Was Sega's intention for the Saturn's Cart Slot to be used f

[Mad_Hatter]

I got a question for the Sega gurus regarding the Sega Saturn's cartridge slot.

Was it always Sega's intention for the cartridge slot to be used for extra RAM? Or did they just make the slot for save cartridges?

I always wondered this. Because if it was meant for extra RAM, I am not sure why they didn't just have the extra RAM on their original hardware.

So I think it was the game developers choice (Capcom for example) to use this slot for their games so it can be played on the Saturn?

Also, did they ever have plans for cartridge based games for the Saturn?

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[emwearz]

I always wondered this. Because if it was meant for extra RAM, I am not sure why they didn't just have the extra RAM on their original hardware.

Would have drove the cost of making the console up, much like the N64 (and other consoles), an expansion port just future proofs you if in the event you wish to make add on hardware in some way, shape or form. In the end there was a modem, ram, memory, rom carts. It was defiantly not created to be a simple memory card slot.

Also the RAM carts were made in conjunction with SNK/Capcom, it is why some people call the 1MB cart the SNK Cart and the 4MB Cart the Capcom Cart. It meant that compared to the companies ports on the Playstation, which had less Ram, Capcom/SNK did not have to remove frames (or remove less) of animation from there heavy 2D games.

Back in the 90's getting 'arcade perfect' was a big deal and in Japan meant a lot for the Saturn to be able to do this.

Also, did they ever have plans for cartridge based games for the Saturn?

No. CD's were much cheaper and larger to produce for, it would be completely illogical to make a game on a cartridge.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Using a cart slot for extra RAM isn't really that strange. The N64 has something similar as do older computers like the VIC-20.

There are still people out there who think you can play Genesis games on the Saturn using that cart slot......

[GSZX1337]

There are still people out there who think you can play Genesis games on the Saturn using that cart slot......

You can always troll them with this:

[Mad_Hatter]

Thanks for the answers guys.

Yea, I was always aware you can't play Genesis games in the Saturn. Would have been cool though. Some backward capabilities would have been badass. Like a Saturn that can play Sega CD, 32x, and Genesis games.

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[AppleQueso]

There are still people out there who think you can play Genesis games on the Saturn using that cart slot......

I once had to actually stop a flea market vendor from taking a dremel to a genesis cart because he was trying to make it fit into the Saturn cart slot.

[bacardipr05]

There are still people out there who think you can play Genesis games on the Saturn using that cart slot......

I once had to actually stop a flea market vendor from taking a dremel to a genesis cart because he was trying to make it fit into the Saturn cart slot.

Wowsa!

Back in the day memory was expensive. Adding to the Saturn hefty launch price. Ive always wondered if a game could be made for it though? Or was it just for RAM/or future expansion purposes solely.

[marurun]

I'm sure you could execute code off one. Look at the PAR carts. They boot an interface that can interact with the hardware. In fact, the cart loads before the CD-ROM. I bet they made debugger carts for Saturns to be used with dev boxen.

[codegamer]

I wonder if a Saturn Everdrive could be made for the slot? Would be a definite help for when the cd drive lasers run out.

[AppleQueso]

I wonder if a Saturn Everdrive could be made for the slot? Would be a definite help for when the cd drive lasers run out.

I think the bigger problem with this is that those flimsy cart slots are likely to die long before any of the lasers.