Sega Saturn

Sega Saturn, as with nearly all consoles, was initially released in Japan. On November 22nd 1994, the Saturns' launch date, over 150,000 machines were sold, and this number rose to half a million by the time Christmas arrived. It continued to sell well, and it is estimated that over five million consoles were sold in Japan, making it a more successful machine there than the Nintendo 64.

The Sega Saturn was released in early 1995 in the United States, and shortly after in Europe. This was ahead of its previously announced release date of 2nd November 1995, and was dubbed 'Saturn-Day' by the video game press. Most people saw this 'rush release' as an attempt to secure some of the market before Sony released its already hyped Playstation, the 32 bit rival to the Sega Saturn.

The Sega Saturn received a 'lukewarm' reception in the states, and this can be put down to two main factors, cost and marketing. The Saturn cost $100 more than the Playstation, which at $400 made it too expensive for most gamers. But the main factor for the Saturns' poor start, and ultimately its decline altogether was Sonys' experience in the PR department. This last factor is definitely the reason the Saturn failed in the UK; Sega basically had no marketing for the Saturn and solely relied on its reputation and the success of the Megadrive.

Even before the Playstation was released in the US, Sony had been hyping its console with regular TV adverts, billboard posters and adverts in game magazines. This had already whetted the American gaming publics' interest, and when the Playstation was released it almost immediately out-sold the Saturn at a ratio of 2-1. But the real stroke of genius was the audience that Sony decided to target once the Playstation had gained a foothold.

At this time, games consoles & video games were still perceived by many people as nerdy - something kids played on their own in their bedrooms, or beardy 'dungeons and dragons' type folk played over the internet! Sony took a risk and decided to try and make its new console seem appealing to the twenty-something's. They used popular recording artists in their game soundtracks - Psynogsis' Wipeout game featured The Prodigy & The Chemical Brothers to name but a few. They placed advertisements in gentlemen's magazines such as GQ and FHM. They produced games aimed at a more mature audience; Tomb Raider being the most obvious example along with Resident Evil which also carried a 15 certificate. The risk worked.

Sony had tapped a previously unexplored market, and effectively changed the face of video games altogether. Gaming was now seen as more of a social thing, rather than a solitary thing. It was seen as cool to be into video games. People openly discussed the latest game releases, and even popular TV shows such as Friends had references to the Sony Playstation. But it also changed other things. Unlike die-hard gamers, the new breed of fickle gamers wanted quantity over quality, and despite the fact that the Saturn had produced some quality games, it was the sheer number of games on the the Playstation that eventually ended the ill fated Saturns' life.

But even the amount of games on the Playstation could be put down to Sega and the Saturn itself. The machine was initially designed for 2D games, while the Playstation was built for 3D polygon games, something gamers were now demanding as standard. This lead Sega to redesign its internal architecture in a hurry, but the end result was something game developers found messy and time consuming. The Playstation had always been built with 3D games in mind, and as such contained many of the techniques used to generate 3D effects within its hardware i.e. light sourcing, transparency etc. The Playstation also had built in video & audio compression routines, something the Saturn programmers to include within the software.

This encouraged many software developers, especially the smaller publishing houses, to favour the Sony Playstation as they found it difficult to get to grips with Sega's hardware and dual processor technology. The outcome was a switch to Sony by some of the biggest names in the business - the most well known being Squaresoft who introduced their Final Fantasy series to the Playstation, and in a lot of people's eyes, increased the popularity of RPG's with one single move.

The Saturn was eventually taken off the market in 1999. When the Dreamcast was released in 1998 it is said that the Saturn virtually disappeared from the shelves overnight in favour of the new 128 bit machine. It had never achieved the success that Sega had hoped for in the Western market, and most people view the machine as a failure. While there were a number of very well written games produced for the console, due to the lack of popularity for the system they remained 'undiscovered' by many gamers until the recent advent of retro gaming.

