Saturn system link question...

[WCP]

Some time ago I heard about how you could play a few system link games on the Sega Saturn. Prior to that, I had no idea it had that capability. So, after hearing about it, I was pretty intrigued by the idea. I know the Saturn had a handful of special NetLink games that only worked with the uber rare NetLink modem, but I didn't know anything about the system link games. Well, I ended up tracking down a Saturn Vs. cable. It came packaged with a Japanese Saturn game called Steeldom.

So, now I have this cable, but I don't have two copies of this game Steeldom, and I don't have two Saturns that can play Japanese software. I'm more interested in playing games like:

Daytona USA Circuit Edition
Duke Nukem 3D
Virtual On
Bomberman
Hexen (via debug menu)
Sega Rally Championship Plus
Doom (Japanese version only)
Wipeout


Here is my question, I'm really interested in playing games like Sega Rally Championship via the link cable, but I don't know if I need to get the actual NetLink version of Sega Rally Championship, or just a regular version of Sega Rally Championship. Same thing with Daytona. Do I need the special, impossibly hard to find NetLink version, or can I use the standard version? Reason I ask this, is because many of the NetLink games are super rare and valuable, and way too expensive for my blood. Does anybody have the Vs. cable, and have you tried any of these games out? Also, does anybody have a more complete list of all the games that work with the Vs. cable?

[Imstarryeyed]

This is a very good question, here is the skinny on the Saturn Link Cable.

Netlink games and Link Cable games are two completely different technologies.

Netlink games require the netlink adaptor and 2 phone lines. I have tried many times in vain to connect 2 Netlinks & 2 Saturns directly, but without a dialtone I dont think it is possible.

Saturn Link games are mostly Japanese games, the 2 games that come to mind that are linkable are Gebockers and Gungriffon II, Hexen (accessable through debug menu) & Steeldom. Those games just need 2 saturns and the link cable that fits into that rarely used port on the back of the Saturn and away you go.

I have personally tried out Gebockers and Gungriffon II and they work great. I have the Japanese version of Gungriffon II so I am unsure if any other version would work.

Short answer Netlink games must use Netlink, Link games must use Link cable.

If anyone here has ever connected two netlinks together and gotten them to work without 2 phone lines please let us know, this would be a big boon for many of us!

I hope this helps you out...

[Red Earth]

i use the Netlink and play the people over at the Sega Saturn Netlink League :)

Duke Nukem 3D, Saturn Bomberman, Virtual-On, Sega Rally... and Daytona Netlink (if you could ever get your hands on a copy for a reasonable price, good luck).

well if you get yourself a Netlink and have an analog phone line, i can make calls to anyone in the U.S. because i pay for unlimited long distance. normally long distance charges would apply if you plan on playing someone with a Netlink that lives a state away. however, when i play people, i'm the one that usually does the dialing because it doesnt cost anybody anything (except me :p). i'm ready to play any of those games whenever you're interested. although Daytona Netlink is a no-go. haven't been able to find it yet :(

join the Netlink League

http://saturnleague.com/mxbb/index.php

[WCP]

Red Earth - Do you happen to know the answer to my original question though? In regards to whether or not I need the special NetLink versions of those games to play in system link mode?

The reason I'm trying to find out this information, is before I try to buy two copies of the same game, I want to make sure that I'm not wasting my money. I don't advocate piracy at all, but I must admit that if I'm going to need the NetLink versions, I'm going to just try to find them from some other means, because I'm not a collector, and I'm not interested in lining the coffers of some Ebay seller.

I think Sega Rally Championship is my most wanted link game, and I'm almost 99 percent sure that the regular USA version won't work in this regard. I'm not sure if the regular Japanese version will work, or does it require the Netlink version?

[Imstarryeyed]

To answer your question, you do indeed need the Netlink versions of the games to play each other. Sega Daytona Netlink will be the hardest to get but Rally is not too too bad.

Duke nukem, Bomberman dont need special versions.

Virtual On does need a special Netlink version as well.

Its kinda a pain to setup but as previously mentioned it would be worth it if you can find others to play with.

I hope this helps out..

