Pseudo Saturn - an alternative way to play safety backups

[alf]

Pseudo Saturn - a way to play backups on your Saturn without modchip and swap trick, just Action Replay or Memory Card with flashed firmware needed.
Did you guys tried it ? What are the cons and pros of this method ?
Such a shame that there is no thread on this forum about it anyway.

Some articles if you wanna do a little learning:
How it looks like and what it does
Step by step intro on how to do this
Games compability list (yes, not every game boots up fine)
How to do this - youtube guide
Download that stuff - useful link to sources of firmware

[sfgsgvs]

I have tried it as I already owned an Action Replay. It's great if you own several different machines with good cartridge ports and don't want to open them all, or just want to play the SF3 translations. But otherwise I prefer the swap trick with a backup of a system disc as it's compatible with all machines/games and cheaper. If they instead could make it act like a system disc, it would be awesome.

[caseh]

There's already a thread on here, was posted a month or two back. It's on the second page of this forum section but uses Atlas to flash the cart.

Works great, used it on an AR4in1. Personally I thinks it's a great solution. I can't comment on the compatibility overall as I've only used it with about 3 backups. Of what I have tested it's worked without issue. The fact you only have to sacrifice the backup functionality of a AR4in1 cart over raping the CD spindle every time you disc swap is a no brainer.

[segaboy8888]

Is there no way to put a cartridge in the slot and then play emulated games through an SD card?

I'm sure I've seen that for a megadrive, surely that would be possible?

[alf]

Aug 31, 2015 4:49:31 GMT segaboy8888 said:

Is there no way to put a cartridge in the slot and then play emulated games through an SD card?

There is a way of replacing cd drive for an SD card with games and it's called Rhea project, you can take a look at it here: Rhea and GDemu by Deunan

Of course this AR 4in1 as a Pseudo Saturn seems to be a solution instead of a modchip, but:
1) If you use Pseudo Saturn, it means you have cartridge slot occupied yes ? so forget about games that need RAM expansion, forget about memory cards etc. Of course you can try to hot swap AR4in1 after pseudo saturn loads the game with a RAM cart or memory cart but i believe that your slot won't stand it for so long.
2) CD images need to be patched via 'cdpatch' software, so you need to burn CDs especially for that Pseudo Saturn software
3) Forget about Pseudo Saturn if your cartridge slot is damaged totally.

I think the 1st disadvantage is the biggest one, if they add Action Replay functionality in the future (and there are plans for that: retrocu.com) than maybe i will get interested in it, but for now i will stay with the modchip solution as the best one.

[sfgsgvs]

1. If you have a 4-in-1 with 1/4MB memory expansion it will still work after flashing with Pseudo, so no need for swapping cartridges. Hopefully they will add direct save capability soon, so that it will function like an original memory card.

2. No need to patch anything except Panzer Dragoon Saga I think? My old backups worked without problem.

3. This is the biggest drawback, many machines don't have working slots.

[alf]

Whoa if 1M/4M RAM expansion still works that it is not so bad at all!

[umg]

Aug 31, 2015 11:16:10 GMT alf said:

2) CD images need to be patched via 'cdpatch' software, so you need to burn CDs especially for that Pseudo Saturn software

I thought with the newest version of pseudo you didnt have to do this?

[wrathofkhan]

So, guys. I'm new here. I have a nice pal Saturn with two pads in my parents place. I bought it a few years back but never used it much. I want to set up the Pseudo Saturn mod. Do ye think this card will work? Compatibility? Or do ye have any other card suggestion. I think having the extra 4 meg is good for the few games that might need it. There is a lot of shmups on the Saturn that i want to play.I'm mostly a Dreamcast guy but I want to explore the Saturn's game library, albeit cheaply.

[davyk]

There's the issue of your PAL Saturn running at 50Hz. Most imports will work but it will be a sub-optimal experience.

[wrathofkhan]

Sept 8, 2017 9:23:27 GMT davyk said:

There's the issue of your PAL Saturn running at 50Hz. Most imports will work but it will be a sub-optimal experience.

I see. So I need a 60 hertz switch or are there other means? Will this card work with the pseudo saturn or what is recommended? www.play-asia.com/action-replay-4m-auto-plus/13/701b2

[barryburton]

Sept 8, 2017 10:39:45 GMT wrathofkhan said:

Sept 8, 2017 9:23:27 GMT davyk said:

There's the issue of your PAL Saturn running at 50Hz. Most imports will work but it will be a sub-optimal experience.

I see. So I need a 60 hertz switch or are there other means? Will this card work with the pseudo saturn or what is recommended? www.play-asia.com/action-replay-4m-auto-plus/13/701b2

Yes you would need to get a 60hz switch fitted to the PAL system to run the Japanese games at the right speed, even with the Pseudo saturn cartridge. While you're doing that you might as well get it modded to be region free as well. These guys are recommended: www.videogameperfection.com/product-cat/console-modsrepairs/sega-modsrepairs/sega-saturn-modsrepairs/

Ideally also include a mod-chip so you can play burned games, but I imagine they are a bit harder to get hold of these days.

If you are sticking with the Pseudo cart on a PAL 50hz Saturn, you can still play the majority of Japanese games on a 50hz PAL system without any major functionality problems*, but they will run at 5/6 of the intended speed and with borders at the top and bottom of the screen. Also, strange though not critical things can happen to sound/music timing and in-game clocks in some games.

* a few experience bad graphic and sound glitches, like Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter.

That is the correct cartridge for Pseudo Saturn, yes. There are also people who sell them ready- flashed on Ebay and Facebook. 

[zyrobs]

If you live in central Europe, I could sell you a pre-modded machine.

[buckoa51]

If you're going to the bother of getting a 60hz switch might as well just put a modchip in at the same time, or by one of Zyrobs systems pre-done.

[wrathofkhan]

Sept 8, 2017 12:01:58 GMT zyrobs said:

If you live in central Europe, I could sell you a pre-modded machine.

Hi. How much? I'm in Ireland. What mods are in the Saturn? If I buy one I suppose I could sell my current Saturn to offset costs a bit. I'm selling my Amiga 1200 atm too as it happens.The rhea or phoebe options are too expensive for me right now.