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Baku Baku - Sega Saturn (PAL) Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a Princess who was crazy about animals. In fact, she had so many pets that her kingdom was starting to look like a zoo. This is where you come in. Take the part of intrepid animal lover Polly, or Gon, the zookeeper apprentice extraordinaire and prove that you are the best person for the job of... Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Baku Baku Animal - Sega Saturn (NTSC-J) This is a Japanese Sega Saturn game that will only work on a Japanese console or Modified Sega Saturn Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Bakusho All Yoshimoto Quiz Ou Ketteisen Dx - Sega Saturn (NTSC-J) This is a Japanese Sega Saturn game that will only work on a Japanese console or Modified Sega Saturn Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Batman Forever - Sega Saturn (NTSC-U) It is fight to the finish as Batman and Robin take on the Dark Side of Gotham city's underworld! Power-Up with devastating moves and gadgets, then master the unique combo system which allows up to four hundred hits! Batman Forever The Arcade Game. 100% computer rendered street brawling arcade action! Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Batman Forever - The Arcade Games - Sega Saturn (PAL) It is fight to the finish as Batman and Robin take on the Dark Side of Gotham city's underworld! Power-Up with devastating moves & gadgets, then master the unique combo system which allows up to four hundred hits! Batman Forever The Arcade Game. 100% computer rendered street brawling arcade action! Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Battle Arena Toshinden Remix - Sega Saturn (PAL) Eleven fearsomely armed demonic fighters enter the 3D Battle Arena. Only one can claim the title of fighting legend. Wirth improved game play and an exclusive hidden character, Sega Saturn delivers the power which will leave you drained. and the others for dead! Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Battle Arena Toshinden URA - Sega Saturn (PAL) The balance of power is shifting, new threats lurk on the horizon and the time has come again to enter the Battle Arena! New and old fighters have perfected their combat techniques and now await the Ultimate Revenge Attack! Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Battle Monsters - Sega Saturn (PAL) Try to gain control of the underworld in Battle Monsters. Choose from a variety of monsters, and then enter one-on-one combat. All of the monsters have unique designs and moves. Mastering each ones strengths and weaknesses is the true key to victory. If you want to rule the underworld, you will have to prove that you are worthy in Battle... Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Battle Stations - Sega Saturn (PAL) All hands on Deck! Brave the intense action of Naval Warfare and experience fast paced, head-to-head fighting, combined with military strategy. Pilot up to eight ship types, from Aircraft Carrier to Submarine through seventy missions. Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Bio Hazard - Sega Saturn (NTSC-J) This is a Japanese Sega Saturn game that will only work on a Japanese console or Modified Sega Saturn Box: yes Manual: yes Price: £18
Black Dawn - Sega Saturn (PAL) As a member of the top secret Black Operations unit, you'll decimate enemy forces. Liberate desperate hostages. And navigate your chopper through 32 life-or-death missions in this addictive action free-for-all. Black Dawn. You can almost taste the shrapnel. Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Black Fire - Sega Saturn (PAL) You're a crack helicopter pilot doing battle with a take no prisoners enemy! The only catch is that these guys are outfitting their weapons with alien technology. You don't stand a chance unless you fly and flight like there's no tomorrow - and if you're aim's off, there might not be! Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Black Fire - Sega Saturn (NTSC-J) This is a Japanese Sega Saturn game that will only work on a Japanese console or Modified Sega Saturn Box: yes Manual: yes Price: £14	Blam Machinehead - Sega Saturn (PAL) See though the eyes of Dr Kimberly Stride as you ride the Vorpal Blade through an insane combination of shoot-em-up action, strategic objectives and B-Movie melodrama. Gasp with amazement at state-of-the-art virtual landscapes, tunnel systems and eye-popping FMV. Laugh in the face of danger as you blast your way through fifteen adrenaline-... Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Blast Chamber - Sega Saturn (PAL) It's 2026 and having a bomb strapped to you is a sport. In the deathmatch of the future, your uniform is a time bomb. Sealed in the 3D rotating Blast Chamber, you strive to cheat death as walls become floors and floors become ceilings. Time counts down while you and up to three opponents scramble madly to control the one thing that can save... Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Blazing Dragons - Sega Saturn (PAL) Forget the sword - bring a Psychiatrist! Prepare A madcap mix of celebrity voice overs - including Monty Pythons Terry Jones - bring forty-three characters to life in Pythonesque arcade action; Fire the deadly CAT-a-pult and gasp at dragon thumb wrestling! Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Blazing Tornados - Sega Saturn (NTSC-J) This is a Japanese Sega Saturn game that will only work on a Japanese console or Modified Sega Saturn Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Blue Chicago Blues - Sega Saturn (NTSC-J) This is a Japanese Sega Saturn game that will only work on a Japanese console or Modified Sega Saturn Box: yes Manual: yes Price: £10
Blue Seed - Sega Saturn (NTSC-J) This is a Japanese Sega Saturn game that will only work on a Japanese console or Modified Sega Saturn Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Bokan To Ippatsu Doronboo Kanpekiban - Sega Saturn (NTSC-J) This is a Japanese Sega Saturn game that will only work on a Japanese console or Modified Sega Saturn Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Bomberman Wars - Sega Saturn (NTSC-J) This is a Japanese Sega Saturn game that will only work on a Japanese console or Modified Sega Saturn. Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Braindead 13 - Sega Saturn (NTSC-U) Deep in the bowels of the sinister castle, evil is brewing. As Lance, the world's hippest computer repair guru, you're called to the mysterious castle of the disembodied brain, Dr. Nero Neurosis. You learn of the Doctors master plan. There's no turning back now! Race through the evil playground of the demented Doctor's twisted castle and battle... Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Break Point - Sega Saturn (PAL) Real life action dynamics on courts that look played on. Pre-defined characters, up to eight player tournaments, full 3D motion capture and true control responses every single second. Play it the way you want if you think you can. Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Break Point - Sega Saturn (NTSC-J) This is a Japanese Sega Saturn game that will only work on a Japanese console or Modified Sega Saturn Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!
Break Thru - Sega Saturn (NTSC-J) This is a Japanese Sega Saturn game that will only work on a Japanese console or Modified Sega Saturn Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!	Bubble Bobble featuring Rainbow Islands - Sega Saturn (PAL) Bubble Bobble and Rainbow Islands, two irresistible arcade classics are back! Crush, burst, blast and blow bubbles, solve mazes and defeat the enemies across 125 levels of mind boggling, rainbow-rocking game-play. because they don't make them like they used to! Box: yes Manual: yes Sold Out!