<s>
The	O
is	O
a	O
home	B-Device
video	I-Device
game	I-Device
console	I-Device
developed	O
by	O
Sega	O
and	O
released	O
on	O
November	O
22	O
,	O
1994	O
,	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
May	O
11	O
,	O
1995	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
and	O
July	O
8	O
,	O
1995	O
,	O
in	O
Europe	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Part	O
of	O
the	O
fifth	B-Application
generation	I-Application
of	I-Application
video	I-Application
game	I-Application
consoles	I-Application
,	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
successor	O
to	O
the	O
successful	O
Sega	B-Operating_System
Genesis	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
has	O
a	O
dual-CPU	O
architecture	O
and	O
eight	O
processors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
games	O
are	O
in	O
CD-ROM	B-Device
format	O
,	O
and	O
its	O
game	O
library	O
contains	O
several	O
ports	O
of	O
arcade	O
games	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
original	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
began	O
in	O
1992	O
,	O
the	O
same	O
year	O
Sega	O
's	O
groundbreaking	O
3D	O
Model	O
1	O
arcade	O
hardware	O
debuted	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
was	O
designed	O
around	O
a	O
new	O
CPU	B-General_Concept
from	O
the	O
Japanese	O
electronics	O
company	O
Hitachi	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
added	O
another	O
video	B-Architecture
display	I-Architecture
processor	I-Architecture
in	O
early	O
1994	O
to	O
better	O
compete	O
with	O
Sony	O
's	O
forthcoming	O
PlayStation	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
was	O
initially	O
successful	O
in	O
Japan	O
but	O
failed	O
to	O
sell	O
in	O
large	O
numbers	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
where	O
it	O
was	O
hindered	O
by	O
a	O
surprise	O
May	O
1995	O
launch	O
,	O
four	O
months	O
before	O
its	O
scheduled	O
release	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
debut	O
of	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
in	O
late	O
1996	O
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
rapidly	O
lost	O
market	O
share	O
in	O
the	O
U.S.	O
,	O
where	O
it	O
was	O
discontinued	O
in	O
1998	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Having	O
sold	O
9.26million	O
units	O
worldwide	O
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
is	O
considered	O
a	O
commercial	O
failure	O
;	O
the	O
cancellation	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
X-treme	I-Application
,	O
planned	O
as	O
the	O
first	O
3D	O
entry	O
in	O
Sega	O
's	O
popular	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
series	I-Application
,	O
is	O
considered	O
a	O
factor	O
in	O
its	O
performance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
was	O
succeeded	O
in	O
1998	O
by	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
is	O
remembered	O
for	O
several	O
well-regarded	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
Nights	B-Application
into	I-Application
Dreams	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Panzer	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
series	O
and	O
the	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
series	O
,	O
its	O
reputation	O
is	O
mixed	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
complex	O
hardware	O
design	O
and	O
limited	O
third-party	O
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
's	O
management	O
has	O
been	O
criticized	O
for	O
its	O
decisions	O
during	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
development	O
and	O
discontinuation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
early	O
1990s	O
,	O
Sega	O
had	O
success	O
with	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
(	O
known	O
as	O
the	O
Mega	B-Operating_System
Drive	I-Operating_System
in	O
most	O
countries	O
outside	O
of	O
North	O
America	O
)	O
,	O
backed	O
by	O
aggressive	O
advertising	O
campaigns	O
and	O
the	O
popularity	O
of	O
its	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
also	O
had	O
success	O
with	O
arcade	O
games	O
;	O
in	O
1992	O
and	O
1993	O
,	O
the	O
new	O
Sega	O
Model	O
1	O
arcade	O
system	O
board	O
showcased	O
Sega	O
AM2	O
's	O
Virtua	B-Application
Racing	I-Application
and	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
(	O
the	O
first	O
3D	O
fighting	O
game	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
played	O
a	O
crucial	O
role	O
in	O
popularizing	O
3D	O
polygonal	O
graphics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Model	O
1	O
was	O
expensive	O
,	O
so	O
several	O
alternatives	O
helped	O
bring	O
Sega	O
's	O
newest	O
arcade	O
games	O
to	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Sega	O
Virtua	O
Processor	O
chip	O
used	O
for	O
Virtua	B-Application
Racing	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
32X	B-Device
add-on	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
was	O
supervised	O
by	O
Hideki	O
Sato	O
,	O
Sega	O
's	O
director	O
and	O
deputy	O
general	O
manager	O
of	O
research	O
and	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
the	O
project	O
manager	O
Hideki	O
Okamura	O
,	O
the	O
project	O
started	O
over	O
two	O
years	O
before	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
was	O
showcased	O
at	O
the	O
Tokyo	O
Toy	O
Show	O
in	O
June	O
1994	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
name	O
"	O
Saturn	B-Device
"	O
was	O
initially	O
only	O
the	O
codename	O
during	O
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1993	O
,	O
Sega	O
and	O
the	O
Japanese	O
electronics	O
company	O
Hitachi	O
formed	O
a	O
joint	O
venture	O
to	O
develop	O
a	O
new	O
CPU	B-General_Concept
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
which	O
resulted	O
in	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
the	O
"	O
SuperH	O
RISC	B-Architecture
Engine	O
"	O
(	O
or	O
SH-2	O
)	O
later	O
that	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
was	O
designed	O
around	O
a	O
dual-SH2	O
configuration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Kazuhiro	O
Hamada	O
,	O
Sega	O
's	O
section	O
chief	O
for	O
Saturn	B-Device
development	O
during	O
the	O
system	O
's	O
conception	O
,	O
"	O
the	O
SH-2	O
was	O
chosen	O
for	O
reasons	O
of	O
cost	O
and	O
efficiency	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
chip	O
has	O
a	O
calculation	O
system	O
similar	O
to	O
a	O
DSP	B-Architecture
[	O
digital	O
signal	O
processor ]	O
,	O
but	O
we	O
realized	O
that	O
a	O
single	O
CPU	B-General_Concept
would	O
not	O
be	O
enough	O
to	O
calculate	O
a	O
3D	O
world.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
design	O
was	O
largely	O
finished	O
before	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
1993	O
,	O
reports	O
in	O
early	O
1994	O
of	O
the	O
technical	O
capabilities	O
of	O
Sony	O
's	O
upcoming	O
PlayStation	B-Device
console	I-Device
prompted	O
Sega	O
to	O
include	O
another	O
video	B-Architecture
display	I-Architecture
processor	I-Architecture
(	O
VDP	O
)	O
to	O
improve	O
2D	O
performance	O
and	O
3D	O
texture	O
mapping	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
considered	O
making	O
CD-ROM-based	O
and	O
cartridge-only	O
versions	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
but	O
discarded	O
the	O
idea	O
due	O
to	O
concerns	O
over	O
the	O
lower	O
quality	O
and	O
higher	O
price	O
of	O
cartridge	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
president	O
Tom	O
Kalinske	O
,	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
