I heared about some great hardware add-ons for the Sega Saturn, which I would like to buy probably. I have some question and I would be happy about any help :nod: Sega Saturn Floppy Disk Drive ---------------------------- - I heared it's for game saves. Is it similar to the memory backup cartridge or does it work only with specific games? - What do I need to run it? CDs, cables, etc - How much is it worth? btw, an auction with a starting price of 50 Pounds ended without a bit some days ago. Sega Saturn GameBasic ---------------------- I watched a video on yakumo's website and I would really like to buy this nice piece of software. Same questions as before: - What do I need to run it? CDs, cables, etc - How much is it worth?
In so far as the FDD: Its mostly for backing up game saves. You can't save directly to it except with Deazamon 2 and one or two other games. It comes with everything you need (connects to the back of the Saturn and uses a FDD Disc that comes with it, which is where you go to move your saves around). And I have no idea how much it is worth now. Game Basic: It comes with the PC->Saturn cable as well as all the software. Though if memory serves me correctly you need Windows 95/98 to run it. Once again, I don't know its current value, but last I heard it wasn't up there too high.
Game Basic run just fine on Windows XP. I've used it myself on XP. You don't even need a Saturn keyboard since the PC software for Game Basic comes with a keyboard emulator that allows you to type on the PC then sends the data to the Saturn. There is a split second delay mind you but I doubt it would bother most people. The Floppy is as mentioned mostly for saving game data. Only a few games save directly to the floppy as again mentioned but it's a very hand item to move save data to from the Saturn's memory to floppy discs. Plus it's also a lot more stable than Ram save cartridges. The amount of time I've had a cartridge blanked on me due to the shitty cartridge connector on a Saturn is unbelievable! If you want a Floppy drive I can sort you out with a boxed unit. Yakumo
I had never payed much attention to GameBasic. It looks like more interesting than what I thought. My doubt, for those who have tryed it, is... How much can you do with it? I mean, Can you really develop something decent? Thanks .
Funky thing is that Game Basic is compatible with the FDU. And yeah you can actually produce some pretty cool stuff with it. (some of the demos on the disc show potential).
Yeah, theres loads of cool stuff you can do on game basic. I have a shooter somewhere tat was programmed with Game Basic. I'll did it out and make a video. Yakumo
I was thinking about doing a dungeon adventure in Game Basic as I'm familiar with the code, (well naturally not the Saturn commands that were added) but there's far too many other stuff 'to do'..
I would love to see that shooter made with basic Yakumo. Please post it up when you get a chance to look for it
OK, I'll try to get a video up by the weekend. It's too late to do one now (12:15am) and tomorrow and Friday I'll be working late so maybe I can get one recorded on Thursday then have it all edited and uploaded on Friday night. Yakumo
negora, you can do whatever you want with the game basic, it is really powerful. Micjohvan and negora, did you check the game basic database at satakore.com ? You will find some samples there with source codes. There are only a few programs for now, but they are really great. Some shooters are already covered (info, screenshots and videos): - 3D Shooting Game - DECODER X - Lightning Gunner For Tech Saturn Original Version (with a standalone ISO made by me with the help of vbt, that let you play this great demo) - Neptune II.V - Neptune IV - Saturn Blade - Saturn Vader ==> http://www.satakore.com/sega-saturn-complete-game-basic,,1,,0.html
Game Basic costs about 60$, but its quite hard to find for that price on the internet. If you contact somebody living in Japan, he could probably get it for you for ~10'000yen, thats for how much I saw it in Tokyo. The Floppy DD will set you back about 150$ in mint condition.
Game Basic on Yahoo complete with EVERYTHING will cost between 7000 and 10'000 yen. I got lucky with mine getting it for 4800 yen :thumbsup: The floppy drive does cost a lot on Yahoo but you can find it for a lot cheaper at small indie shops or video rental places that sell software. Yakumo
If I understand it correctly without the CD you can only use it with games that support it and with GameBasic but not for transferring saves from and to the backup RAM so it would be natural if it was worth less.
I own the Ascii GameBasic package, and it's quite cool. You have most of the core Saturn 3D graphics functions available to you, although the real strength of the package is in its 2D functions. The most succinct description is that you can make games that look like the best of the Megadrive and SNES libraries, and you can get some Jumping Flash-esque 3D games out of it. Makes use of the Netlink keyboard adapter as well, although you get the best results from doing the actual programming part on a PC. I'm sad to say, I bought Gamebasic when it came out years ago, and I never did anything meaningful with it. It's sitting there with my copy of DreamStud!o, waiting for me to get creative.
