily enough? S-Video would be marvelous, but composite is fine too.
Thanks for the help.
|
|
|
Post by Yart on Jan 19, 2011 1:09:57 GMT
A Japanese Saturn can play American games with an import cartridge such as the Action Replay 4-in-1.
No special power converter is needed. There is a teeny tiny voltage difference but it's not enough to matter.
Yes. It hooks up to your TV like any other system. (You can even use your American cables with it)
And as an added bonus, yes you can change the BIOS screen to English so you can navigate the file manager and settings just like your US system.
Enjoy.
|
|
lparsons7641
Novice
Joined: January 2011
Posts: 41
Location:
|
Post by lparsons7641 on Jan 19, 2011 1:15:45 GMT
Thank you so much for the help, so the action replay cart saves games and stuff as well right? And with one of them in I'd be all set for most games?
Thanks for the help. I probably won't splash the cash for a while, but it's good to know it should be easy if i do
|
|
|
Post by Yart on Jan 19, 2011 1:19:25 GMT
Welcomed!
The Action Replay will save games and stuff (it acts as a RAM cartridge, cheat device, game saver and import cartridge) but you cannot save DIRECTLY to it. Only through it's own manager that runs whenever you boot up the system. So you have to save to the internal memory then transfer the save to the cartridge later. As long as the game doesn't take up more space than the internal memory you'd be fine.
Welcomed! And yea it's very easy to get into the import Saturn scene. (Actually, importing any console is about just as easy!)
|
|
Xen
Saturn Player
Joined: July 2009
Posts: 120
Location:
|
Post by Xen on Jan 19, 2011 1:22:44 GMT
A Japanese Saturn can play American games with an import cartridge such as the Action Replay 4-in-1. No special power converter is needed. There is a teeny tiny voltage difference but it's not enough to matter. Yes. It hooks up to your TV like any other system. (You can even use your American cables with it) And as an added bonus, yes you can change the BIOS screen to English so you can navigate the file manager and settings just like your US system.Enjoy. Speaking of which, HOW? I have a HiSaturn, and I didn't manage to find the option... what does the icon look like?
|
|
|
Post by Yart on Jan 19, 2011 1:25:44 GMT
It's different depending on BIOS revision.
On the main screen where it's the cockpit of a spaceship, the top middle button is for the preferences.
If it brings you straight to the memory manager instead, the bottom right button is System Settings. Press that and it's the second from the top option. (You'll know it's the memory manager if you see a pink box with different selections, and a pink and blue one if you have a memory cartridge in the cartridge slot)
If it brings you straight to a screen with three selections then a button on the very bottom, it's the second from the top for the language. (First being Clock, third being Other Settings, and fourth being Memory Manager)
|
|
Xen
Saturn Player
Joined: July 2009
Posts: 120
Location:
|
Post by Xen on Jan 19, 2011 1:39:17 GMT
Thanks King, gonna try that later today
|
|
syn
There can be only one. Not eternal spamnation
Joined: June 2009
Posts: 1,883
Location:
|
Post by syn on Jan 19, 2011 11:38:20 GMT
Thanks for the help. I probably won't splash the cash for a while, but it's good to know it should be easy if i do Since you're not in a rush, keep an eye out for a Japanese Saturn too. Try to grab one from a US seller so you don't have to pay crazy shipping prices from Japan...like I did They turn up pretty often on eBay and locally there's a second hand shop that gets them once in a while.
|
|
|
Post by bradcap1 on Jan 19, 2011 23:02:07 GMT
I'm in the States using an American Saturn and importing as well. Since you're looking into using an Action Replay anyway, why even mess around with a Jap Saturn? Just put out the $25 for the Action replay and you're ready to import. That's what I do and I've only had one issue. That is the fmv for Mobile Suit Gundam Z doesn't appear on the screen using it. No big loss though as I can play the actual game. FYI, I was looking into buying a Jap saturn as well and decided it would be a waste of money. I have about 30 imports and no other issues. You just have to be diligent as far as transferring your internal memory to the cart and vice versa. But if you still want a Jap Saturn, then by all means...
|
|
|
Post by sfgsgvs on Jan 19, 2011 23:57:29 GMT
One drawback with japanese systems is that the controllers have shorter cables, too short in my opinion. At least compared to Euro ones, but I imagine US controllers have the same cable length as Europe.
|
|
Xen
Saturn Player
Joined: July 2009
Posts: 120
Location:
|
Post by Xen on Jan 20, 2011 0:55:27 GMT
In other news, I've successfully put my JP Saturn into English mode. THANKS
|
|
syn
There can be only one. Not eternal spamnation
Joined: June 2009
Posts: 1,883
Location:
|
Post by syn on Jan 20, 2011 1:10:45 GMT
FYI, I was looking into buying a Jap saturn as well and decided it would be a waste of money. I have about 30 imports and no other issues. You just have to be diligent as far as transferring your internal memory to the cart and vice versa. But if you still want a Jap Saturn, then by all means... I thought that until I wanted to play all of the Shining Force III scenarios linked together. You have to be able to access a memory cartridge ingame to link scenario 2 to 3, something you can't do with the AR4-1. If you want to play a 2-disc game like Deep Fear, you can't use the 4-1. They are great for all but a few titles
|
|
lparsons7641
Novice
Joined: January 2011
Posts: 41
Location:
|
Post by lparsons7641 on Jan 20, 2011 1:47:21 GMT
Very good points about the pros and cons, I'll have to weigh my options (and my wallet), that's for sure. I suppose since I am not too "hardcore" not being able to play 2-3 games might not be the end of the world........ I AM of course trying to play less games anyway
|
|
|
Post by bradcap1 on Jan 20, 2011 17:11:32 GMT
Valid point synbiosfan. There was a thread here recently about difficulty playing multi-disc import games with an Action Replay. I forgot all about it. Fortunately for me those games are not an issue. Japanese rpgs are off limits due to the language barrier. Although I do collaborate with a couple of Japanese people at work and could probably get some assistance. But rpgs just drain way too much time. So even English language versions are probably not going to be played by me anytime soon. Which is too bad because I have PDS, SF3, StHA, and Shining Wisdom which haven't been touched (hardly) yet. Dragonforce ruined it for the rest. I loved this game when I started it, now I'm just pissed when I spend 3 hours playing it and have hardly gotten anywhere
|
|
syn
There can be only one. Not eternal spamnation
Joined: June 2009
Posts: 1,883
Location:
|
Post by syn on Jan 20, 2011 17:44:50 GMT
I happen to love rpg's and Dragon Force but agree Brad that if your time is limited you won't enjoy them. 40+ hours to complete on a busy schedule is not rewarding at all.
The nice thing about the Saturn's library is the variety of games for most lifestyles!
That's why I like to see variety in people's collections. We all have our gaming moods and the Saturn has remained my primary system since it's release due to it's diversity. All the rest at one point have been boxed up
|
|