"	O
fought	O
against	O
the	O
architecture	O
of	O
Saturn	B-Device
for	O
quite	O
some	O
time	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Seeking	O
an	O
alternative	O
graphics	O
chip	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
Kalinske	O
attempted	O
to	O
broker	O
a	O
deal	O
with	O
Silicon	O
Graphics	O
,	O
but	O
Sega	O
of	O
Japan	O
rejected	O
the	O
proposal	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Silicon	O
Graphics	O
subsequently	O
collaborated	O
with	O
Nintendo	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Publicly	O
,	O
Kalinske	O
defended	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
design	O
:	O
"	O
Our	O
people	O
feel	O
that	O
they	O
need	O
the	O
multiprocessing	O
to	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
bring	O
to	O
the	O
home	O
what	O
we	O
're	O
doing	O
next	O
year	O
in	O
the	O
arcades.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1993	O
,	O
Sega	O
restructured	O
its	O
internal	O
studios	O
in	O
preparation	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
launch	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
ensure	O
high-quality	O
3D	O
games	O
would	O
be	O
available	O
early	O
in	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
life	O
,	O
and	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
more	O
energetic	O
working	O
environment	O
,	O
developers	O
from	O
Sega	O
's	O
arcade	O
division	O
were	O
asked	O
to	O
create	O
console	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
New	O
teams	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Panzer	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
developer	O
Team	O
Andromeda	O
,	O
were	O
formed	O
during	O
this	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
early	O
1994	O
,	O
the	O
Sega	O
Titan	O
Video	O
arcade	O
system	O
was	O
announced	O
as	O
an	O
arcade	O
counterpart	O
to	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
January	O
1994	O
,	O
Sega	O
began	O
to	O
develop	O
an	O
add-on	O
for	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
32X	B-Device
,	O
to	O
serve	O
as	O
a	O
less	O
expensive	O
entry	O
into	O
the	O
32-bit	B-Application
era	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
the	O
former	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
producer	O
Scot	O
Bayless	O
,	O
Nakayama	O
was	O
worried	O
that	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
would	O
not	O
be	O
available	O
until	O
after	O
1994	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
recently	O
released	O
Atari	B-Device
Jaguar	I-Device
would	O
reduce	O
Sega	O
's	O
hardware	O
sales	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
32X	B-Device
would	O
not	O
be	O
compatible	O
with	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
but	O
Sega	O
executive	O
Richard	O
Brudvik-Lindner	O
pointed	O
out	O
that	O
the	O
32X	B-Device
would	O
play	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
games	O
,	O
and	O
had	O
the	O
same	O
system	O
architecture	O
as	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
justified	O
by	O
Sega	O
's	O
statement	O
that	O
both	O
platforms	O
would	O
run	O
at	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
the	O
32X	B-Device
would	O
be	O
aimed	O
at	O
players	O
who	O
could	O
not	O
afford	O
the	O
more	O
expensive	O
Saturn	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
research	O
and	O
development	O
head	O
Joe	O
Miller	O
,	O
the	O
32X	B-Device
served	O
a	O
role	O
in	O
assisting	O
development	O
teams	O
to	O
familiarize	O
themselves	O
with	O
the	O
dual	O
SH-2	O
architecture	O
also	O
used	O
in	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
the	O
machines	O
shared	O
many	O
parts	O
and	O
were	O
being	O
prepared	O
to	O
launch	O
around	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
,	O
tensions	O
emerged	O
between	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
and	O
Sega	O
of	O
Japan	O
when	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
was	O
given	O
priority	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
released	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
in	O
Japan	O
on	O
November	O
22	O
,	O
1994	O
,	O
at	O
a	O
price	O
of	O
¥	O
44,800	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
,	O
a	O
faithful	O
port	O
of	O
the	O
popular	O
arcade	O
game	O
,	O
sold	O
at	O
a	O
nearly	O
one-to-one	O
ratio	O
with	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
console	O
at	O
launch	O
and	O
was	O
crucial	O
to	O
the	O
system	O
's	O
early	O
success	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Though	O
Sega	O
had	O
wanted	O
to	O
launch	O
with	O
Clockwork	B-Application
Knight	I-Application
and	O
Panzer	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
,	O
the	O
only	O
other	O
first-party	O
game	O
available	O
at	O
launch	O
was	O
Wan	O
Chai	O
Connection	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Boosted	O
by	O
the	O
popularity	O
of	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
,	O
Sega	O
's	O
initial	O
shipment	O
of	O
200,000	O
Saturn	B-Device
units	O
sold	O
out	O
on	O
the	O
first	O
day	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
waited	O
until	O
the	O
December	O
3	O
launch	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
to	O
ship	O
more	O
units	O
;	O
when	O
both	O
were	O
sold	O
side	O
by	O
side	O
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
proved	O
more	O
popular	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Meanwhile	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
the	O
32X	B-Device
on	O
November	O
21	O
,	O
1994	O
,	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
December	O
3	O
,	O
1994	O
,	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
and	O
January	O
1995	O
in	O
PAL	O
territories	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
sold	O
at	O
less	O
than	O
half	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
launch	O
price	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
holiday	O
season	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
interest	O
in	O
the	O
32X	B-Device
rapidly	O
declined	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Half	O
a	O
million	O
Saturn	B-Device
units	O
were	O
sold	O
in	O
Japan	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
1994	O
(	O
compared	O
to	O
300,000	O
PlayStation	B-Device
units	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
sales	O
exceeded	O
1million	O
within	O
the	O
following	O
six	O
months	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
There	O
were	O
conflicting	O
reports	O
that	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
enjoyed	O
a	O
higher	O
sell-through	O
rate	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
system	O
gradually	O
began	O
to	O
overtake	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
in	O
sales	O
during	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
attracted	O
many	O
third-party	O
developers	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
with	O
a	O
liberal	O
$10	O
licensing	O
fee	O
,	O
excellent	O
development	B-Application
tools	I-Application
,	O
and	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
a	O
7	O
-	O
to	O
10-day	O
order	O
system	O
that	O
allowed	O
publishers	O
to	O
meet	O
demand	O
more	O
efficiently	O
than	O
the	O
10	O
-	O
to	O
12-week	O
lead	O
times	O
for	O
cartridges	O
that	O
had	O
previously	O
been	O
standard	O
in	O
the	O
Japanese	O
video	O
game	O
industry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
