Saturn ST Key questions

[RadarScope1]

So, I'm thinking I might get a Saturn. I have a couple of questions, and I've searched the forums but didn't really find the answers I was looking for. Sorry if I'm repeating any threads, but here goes:

I'm really intrigued by the imports for the Saturn (as most people are, I've gathered from reading this site). Thing is, I'll probably play just as many US games (I live in the US) as imports. I'd probably only import shmups if anything. So I'd like to know the *easiest* way to play games for both regions.

I've read all of Racketboy's mod chip guides, and even though he says they are easy, I'm not the handiest person and I don't own a soldering iron. I could just get a JPN console, but then I couldn't play the US games.

The ST Key adapter looks like the easiest solution to me. Just plug it in and shmup away. It's also readily available at places like eStarland for under $20. That seems like a really fair price to me to avoid all that soldering. So am I missing something here? Is it really that easy? Are there any big drawbacks to the ST Key? Are there some games it will not work with?

Appreciate any help you guys can give me on this one.

[Pullmyfinger]

I got an STKey, you are better off patching ISOS, the STKey gets the job done, but it will show a boot screen, then take you to the CD player, after that you have to press a button so the saturn plays the game. May not seem like a big deal, but it gets old very fast, also, if you are planning to play games that require a ram or rom cart, you are screwed, as you won't be able to swap carts, not without the risk of damaging your saturn at least.

There are other import carts with ram and whatnot, but as far as I know, they all have menus you have to go through before playing.

You can always do a switchless or switched region mod too if you are into soldering and have the time but I think you will have to keep on pressing the reset button or something, never done one myself.

[GagaMan]

I have a ST Key and just one import game (Puyo Puyo Sun) and the game is forced into 50HZ, so the cut scenes are out of sync.

[RadarScope1]

Hmm. I don't think I'll have much of a problem going through some menus here and there. I does sound like a pain, but I doubt I'll be playing tons of imports - probably just a select few shmups.

However, if it causes some of those games to be janky then that's a problem for me. I don't want to spend the money on imports just to play janky games.

Anyone else know if the ST key gums up many other games?? Is it a widespread issue.

[The Apprentice]

Hey Gagaman, is your Saturn PAL? I think might be your problem. ST Keys should work fine on North American Saturns playing Japanese games.

[GagaMan]

Yeah, it's PAL, but there's still no excuse for dropping down 60HZ games to 50HZ.

[RadarScope1]

Hey Gagaman, is your Saturn PAL? I think might be your problem. ST Keys should work fine on North American Saturns playing Japanese games.

That's what I wanted to know. As long as the games themselves work OK, I can deal with some menus.

Here's another question: Do any shmups or action titles use RAM carts? (Since I won't be able to use one with the ST key plugged in) From what I understand it's mostly the fighters that require these, but I don't really plan on playing any import fighters. And will I be able to save high scores to the internal memory? Do the games even save scores?

[Pullmyfinger]

No Shmups that I know of use ram cart, high scores are saved to the saturn's memory and will remain there as the battery works, if you are only playing a few games you won't probably need a save cart

[marurun]

A PAL saturn is going to push every game to 50 hz. The output is determined by the setting of the console, I believe. Someone say otherwise if you know better. I know if you install a language switch you might be able to alter the output, but something like the ST Key won't do it.

[GagaMan]

Yeah, it's PAL.