Possible Sega Saturn Prototypes

So been up for a few days, no discussion yet outside of a language I cant read. What do you guys think?

https://twitter.com/VGDensetsu/status/908336280613867520

 

I'm always sceptical about anything rare or unusual when pictures are low quality and low resolution, it happened many times - someone edits photos then saves them with lower resolution and quality so it will be harder to spot a fake.
Left one looks similar to final design though so it may be an early case design.

 

The left one reminded me of the early conceptual design. More info and pics here: http://videogamesdensetsu.tumblr.com/post/139565294800/evolution-of-the-sega-saturn
The right one already appeared (different picture) on SonicRetro and was known as "GigaDrive": https://forums.sonicretro.org/index.php?showtopic=32911&st=30

 

The left one looks legit and very close to the final model 1 look. The right one looks like half of a sega cd model 2

 

I'd say both are legit. Is the site or whatever in Japanese? Please post a link and I'll translate it.

 

machine translating
---

These two pieces should be models or prototypes of the shell of the console of SEGA. In the comments, the person who puts them on sale confirms that they are not functional, that inside do not have the necessary circuitry and everything else to be a real console, apparently would be preliminary designs of the aspect of the shell that would have the console . And well, what I suppose that you are already prowling the head. Are they true or not? Well, that's the key. I venture modestly to say that they are. I do not know the user or the origin of these consoles but my experience tells me that if they were a fake they would be very well done, and seeing the version with golden appearance coincides fully with other designs or photos of very poor quality that we could have seen that way in old magazines of the time. In general, I can not confirm it but my instinct tells me they are legitimate. The consoles are seen to be massive and weigh an awful lot. This would have to be seen more like a design mold of the aspect that would have the console and that according to him they sent to SoA and SoJ in theory so that they were getting an idea of the process of design and the aspect that would have the new hardware. In short, that may be a piece of history that has come out here in the light. We will continue to inform you when we have bought them.

 

It's in Spanish.

I could translate it, however everybody can use google translate easily.

http://www.segasaturno.com/portal/posibles-prototipos-nunca-vistos-de-la-saturn-vf17-vt9147.html

 

They look legit to me, the Gigadrive looks appropriately beaten up for its age, and looks just like the old pictures.

 

To think that these old concept mock-ups still exist after all these years...

 

They are awesome, seeing something that can be the Gigadrive is something that blow my mind. I always wondered if it really existed.

 

I've not heard anything more about the Pluto, but two earlier Saturn prototypes surfaced yesterday...

 

First video is an empty shell?

Second video I doubt it's Saturn related?

 

First one is a early mockup of the Saturn.

Second one is the "Gigadrive". Was supposed to be a 32 bit system, backwards compatible with the MegaDrive / MegaCD

More here: https://assemblergames.com/threads/possible-sega-saturn-prototypes.66810/

 

thats incredible, very thankful to see these early designs as they indeed show that many great minds were hard at work at sega.

 

the design of the giga-drive is strange, like a cdx but with a unique shape and concept, kinda like a funky portable cd walkman.

 

it kinda looks like a sega cd model 2 addon, with a cartridge slot on top.

 

Well, it was the early 90s...

 

Followin the post were the new prototypes have been shown:

https://assemblergames.com/threads/possible-sega-saturn-prototypes.66810/

Both protptypes have appered in youtube during this weekend, here are the links:






As it can be seen, both models appear very real, since as it can be seen, one of them, the one that look like the MegaCD has little damage on it, also they if real, look like they have been storage for a long time.
It is only my opinion, but it seems that we are looking at two new pieces of history from Sega, that a collector has kept for a really long time.
There is also an explanation in one of the videos:

Saturn Prototype A. First one of the 2 prototypes that were sent from Sega Japan to both, European and USA headquartes in order to decide the final shape of the final model. As it can be seen, this model looks a lot like the final shape that the final model has. According to the information gathered, two sets of both models A and C were sent to both USA and European headquarters, requesting both to send feedback of their opinion in order to decide the final shape that the SATURN should have. As it can be easily seen, this was the chosen model, and the one that most look alike the SEGA saturn. Just like the final model a slot for carts was included into the prototype, as well as the room for CDs. No controller ports or AC or TV conections can be found in this early developed unit, but the SEGA logo and also the SATURN logo can be seen on labeled on the machine. Power and Access lights were included, probably to show when reading of discs was performed. Buttons Power and Open were also included. Is colored in GOLD showing some metal parts on the sides. Masterpiece of the videogame history.

 

"A" reminds me about Fifth Element, I mean the water element stone. Really great design.

 

The text on the CD lid reads "High Grade Multipurpose Use 32-BIT". Speaking of the CD lid, neat-o that it opens up.

Also, at 0:18 and 0:23 of the vid of Prototype C, it seems that a couple of bits had broken off of it.