March	O
1995	O
,	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
CEO	O
Tom	O
Kalinske	O
announced	O
that	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
would	O
be	O
released	O
in	O
the	O
U.S.	O
on	O
"	O
Saturnday	O
"	O
(	O
Saturday	O
)	O
September	O
2	O
,	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Sega	O
of	O
Japan	O
mandated	O
an	O
early	O
launch	O
to	O
give	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
an	O
advantage	O
over	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
first	O
Electronic	O
Entertainment	O
Expo	O
(	O
E3	O
)	O
in	O
Los	O
Angeles	O
on	O
May	O
11	O
,	O
1995	O
,	O
Kalinske	O
gave	O
a	O
keynote	O
presentation	O
in	O
which	O
he	O
revealed	O
the	O
release	O
price	O
of	O
US$399	O
(	O
including	O
a	O
copy	O
of	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
)	O
,	O
and	O
described	O
the	O
features	O
of	O
the	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Kalinske	O
also	O
revealed	O
that	O
,	O
due	O
to	O
"	O
high	O
consumer	O
demand	O
"	O
,	O
Sega	O
had	O
already	O
shipped	O
30,000	O
Saturns	B-Device
to	O
Toys	O
"	O
R	O
"	O
Us	O
,	O
Babbage	O
's	O
,	O
Electronics	O
Boutique	O
,	O
and	O
Software	O
Etc	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
subsequently	O
unveiled	O
the	O
retail	O
price	O
for	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
:	O
Olaf	O
Olafsson	O
,	O
the	O
head	O
of	O
Sony	O
Computer	O
Entertainment	O
America	O
(	O
SCEA	O
)	O
,	O
summoned	O
Steve	O
Race	O
to	O
the	O
stage	O
,	O
who	O
said	O
"	O
$299	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
then	O
walked	O
away	O
to	O
applause	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
release	O
in	O
Europe	O
also	O
came	O
before	O
the	O
previously	O
announced	O
North	O
American	O
date	O
,	O
on	O
July	O
8	O
,	O
1995	O
,	O
at	O
a	O
price	O
of	O
£399.99	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Device
launched	O
in	O
Europe	O
on	O
September	O
29	O
,	O
1995	O
;	O
by	O
November	O
,	O
it	O
had	O
already	O
outsold	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
by	O
a	O
factor	O
of	O
three	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
Kingdom	O
,	O
where	O
Sony	O
had	O
allocated	O
£20million	O
of	O
marketing	O
during	O
the	O
holiday	O
season	O
compared	O
to	O
Sega	O
's	O
£4million	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
U.S.	O
launch	O
was	O
accompanied	O
by	O
a	O
reported	O
$50million	O
advertising	O
campaign	O
that	O
included	O
coverage	O
in	O
publications	O
such	O
as	O
Wired	O
and	O
Playboy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Early	O
advertising	O
for	O
the	O
system	O
was	O
targeted	O
at	O
a	O
more	O
mature	O
,	O
adult	O
audience	O
than	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
ads	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
of	O
the	O
early	O
launch	O
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
had	O
only	O
six	O
games	O
(	O
all	O
published	O
by	O
Sega	O
)	O
available	O
to	O
start	O
as	O
most	O
third-party	O
games	O
were	O
slated	O
to	O
be	O
released	O
around	O
the	O
original	O
launch	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Virtua	B-Application
Fighters	I-Application
relative	O
lack	O
of	O
popularity	O
in	O
the	O
West	O
,	O
combined	O
with	O
a	O
release	O
schedule	O
of	O
only	O
two	O
games	O
between	O
the	O
surprise	O
launch	O
and	O
September	O
1995	O
,	O
prevented	O
Sega	O
from	O
capitalizing	O
on	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
early	O
timing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Within	O
two	O
days	O
of	O
its	O
September	O
9	O
,	O
1995	O
launch	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
(	O
backed	O
by	O
a	O
large	O
marketing	O
campaign	O
)	O
sold	O
more	O
units	O
than	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
had	O
in	O
the	O
five	O
months	O
following	O
its	O
surprise	O
launch	O
,	O
with	O
almost	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
initial	O
shipment	O
of	O
100,000	O
units	O
being	O
sold	O
in	O
advance	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
rest	O
selling	O
out	O
across	O
the	O
U.S.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
high-quality	O
port	O
of	O
the	O
Namco	O
arcade	O
game	O
Ridge	B-Application
Racer	I-Application
contributed	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
's	O
early	O
success	O
,	O
and	O
garnered	O
favorable	O
media	O
in	O
comparison	O
to	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
version	O
of	O
Sega	O
's	O
Daytona	B-Application
USA	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
considered	O
inferior	O
to	O
its	O
arcade	O
counterpart	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Namco	O
,	O
a	O
longtime	O
arcade	O
competitor	O
with	O
Sega	O
,	O
also	O
unveiled	O
the	O
Namco	B-Application
System	I-Application
11	I-Application
arcade	O
board	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
raw	O
PlayStation	B-Device
hardware	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
a	O
1994	O
acquisition	O
of	O
Sega	O
developers	O
,	O
Namco	O
released	O
Tekken	B-Application
for	O
the	O
System	O
11	O
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Directed	O
by	O
former	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
designer	O
Seiichi	O
Ishii	O
,	O
Tekken	B-Application
was	O
intended	O
to	O
be	O
fundamentally	O
similar	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
detailed	O
textures	O
and	O
twice	O
the	O
frame	O
rate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tekken	B-Application
surpassed	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
in	O
popularity	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
superior	O
graphics	O
and	O
nearly	O
arcade-perfect	O
console	O
port	O
,	O
becoming	O
the	O
first	O
million-selling	O
PlayStation	B-Device
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
October	O
2	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
a	O
Saturn	B-Device
price	O
reduction	O
to	O
$299	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
High-quality	O
Saturn	B-Device
ports	O
of	O
the	O
Sega	O
Model	O
2	O
arcade	O
hits	O
Sega	B-Application
Rally	I-Application
Championship	I-Application
,	O
Virtua	B-Language
Cop	I-Language
,	O
and	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
2	I-Application
(	O
running	O
at	O
60	O
frames	O
per	O
second	O
at	O
a	O
high	O
resolution	O
)	O
were	O
available	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
year	O
,	O
and	O
were	O
generally	O
regarded	O
as	O
superior	O
to	O
competitors	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Notwithstanding	O
a	O
subsequent	O
increase	O
in	O
Saturn	B-Device
sales	O
during	O
the	O
1995	O
holiday	O
season	O
,	O
the	O
games	O
were	O
not	O
enough	O
to	O
reverse	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
's	O
decisive	O
lead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
1996	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
had	O
a	O
considerably	O
larger	O
library	O
than	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
although	O
Sega	O
hoped	O
to	O
generate	O
interest	O
with	O
upcoming	O
exclusives	O
such	O
as	O
Nights	B-Application
into	I-Application
Dreams	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
informal	O
survey	O
of	O
retailers	O
showed	O
that	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
and	O
PlayStation	B-Device
sold	O
in	O
roughly	O
equal	O