[Red Earth]

Imstarryeyed explains pretty well.

i will add that the Netlink version of Virtual-On and Sega Rally come in a standard sized cd jewel case. Duke Nukem and Saturn Bomberman automatically have Netlink capabilities on each pressing and can be found in longbox form only.

the disc art itself will say Netlink Edition on: Virtual-On, Sega Rally & Daytona.

standard disc art with no variation: Duke Nukem 3D & Saturn Bomberman.

good luck! it's not hard to set up a Netlink game at all as long as you have some phone cord, analog phone line, Sega Saturn and some games.

edit: also, i dont think the Japanese versions will work. they were networked differently in Japan.

[Rogue]

Guys... he's aking about the link cable, not the NetLink modem...

You need the japanese games, not the US. Forget the US games.

You will NEED two Saturns that play japanese software...

US games is just Hexen.

And there's no Sega Rally with link cable.

Japanese games are:
Daytona USA CCE (It's different from the US Daytona CCE)
Doom
Gebockers
Steeldom
Hexen
Hyper Revertion
Gun Griffon 2
Just seven games. That's it.

Pal games are Doom and Hexen, but I think you'll not get a pal saturn to play these...

[A Black Falcon]

From the list of which Saturn games supported multiplayer I did within the last year, but cutting the multitap games part, you get this...

--
Link Cable/Internet Games
(Main source for list for this section: http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/saturn/file/916393/13876)
--

Games With Multiplayer Via System Link (aka Sega DirectLink)
--
Daytona USA demo (U)
Doom (U) (U has it, but E version seems to not have system link. J may have it, code is listed (unlike U or E).)
Independence Day (U)(present but nonfunctional)
Hexen (U) (U has it, but E verion seems to not have system link) (buggy)
Virtual-On: Cyber Troopers - Netlink Edition (U)
Dennou Senki: Virtual-On for SegaNet (J)
Wipeout (JUE) (this listing is probably wrong, can someone confirm? Not listed in code and no reviews mention it.)
Wipeout XL/2097 (JE) (as above, this game probably does NOT have system link. Not listed in code, etc.)
Duke Nukem 3D (U) (U version is listed as having DirectLink support in its code and does have it; E version does not have it (neither code nor support))
Daytona USA: Circuit Edition (J)
Gun Griffon 2 (J)
Steeldom (J)
Shadows of the Tusk (J) (unconfirmed, listed as having it in code)
Saturn Bomberman (U) (unconfirmed, listed as having it in code)
Sega Rally Championship Plus (J) (unconfirmed, listed as having it in code)
Puyo Puyo Sun for SegaNet (J)
Hyper 3D Taisen Battle Gebockers (J)
Sega Touring Car Championship (JUE) (unconfirmed, listed as having it in code)
Densetsu no Ogre Battle (J) (unconfirmed, listed as having it in code)
Netlink Browser (PlanetWeb Internet Browser V. 1.135) (unconfirmed, listed as having it in code)
Decathalete for SegaNet (J)
Dragon's Dream


Games With Multiplayer Via Online Play - Sega NetLink (U only except for a limited E test market) (direct dial, so games are still playable online)
--
Daytona USA Championship Circuit Edition NetLink Edition (U)
Duke Nukem 3D (U)
Saturn Bomberman (U)
Virtual On: Cyber Troopers - Netlink Edition (U)
Sega Rally Championship Plus - Netlink Edition (U)
Netlink Browser (PlanetWeb Internet Browser V. 1.135) (U)
Netlink Browser (PlanetWeb Internet Browser V. 1.011) (U)
Netlink Browser (PlanetWeb Internet Browser V. 2.000 Finland) (E) (test marketed only, just in Finland)


Games with Multiplayer Via Online Play - Seganet/Xband (J only -- these only refer to Japanese versions) (now offline, you CANNOT play these games in online mode anymore.)
--
Daytona USA: Circuit Edition
DecAthlete for SegaNet
Dennou Senki: Virtual On for SegaNet
Dragon's Dream (link cable only, not online? Not listed in code.)
Habitat II
PAD NIFTY
PAD NIFTY 1.1 & Habitat II
Puzzle Bubble 3 for SegaNet
Puyo Puyo Sun for SegaNet
Saturn Bomberman for SegaNet (sometimes called Saturn Bomberman (X-Band))
Sega Rally Championship Plus
SEGA WORLDWIDE SOCCER '98
Shadows of the Tusk (unconfirmed, listed as having it in code)
Wachenroder (unconfirmed/unknown)
SEGASATURN INTERNET Vol. 1
SEGASATURN INTERNET Vol. 2