4 ms·

> Consequently, the VDP1 is designed to use quadrilaterals as primitives, which means that it can only compose models using 4-vertex polygons (sprites). This g

> Consequently, the VDP1 is designed to use quadrilaterals as primitives, which means that it can only compose models using 4-vertex polygons (sprites). This gave the 3D Sega Saturn games a more boxy look than PS1 counterparts. Comparing Resident Evil on Saturn and PS1 is a good side by side to see the difference. The overall result is that Sega Saturn games have a unique aesthetic in 90s 3D gaming. It's also worth highlighting that the Sega Saturn's emulation is far behind other platforms. Perhaps it's the lack of success in the west, paired with the complex architecture.

wk_end 3y ago
Saturn emulation is very solid at this point. But yeah, for a long time it was quite poor.
- breadmaster 3y ago
  Yes, it's really quite good right now, and very accessible under programs like OpenEmu. I have a Saturn hooked up to a CRT still, but the emu doesn't feel very different these days.
- segasaturn 3y ago
  Saturn Emulation is definitely possible but the amount of complexity in the hardware means that it's much more resource intensive than its 32-bit contemporaries: https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Section_intro https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Section_int... >Mednafen's Sega Saturn emulation is extremely CPU intensive. The minimum recommended CPU is a quad-core Intel Haswell-microarchitecture CPU with a base frequency of >= 3.3GHz and a turbo frequency of >= 3.7GHz(e.g. Xeon E3-1226 v3), but note that this recommendation does not apply to any unofficial ports or forks, which may have higher CPU requirements. Those minimum specs are about the same as what's required to emulate a Wii via Dolphin, two generations ahead of the Saturn!
  - nikanj 3y ago
    For some perspective, Haswell came out in 2013. Those steep processor requirements aren't that steep in 2024
spxneo 3y ago
Best alternative to emulation, im not sure where FGPA is but it gives me a peace of mind to just mod the console to support SD cards filled with every single game released for that console, picking up the original game from ebay if I really like the title and show support Its such a hassle to take out the CD from its plastic casing with rubber gloves to preserve value and put it back in each time but you don't want to trade original game experience with emulation
- gamepsys 3y ago
  You are talking about an Optical Disk Emulator, and a few have created for the Saturn. It takes files from an SD card and supplies the data to the console as if an optical drive was reading the data. I personally own one. Just dropping the correct keyword in case anyone else is curious.
  - spxneo 3y ago
    that's correct. I really think ODEs are right balance but soldering was quite off putting at first. I was concerned about fumes. End result is you have every single game released on that console playing on the physical hardware. The next crazy step here would be mods you can do to connect online and play your retro games online somehow (maybe some crazy real time 2d/3d video game segmentation and AI enhancement to generate multiplayer hacked ROMs). So many games yet so little friends to play with...
    - gamepsys 3y ago
      It's kind of pricey, but the satiator is a no-solder ODE for the Saturn.

wk_end 3y ago

Saturn emulation is very solid at this point. But yeah, for a long time it was quite poor.

breadmaster 3y ago
Yes, it's really quite good right now, and very accessible under programs like OpenEmu. I have a Saturn hooked up to a CRT still, but the emu doesn't feel very different these days.
segasaturn 3y ago
Saturn Emulation is definitely possible but the amount of complexity in the hardware means that it's much more resource intensive than its 32-bit contemporaries: https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Section_intro https://mednafen.github.io/documentation/ss.html#Section_int... >Mednafen's Sega Saturn emulation is extremely CPU intensive. The minimum recommended CPU is a quad-core Intel Haswell-microarchitecture CPU with a base frequency of >= 3.3GHz and a turbo frequency of >= 3.7GHz(e.g. Xeon E3-1226 v3), but note that this recommendation does not apply to any unofficial ports or forks, which may have higher CPU requirements. Those minimum specs are about the same as what's required to emulate a Wii via Dolphin, two generations ahead of the Saturn!
- nikanj 3y ago
  For some perspective, Haswell came out in 2013. Those steep processor requirements aren't that steep in 2024

spxneo 3y ago

Best alternative to emulation, im not sure where FGPA is but it gives me a peace of mind to just mod the console to support SD cards filled with every single game released for that console, picking up the original game from ebay if I really like the title and show support Its such a hassle to take out the CD from its plastic casing with rubber gloves to preserve value and put it back in each time but you don't want to trade original game experience with emulation

gamepsys 3y ago
You are talking about an Optical Disk Emulator, and a few have created for the Saturn. It takes files from an SD card and supplies the data to the console as if an optical drive was reading the data. I personally own one. Just dropping the correct keyword in case anyone else is curious.
- spxneo 3y ago
  that's correct. I really think ODEs are right balance but soldering was quite off putting at first. I was concerned about fumes. End result is you have every single game released on that console playing on the physical hardware. The next crazy step here would be mods you can do to connect online and play your retro games online somehow (maybe some crazy real time 2d/3d video game segmentation and AI enhancement to generate multiplayer hacked ROMs). So many games yet so little friends to play with...
  - gamepsys 3y ago
    It's kind of pricey, but the satiator is a no-solder ODE for the Saturn.