numbers	O
during	O
the	O
first	O
quarter	O
of	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Within	O
its	O
first	O
year	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
secured	O
over	O
20%	O
of	O
the	O
entire	O
U.S.	O
video	O
game	O
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
first	O
day	O
of	O
the	O
May	O
1996	O
E3	O
show	O
,	O
Sony	O
announced	O
a	O
PlayStation	B-Device
price	O
reduction	O
to	O
$199	O
,	O
a	O
reaction	O
to	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
the	O
Model	O
2	O
Saturn	B-Device
in	O
Japan	O
at	O
a	O
price	O
roughly	O
equivalent	O
to	O
$199	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
second	O
day	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
it	O
would	O
match	O
this	O
price	O
,	O
though	O
Saturn	B-Device
hardware	O
was	O
more	O
expensive	O
to	O
manufacture	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
sales	O
of	O
16-bit	O
games	O
and	O
consoles	O
continued	O
to	O
account	O
for	O
64%	O
of	O
the	O
video	O
game	O
market	O
in	O
1995	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
underestimated	O
the	O
continued	O
popularity	O
of	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
,	O
and	O
did	O
not	O
have	O
the	O
inventory	O
to	O
meet	O
demand	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
was	O
able	O
to	O
capture	O
43%	O
of	O
the	O
dollar	O
share	O
of	O
the	O
U.S.	O
video	O
game	O
market	O
and	O
sell	O
more	O
than	O
2million	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
units	O
in	O
1995	O
,	O
but	O
Kalinske	O
estimated	O
that	O
"	O
we	O
could	O
have	O
sold	O
another	O
300,000	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
systems	O
in	O
the	O
November/December	O
timeframe.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Nakayama	O
's	O
decision	O
to	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
over	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
,	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
systems	O
 '	O
relative	O
performance	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
has	O
been	O
cited	O
as	O
the	O
major	O
contributing	O
factor	O
in	O
this	O
miscalculation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Stolar	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
arranged	O
a	O
six-month	O
PlayStation	B-Device
exclusivity	O
deal	O
for	O
Mortal	B-Application
Kombat	I-Application
3	I-Application
and	O
helped	O
build	O
close	O
relations	O
with	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
while	O
at	O
Sony	O
,	O
was	O
perceived	O
as	O
a	O
major	O
asset	O
by	O
Sega	O
officials	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Stolar	O
was	O
not	O
supportive	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
feeling	O
it	O
was	O
poorly	O
designed	O
,	O
and	O
publicly	O
announced	O
at	O
E3	O
1997	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
is	O
not	O
our	O
future	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Stolar	O
had	O
"	O
no	O
interest	O
in	O
lying	O
to	O
people	O
"	O
about	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
prospects	O
,	O
he	O
continued	O
to	O
emphasize	O
quality	O
games	O
for	O
the	O
system	O
,	O
and	O
later	O
said	O
that	O
"	O
we	O
tried	O
to	O
wind	O
it	O
down	O
as	O
cleanly	O
as	O
we	O
could	O
for	O
the	O
consumer	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
Sony	O
,	O
Stolar	O
had	O
opposed	O
the	O
localization	O
of	O
Japanese	O
games	O
that	O
he	O
felt	O
would	O
not	O
represent	O
PlayStation	B-Device
well	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
and	O
advocated	O
a	O
similar	O
policy	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
although	O
he	O
later	O
sought	O
to	O
distance	O
himself	O
from	O
this	O
perception	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Marketing	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
in	O
Japan	O
also	O
changed	O
with	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
Segata	O
Sanshiro	O
(	O
played	O
by	O
Hiroshi	O
Fujioka	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
character	O
in	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
TV	O
advertisements	O
starting	O
in	O
1997	O
;	O
the	O
character	O
eventually	O
starred	O
in	O
a	O
Saturn	B-Device
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Temporarily	O
abandoning	O
arcade	O
development	O
,	O
Sega	O
AM2	O
head	O
Yu	O
Suzuki	O
began	O
developing	O
several	O
Saturn-exclusive	O
games	O
,	O
including	O
a	O
role-playing	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Initially	O
conceived	O
as	O
an	O
obscure	O
prototype	O
"	O
The	O
Old	O
Man	O
and	O
the	O
Peach	O
Tree	O
"	O
and	O
intended	O
to	O
address	O
the	O
flaws	O
of	O
contemporary	O
Japanese	O
RPGs	O
(	O
such	O
as	O
poor	O
non-player	O
character	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
routines	O
)	O
,	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
RPG	O
evolved	O
into	O
a	O
planned	O
11-part	O
,	O
45-hour	O
"	O
revenge	O
epic	O
in	O
the	O
tradition	O
of	O
Chinese	O
cinema	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
Suzuki	O
hoped	O
would	O
become	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
killer	O
app	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
eventually	O
released	O
as	O
Shenmue	B-Application
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
successor	O
,	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
was	O
working	O
on	O
Nights	B-Application
into	I-Application
Dreams	I-Application
,	O
Sega	O
tasked	O
the	O
U.S.-based	O
Sega	O
Technical	O
Institute	O
(	O
STI	O
)	O
with	O
developing	O
the	O
first	O
fully	O
3D	O
entry	O
in	O
its	O
popular	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
series	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
X-treme	I-Application
,	O
was	O
moved	O
to	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
after	O
several	O
prototypes	O
for	O
other	O
hardware	O
(	O
including	O
the	O
32X	B-Device
)	O
were	O
discarded	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
featured	O
a	O
fisheye	O
lens	O
camera	O
system	O
that	O
rotated	O
levels	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
's	O
movement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Weeks	O
of	O
development	O
were	O
wasted	O
after	O
Stolar	O
rescinded	O
STI	O
's	O
access	O
to	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
's	O
Nights	B-Application
into	I-Application
Dreams	I-Application
engine	O
following	O
an	O
ultimatum	O
by	O
Nights	O
programmer	O
Yuji	O
Naka	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
programmer	O
Ofer	O
Alon	O
quit	O
and	O
designers	O
Chris	O
Senn	O
and	O
Chris	O
Coffin	O
became	O
ill	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
X-Treme	I-Application
was	O
cancelled	O
in	O
early	O
1997	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
started	O
work	O
on	O
an	O
original	O
3D	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
but	O
development	O
shifted	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
and	O
the	O
game	O
became	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
David	O
Houghton	O
of	O
GamesRadar	O
described	O
the	O
prospect	O
of	O
"	O
a	O
good	O
3D	O
Sonic	B-Application
game	O
"	O
on	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
as	O
"	O
a	O
'	O
What	O
if	O
...	O
'	O
situation	O
on	O
a	O
par	O
with	O
the	O
dinosaurs	O
not	O
becoming	O
extinct	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGNs	O
