Playing imports on Sega Saturn

[jerkov]

Long story short, got a Saturn a while ago, its been sitting around mostly, I want to play imports on it. Will this cartridge really enable me to play imports on my Saturn? :

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3051888830&category=3654

If not, what do I need?

[Captain Wrong]

Yep, that should work.

[maxlords]

No. It won't. If that's an official Sega cart, it's the Sega 4 Mb RAM expansion, which lets you play games like D&D: Shadow over Mystaria that require the extra RAM.

You need a Pro Action Replay or an ST Key. That thing only lets you play certain import Saturn games on an import Saturn, that's all. It's not a convertor.

[sisko]

There are several types of chips out there.....

There are quite a few 4in1 carts that will let you play import games, PAL games, act as a memory card, and something else.

Don't spend more than $20.

Still it was the best $20 I ever spent on import gaming stuff :)

[jerkov]

Shit, and I bought one after Captain Wrong posted that it would work.....What the hell am I supposed to do with this thing now? Why would they write real big PLAY IMPORTS in the auction title if it won't play imports?

[Azazel]

The fact that the auction said.

4 MB RAM cartridge that inserts into top of Nintendo 64

Should be a big tip off that the seller is full of crap. :embarrassed:

[Lost Monkey]

That is an odd auction...

The text: "games with larger worlds, bigger animation sequences, and more complex game play" is directly copied from NINTENDO's web page about the N64 expansion paks..

This could be an HK manufactured multi-purpose cart - I've never seen an official cart with that type of label before, it doesn't even have a Sega logo on it... The auction in the link below has an official cart:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3054835395&category=27244

Also, if you look at his other auctions, all of his videogame auctions are cheap third party hardware items. He probably is doing container orders from Asia.

I think you are going to get a cartridge which will allow imports and have the RAM capabilities.

[maxlords]

Shit, and I bought one after Captain Wrong posted that it would work.....What the hell am I supposed to do with this thing now? Why would they write real big PLAY IMPORTS in the auction title if it won't play imports?

You can always trade it off. I'd probably swap something for it. If you want an ST-Key, I believe Lik-Sang has em cheap. They might have Pro Action Replays too.

[jerkov]

Lost Monkey, I hope your theory is right, that would make my day! If its not an official Sega cartridge (which it obviously isn't), then there is still hope that it will allow imports.

Maxlords, if it doesn't work, I'll gladly trade it......I'll talk to you once I get it.

BTW, since I know nothing about Saturns, how much can you save on the internal memory? And how hard would it be to swap in a new battery because mine is definitely toasted. Do you need memory cards for any games, or can you save a lot on the internal memory?

The 5 in 1 action replay looks like the best way to go, but they're going for like $35 on Ebay.

[Azazel]

The Saturn can hold about 500 or so worth of data. Some of the stretegy and RPGS can sometimes take up as much as 400 units of memory. If your into those type of games I would recommend getting an official memory card. The battery can be easily replaced. It uses the same one a VMU uses on the Dreamcast if I remember right. Radio Shack and a lot of other places should carry those.

[maxlords]

Lost Monkey, I hope your theory is right, that would make my day! If its not an official Sega cartridge (which it obviously isn't), then there is still hope that it will allow imports.

If it's not official, there's a chance, but it looked to me like an official one with one of the memory card stickers on it. Not really sure.



Maxlords, if it doesn't work, I'll gladly trade it......I'll talk to you once I get it.

No problem. If it ends up not working for you, I'll help ya out! I hate buying things I find out aren't what I want!



BTW, since I know nothing about Saturns, how much can you save on the internal memory? And how hard would it be to swap in a new battery because mine is definitely toasted. Do you need memory cards for any games, or can you save a lot on the internal memory?

The 5 in 1 action replay looks like the best way to go, but they're going for like $35 on Ebay.

As Azazel said, the memory on the Saturn is fairly small...holds plenty unless you play RPGs or games like Dragon Force. I bought myself a Sega Saturn memory card (official) for about $20 before the prices when up on em, and it holds something like 10X the amount that the internal memory does. VERY handy. Don't buy a US third party memory cart though....they break or go bad like CRAZY, even brand new ones!

The 5 in 1 action replay is a decent import/memory card, and $35 is about right for them. You're not going to get a decent memory cart cheaper than that. You buy cheap carts for the Saturn, they WILL break down. Excpect to pay:

ST-Key (for converter, no memory, no RAM expansion - $10
Pro Action Replay (w/memory, import conversion, sometimes RAM) - $25-35
Sega Saturn official memory card (best memory card for the Saturn) - $25+
3rd party memory card (guaranteed to break) - $10-20

There is a door on the back of your Saturn that you pop off with your hands and you can pull the battery right out of it (it's just inside the door...easy to remove. Just be gentle and be sure to put the new battery in facing the same direction! :) You need one CR2032 watch battery. They're fairly big and run $5-10 each depending on where you buy them. They last for a few years. You cannot run the Saturn's internal memory without one, or you'll just lose everything that's saved every time you turn the system off. Lousy design, but that's how it is. That's why the official Saturn memory carts are so handy!

[Funk Buddy]

The 5 in 1 action replay looks like the best way to go, but they're going for like $35 on Ebay.

My auctions just ended, but I sell new ones for $28 shipped there. If you'd like one PM me and we can talk price. ;)

[jerkov]

Maxlords and everyone else, thanks for all the info. I guess I have to get out to Radio Shack to get one of those batteries. Max, I'll PM you as soon as the cartridge arrives and let you know what's going on.

Funk Buddy, if this cartridge doesn't work, I will DEFINITELY be interested in one of those 5-in-1 Action Replays. It would be nice to have all that extra memory, too. I may PM you anyways about it......hopefully the 4M RAM cart will come soon so I can test it out.

[FABombjoy]

You need one CR2032 watch battery. They're fairly big and run $5-10 each depending on where you buy them.

Or 2 for $2 at Gamestop.

[jerkov]

Ok, got the cartridge today........to my surprise, it actually works. The only import game I have right now is Race Drivin', and its working fine. I do have a question, though: there is a switch on the front of the cart, in one position it play the import and in one position it won't. Is this a toggle switch between the 4M RAM expansion and the ability to read import discs? Something else? It didn't come with any instructions, anyone have any idea what this switch does?

[maxlords]

Ok, got the cartridge today........to my surprise, it actually works. The only import game I have right now is Race Drivin', and its working fine. I do have a question, though: there is a switch on the front of the cart, in one position it play the import and in one position it won't. Is this a toggle switch between the 4M RAM expansion and the ability to read import discs? Something else? It didn't come with any instructions, anyone have any idea what this switch does?

Chances are that's what it does...but that would require you to have a Japanese Saturn. Makes no sense. Either way, lucky thing there! :D

Enjoy the imports and if you need more, PM me...I have a bunch cheap (and I'd also trade em for stuff!)

[Lost Monkey]

Maybe the switch is to select between 2MB and 4MB modes for the games that require a specific RAM cart. I think one of the early NEO GEO ports can only be used with the type of cart it came with.. but I am not certain.

[c0ldb33r]

What is the current best option for playing imports on a North American Saturn?

It is still a pro action 4mb cart?

Is $20 still a good price?

[Breetai]

Yes and yes.