Could The Saturn Have Pulled It Off?

[GSZX1337]

Also the Mega Drive 2 is just so much prettier than that ugly thing that was the original version

++;

[d123456]

Just analyze Sega Rally. That game is incredible.

Sega Rally has terrible draw distance and no transparency, and lacks quite a lot of geometric details. It's definitely not what I'd call an impressive game. It's aesthetic is pleasing, but a far better example of technical excellence would have been Burning Rangers or Sonic R.

The draw distance is okay, not bad by any standards. The transparency is not an issue for me personally. The frame rate is incredible for a Saturn or PS1 game especially considering the release date 1995. Everything just moves silky smooth. In short, take back what you said about Sega Rally
Never had Burning Rangers, but I just youtubed it and looks pretty great.
Even though the ps1 obviously has more power, I feel that Sega since they make games and the hardware themselves could have done greater things with the system.

[Reprise]

The draw distance wasn't bad when you compare it to the original Daytona USA on Saturn

[ElkinFencer10]

Also the Mega Drive 2 is just so much prettier than that ugly thing that was the original version

I love the original version...I think has a sexy, commanding presence....=P

[8bit]

How I think the Saturn could have pulled it off (in the US speciffically) .... In 5 easy steps!

1) Never release or waste time on the bastard that was the 32X. Spend money on better 3d processor for Saturn!
2) Plan and pull off an appropriate launch with some key titles.... Virtual fighter, sega rally, street fighter alpha 2, an rpg, and SONIC! (even just a badass 2d one!)
3) Forget the damn long boxes... I even thought they were stupid when I was 12 when they were new... Sega Japan had it right! long box = kids, cd cases = adult
4) Don't piss off publishers!
5) Hire different ad agency that knows weird does not always equal cool.

Bonus tip) Release the 4mb cart in the US! It was wildly popular in Japan and would have given all 2d games an edge over the ps1.

[Breetai]

How I think the Saturn could have pulled it off (in the US speciffically) .... In 5 easy steps!

Don't forget, they DID pull it off in Japan.

1) Never release or waste time on the bastard that was the 32X. Spend money on better 3d processor for Saturn!

Agreed. Or at least more R&D into other aspects of the system, games, etc., or ANYTHING other than a second add-on for the MD.

2) Plan and pull off an appropriate launch with some key titles.... Virtual fighter, sega rally, street fighter alpha 2, an rpg, and SONIC! (even just a badass 2d one!)

Street Fighter Alpha 2? What about the first one? VF was a launch title, by the way. What they should have done is kept the release date in September, lowered the price and took the initial hit in order to complete with the PSX. With the extra time, they could have had VF Remix as a pack-in, got a better version of Daytona (improving on the JP release) and given more time for 3rd party companies to get things ready for launch (and thereby not pissing them off).

3) Forget the damn long boxes... I even thought they were stupid when I was 12 when they were new... Sega Japan had it right! long box = kids, cd cases = adult

Also agreed! This should have started with the Sega CD. The long cases should have never been used.

4) Don't piss off publishers!

Yup. Not having rushed the released would have helped a lot here.

5) Hire different ad agency that knows wired does not always equal cool.

You mean weird? I would agree.

Bonus tip) Release the 4mb cart in the US! It was wildly popular in Japan and would have given all 2d games an edge over the ps1.

By the time that came out in Japan, the writing was already on the wall in N.America. Even without it, the Saturn had an edge.

Sega of America should have pushed more of the 2D Japanese games. Promoted 3rd party games more and given them incentives to have larger production runs. They also should have sucked up to Square and Namco a lot more. What if FFVII was on the Saturn? That would have changed things around.


As for the Sega CD/32X:

The Sega CD was definitely a good idea. In 1992, release the super scaler games, such as After Burner Complete, Space Harrier CD, Outrun CD, Power Drift CD, Hang-On CD, Super Thunder Blade and Galaxy Force II, in a 2-disc set. Disc 1 with After Burner, Space Harrier and Outrun, and Disc 2 with the other four games. Take advantage of the Sega CD's scaling!!! They would have looked just fine and been awesome upgrades that showed why the Sega CD was better than the Genesis for non-FMV stuff.

By Christmas 1993 the Sega CD should have been $199, not $299. Yes, they would have taken a hit, but I think $199 would have been the magic number to get the install base to a point where it would have made Sega CD games a profitable enough venture for consumers to buy enough units that would convince companies to take more time with games on the add-on.

Then, in summer/fall 1994, launch the Genesis CDX unit at $249 with at least Sonic CD and perhaps the 5-in-1 Classics disc as a pack-in. Heck, throw in the Super Scaler 2-disc set and Ecco as well! Taking a hit? Maybe, but wow... THIRTEEN GAMES (at minimal development cost)!!! Tons of units would have been moved at Christmas that year. DKC would have had less of an impact. Sega would have had a better shot at keeping its lead. Drop the price to $219 or even $199 in January/February. PUSH the hell out of the Sega CDX from Christmas 1994 on through summer 1995. Release a CD compilation of Sonic 1, 2, 3&K and Spinball in late-spring/early-summer 1995.

When the Saturn was released in September (as it should have been, and at a price of $299!), drop the price of the CDX to $149 (Genesis base unit to $89 and Sega CD 2 to $99). You'd have software still moving in good numbers through 1996. Make one last push at Christmas 1996 with the CDX at $99 (the lone Genesis is discontinued).