Travis	O
Fahs	O
called	O
X-treme	O
"	O
the	O
turning	O
point	O
not	O
only	O
for	O
Sega	O
's	O
mascot	O
and	O
their	O
32-bit	B-Application
console	I-Application
,	O
but	O
for	O
the	O
entire	O
company	O
"	O
,	O
but	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
served	O
as	O
"	O
an	O
empty	O
vessel	O
for	O
Sega	O
's	O
ambitions	O
and	O
the	O
hopes	O
of	O
their	O
fans	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dave	O
Zdyrko	O
,	O
who	O
operated	O
a	O
prominent	O
Saturn	B-Device
fan	O
website	O
during	O
the	O
system	O
's	O
lifespan	O
,	O
said	O
:	O
"	O
I	O
do	O
n't	O
know	O
if	O
 [ X-treme ] 	O
could	O
've	O
saved	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
but	O
...	O
Sonic	B-Application
helped	O
make	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
and	O
it	O
made	O
absolutely	O
no	O
sense	O
why	O
there	O
was	O
n't	O
a	O
great	O
new	O
Sonic	B-Application
title	O
ready	O
at	O
or	O
near	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
the	O
[Saturn].	O
 "	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
a	O
2007	O
retrospective	O
,	O
producer	O
Mike	O
Wallis	O
maintained	O
that	O
X-treme	O
"	O
definitely	O
would	O
have	O
been	O
competitive	O
"	O
with	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
64	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Eight	O
hundred	O
thousand	O
PlayStation	B-Device
units	O
were	O
sold	O
in	O
the	O
U.S.	O
by	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
1995	O
,	O
compared	O
to	O
400,000	O
Saturn	B-Device
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
part	O
due	O
to	O
an	O
aggressive	O
price	O
war	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
outsold	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
by	O
two	O
to	O
one	O
in	O
1996	O
,	O
while	O
Sega	O
's	O
16-bit	O
sales	O
declined	O
markedly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
1996	O
,	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
had	O
sold	O
2.9	O
million	O
units	O
in	O
the	O
U.S.	O
,	O
more	O
than	O
twice	O
the	O
1.2	O
million	O
Saturn	B-Device
units	O
sold	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Christmas	O
1996	O
"	O
Three	O
Free	O
"	O
pack	O
,	O
which	O
bundled	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
with	O
Daytona	B-Application
USA	I-Application
,	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Virtua	B-Language
Cop	I-Language
,	O
drove	O
sales	O
dramatically	O
and	O
ensured	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
remained	O
a	O
competitor	O
into	O
1997	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
failed	O
to	O
take	O
the	O
lead	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
in	O
1996	O
,	O
sales	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
and	O
its	O
games	O
were	O
sharply	O
reduced	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
outsold	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
by	O
three-to-one	O
in	O
the	O
U.S.	O
in	O
1997	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
1997	O
release	O
of	O
Final	B-Application
Fantasy	I-Application
VII	I-Application
significantly	O
increased	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
's	O
popularity	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
helped	O
push	O
PlayStation	B-Device
sales	O
ahead	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
Saturn	B-Device
had	O
been	O
very	O
close	O
in	O
Japan	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
release	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Reflecting	O
decreased	O
demand	O
for	O
the	O
system	O
,	O
worldwide	O
Saturn	B-Device
shipments	O
during	O
March	O
to	O
September	O
1997	O
declined	O
from	O
2.35	O
million	O
to	O
600,000	O
versus	O
the	O
same	O
period	O
in	O
1996	O
;	O
shipments	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
declined	O
from	O
800,000	O
to	O
50,000	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
poor	O
performance	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
60	O
of	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
's	O
200	O
employees	O
were	O
laid	O
off	O
in	O
late	O
1997	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Shortly	O
before	O
announcing	O
its	O
financial	O
losses	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
discontinuing	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
in	O
North	O
America	O
to	O
prepare	O
for	O
the	O
launch	O
of	O
its	O
successor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Only	O
7	O
Saturn	B-Device
games	O
were	O
released	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
in	O
1998	O
(	O
Magic	B-Application
Knight	I-Application
Rayearth	I-Application
was	O
the	O
final	O
official	O
release	O
)	O
,	O
compared	O
to	O
119	O
in	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
would	O
last	O
longer	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
with	O
Irimajiri	O
announcing	O
in	O
early	O
1998	O
that	O
Sega	O
would	O
continue	O
supporting	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
in	O
Japan	O
after	O
its	O
successor	O
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Between	O
June	O
1996	O
and	O
August	O
1998	O
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
sold	O
a	O
further	O
1,103,468	O
consoles	O
and	O
29,685,781	O
games	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
giving	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
a	O
Japanese	O
attach	O
rate	O
of	O
16.71	O
games	O
per	O
console	O
,	O
the	O
highest	O
of	O
that	O
generation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Rumors	O
about	O
the	O
upcoming	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
—	O
spread	O
mainly	O
by	O
Sega	O
itself	O
—	O
were	O
leaked	O
to	O
the	O
public	O
before	O
the	O
last	O
Saturn	B-Device
games	O
were	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
was	O
released	O
on	O
November	O
27	O
,	O
1998	O
in	O
Japan	O
and	O
on	O
September	O
9	O
,	O
1999	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
decision	O
to	O
abandon	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
effectively	O
left	O
the	O
Western	O
market	O
without	O
Sega	O
games	O
for	O
over	O
one	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Worldwide	O
Saturn	B-Device
sales	O
include	O
at	O
least	O
the	O
following	O
amounts	O
in	O
each	O
territory	O
:	O
5.75	O
million	O
in	O
Japan	O
(	O
surpassing	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
 '	O
sales	O
of	O
3.58	O
million	O
there	O
)	O
,	O
1.8	O
million	O
in	O
the	O
United	O
States	O
,	O
1	O
million	O
in	O
Europe	O
,	O
and	O
530,000	O
elsewhere	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
lifetime	O
sales	O
of	O
9.26	O
million	O
units	O
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
is	O
considered	O
a	O
commercial	O
failure	O
,	O
although	O
its	O
install	O
base	O
in	O
Japan	O
surpassed	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
's	O
5.54	O
million	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Lack	O
of	O
distribution	O
has	O
been	O
cited	O
as	O
a	O
significant	O
factor	O
contributing	O
to	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
failure	O
,	O
as	O
the	O
system	O
's	O
surprise	O
launch	O
damaged	O
Sega	O
's	O
reputation	O
with	O
key	O
retailers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Conversely	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
long	O
delay	O
in	O
releasing	O
a	O
