How does backup games work on a Sega Saturn ?

[General_Murdock]

Hi all =))

Today I went to a flea market that is really rare in Brazil. I got so many things!
But the main reason is that I got 2 saturns.

One white another one black.

Payed $7 for each!!
I tested and they are working fine. One of them came with an original game, a pinball game.

So now I want to download some games to play but I think they will not work on the console.
I see people here selling saturns with some key system, I really don't get it.

So, is there I way to run backups in the sega saturn without opening the console up ?

[todesengel]

The only way to play backups on a Saturn is by installing a mod chip.

[goldenegg]

You'll also want to open the systems before ordering a modchip, as you should only buy one if you have 32-pin chip version. Other models are difficult/impossible to mod.

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/2005/01/sega-saturn-mod-chip-installation.html

[allyourblood]

If you have a model 1, hot-swapping discs (while the game is spinning) is pretty easy, but obviously it's bad for the motor. Once you get the timing down, you can nail it every time.

[todesengel]

If you have a model 1, hot-swapping discs (while the game is spinning) is pretty easy, but obviously it's bad for the motor. Once you get the timing down, you can nail it every time.
Wouldn't that make the game you're trying to play not work properly? The system would be loading the table of contents for a completely different game and I'd imagine that it would make the swapped game not play correctly.

[allyourblood]

Wouldn't that make the game you're trying to play not work properly? The system would be loading the table of contents for a completely different game and I'd imagine that it would make the swapped game not play correctly.

From my recollection, this was a much bigger issue on the Playstation than the Saturn. To be honest, I only ever tried it with a handful of games, but they all worked great without any hiccups. I'm sure if I had tried more titles, some of them would've been glitchy, but I can't really say for sure. If one were truly desperate and a mod chip were not readily available, it might be their only option (short of just buying the darn games, that is).

[todesengel]

From my recollection, this was a much bigger issue on the Playstation than the Saturn. To be honest, I only ever tried it with a handful of games, but they all worked great without any hiccups. I'm sure if I had tried more titles, some of them would've been glitchy, but I can't really say for sure. If one were truly desperate and a mod chip were not readily available, it might be their only option (short of just buying the darn games, that is).
Thanks for clearing that up, I don't really do the whole playing of backups so I wasn't really sure.

[General_Murdock]

Both saturns I own are model 2.

I managed to work the swap method in a shot out of 20.
It's very very hard.

The first time.. you change the disc at the exact moment the lens move ?

And them at the exact moment the lens move back ?

I saw videos of it on youtube but I can't get it right. It was lucky when it worked.

[allyourblood]

Both saturns I own are model 2.

I managed to work the swap method in a shot out of 20.
It's very very hard.

I haven't done it in probably 10 years, but I remember relying on the sound to dictate when to swap.