Anyone know why Sega dumped DB-9 controller ports when going from Genesis to Saturn?

[theclaw]

Didn't the obscure Super A'Can use this connector too?

[Icarus Moonsight]

My universal sticks that work on Saturn have DB-15 on the back for the lead... Not sure if it uses 10 pins or more, but it's possibly the case.

[A Black Falcon]

A Saturn pad's only got one more button than a 6 button Genesis pad (added L&R but removed MODE) so I have to think that wasn't it.

Thanks for all the guesses and speculation everyone, some interesting theories, but looks like nothing concrete. About what I expected, but I had to ask,

One more button? No, that same connection can support a controller with two analog joysticks, that same number of buttons, and an analog throttle wheel as well (the Mission Stick, with a second stick plugged into the "Sub Control" port underneath the main stick unit; note that the Main and Sub Control ports are indeed DE9. ), an analog gamepad with both an analog stick and a d-pad, analog triggers, and the same face button layout; or an analog racing wheel with two fewer buttons (the wheel doesn't have L or R buttons, and those paddle things, though digital, are actually Up and Down)... and remember that two of those three controllers were out day one, as has been said already.

Do you really think DB-9 could have handled all of those options?


Also, remember that even if squeezing all of those onto a DE9 connection was somehow possible -- something I do very much doubt -- using the same controller port type would make people think that they could use their Genesis controllers on the Saturn, while because of the missing L button, and surely very different button connections... I know that the SMS and Genesis share port types and could have that same problem, but that was done for BC reasons I imagine. Without BC, there'd be every reason to not repeat that -- one more reminder that no, it can't play your last gen games. But I'd guess the main reason is because of DE9's limited connections.

[VertigoProcess]

3do used it too...

[FABombjoy]

But I'd guess the main reason is because of DE9's limited connections.

The Saturn's joystick connector has 9 pins as well. The number of pins a connector has is mostly irrelevant to it's capability of transmitting data, either digital or analog.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiplexer

I'm guessing that the reasons mentioned by ccovell are on the mark. I would also add that they probably wanted to change signaling protocols and didn't want 10 million calls to 800-USA-SEGA asking why their Genesis controller didn't work in the Saturn.

[dendawg]

I would also add that they probably wanted to change signaling protocols and didn't want 10 million calls to 800-USA-SEGA asking why their Genesis controller didn't work in the Saturn.

Yea, probably that. I'm sure they got bombarded with enough questions as to why their Genesis/Sega CD games didn't work.

[xelement5x]

...they slide right in and can be done one-handed (by me, anyway.)

There's a joke in there, I just know it....


I agree with most folks when they say it's probably a usability issue, people would have been trying to use Genesis pads with Saturn games and it probably wouldn't have turned out well.

With the PS1 Analog/DualShock it wasn't really an issue since the controllers were near identical, but imagine trying to play N64 games with an SNES pad. Some would probably be playable, but there would be plenty that just wouldn't work outright.

[BlastProcessing402]

We feel your confusion. It actually is called DE-9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-subminiature

Two other reasons Sega might have changed: DE-9 connectors might have looked too small on the Saturn's front plate, and far, far too retro to boot. DE-9 on systems does make it look like a thing of the 80s.

Also, DE-9 connectors take relatively more insertion force compared to more modern consoles. Plug a controller into your Genesis or Master System and you usually have to hold the system from behind, right? Now try the same thing with a SNES or Saturn; they slide right in and can be done one-handed (by me, anyway.)

DE-9 is the technically correct term, but most people call it DB-9, so I just went with the term I usually see people use.