3D	O
console	O
and	O
damage	O
caused	O
to	O
Sega	O
's	O
reputation	O
by	O
poorly	O
supported	O
add-ons	O
for	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
are	O
considered	O
major	O
factors	O
allowing	O
Sony	O
to	O
gain	O
a	O
foothold	O
in	O
the	O
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Featuring	O
eight	O
processors	O
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
central	B-General_Concept
processing	I-General_Concept
units	I-General_Concept
are	O
two	O
Hitachi	O
SH-2	O
microprocessors	O
clocked	O
at	O
28.6	O
MHz	O
and	O
capable	O
of	O
56	O
MIPS	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
uses	O
a	O
Motorola	B-Device
68EC000	I-Device
running	O
at	O
11.3	O
MHz	O
as	O
a	O
sound	O
controller	O
;	O
a	O
custom	O
sound	O
processor	O
with	O
an	O
integrated	O
Yamaha	O
FH1	O
DSP	B-Architecture
running	O
at	O
22.6	O
MHz	O
capable	O
of	O
up	O
to	O
32	O
sound	O
channels	O
with	O
both	O
FM	O
synthesis	O
and	O
16-bit	O
44.1	O
kHz	O
pulse-code	B-Algorithm
modulation	I-Algorithm
;	O
and	O
two	O
video	B-Architecture
display	I-Architecture
processors	I-Architecture
:	O
the	O
VDP1	O
(	O
which	O
handles	O
sprites	O
and	O
polygons	B-General_Concept
)	O
and	O
the	O
VDP2	O
(	O
which	O
handles	O
backgrounds	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
double-speed	O
CD-ROM	B-Device
drive	O
is	O
controlled	O
by	O
a	O
dedicated	O
Hitachi	O
SH-1	O
processor	O
to	O
reduce	O
load	O
times	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
System	O
Control	O
Unit	O
(	O
SCU	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
controls	O
all	O
buses	B-General_Concept
and	O
functions	O
as	O
a	O
co-processor	O
of	O
the	O
main	O
SH-2	O
CPU	B-General_Concept
,	O
has	O
an	O
internal	O
DSP	B-Architecture
running	O
at	O
14.3	O
MHz	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
features	O
a	O
cartridge	O
slot	O
that	O
allows	O
for	O
memory	O
expansion	O
,	O
16	O
Mbit	O
of	O
work	O
random-access	B-Architecture
memory	I-Architecture
(	O
RAM	B-Architecture
)	O
,	O
12	O
Mbit	O
of	O
video	O
RAM	B-Architecture
,	O
4	O
Mbit	O
of	O
RAM	B-Architecture
for	O
sound	O
functions	O
,	O
4	O
Mbit	O
of	O
CD	O
buffer	B-General_Concept
RAM	B-Architecture
and	O
256	O
Kbit	O
(	O
32	O
KB	O
)	O
of	O
battery	O
backup	O
RAM	B-Architecture
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
video	O
output	O
,	O
provided	O
by	O
a	O
stereo	B-Protocol
AV	I-Protocol
cable	I-Protocol
,	O
displays	O
at	O
resolutions	B-General_Concept
from	O
320×224	O
to	O
704×224	O
pixels	B-Algorithm
,	O
and	O
can	O
display	O
up	O
to	O
16.78	O
million	O
colors	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
measures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
packaged	O
with	O
an	O
instruction	O
manual	O
,	O
control	O
pad	O
,	O
stereo	B-Protocol
AV	I-Protocol
cable	I-Protocol
,	O
and	O
100	O
V	O
AC	O
power	O
supply	O
,	O
with	O
a	O
power	O
consumption	O
of	O
approximately	O
15	O
W	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
had	O
technically	O
impressive	O
hardware	O
at	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
but	O
its	O
complexity	O
made	O
harnessing	O
this	O
power	O
difficult	O
for	O
developers	O
accustomed	O
to	O
conventional	O
programming	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Making	O
full	O
use	O
of	O
the	O
4	O
KB	O
of	O
cache	B-General_Concept
memory	I-General_Concept
in	O
each	O
CPU	B-General_Concept
was	O
critical	O
to	O
maintaining	O
performance	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
used	O
one	O
CPU	B-General_Concept
for	O
each	O
character	O
,	O
while	O
Nights	O
used	O
one	O
CPU	B-General_Concept
for	O
3D	O
environments	O
and	O
the	O
other	O
for	O
2D	O
objects	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
design	O
elicited	O
mixed	O
commentary	O
among	O
game	O
developers	O
and	O
journalists	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Developers	O
quoted	O
by	O
Next	O
Generation	O
in	O
December	O
1995	O
described	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
as	O
"	O
a	O
real	O
coder	O
's	O
machine	O
"	O
for	O
"	O
those	O
who	O
love	O
to	O
get	O
their	O
teeth	O
into	O
assembly	O
and	O
really	O
hack	O
the	O
hardware	O
"	O
,	O
with	O
"	O
more	O
flexibility	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
more	O
calculating	O
power	O
than	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
contrast	O
,	O
Lobotomy	O
Software	O
programmer	O
Ezra	O
Dreisbach	O
described	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
as	O
significantly	O
slower	O
than	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
,	O
whereas	O
Kenji	O
Eno	O
of	O
WARP	O
observed	O
little	O
difference	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
particular	O
,	O
Dreisbach	O
criticized	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
use	O
of	O
quadrilaterals	O
as	O
its	O
basic	O
geometric	B-Algorithm
primitive	I-Algorithm
,	O
in	O
contrast	O
to	O
the	O
triangles	O
rendered	O
by	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
and	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ken	O
Humphries	O
of	O
Time	O
Warner	O
Interactive	O
remarked	O
that	O
compared	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
was	O
worse	O
at	O
generating	O
polygons	B-General_Concept
but	O
better	O
at	O
sprites	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Third-party	O
development	O
was	O
initially	O
hindered	O
by	O
the	O
lack	O
of	O
useful	O
software	B-Library
libraries	I-Library
and	O
development	B-Application
tools	I-Application
,	O
requiring	O
developers	O
to	O
write	O
in	O
assembly	B-Language
language	I-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
early	O
Saturn	B-Device
development	O
,	O
programming	O
in	O
assembly	O
could	O
offer	O
a	O
two-to-fivefold	O
speed	O
increase	O
over	O
higher-level	O
languages	O
such	O
as	O
C	B-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
hardware	O
is	O
extremely	O
difficult	O
to	O
emulate	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
responded	O
to	O
complaints	O
about	O
the	O
difficulty	O
of	O
programming	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
by	O
writing	O
new	O
graphics	O
libraries	O
which	O
were	O
claimed	O
to	O
make	O
development	O
easier	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
also	O
purchased	O
a	O
United	O
Kingdom-based	O
development	O
firm	O
,	O
Cross	O
Products	O
,	O
to	O
produce	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
development	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
these	O
challenges	O
,	O
Treasure	O
CEO	O
Masato	O
Maegawa	O
stated	O
that	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Operating_System
64	I-Operating_System
was	O
more	O
difficult	O
to	O
develop	O
for	O
than	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Traveller	O
's	O
Tales	O
founder	O
Jon	O
Burton	O
felt	O
that	O
while	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
was	O
easier	O
"	O
to	O
get	O
started	O
on	O
...	O
you	O
quickly	O
reach	O
 [ its ] 	O
limits	O
"	O
,	O
whereas	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
"	O
complicated	O
"	O
hardware	O
had	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
"	O
improve	O
the	O
speed	O
and	O
look	O
of	O
a	O
game	O
when	O
all	O
used	O
together	O
correctly	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
major	O
criticism	O
was	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
use	O
of	O
2D	O
sprites	O
