New to the Sega Saturn and have a few questions

[gbpxl]

I just bought an NTSC Saturn. I am really confused about how saving works. I replaced the 2032 so it seems like the date and time retains now but how exactly do I save my progress in these games? Is it saving to a hard drive inside the console itself? SRAM supported by the 2032? Really confused by that.

My system came with the smallest of the 3 black controllers. Not the analog one or the bulkier one sans the analog. Is that controller standard with the May 1995 console? My console was made in June 1996.

Can I play Japanese games on this? Or PAL?

[jperryss]

The consoles are region-locked. An easy way around this is to pick up an Action Replay cart with Pseudo Saturn loaded on it.

1st gen consoles have oval buttons and the controllers are kind of angled. 2nd gen consoles have round buttons and the controllers are smoother. The analog 3D controller can be used for some games including NiGHTS.

[Az]

And you're right, the SRAM is powered by the battery. Battery dies = save games wiped.

3rd party memory cards like those in the Action Replay models don't let you save directly to them, just shuffle files between the internal memory and theirs. To save directly to a memory card you'd need to use one of the official Sega memory carts.

Buying one of the newer 4-in-1 Action Replays is a must. It'll let you play imports from any region along with those that require the RAM expansion, save game files for when the battery dies, and most of the newer ones let you do a disc swap to play CD-Rs.

[gbpxl]

One of the reasons I dont play on the Xbox much is because games save to internal storage. Inevitably, the system will crash or malfunction somehow and I won't be able to access my saves. I dont see that happening if I can save to a memory card so I might look into that

[Gameguy]

I would like official memory cards for the Saturn and Sega CD but they're pretty expensive and hard to find. The internal saves will basically last long enough to play through a game but you can't really archive them, they only work as long as the batteries do.

It's the same problem with the Turbo Duo, only there's no battery but a capacitor powering the saves. I can't remember how the 3DO or CDi handled saves. Early CD systems weren't great at saving games. Sony got it right with the PS1.

[gbpxl]

I would like official memory cards for the Saturn and Sega CD but they're pretty expensive and hard to find. The internal saves will basically last long enough to play through a game but you can't really archive them, they only work as long as the batteries do.

It's the same problem with the Turbo Duo, only there's no battery but a capacitor powering the saves. I can't remember how the 3DO or CDi handled saves. Early CD systems weren't great at saving games. Sony got it right with the PS1.

right. I mostly just wanna be able to hold onto my save files for the next several decades

[Koa Zo]

right. I mostly just wanna be able to hold onto my save files for the next several decades

This is what you need: Saturn FRAM IC - 256kbit battery-free built in save RAM
details

[YoshiM]

One of the reasons I dont play on the Xbox much is because games save to internal storage. Inevitably, the system will crash or malfunction somehow and I won't be able to access my saves. I dont see that happening if I can save to a memory card so I might look into that

The original Xbox and the 360 both have memory cards. Depending on the game you could transfer saves. In regards to more control, you can easily softmod an OG Xbox and yank your saves. If you wanted to go even further, you can pop in an SSD drive, clone that puppy and you should be good for years. At least until the main hardware dies.

[Tron 2.0]

I just bought an NTSC Saturn. I am really confused about how saving works. I replaced the 2032 so it seems like the date and time retains now but how exactly do I save my progress in these games? Is it saving to a hard drive inside the console itself? SRAM supported by the 2032? Really confused by that.

My system came with the smallest of the 3 black controllers. Not the analog one or the bulkier one sans the analog. Is that controller standard with the May 1995 console? My console was made in June 1996.

Can I play Japanese games on this? Or PAL?

Battery for the saturn saves date and time plus for game saves.The console is region locked but using a converter such as a action replay plus can bypass it beside backing up game save files.Not to mention a par can play games that use the 1&4 meg ram cartridge.Still it's not the best time buying for the consoles,prices for it's games have really shot up unless you stick to japanese releases.The other option buying a optical drive emulator such as the mode or even the recent the satiator.

[Az]

The original Xbox and the 360 both have memory cards.

Also, 360 saves can be backed up to any old USB flash drive. You can do the same to the original Xbox too, with a cheap $1 cable and no mods to the system.

[Edmond Dantes]

Just saying you guys have had way worse luck with internal saves than I had.

When I first got my Saturn and a Sega CD, I had to replace the battery... and they've worked since. This was years ago.

Nobody properly answered OP's question, so I will: Most Saturn games have a command you have to perform to save, such as talking to a certain NPC, resting at an inn, or there may even just be a "Save game" option in a menu somewhere.

Incidentally does anyone have a fully-functioning copy of D they're willing to part with? My Saturn copy will play fine up until this one area with a rotating room, then it locks up. On a similar vein I need replacement copies of Dune and Revenge of the Ninja for the Sega CD.