Saturn Optical Drive Emulator

This is something I've been working on, although right now it's in the "barely functioning prototype" stage. Basically a Saturn optical drive emulator that connects in series with the drive, like a modchip. If there is no SD card in the board, then it just switches to pass-through mode and allows you to boot a CD. Right now, the CD emulation is working in both audio and CD-ROM modes, but the disc authentication simulator isn't - so the only way you can get it to boot is either by using something like pseudo Saturn or by connecting it in series with a modchip. I guess I was thinking along the same lines as you - it would be nice to be able to run CD images without using any of the expansion ports.

 

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Yes, we all have those things. Individually. Not all in one.

Furthermore, using Rhea requires using a weird obsolete .cdi format which is not the format one typically finds Saturn games in and for which conversion is awkward. I think you understimate exactly how big a problem that is.

Rhea isn't going to get cheaper. There's a limited audience for this sort of thing and the market is going to be saturated long before it gets cheaper, not to mention that the creator can decide to stop making Rheas at any time, and there isn't exactly a group of replacements waiting in the wings to make the cheaper version.

I think you underestimate how big a problem that is, too.

Why is it this counts as "having to swap out the hardware" but removing your CD drive doesn't? What if I wanted to play a CD game? Wouldn't I have to swap the CD drive back? Yeah, I could play the equivalent without the physical CD, but by that reasoning, I could play the VCD on a PC too.

The list of games is extremely small and a lot of people don't read Japanese. Unless you have a library of VCDs that for some reason you don't want to play on a PC or even a DVD player (a lot of them play VCDs).

 

1. It can use several formats. CDI is just one of those formats. I use CCD for all of my saturn rips, as per the release guides. I want accurate dumps, and I can't see that happening with BIN+CUE, so the old rips will need to be ripped again.

SD Cards get cheaper. Rhea is on the market. Satisfier isn't yet. I don't think we even have a price point for Satisfier yet, so pricing on the devices isn't helpful.

Really? i've installed 2 so far with absolutely no issues. In fact, the second one was even easier to install. The only solder point i did on it per my recall was to add a 50/60hz option, something not really needed for my system, but i wanted to max the capabilities out.

Because you go in to a Rhea knowing you're replacing the drive, so you're essentially dedicating a system to its function. To play ANY disc games, you play them on another saturn. That is an expectation of the device.

The appeal to the satisfier is that you could play disc games and games off external storage, but in order to play MPEG disc games, you have to swap out the hardware. In comparison, you can have ALL your games on an SD card and play them all through Rhea. Similar solutions, one is complete (ie, you can play ALL games on a Rhea as long as they are in the format Rhea accepts), the other is not (you can't play MPEG enabled/required games as long as that device is in the unit, period, end of story).

How many games that utilize the feature is irrelevant. Saturn development is clearly not dead, and I for one see potential for using MPEG encoded video on new saturn games. Every day, translating japanese games gets a little bit easier also.

The whole point to this is that it doesn't matter how small the library is, this device cripples the system's ability to play any of them. Rhea's way of doing thing doesn't, though it does stop you from using discs. Pseudo's way of doing things doesn't, but it stops you from using external storage and has compatibility issues. A Mod Board lets you play any game on a disc.

This device allows for external storage, but only for MOST games, so if you have a collection that includes the MPEG games, regardless of medium, you're FORCED to either have 2 saturns or pull out the hardware.

oh please, bring this out. I'll support whatever you do, and have a relatively wide range of saturns and accessories to help test with, including the PAL VCD card, 3 or 4 different MPEG cards, a Navi, a hiSaturn, a V-Saturn, a skeleton, etc etc etc.
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CCD has the same problem: it's an obscure format that most people have no way to produce and which is not the format that existing dumps are in. Having to use obscure formats or redump everything yourself is not a minor issue and I am astonished that people think "none of your dumps work but it's okay because you can dump everything again yourself" is just a tiny speedbump.

So would whatever Satisfier uses.

How is it that I can expect people to do a big thing (buy a whole second system), but I can't expect them to do a simpler, easier, thing (plug in a MPEG card)?

You don't think not being able to use disks cripples the system at least as much as having to put the MPEG card back in?

 

It is a more accurate format that bin+cue. And i am redumping everything myself, at least as much as I've got. My goal is to get dumps recognized by by redump.org utilizing their tools and processes on my plextor premium 2 drives. Same hardware, same software, same process, images compatible with Rhea and Pseudo, patching a second image only if Pseudo needs it (damn you, batman). Starting with my US set, and continuing through my japanese and EUR stuff until i've run out, then doing the same with anything else i can get.

Yes, it is a tiny speedbump. Daemon tools can easily mount and let you re-rip if you trust your bin+cue so much.

You were trying to point out that Rhea isn't getting cheaper. I pointed out that i said SD cards were what would get cheaper. Satisfier isn't on the market yet, and Rhea is. I don't see what you're trying to argue here. do you have reason to believe that Satisfier is going to be cheaper than Rhea?

The market for this item is going to be saturn enthusiasts, not casuals. Just like with Rhea. An extra console is fairly cheap.

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I don't know how you keep missing the points.....with the drive out and Rhea in, you have the ability to play all the games (Bug was a hold out, now apparently that was fixed) on one medium....image via sd card. With rhea out, you have the ability to play all the games on one medium....CD-ROM.

With Satisfier occupying the MPEG slot, you have the ability to play games EXCEPT the ones that require MPEG, and any games that have MPEG features don't get the benefit. Unless something changes with Satisfier's design that allows MPEG games to work, Rhea is a more complete option as far as a game library is concerned.

This doesn't mean it shouldn't be made. It just means that i'd like to see the next iteration of the product either not use the slot so that MPEG features are still useable, or to incorporate MPEG features into the unit as more of an all-in-one. Neither of these appear to be on the horizon, so this simply isn't the product for me, and others who might think the way i do. I'm still going to buy one.

 

You can of course track Prof. Abrasive's progress on his Patreon site.
https://www.patreon.com/prof_abrasive

Here's a 3D-printed prototype case he made:


Firmware updates are now ready to go:

Prototype PCB's are on the way:

 

Seems there has been progress while AG has been down. That's nice to see.

 

It's now called the Satiater and not the Satisfier anymore.

as I see, he's gonna support SD and USB. great.

It's getting closer and closer.

 

I'm hyped

 

wow, nice

 

I think a public release is still a ways off. He's close to a perfectionist. so I imagine he's got a lot of testing and bug fixing before then. However, I would expect the retail product will be extremely robust right out of the gate.

 

His latest prototype PCB has arrived. I believe if it this checks out properly, he will begin building BETA testing units.

 

This is like a dream coming true. I'll finally be able to replay my childhood classics.

I can't wait to see where the UI can go to too.

 

Is there something that's keeping you from playing them now? Do you not have access to CD-R's or something?

 

In my case, it's all these dead laser Saturns. I've got like 5 consoles now and none working lasers

 

It can't be that hard to repair the laser unit or get a replacement. Did you try cleaning the lens with alcohol and Q-Tip? If you have 5 systems with dead lasers, does someone smoke around these machines? Smoking could be causing the problems.

 

uh, why? Buy one that works.

 

I can buy 3 that work! You pay?

 

Back on topic, latest tweet....