to	O
generate	O
polygons	B-General_Concept
and	O
simulate	O
3D	O
space	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
PlayStation	B-Device
used	O
a	O
different	O
design	O
,	O
based	O
entirely	O
on	O
3D	O
triangle-based	O
polygonal	O
rendering	O
,	O
with	O
no	O
direct	O
2D	O
support	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
a	O
result	O
,	O
several	O
analysts	O
described	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
as	O
an	O
"	O
essentially	O
"	O
2D	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Several	O
Saturn	B-Device
models	O
were	O
produced	O
in	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Two	O
models	O
were	O
released	O
by	O
third	O
parties	O
:	O
Hitachi	O
released	O
the	O
Hi-Saturn	O
(	O
a	O
smaller	O
model	O
equipped	O
with	O
a	O
car	O
navigation	O
function	O
)	O
,	O
while	O
JVC	O
released	O
the	O
V-Saturn	O
'''	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saturn	B-Device
controllers	O
came	O
in	O
various	O
color	O
schemes	O
to	O
match	O
different	O
models	O
of	O
the	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Designed	O
to	O
work	O
with	O
Nights	O
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
3D	O
Pad	O
includes	O
both	O
a	O
control	O
pad	O
and	O
an	O
analog	O
stick	O
for	O
directional	O
input	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
also	O
created	O
a	O
light	B-Device
gun	I-Device
peripheral	O
,	O
the	O
Virtua	O
Gun	O
,	O
for	O
shooting	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Virtua	B-Language
Cop	I-Language
and	O
The	O
Guardian	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Arcade	O
Racer	O
,	O
a	O
wheel	O
for	O
racing	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Play	O
Cable	O
connects	O
two	O
Saturn	B-Device
consoles	O
to	O
for	O
multiplayer	O
gaming	O
across	O
two	O
screens	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
multitap	O
connects	O
up	O
to	O
six	O
players	O
to	O
the	O
same	O
console	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
was	O
designed	O
to	O
support	O
up	O
to	O
12	O
players	O
on	O
a	O
single	O
console	O
,	O
by	O
using	O
two	O
multitaps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
RAM	B-Architecture
cartridges	O
expand	O
the	O
memory	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
had	O
an	O
internet-based	O
gaming	O
service	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Sega	B-Application
NetLink	I-Application
was	O
a	O
28.8k	O
modem	B-Application
that	O
fit	O
into	O
the	O
cartridge	O
slot	O
in	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
for	O
direct	O
dial	O
multiplayer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
could	O
also	O
be	O
used	O
for	O
web	O
browsing	O
,	O
sending	O
email	O
,	O
and	O
online	B-Protocol
chat	I-Protocol
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
the	O
NetLink	B-Application
was	O
released	O
before	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
keyboard	O
,	O
Sega	O
produced	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
CDs	O
containing	O
hundreds	O
of	O
website	O
addresses	O
so	O
that	O
Saturn	B-Device
owners	O
could	O
browse	O
with	O
the	O
joypad	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
NetLink	B-Application
functioned	O
with	O
Daytona	B-Application
USA	I-Application
,	O
Duke	B-Application
Nukem	I-Application
3D	I-Application
,	O
Saturn	B-Application
Bomberman	I-Application
,	O
Sega	B-Application
Rally	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Virtual	B-Application
On	I-Application
:	I-Application
Cyber	I-Application
Troopers	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1995	O
,	O
Sega	O
announced	O
a	O
variant	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
featuring	O
a	O
built-in	O
NetLink	B-Application
modem	B-Application
under	O
the	O
code	O
name	O
"	O
Sega	O
Pluto	O
"	O
,	O
but	O
it	O
was	O
never	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
developed	O
an	O
arcade	O
board	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
hardware	O
,	O
the	O
Sega	O
ST-V	O
(	O
or	O
Titan	O
)	O
,	O
intended	O
as	O
an	O
affordable	O
alternative	O
to	O
Sega	O
's	O
Model	O
2	O
arcade	O
board	O
and	O
as	O
a	O
testing	O
ground	O
for	O
upcoming	O
Saturn	B-Device
software	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Because	O
Sega	O
already	O
had	O
the	O
Die	O
Hard	O
license	O
,	O
members	O
of	O
Sega	O
AM1	O
working	O
at	O
the	O
Sega	O
Technical	O
Institute	O
developed	O
Die	B-Application
Hard	I-Application
Arcade	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Titan	O
to	O
clear	O
excess	O
inventory	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
games	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Titan	O
include	O
Golden	B-Application
Axe	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Duel	I-Application
and	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
Kids	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Much	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
library	O
comes	O
from	O
Sega	O
's	O
arcade	O
ports	O
,	O
including	O
Daytona	B-Application
USA	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
House	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Dead	I-Application
,	O
Last	B-Application
Bronx	I-Application
,	O
Sega	B-Application
Rally	I-Application
Championship	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Virtua	B-Language
Cop	I-Language
series	O
,	O
the	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
series	O
,	O
and	O
Virtual-On	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Saturn	B-Device
ports	O
of	O
2D	O
Capcom	O
fighting	O
games	O
including	O
Darkstalkers	B-Application
3	I-Application
,	O
Marvel	B-Application
Super	I-Application
Heroes	I-Application
vs.	I-Application
Street	I-Application
Fighter	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Street	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
Alpha	I-Application
3	I-Application
were	O
noted	O
for	O
their	O
faithfulness	O
to	O
their	O
arcade	O
counterparts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fighters	B-Application
Megamix	I-Application
,	O
developed	O
by	O
Sega	O
AM2	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
rather	O
than	O
arcades	O
,	O
combined	O
characters	O
from	O
Fighting	B-Application
Vipers	I-Application
and	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
to	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Highly	O
rated	O
Saturn	B-Device
exclusives	O
include	O
Panzer	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
Saga	I-Application
,	O
cf	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dragon	B-Application
Force	I-Application
,	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
,	O
Nights	O
,	O
Panzer	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
II	I-Application
Zwei	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Shining	O
Force	O
III.Shining	O
creators	O
Hiroyuki	O
Takahashi	O
and	O
Shugo	O
Takahashi	O
have	O
named	O
Shining	B-Application
the	I-Application
Holy	I-Application
Ark	I-Application
and	O
Shining	B-Application
Force	I-Application
3	I-Application
their	O
favorite	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
See	O
PlayStation	B-Device
games	O
such	O
as	O
Castlevania	B-Application
:	I-Application
Symphony	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Night	I-Application
,	O
Resident	B-Application
