Sega Saturn Technical Information

TMSega SaturnSoftware DevelopmentStandardsSOA Version 2.0Doc. # ST-151-R4-020197© 1995-96 SEGA. All Rights Reserved.

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 5• Special ConsiderationsFor single player games, the game must support operation from any

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 62.3.4 Steering ControllerRequired All driving games must support the Arcade Racer as desc

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 73. Company Logo Displays3.1 Sega Logo Screen Display Requirements• At Power On:Required T

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 8Avoid the display of the application-based Sega logo immediatelyafter the boot ROM-based

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 94. Title ScreenRequired The Title Screen is defined as the “Game Start Screen”. “Post-Ga

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 10Required Always follow the following display format:Compliance Item© Formal Company Nam

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 115. Demonstration Sequence5.1 Screen DisplayRecommended Display the words “PRESS START B

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 126. Start/Options Select ScreenThe on-screen display of “OPTIONS” occurs during the Post-

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 137. Options Screen7.1 OptionsRecommended Provide the user with as many game options as

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 147.3 Options Screen ControlsThe standard controls for a typical Options Screen shown bel

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 iGENERAL NOTICEWhen using this document, keep the following in mind:1. This document is co

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 158. Main Game8.1 Screen Display8.1.1 Display Area Limits for On-Screen ItemsRequired Impo

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 168.1.3 ScoresThe initial setting for scores is “0.”8.1.4 High ScoresHigh scores are not i

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 17Recommended • The use of buttons A, B, C must be given priority over the use ofComplian

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 188.2.4 Sega Saturn Input Peripheral Software Development StandardsThis document contains

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 19Glossary of TermsTerm ExplanationCompatiblePeripheralAn input peripheral that can be use

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 20Standard Peripheral SupportFor additional information, see sections 1. Game Sequence and

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 21Required In a multiplayer game where players can have differentCompliance Item starting

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 22Required If the peripheral is reconnected, the user must be able toCompliance Item resu

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 23• Mid-Game ParticipationRecommended A compatible peripheral may be connected to an inv

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 24Control Port States (Summary)The following figure shows changes in the control port stat

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 iiTable of Contents1. Game Sequence...

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 256Player Basic SettingsRequired Since the use of a 6Player increases the number of ports

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 26Checks During Game Start• Game StartRequired A game must be started from a peripheral t

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 27Note It is recommended that the consumer use Setup Example 1 as their standard configura

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 28Checks During the Main Game• Peripheral Connect/Disconnect CheckRequired When the 6Play

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 294P 5P 6PControl Port 1Control Port 21P 2P 3P4P 5P 6PControl Port 1Control Port 2[1]-[6]P

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 30Recommended If a 6Player that has an active peripheral connected to it isCompliance Item

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 31• If the 6Player is ReplacedWhen a 6Player is replaced with another peripheral (and vic

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 324P 5P 6PControl Port 1 Control Port 21P 2P 3P4P 5P 6PControl Port 1Control Port 21P 2P 3

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 331P2P 3P 4PControl Port 1[1]2P 3P 4PControl Port 1[1]Control Port 2Control Port 2Port [1]

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 34• Mid-Game ParticipationIn a multiplayer game where players can enter into the game ata

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 iii8. Main Game ...

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 35Mouse Button SetupBasic Mouse Button SetupWhen assigning functions to a mouse button, ob

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 36Recommended Button Setup ExamplesFollowing are some sample button setups for different g

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 37Required Option ItemsIt is required that all software that supports mouse input must als

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 388.3 PauseRecommended The pause function is generally not applicable to non-action or no

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 398.4 ResetResets on the Sega Saturn include a hardware reset via the pressing ofthe RESE

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 40Reference: Multi-Game Compilation Title ResetsIn a multi-game compilation title in whic

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 418.6.3 Proceeding to the Next ScreenRequired Upon completion of the Ending/Game Credits s

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 42External DevelopersThe external development team members’ real names or nicknamesmay be

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 439. Supplement9.1 Handling the Open CD Door StateRequired If the Sega Saturn’s CD Door OP

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 44Appendix 1:Sega Saturn Game Content, Trademarkand Copyright StandardsSince Sega Saturn s

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 4IMPORTANTSections labeled as “Required Compliance Item” are mandatory requirements which

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 452. Miscellaneous Trademark/Copyright Issues2.1 Trademarks and Copyright Considerations

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 46Appendix 2:Sega Saturn Backup Memory SystemStandardsThis Standard was developed in order

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 47size size refers to the file size managed by the Memory Manager.memory available memor

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 482. Standard Backup System ImplementationThe basic backup operating system flowchart is s

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 492.1 Initialization CheckRequired The following processes must occur during the initiali

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 502.4 SaveRequired During the save operation, the following operations must beCompliance

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 51Table A2.1 Valid ASCII Characters in File Names and CommentsAll of the characters in Tab

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 52Comments can be written in Roman alphanumeric and Japanese kanacharacters. Comments can

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 53if new file saves are disabled after game start or new file saves are disabled during t

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 543.1 Check for Memory Initialization Status, Data, andAvailable Memory• Warning Messages

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 11. Game Sequence1.1 Sega Brand Game SequenceA typical sample game sequence for a Sega b

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 55Saturn’s Memory Manager. To access the MemoryManager, go to the System Settings screen b

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 56User Selects Backup Memory FeatureUser Selects Backup DataLoad DataDisplay Warning Messa

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 57User Selects Backup Memory FeatureUser Selects Save LocationDisplay Warning Message 5Dis

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 58• Restart the game after deleting files or copying them to the Cartridge Memory orExte

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 59Appendix 3:Multiple Disc Applications SoftwareDevelopment StandardsThe multiple disc app

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 60Sufficient conditions• <Title screen>, a soft reset jump destination, must exist o

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 61When Options are not included, some specs may not have the<Start/Options Select Scree

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 62conflicts regarding 1. Basic design and 2> Title sequence, refer toRecommended specs

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 63<This is disc 2. There is no game data to start from this disc.Reinsert disc 1.>•

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 643.3 Reset through CD door OpenAll cases: similar to the normal case. Jump to the consol

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 21.2 Third Party Brand Game SequenceA typical sample game sequence for a third party brand

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 65However, when a halfway play (disc 1 play only) ends at a highly inappropriate location

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 66 • <Disc 2> <Title screen> <Game data select screen> can beskipped.Ho

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 32. Peripheral CheckRequired A check for peripherals (typically a Control Pad) connected

Sega Saturn Software Development Standards, SOA version 2.0 4possible system crashes or operational problems caused by theconnection of that device ty