Silicon Graphics subsequently collaborated with Nintendo on the Nintendo 64. Seeking an alternative graphics chip for the Saturn, Kalinske attempted to broker a deal with Silicon Graphics, but Sega of Japan rejected the proposal.
Īccording to Sega of America president Tom Kalinske, Sega of America "fought against the architecture of Saturn for quite some time". Sega considered making CD-ROM-based and cartridge-only versions of the Saturn, but discarded the idea due to concerns over the lower quality and higher price of cartridge games. The chip has a calculation system similar to a DSP, but we realized that a single CPU would not be enough to calculate a 3D world." Although the Saturn's design was largely finished before the end of 1993, reports in early 1994 of the technical capabilities of Sony's upcoming PlayStation console prompted Sega to include another video display processor (VDP) to improve 2D performance and 3D texture mapping. According to Kazuhiro Hamada, Sega's section chief for Saturn development during the system's conception, "the SH-2 was chosen for reasons of cost and efficiency. The Saturn was designed around a dual-SH2 configuration. In 1993, Sega and Japanese electronics company Hitachi formed a joint venture to develop a new CPU for the Saturn, which resulted in the creation of the "SuperH RISC Engine" (or SH-2) later that year. will release in Japan before the end of the year" for $250–300. Computer Gaming World in March 1994 reported a rumor that "the Sega Saturn. The name "Saturn" was initially only the codename during development. According to Sega project manager Hideki Okamura, the project started over two years before the Saturn was showcased at the Tokyo Toy Show in June 1994. Development ĭevelopment of the Saturn was supervised by Hideki Sato, Sega's director and deputy general manager of research and development. The Model 1 was expensive, so several alternatives helped bring Sega's newest arcade games to Genesis, such as the Sega Virtua Processor chip used for Virtua Racing, and the 32X add-on. Sega also had success with arcade games in 19, the new Sega Model 1 arcade system board showcased Sega AM2's Virtua Racing and Virtua Fighter (the first 3D fighting game), which played a crucial role in popularizing 3D polygonal graphics. In the early 1990s, Sega had success with the Genesis (known as the Mega Drive in most countries outside of North America), backed by aggressive advertising campaigns and the popularity of its Sonic the Hedgehog series. Sega's management has been criticized for its decisions during the system's development and discontinuation. The Saturn was succeeded in 1998 by the Dreamcast.Īlthough the Saturn is remembered for several well-regarded games, including Nights into Dreams, the Panzer Dragoon series, and the Virtua Fighter series, its reputation is mixed due to its complex hardware design and limited third-party support. Having sold 9.26 million units worldwide, the Saturn is considered a commercial failure the cancellation of Sonic X-treme, planned as the first 3D entry in Sega's popular Sonic the Hedgehog series, is considered a factor in its performance. After the debut of the Nintendo 64 in late 1996, the Saturn rapidly lost market share in the U.S., where it was discontinued in 1998. The Saturn was initially successful in Japan but failed to sell in large numbers in the United States after its surprise May 1995 launch, four months before its scheduled release date. Sega added another video display processor in early 1994 to better compete with Sony's forthcoming PlayStation. The Saturn was designed around a new CPU from Japanese electronics company Hitachi. Its games are in CD-ROM format, and its game library contains several ports of arcade games as well as original games.ĭevelopment of the Saturn began in 1992, the same year Sega's groundbreaking 3D Model 1 arcade hardware debuted. The Saturn has a dual- CPU architecture and eight processors. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles, it was the successor to the successful Sega Genesis.
The Sega Saturn is a home video game console developed by Sega and released on November 22, 1994, in Japan, May 11, 1995, in North America, and July 8, 1995, in Europe. CD-ROM, CD+G, CD+EG, Video CD, Mini CD, Photo CD, E-book Ģ MB RAM, 1.5 MB VRAM, 512 KB sound RAM, expandable with Extended RAM Cartridge
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