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

[BlastProcessing402]

Not that I think it was necessarily a bad change or anything, I just wonder if there was some story behind it.

Was it technologically inferior somehow, did they just not want people using old Genesis 6 button pads instead of buying new Saturn ones, just a random change, or is it just some mystery we'll never know?

Just seems slightly odd how they used the same connectors for two generations, then suddenly changed, so there must be some reason.

I realize, Sony used the same connectors for two generations as well before changing, but there you have the fairly obvious switch to wireless and USB to explain it.

Of course, Sega did the same thing with the A/V port. SMS and Gen model 1 used the same one, and Saturn used a different one, but they'd already changed that once already with the Gen model 2 and 32x anyway, so it doesn't seem nearly as odd that they changed it again. Inconvenient, yes, but not odd.

[Shulamana]

Does the Saturn controller port support analog input? I could see this being a reason to change it.

[crazyjackcsa]

DB-9 doesn't? The Saturn does have analog control yes. Not when it was built, but late in the generation.

[T2KFreeker]

Could also have to do with the lawsuit they lost from Atari who held the pattents for the DB9's and Sega used it without permission . . .

[Shulamana]

Could also have to do with the lawsuit they lost from Atari who held the pattents for the DB9's and Sega used it without permission . . .

Really? I thought D-sub connectors were invented in the 1950s by ITT Cannon, which is a company that makes electrical connectors (and is still independent).

[crazyjackcsa]

Could also have to do with the lawsuit they lost from Atari who held the pattents for the DB9's and Sega used it without permission . . .

I wasn't aware of that, and cant find anything about it online. DB9 was used on the Atari, the C64 and the Genesis interchangeably and I always thought the NES just used a modified connector.

[Amon_Re]

I wasn't aware of that, and cant find anything about it online. DB9 was used on the Atari, the C64 and the Genesis interchangeably and I always thought the NES just used a modified connector.

The Amiga also used these ports (and was compatible with the Atari/C64/Sega's)

[theclaw]

I believe 3DO and FM Towns Marty used DB9 also. If very different pinout. Some Famiclones do too.

[T2KFreeker]

Wrong Patent. Sorry about that.

[A Black Falcon]

I would assume they needed more buttons than the DB9 could support, plus analog as well as digital controls too...

[Gameguy]

The Vectrex uses the same type of plug and it has analog controls. I think they just changed it to make it unique to that system so you'd have to buy replacement parts directly from them. Systems used to pretty much all use the same type of interchangeable parts, you can use the same RF switch between an NES, SNES, Turbografx, SMS, Genesis Model 1, etc. They stuck with the same controller input with the Genesis because they planned to make it backwards compatible with SMS games, they needed the controllers to be compatible too. With the Model 2 Genesis they changed the video output so you'd need a unique type of cable, the Saturn ones are also different from the Genesis ones so I think they planned to use different connections for each of their consoles by that point, starting with the Model 2 Genesis.

[Emuaust]

I would assume they needed more buttons than the DB9 could support, plus analog as well as digital controls too...

This is a possibility either that or maybe they thought the use of a new plug might imrove the sales of first party controllers?

[Wraith Storm]

DB-9 doesn't? The Saturn does have analog control yes. Not when it was built, but late in the generation.

The Saturn had analog support from day one. Both the Mission Stick and the Arcade Racer steering wheel are fully analog. This is why, when the 3d pad that you are referring to was released, a lot of the games already on the market supported the controller. It was backwards compatible with a lot of games that already had analog support.

Reason #17 why the Saturn is freakin' cool!

[crazyjackcsa]

The Saturn had analog support from day one. Both the Mission Stick and the Arcade Racer steering wheel are fully analog. This is why, when the 3d pad that you are referring to was released, a lot of the games already on the market supported the controller. It was backwards compatible with a lot of games that already had analog support.

Reason #17 why the Saturn is freakin' cool!

Good catch, totally slipped my mind.

[j_factor]

DB-9 supports analog. The Mega Drive had an analog pad in Japan. And an analog steering wheel was prototyped.

[LimpBizkit]

db-9?

[Amon_Re]

db-9?

If you're too young to remember DB9 then you should get off my lawn!

[shinobimusashi]

An analog steering wheel(with gas/break pedals) for Outrun, and Super Monaco GP would have been sweet.

[BlastProcessing402]

I would assume they needed more buttons than the DB9 could support, plus analog as well as digital controls too...

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,

[ccovell]

db-9?

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.)