Best way to play Saturn and Dreamcast?

[chuckster]

Hey guys, I'm just now getting into original hardware after emulating for years on 16-bit consoles and PS1/2 and even Dolphin. I have a Saturn and Dreamcast from way back when, but I have a few questions.

I know the Dreamcast can play burnt CDs, but can the Saturn? If so, I have no worries there!

My Dreamcast won't recognize any controllers. I've read that this is a common problem, is is easily fixed?

I've seen GDEMU/Rhea around a bit, is it an easy install? I mean, I have seen the install instructions and they seem mostly straightforward, but has anyone here had issues? Do these devices work as well as I'm dreaming of right now?

If no on all of the above questions, is emulation any good for either system these days? I'd rather stick to the consoles, since I have them already, but if emulation is fairly accurate and user friendly, I'm game. After trying some emulators for each about 2 years ago, I was more frustrated than entertained. NullDC did a pretty good job with the couple of games (Sonic Adventure and Soul Caliber), but it was pretty bare bones and seemed to have a ways to go in overall presentation. I haven't tried Yabase but SSF for Saturn is a UI nightmare. I played Guardian Heroes on it and loved the game, but every time I'd load it I'd have one issue or the other and take a few minutes to get going. Maybe it's me, but hey, I just want to play games!

[Reprise]

I know the Dreamcast can play burnt CDs, but can the Saturn? If so, I have no worries there!

Technically, the Saturn cannot play burnt CDs in the same way the Dreamcast can do it straight out of the box. However, some clever people have found a way of doing it if you have (or get) the Action Replay. I've not tried it or read into it, but this thread should explain it all: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47890

[KalessinDB]

Saturn can be modded, either a soft mod via Action Replay or a hard mod with a chip. I hear you can also swap trick it too, but that's just not a good idea in the long run.

The controller ports on a DC have a fuse that can be replaced, if you can solder it's not particularly difficult to do.

Can't speak to Rhea (haven't installed it myself), but GDEMU basically couldn't be easier to install. And it works great. I imagine Rhea will be similar if not the same, as it's made by the same guy, but just be advised they're both gonna be pricey so unless you're sure you love the system you might wanna hold off for now. Though on the flip side, there's generally no problem finding someone to buy them secondhand.

[chuckster]

The controller ports on a DC have a fuse that can be replaced, if you can solder it's not particularly difficult to do.

Can't speak to Rhea (haven't installed it myself), but GDEMU basically couldn't be easier to install. And it works great. I imagine Rhea will be similar if not the same, as it's made by the same guy, but just be advised they're both gonna be pricey so unless you're sure you love the system you might wanna hold off for now. Though on the flip side, there's generally no problem finding someone to buy them secondhand.

Thanks for the info, I'm not experienced in soldering, but looking at pictures online it seems like it's an easy fix. I don't see much of a way to mess it up since it's such a spread out board and just one little fuse.

The GD-EMUdoes look very straightforward too, I will definitely go for one and the Rhea (if it's a similar install) if they're $100 or so each. I can't justify much more. If you really get into the console, you'd save money in the long run (or short run, for Saturn, yikes!).

[waiwainl]

Both GDEMU and RHEA work fantastic and very easy to install.

[deathsled]

I still have my original Saturn but I've done all my Saturn gaming through SSF for 10 years now. Gives me easy access to pretty much the entire catalog, gives me save states, and I even have a Saturn USB pad to complete the experience.

[Catch22]

For the a mod chip, no soldering is really needed to hook it up to the Saturn. And the soldering that is needed, you can ask the seller of the chip to solder the power wire on for you. It's so simple to do though. This mod chip is probably the easiest to install (V3 Universal) and burning backups as well as backing up discs is a cinch also. Hardware is cheap. Except for saving a tiny amount of space, why would anyone resort to emulation is beyond me. Playing on original hardware with a real controller is key for me. The USB "Saturn" controllers doesn't have the robust feel.

Hey guys, I'm just now getting into original hardware after emulating for years on 16-bit consoles and PS1/2 and even Dolphin. I have a Saturn and Dreamcast from way back when, but I have a few questions.

I know the Dreamcast can play burnt CDs, but can the Saturn? If so, I have no worries there!

My Dreamcast won't recognize any controllers. I've read that this is a common problem, is is easily fixed?

I've seen GDEMU/Rhea around a bit, is it an easy install? I mean, I have seen the install instructions and they seem mostly straightforward, but has anyone here had issues? Do these devices work as well as I'm dreaming of right now?

If no on all of the above questions, is emulation any good for either system these days? I'd rather stick to the consoles, since I have them already, but if emulation is fairly accurate and user friendly, I'm game. After trying some emulators for each about 2 years ago, I was more frustrated than entertained. NullDC did a pretty good job with the couple of games (Sonic Adventure and Soul Caliber), but it was pretty bare bones and seemed to have a ways to go in overall presentation. I haven't tried Yabase but SSF for Saturn is a UI nightmare. I played Guardian Heroes on it and loved the game, but every time I'd load it I'd have one issue or the other and take a few minutes to get going. Maybe it's me, but hey, I just want to play games!

[marurun]

But does anyone still provide the chips any longer? I can't help but wonder if that ship has sailed.

[Reprise]

If I was to buy a chipped region modded (and 60hz/50hz switch moded) Japanese Saturn, does anyone what I would need to get it to work in the UK?

I know I'd need a 230V-110V voltage converter thing? Are they expensive? Would I still need a Japanese-UK plug converter or just the voltage converter?

Anyone from the UK ever had (or still have) a Japanese system and know what you need to make sure it works in the UK?

Thanks.

[alienjesus]

EDIT: Removing this as some of my info was incorrect and I don't want to mislead anyone and cause their consoles to break!