What constitutes a complete Saturn game?

[josekortez]

What makes a Saturn game complete? Did all the Saturn releases come in the long plastic cases, or did any Japanese releases come in regular CD size cases? I need to know because I plan to stop by a local game store that just got a bunch of Japanese Saturn games in on my lunch hour. Konami Arcade Classics is in a regular CD case with what looks like a short manual, and Sonic Jam is in a weird looking video store style case. I'm interested in getting both, but I've never collected Saturn stuff before...

[Retsudo]

As far as I know, US Saturn games came in the long box, Japanese Saturn games came in the regular size cd cases.

[Funk Buddy]

As far as I know, US Saturn games came in the long box, Japanese Saturn games came in the regular size cd cases.

True, the only US games in a regular jewel case are the Net Link versions.

[geelw]

all japanese games came in standard sized cases (except, of course, multi-disc games or box set stuff) if the prices are good and you have the cash, clean out the stock, and report back here with your finds (that's an order!, lol)...

[josekortez]

For now, I just have a flawless copy of Konami Antiques MSX Collection (which I incorrectly posted as Classics earlier) that I got for $4.99. I plan to go back tomorrow after I do more research on Ebay since the rarity list here on DP is rather short. They had a few more imports sealed, but at this store, nobody buys anything but Madden and Grand Theft Auto, so I really don't think I'm in any danger. The owner said he would sell me a Japanese Saturn for $50. This is the guy who cut me a deal on a PAL DC copy of Rez a few weeks ago. They also sell cell phones and CDs, so I think that's how the store stays open...

[Achika]

*raises index finger*

Evangelion 2nd Impression appears to be in a standard jewel case but it's not. It's millimeters larger and I only found this out when I went to switch the cracked case out with a standard one and it would not fit.

[sisko]

Complete import?

Jewel case, manual, game, and spinecard.

The spine card is placed around the outside spine when the game is wrapped. Often collectors place these inside the manual or underneath the plastic of the CD.


Complete US?

Most US games came in a longbox, manual, game, and often a foam block that sat over the CD to prevent it from sliding around.

[Funk Buddy]

*raises index finger*

Evangelion 2nd Impression appears to be in a standard jewel case but it's not. It's millimeters larger and I only found this out when I went to switch the cracked case out with a standard one and it would not fit.

Yes, there are several games that use a larger than standard jewel case. Like:

Nissan Presents: Over Drivin' GT R
Technomotor
Langrisser III
All Japan Pro-Wrestling Featuring Virtua
There's a Baseball game too, but the name escapes me a the moment.

It really sucks to break one or recieve one that's cracked!!

[Garry Silljo]

Virua fighter one and the first release of Virtua Fighter Remix in the U.S. had Standard cases and that's it, but in Japan I don't think long cases existed. Which I wish they didn't here either. There is just no reason for them to be that big.

[Atari7800]

a few games came in cardboard boxes the size of standard CD cases... "Lulu" comes to mind, and the three Gundam Side Story games.

[Funk Buddy]

a few games came in cardboard boxes the size of standard CD cases... "Lulu" comes to mind, and the three Gundam Side Story games.

Oh yeah, I forgot about those! Body Special 264 is another one.

[josekortez]

I've got another Saturn question for the experts. On the back of Konami Antiques, it says "NTSC/J" about the Compact Disc emblem. Does that mean this game will play in both a U.S. and Japan console without having to modify the system?

[Jive3D]

Rockman 8 also comes in a special WIDER jewel case.

AND DONT FORGET!

If you are collecting japanese Saturn games, they are not really complete without the SPINE CARD!

[Jive3D]

I've got another Saturn question for the experts. On the back of Konami Antiques, it says "NTSC/J" about the Compact Disc emblem. Does that mean this game will play in both a U.S. and Japan console without having to modify the system?

No it does not. Japan and the US simply have the same TV standards, thats why you can plug a japanese saturn into a US TV or vise versa and it will work fine. Unlike PAL which is the European standard for TV, those systems for the most part wont work on a US TV.

BUT that does NOT mean that a NTSC/J game will work on an american system without an adaptor or MOD.

You need a plugin mod for the cartrdige slot of the saturn, get one of the 4m + japanese adaptor things - it functions as a converter as well as a +ram expansion pack for the few games that need it like Metal Slug and some of the Street Fighter vs Xmen games.

[GaijinPunch]

NTSC and NTSC/J are slightly different. I don't know the details, but I *THINK* it has to do with the colors. My capture card lets me pic between the to.

I remember playing JSR on the US and Japanese Dreamcasts (each with their respectively formatted TV). The NTSC-J looked much more vivid. Could be coincidence I suppose.

[geelw]

lol- yah, yah. ok- i FORGOT to mention the 8 or 9 other variations of jp saturn case design... i was sort of refering to the "problem" at hand here- someone who's never seen a jp saturn game live, and what to look for (in the case of a shop that normally doesn't carry imports).

here's some more for you: girls in motion has a cardboard case as do the gundam side story games (unless you buy the box set), cotton 2 , jswat, madoh monogatari, dezaemon 2, and a couple hundred others have those REALLY hard to replace slightly thicker CD cases. overdrivin' gt-r has a thick metal keychain in the game case, and i think it's one of a kind (which is a pain in the ass, as my case is cracked- waaaah!)...

anyway, what else did (do) they have? i'm sure we here can let you know if anything is worth picking up...

[anagrama]

NTSC and NTSC/J are slightly different.

I think, technically speaking, the US is NTSC-U rather than plain NTSC. Similarly, most of Europe is PAL-I rather than just PAL.
There's also PAL-M, PAL-N, SECAM, SECAM-M, D-MAC and others.
Damn confusing things, these TV standards

[Jasoco]

For long plastic cased games like Saturn games and most Sega CD and a few early PSX games, I count it complete if it has:

The case; All three parts (Cover, back, black tray)
Manual
Back insert page (With the spine on the side)
Game

Some of my games don't have the styrofoam piece but I don't count that to be "Complete" but it is a nice extra.

For games that come in cardboard book type cases:

The box
Instructions
Game with sleeve (Unless the box has the built in tray)

For plain box games with opening ends:

Box
Game in case (Jewel case or sleeve, depending on the game)
Instructions

Now, for jewel case games like PSX games and DC games:

Entire jewel case (All three parts)
Game
Instructions
Back insert (Part with spine)

I could go on and list Cartridge games in Genesis style cases, or DVD's or cardboard boxed carts, etc.. but I won't.