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Post by yuji on Feb 8, 2011 5:13:28 GMT
picasaweb.google.com/103026029626894413754/SEGASATURN?feat=directlinkI was installing a region switch in my US model 2 (VA7 MB) Saturn yesterday, and took some photos along with my JP model 2 (VA10 MB). I realised some interesting differences so I thought I'd post here to share. First thing I noticed are the power board, but that would be obvious since the voltage difference. Next the CD board looked almost identical, but on the spindle motor, one said made in China and the other said Taiwan although the model number was exactly same... Political differences??? Another interesting fact is that the US model has a big Hyundai logo on the mother board... I had imagined that a Samsung logo would be there instead since they were the company making Saturns for Korea. One more thing to note is that the JP VA10 is missing some chips that the US VA7 does have. I tested my JP copy of outrun in my US VA7, and I'm happy to see that it runs without any problems  Also I'd like to point out to whoever is planning to install a region switch to buy a really small switch so that it won't conflict with the video card.
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syn
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Post by syn on Feb 8, 2011 17:27:20 GMT
picasaweb.google.com/103026029626894413754/SEGASATURN?feat=directlinkI was installing a region switch in my US model 2 (VA7 MB) Saturn yesterday, and took some photos along with my JP model 2 (VA10 MB). I realised some interesting differences so I thought I'd post here to share. First thing I noticed are the power board, but that would be obvious since the voltage difference. Next the CD board looked almost identical, but on the spindle motor, one said made in China and the other said Taiwan although the model number was exactly same... Political differences??? Another interesting fact is that the US model has a big Hyundai logo on the mother board... I had imagined that a Samsung logo would be there instead since they were the company making Saturns for Korea. One more thing to note is that the JP VA10 is missing some chips that the US VA7 does have. I tested my JP copy of outrun in my US VA7, and I'm happy to see that it runs without any problems Also I'd like to point out to whoever is planning to install a region switch to buy a really small switch so that it won't conflict with the video card. Interesting observations. Good point about a small region switch but in the US most people don't know what a VCD is to be honest. I tell people my Saturn can play VCDs and the response everytime has been "What's a VCD?" |
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Post by TrekkiesUnite118 on Feb 8, 2011 18:35:56 GMT
I had mine modded by old school gamer and they basically said there is enough room above the compartment to fit your normal sized switch without interfering. And see as I have a VCD I can confirm it doesn't interfere.
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syn
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Post by syn on Feb 9, 2011 1:33:49 GMT
I have one that was modded by who knows and they didn't allow for it. Now it wouldn't be that hard for me to find a non-working gray Saturn, grab the battery cover and move it but I rarely use that one.
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Post by yuji on Feb 9, 2011 1:41:50 GMT
I think back in the days, VCD was known by more people in Japan, but today I'm sure that I would get the same response as anybody in America. I have the card in there specially for the games that work with it. I remember as a kid I had to return my copy of Lunar MPEG version to a video game store since I didn't own the card, and the card was surprisingly expensive back then. Now I'm happy to play the game at a very decent price  I had mine modded by old school gamer and they basically said there is enough room above the compartment to fit your normal sized switch without interfering. And see as I have a VCD I can confirm it doesn't interfere. Well wouldn't that sort of depend on what kind of switch old school gamer is using?? I mean there is no "normal sized switch" here in Japan. You go to a electronic parts store in Japan, and you see heaps of switches varying from massive ones to tiny ones. Its great that your mod had no interference with the card, I just wanted to point out to people who are going to mod themselves to observe that compartment carefully and to get a correct sized switch. Cheers |
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syn
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Post by syn on Feb 9, 2011 1:58:08 GMT
I have the card in there specially for the games that work with it. I remember as a kid I had to return my copy of Lunar MPEG version to a video game store since I didn't own the card, and the card was surprisingly expensive back then. Now I'm happy to play the game at a very decent price Cheers When I bought my first card it was offered with the MPEG Lunar. That combo was the deal maker ;D I'm so familiar with the story, not reading Japanese (yet) wasn't a deterrent. |
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Post by yuji on Feb 9, 2011 2:07:46 GMT
How did you get familiar with Lunars story?? You've been playing the Mega-CD version or something?? I really think that Sega should of released a bit more games that are compatible with the card, since the upgrade of the video quality is quite good. Personally I like the different messages given to you when you play Hanagumi Tsushin (Sakura Taisen fan disk) with the card Like Sumire tells you "You must have the card to see the beauty of me!"  |
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Post by superdeadite on Feb 9, 2011 2:36:28 GMT
Ahh Sumire, truly a wonderful bitch. |
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syn
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Post by syn on Feb 9, 2011 2:46:17 GMT
How did you get familiar with Lunars story?? You've been playing the Mega-CD version or something?? I really think that Sega should of released a bit more games that are compatible with the card, since the upgrade of the video quality is quite good. Personally I like the different messages given to you when you play Hanagumi Tsushin (Sakura Taisen fan disk) with the card Like Sumire tells you "You must have the card to see the beauty of me!" I had played through the PS version numerous times before playing the Saturn version. And yes I had played the Mega CD version too. I've played every version of silver & blue released. I guess I kind of like Lunar or something, eh |
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Post by yuji on Feb 9, 2011 3:54:02 GMT
Ahh Sumire, truly a wonderful bitch. Yeah, the bitchiest character Sega has ever created ;D Thats a lot of Lunar gaming lol I recently got my copy of Lunar for Mega-CD, but is it worth playing even after playing the Saturn version?? |
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syn
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Post by syn on Feb 10, 2011 21:00:53 GMT
Ahh Sumire, truly a wonderful bitch. Yeah, the bitchiest character Sega has ever created ;D Thats a lot of Lunar gaming lol I recently got my copy of Lunar for Mega-CD, but is it worth playing even after playing the Saturn version?? Well in the Mega CD you have random encounters roaming around the world. The story is less thorough. Ideally you would have played the Mega CD first, playing it second, you may feel a bit let down. SSS is a great game but SSSC is a little better imo. |
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Post by yuji on Feb 11, 2011 2:12:58 GMT
Cool, well I like the retro feeling on the Mega-CD, so I may give it a try someday thanks! |
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Post by termis on Feb 13, 2011 9:51:31 GMT
Also I'd like to point out to whoever is planning to install a region switch to buy a really small switch so that it won't conflict with the video card. Switch can be rewired to anywhere. I used to put rather big switch, but on top of the case, so the video card slot was unaffected. After doing a number of mods, I eventually stared putting them above the joystick ports -- for whatever reason, no one seems to put the switch there. It seems like a rather natural spot for me, unless you're the type who doesn't want to see a non-factory switch at all. Some examples - 3 country JP-UK-US switch + 50/60Hz switch:    2 country US-JP switch. A bit of a clunker switch, but it works.  |
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Post by yuji on Feb 15, 2011 8:06:55 GMT
Those switches actually looks pretty cool!
I thought about putting my switch on the top of the console, but if anything goes wrong, it would look ugly for a lifetime.
Thus I choose the video card door which I can easily replace in case of any mistakes.
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