ISSUE RESOLVED: J-Saturn Issues- Framerate/sound

[Opa Opa]

Issue Resolved:
My White Saturn isn't compatible with Space Harrier (and possibly other titles).

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My Japanese Sega Saturn arrived... there's a problem.

I only have two Japanese games at the moment: Virtua Fighter Remix and Space Harrier.

Virtua Fighter Remix plays perfectly. No audio/video problems. Everything's peachy with VF.

Space Harrier will boot up but half of the sounds are missing and the framerate is so choppy the game is unplayable.

I booted up Space Harrier with SSF and loaded it straight from my computer's disc drive. Plays just fine. The disc does have some scratching but it works fine on SSF. No framerate issues or missing sound effects. I even used the same BIOS file (NTSC-J Version 1.01).

The Saturn's Model number is HST-3220 (if that tells anyone anything).

Anyone have any advice? I haven't taken a look on the insides yet. Could it be a capacitor that needs to be changed?

Any help is appreciated.

Also, I have another game on the way. So I'll update with how that game runs.

[s1mplehumar]

Which HST-3220? Build HST-0021 of the 3220 line? Is it a "This is Cool" Saturn? If so, Space Harrier and a handul of SNK titles are known to play all jacked up.

[Opa Opa]

Which HST-3220? Build HST-0021 of the 3220 line? Is it a "This is Cool" Saturn? If so, Space Harrier and a handul of SNK titles are known to play all jacked up.

It's a White Saturn. I believe a model 2 (if that's the one with the round buttons).
Does that answer the question?

If not, where do I find the build?

[Opa Opa]

s1mple,

The box that came with the unit is actually the original one (the serials match up).

The build is HST-0019.

[s1mplehumar]

Which HST-3220? Build HST-0021 of the 3220 line? Is it a "This is Cool" Saturn? If so, Space Harrier and a handul of SNK titles are known to play all jacked up.

It's a White Saturn. I believe a model 2 (if that's the one with the round buttons).
Does that answer the question?

If not, where do I find the build?

That's a HST-0014 or HST-0019 . I'm not sure if the model #/code is on the console itself. I know you can find it on the box. http://www.genkivideogames.com/imagesne ... actual.jpg

Some of the Skeleton Saturns (AiC ^) are known to have issues playing Space Harrier, and a few SNK titles, that's why I asked. Maybe your Saturn went under the knife and had some guts swapped. I doubt it....but still.

I know you mentioned your Saturn is bios 1.01, but you might want to do some googling and see if Space Harrier had a software revision or two. I'm just thinking out loud here.

[Opa Opa]

That's a HST-0014 or HST-0019 . I'm not sure if the model #/code is on the console itself. I know you can find it on the box. http://www.genkivideogames.com/imagesne ... actual.jpg

Some of the Skeleton Saturns (AiC ^) are known to have issues playing Space Harrier, and a few SNK titles, that's why I asked. Maybe your Saturn went under the knife and had some guts swapped. I doubt it....but still.

I know you mentioned your Saturn is bios 1.01, but you might want to do some googling and see if Space Harrier had a software revision or two. I'm just thinking out loud here.

Google turned up this:

http://www.satakore.com/sega-saturn-gam ... r-JPN.html

Does Not Work On : The first revision of the game doesn't work properly on Model 2 Sega Saturn. It works only on early Model 1 Sega Saturn. The second revision works on all Sega Saturn.

I guess I have an incompatible revision.

But I'll open up the console today and see if anything looks swapped just to be sure.

[s1mplehumar]

That's a HST-0014 or HST-0019 . I'm not sure if the model #/code is on the console itself. I know you can find it on the box. http://www.genkivideogames.com/imagesne ... actual.jpg

Some of the Skeleton Saturns (AiC ^) are known to have issues playing Space Harrier, and a few SNK titles, that's why I asked. Maybe your Saturn went under the knife and had some guts swapped. I doubt it....but still.

I know you mentioned your Saturn is bios 1.01, but you might want to do some googling and see if Space Harrier had a software revision or two. I'm just thinking out loud here.

Google turned up this:

http://www.satakore.com/sega-saturn-gam ... r-JPN.html

Does Not Work On : The first revision of the game doesn't work properly on Model 2 Sega Saturn. It works only on early Model 1 Sega Saturn. The second revision works on all Sega Saturn.

I guess I have an incompatible revision.

But I'll open up the console today and see if anything looks swapped just to be sure.

Success! You probably don't want to hear this but I have some Model 1's if you're interested.

[Opa Opa]

I opened it up. It looks okay to my untrained eyes. All the wires and things looked factory-placed and all that jazz.

Success!

So long as I can play Dodonpachi I'll consider it "mission accomplished".

You probably don't want to hear this but I have some Model 1's if you're interested.

Maybe later so long as you're talking about NTSC-J units.

[s1mplehumar]

Maybe later so long as you're talking about NTSC-J units.

I am. Just let me know at your leisure.

[Opa Opa]

This is just speculation but my white Saturn unit was one of the last productions before the Skeleton Saturns. It runs the same BIOS and everything. Heck, they could be the same internally for all I know.

Maybe the earlier white units don't have these compatibility issues?