Best method to keep save files for Sega Saturn?

[ott0bot]

This is the one you want!

No in game saving or loading with acn action replay. You need an official one for that. The third party ones(like proact and interact) damage the cart slot of pulled in and out alot so stick with the official one. Replace your console battery like suggested and back up to the action replay. Best way I've found. As long as you turn on you system every couple weeks it'll keep the battery charged and you wont lose any saves.

[Ziggy]

I recommend getting an official Sega back up cart, its the best way to go. The hassle of having to save to the console then back up to the cart is way too much hassle for me, its much better just to save directly to the cart from in game.

[John845]

I recommend getting an official Sega back up cart, its the best way to go. The hassle of having to save to the console then back up to the cart is way too much hassle for me, its much better just to save directly to the cart from in game.

Any sites I should look for this then?

[marurun]

The problem with the official Sega backup cart is if you've been using a Pro Action Replay for a while you'll have to fight for some time to get your Saturn to recognize the official backup cart. Further, you need to use the official cart periodically so that the memory stays charged. If you leave your cart sitting unused for a year or two the static charge will die and your saves will be corrupt or lost.

[Ziggy]

That's not true at all. The Sega back up cart uses flash memory, it'll hold forever. The one I have use to be my friends, he had his sitting around for years upon years before I used it and it still had all his save data on it.

And also, if the Pro Action Replay damages the slot, then thats a reason NOT to use the Pro Action Replay. Not a reason not to use the Sega cart.

John, there's plenty of them on eBay like these two:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Original-Official-S ... 286.c0.m14

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sega-Saturn-Ram-Car ... 286.c0.m14

Just search for "sega saturn backup cart" but also try different searches like "sega saturn save cart" or "sega saturn memory card," or simply "sega saturn backup, back up (note the space)" or "sega saturn save."

You could also get one off Amazon.com market place here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/ ... 246&sr=8-1

But the cheapest one is $40, and you could easily get one from eBay cheaper then that.

[marurun]

My encounters with memory save carts from all consoles has been if you store them long enough and don't use them ever you're asking for trouble. I bought 2 Sega-made Saturn carts, one new and one used and almost never saved to either, but if I leave either fallow too long I can't be guaranteed to get my saves back. I have to make sure I use it. As long as I use it every month or so and leave it in the cart slot I'm good. This is partially due to the Saturn's flaky cartridge slot (I have 3 units and all 3 are flaky), but I think it's also inherent to the design of the Saturn cart and the memory used.

My advice for Saturn cartridges is to simply use one most of the time. Even swapping out the Sega made ones regularly can cause eventual wear and problems, much sooner than in a cartridge-based console. Yes, the PARs and non-Sega carts are indeed harder on the slot, but the slot ain't so hot to begin with. Normally I just leave the PAR in the slot all the time and simple transfer saves back and forth and simply don't use my Sega save carts.

[D.D.D.]

I have had an Action Replay (4MB + save space) for more than 10 years now for the SS. I've also had my battery die several times. If not for the AR, I would have lost a lot of saved games.
Yes, most games you do have to copy the save file back to the SS but at least you have it. Also, never had a problem with the PDS save file on it, or any save file for that matter.
Highly recommended~

Is this the Action Reply that you have?

http://www.angelfire.com/pa/Raluminat/forsale.html

"Saturn Action Replay 4-in-1"

Scroll down a bit. The one that sells on Rackets Site is simply a ram function and not a memory card/ram combo like the one shown on this other website. Another question I have is how big are the save files for Saturn Games? I'd imagine they would be in the kilobytes. So a 4 meg memory function on the action reply I just linked to would be sufficient enough right?

Yeah that's the one I have. It's my SS's best friend~

[bryan_65]

The problem with the official Sega backup cart is if you've been using a Pro Action Replay for a while you'll have to fight for some time to get your Saturn to recognize the official backup cart.

Is there any way to fix this, my slot will not recognize my official Saturn card at all because I used a Game Shark a lot. I need a way to fix this.

[Hobie-wan]

You'd need to carefully bend and clean the pins on the cart slot.

[Ziggy]

I have a model 1 Saturn that needs some loving. Been meaning to try and bend the pins on the cart slot for ages, but never get around to it. If I ever do, I would definitely take pictures of the process so I could put a guide together for it.