Black model 1, blue buttons - Asian?

[greg]

Hi guys, 

I didn't know whether to try and buy this item hoping it was some super saturn, but I've decided I just don't need a 5th Saturn, and having just purchsed Enemy Zero and Burning Rangers, I just can't justify it!

A few interesting things about it is that I can't find another simialr one ANYWHERE, Googling and searching for photos are yielding nothing. The seller says it's JPN, but it can't be, as it (appears, I guess he could be wrong), that it's powered by a UK 240v c7 power cable. Also, the sticker on the back gas been peeled off, which is a bit odd. And it comes with a PAL VCD Card (which again, is uncommon).

Anyway here it is, take a look and discuss! www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271880044360?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT





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[mick_aka]

Just a JP console swapped into a PAL or US case with the JP buttons. That's a PAL VCD card with it too.

[zyrobs]

Jun 1, 2015 16:05:04 GMT mick_aka said:

Just a JP console swapped into a PAL or US case with the JP buttons. That's a PAL VCD card with it too.

It was most likely painted over, not case swapped. The top has the Japanese logo on it, and the cartridge cover doesn't have text etched to the plastic (like in hst-3200 units). And it boots Japanese games. Maybe only the power supply was swapped from a PAL unit, since it comes with UK power cables?

Best way to test without opening up would be running a simple VCD on it. The machine will then just say that the disc is unsuitable or needs some extra hardware, since the cards are region locked. But, I think games can still use them.

[RallyDon82]

Definitely got me scratching my head as the two theories proposed don't hold up, because...

1.if it's painted then how did the Japanese logo end up on the lid? it looks genuinely silk screened like a regular grey or white lid not a process that any one can do at home.

2. and if it was transplanted into a pal/us case then where is the Sega logo on the left front corner.

It certainly doesn't look painted from those pictures, i'd take a punt that it is some sort of test design for the system (before opting for the grey colour scheme)and ended up outside segas offices in the hands of some one who possibly didnt really know what they had, could be the rarest saturn ever lol

But what do i know!

[zyrobs]

I just noticed, the power supply connector is black, so it definitely has a PAL power supply in there (Japanese ones were of course grey, to match the systems colour).

[ryohazuki]

looks like the one in shenmue.

[mick_aka]

Jun 2, 2015 0:35:23 GMT RallyDon82 said:

Definitely got me scratching my head as the two theories proposed don't hold up, because...

1.if it's painted then how did the Japanese logo end up on the lid? it looks genuinely silk screened like a regular grey or white lid not a process that any one can do at home.

Inkjet waterslide decals mate, I used them when I made my replica champagne prototype.

[RallyDon82]

Interesting just looked it up as i've never heard of inkjet waterslide decals myself, it's certainly plausible.

[caseh]

Jun 2, 2015 2:09:23 GMT ryohazuki said:

looks like the one in shenmue.

The one in Shenmue is a lighter shade of grey, like the original JPN Saturn. Only reason I know that is because I popped it onto the top of the TV in Shenmue about 2 days back.

[greg]

I didn't buy it in the end, now I kinda wish I did! Did the Asian ones, or any module for that matter be black with the JPN logo? I'd imagine that if were custom made, the description would be all "custom sega, one of a kind" etc etc. And no serial or anything to go by, also it looks as though there's a soft rubber pushable blue button in the back slot?

[zyrobs]

There was a late model 2 Korean unit that looked like that actually, but it had a white logo (with red decal on the middle "S") and it was a model 2.

[redtail]

Jun 2, 2015 22:08:07 GMT zyrobs said:

There was a late model 2 Korean unit that looked like that actually, but it had a white logo (with red decal on the middle "S") and it was a model 2.

The Kama Saturn:

[NeoGeoNinja]

System looked to be a legit rarity to me. I was going to bid on it, but eBay wouldn't let me sign in, telling me their signing in page was 'Page not responding. Please try again shortly'. I tried, repeatedly, with no luck.

I would have paid £75 to find out for myself what that Saturn actually was; either a nice obscurity or a fake, like Mick has suggested.

Sunday night eBay bullsh*t, eh? Was seriously p*ssed off though...

[greg]

yeah they're cowboys, i just don't have the extra cash to buy a fifth saturn like i said. it's the no serial number stick and the little blue button that do it for me, maybe a test developer unit to test games for each region?

[zyrobs]

Jun 4, 2015 15:18:56 GMT greg said:

yeah they're cowboys, i just don't have the extra cash to buy a fifth saturn like i said. it's the no serial number stick and the little blue button that do it for me, maybe a test developer unit to test games for each region?

Those have the case cut out for a rotary dip switch that can set all 16 regions.

I'm fairly sure this machine is just a HST-3200 painted black, with the power supply changed to a PAL one.