How did early CD-based systems save memory?

[MissingNo_1231]

Obviously the Playstation had memory cards, but I'm wondering about stuff like Sega-CD and the CD-i.

[Kitsune Sniper]

The Saturn had internal battery-backed RAM, like game carts with save batteries. I think the Sega CD had that too, but I'm not sure.

[Dr. Dib]

The SEGA CD saved games internally. I'd sort of compare it to a cartridge as it was relatively small and powered by a battery. This was back in the early 90s. The TG-16 CD was the first CD based console though. Not sure how it saved games.

[Sonicwolf]

The Panasonic FZ-1 3DO console had internal non-volatile ram which made it nice as you wouldnt lose game saves and info like other consoles utilizing battery backup systems.

[Blur2040]

blankblankblankblankblankblankblankblankblankblank blank

[jb143]

Didn't the Jaguar CD have a special cartridge that would save games?

Also, some games still used passwords.

[Xian042]

Sega CD and Saturn had a small amount of internal memory and you could buy a backup cart to save more games when that was full. Keep your valuable saves on the cart because the batteries would die out on the CD and Saturn. Once they died you lost your saves, batteries are easily replaced though.

[Steve W]

The Sega CD had internal storage, but that wasn't enough for a lot of games, so Sega created a CD Memory cartridge. It was a cart that held a whole lot more than any flash RAM could. Even then, some games would take up the entire cartridge memory.

Quick side story, I bought a Sega CD Memory cart in a thrift store. I looked at the saves on it... Popful Mail, Snatcher, and Vay. Of course, none of those games were at the thrift where I bought the cartridge. I wonder where those games went to.

[Baloo]

The Sega CD had internal storage, but that wasn't enough for a lot of games, so Sega created a CD Memory cartridge. It was a cart that held a whole lot more than any flash RAM could. Even then, some games would take up the entire cartridge memory.

Quick side story, I bought a Sega CD Memory cart in a thrift store. I looked at the saves on it... Popful Mail, Snatcher, and Vay. Of course, none of those games were at the thrift where I bought the cartridge. I wonder where those games went to.

Heh, that's a pretty interesting combination of games to find all on one cart.

[The 1 2 P]

My Saturn has done anything but save games in it's internal memory. They save that day but the next day they are completly gone.

[bitrate]

The Panasonic FZ-1 3DO console had internal non-volatile ram which made it nice as you wouldnt lose game saves and info like other consoles utilizing battery backup systems.


That's not true. It utilizes battery backed SRAM.
Here is a picture I took and added a data sheet to a little while ago for a similar discussion on another board.




http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u49/bitrate_photos/DSC05170_edited3.jpg

[eskobar]

Interesting info about the 3DO.

I quite disliked the memory save system in the Sega Saturn ... it was released in 1995, plenty of experience with the CD-ROM format to implement a good save system*_*

[Kitsune Sniper]

My Saturn has done anything but save games in it's internal memory. They save that day but the next day they are completly gone.

Look at the back of the system. There should be a small door there. Open it and replace the battery. :P

[Sonicwolf]

That's not true. It utilizes battery backed SRAM.
Here is a picture I took and added a data sheet to a little while ago for a similar discussion on another board.

http://www.digitpress.com/faq/3dofaq.txt
That states that it does have NVRAM and SRAM.

[A Black Falcon]

For more details, which hopefully are accurate, I did this guide on console save types... I've tried to make it comprehensive and accurate. I've posted it several places, but this is the one I've updated the most...

http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5965


http://www.digitpress.com/faq/3dofaq.txt
That states that it does have NVRAM and SRAM.

Sometimes SRAM is called NVRAM. It shouldn't really be, because 'NVRAM' makes people think 'battery-free solid-state', but it's true. I know the CD-i did that... it uses these "NVRAM" units that actually have enclosed batteries inside, along with the save chip. 3DO seems to use the 'NVRAM' label sometimes too, though like CD-i it's also actually all battery-backed. I've never heard of 3DO internal memory being anything other than battery-backed.

[Haoie]

That's actually save data.

To save memory, for example, the PS1 could only load this much into its own memory.

Hence you get lots of loading screens, like say, the doors in Resident Evil.

Some games got around it via streaming, like Soul Reaver.

[bitrate]

http://www.digitpress.com/faq/3dofaq.txt
That states that it does have NVRAM and SRAM.


The SRAM is the NVRAM.

To get technical, the combination of SRAM, battery back-up controller, and the lithium battery make up the 3DO's NVRAM.

A lot of people get confused with the terminology. It is important to understand that simply saying a device has NVRAM does not describe which technology is being used to provide that non-volatility.

[The 1 2 P]

Look at the back of the system. There should be a small door there. Open it and replace the battery. :P

Good idea:wink 2: However, I still don't know how to repair my 4 in 1 action replay. It does everything it's suppose to do except save games when I try to transfer them from the Saturns internal memory. So between my Saturn and action replay I still can't save games. I'm going to change the battery of the Saturn though and will try to find another action replay because 95% of my Saturn library is Japanese import games.