Evil	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Wipeout	B-Application
2097	I-Application
received	O
Saturn	B-Device
ports	O
with	O
mixed	O
results	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
first-person	O
shooter	O
PowerSlave	B-Application
featured	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
impressive	O
3D	O
graphics	O
on	O
the	O
system	O
,	O
leading	O
Sega	O
to	O
contract	O
its	O
developers	O
,	O
Lobotomy	O
Software	O
,	O
to	O
produce	O
Saturn	B-Device
ports	O
of	O
Duke	B-Application
Nukem	I-Application
3D	I-Application
and	O
Quake	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Electronic	O
Arts	O
 '	O
limited	O
support	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
and	O
Sega	O
's	O
failure	O
to	O
develop	O
a	O
football	O
game	O
for	O
late	O
1995	O
gave	O
Sony	O
the	O
lead	O
in	O
the	O
sports	O
genre	O
,	O
"	O
Sega	O
Sports	O
"	O
published	O
Saturn	B-Device
sports	O
games	O
including	O
the	O
well-regarded	O
World	O
Series	O
Baseball	O
and	O
Sega	B-Application
Worldwide	I-Application
Soccer	I-Application
series.cf	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
the	O
cancellation	O
of	O
Sonic	B-Application
X-treme	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
lacks	O
an	O
exclusive	O
Sonic	B-Application
the	I-Application
Hedgehog	I-Application
platformer	O
;	O
instead	O
it	O
received	O
a	O
graphically	O
enhanced	O
port	O
of	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
game	O
Sonic	B-Application
3D	I-Application
Blast	I-Application
,	O
the	O
compilation	O
Sonic	B-Application
Jam	I-Application
,	O
and	O
a	O
racing	O
game	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
R	I-Application
.	O
The	O
platformer	O
Bug	B-Application
!	I-Application
</s>
<s>
received	O
attention	O
for	O
its	O
eponymous	O
main	O
character	O
being	O
a	O
potential	O
mascot	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
but	O
it	O
failed	O
to	O
catch	O
on	O
as	O
the	O
Sonic	B-Application
series	I-Application
had	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Considered	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
important	O
Saturn	B-Device
releases	O
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
developed	O
Nights	B-Application
into	I-Application
Dreams	I-Application
,	O
a	O
score	O
attack	O
game	O
that	O
attempted	O
to	O
simulate	O
both	O
the	O
joy	O
of	O
flying	O
and	O
the	O
fleeting	O
sensation	O
of	O
dreams	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Nights	O
involves	O
steering	O
the	O
imp-like	O
androgynous	O
protagonist	O
,	O
Nights	O
,	O
as	O
it	O
flies	O
on	O
a	O
mostly	O
2D	O
plane	O
across	O
surreal	O
stages	O
broken	O
into	O
four	O
segments	O
each	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
it	O
lacked	O
the	O
fully	O
3D	O
environments	O
of	O
Nintendo	O
's	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
64	I-Application
,	O
Nights	O
 '	O
emphasis	O
on	O
unfettered	O
movement	O
and	O
graceful	O
acrobatic	O
techniques	O
showcased	O
the	O
intuitive	O
potential	O
of	O
analog	O
control	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
's	O
Burning	B-Application
Rangers	I-Application
,	O
a	O
fully	O
3D	O
action-adventure	O
game	O
involving	O
a	O
team	O
of	O
outer-space	O
firefighters	O
,	O
garnered	O
praise	O
for	O
its	O
transparency	O
effects	O
and	O
distinctive	O
art	O
direction	O
,	O
but	O
was	O
released	O
in	O
limited	O
quantities	O
late	O
in	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
lifespan	O
and	O
criticized	O
for	O
its	O
short	O
length	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
the	O
biggest	O
killer	O
apps	O
for	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
in	O
Japan	O
were	O
the	O
Sakura	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Co-developed	O
by	O
Sega	O
and	O
Red	O
Entertainment	O
,	O
Sakura	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
mixed	O
elements	O
of	O
tactical	O
RPGs	O
,	O
anime	O
cutscenes	O
and	O
visual	O
novels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
the	O
Sakura	B-Application
Wars	I-Application
series	I-Application
and	O
Grandia	B-Application
helping	O
make	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
popular	O
in	O
its	O
homeland	O
,	O
they	O
never	O
saw	O
a	O
Western	O
release	O
due	O
to	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
's	O
policy	O
of	O
not	O
localizing	O
RPGs	O
and	O
other	O
Japanese	O
games	O
that	O
might	O
have	O
damaged	O
the	O
system	O
's	O
reputation	O
in	O
North	O
America.cf	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Despite	O
appearing	O
first	O
on	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
,	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
Dead	B-Application
or	I-Application
Alive	I-Application
,	O
cf	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Grandia	B-Application
,	O
and	O
Lunar	B-Application
:	I-Application
Silver	I-Application
Star	I-Application
Story	I-Application
Complete	I-Application
only	O
saw	O
a	O
Western	O
release	O
on	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Working	O
Designs	O
localized	O
several	O
Japanese	O
Saturn	B-Device
games	O
before	O
a	O
public	O
feud	O
between	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
's	O
Bernie	O
Stolar	O
and	O
Working	O
Designs	O
president	O
Victor	O
Ireland	O
resulted	O
in	O
the	O
company	O
switching	O
their	O
support	O
to	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
the	O
review	O
aggregator	O
GameRankings	O
,	O
Panzer	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
Saga	I-Application
is	O
the	O
most	O
acclaimed	O
Saturn	B-Device
game	O
;	O
it	O
was	O
praised	O
for	O
its	O
cinematic	O
presentation	O
,	O
evocative	O
plot	O
,	O
and	O
unique	O
battle	O
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
Sega	O
released	O
fewer	O
than	O
20,000	O
retail	O
copies	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
in	O
what	O
IGN	O
's	O
Levi	O
Buchanan	O
characterized	O
as	O
an	O
example	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
"	O
ignominious	O
send-off	O
"	O
in	O
the	O
region	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Similarly	O
,	O
only	O
the	O
first	O
of	O
three	O
installments	O
of	O
Shining	B-Application
Force	I-Application
III	I-Application
was	O
released	O
outside	O
Japan	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
library	O
also	O
garnered	O
criticism	O
for	O
its	O
lack	O
of	O
sequels	O
to	O
high-profile	O
Genesis-era	O
Sega	O
franchises	O
,	O
with	O
Sega	O
of	O
Japan	O
's	O
cancellation	O
of	O
a	O
planned	O
third	O
installment	O
in	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
's	O
popular	O
Eternal	B-Application
Champions	I-Application
series	O
cited	O
as	O
a	O
significant	O
source	O
of	O
controversy	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Later	O
ports	O
of	O
Saturn	B-Device
games	O
including	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
,	O
cf	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nights	O
,	O
and	O
Shin	B-Application
Megami	I-Application
Tensei	I-Application
:	I-Application
Devil	I-Application
Summoner	I-Application
:	I-Application
Soul	I-Application
Hackers	I-Application
continued	O
to	O
garner	O
positive	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Partly	O
due	O
to	O
rarity	O
,	O
Saturn	B-Device
games	O
such	O
as	O
Panzer	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
Saga	I-Application
and	O
Radiant	B-Application
Silvergun	I-Application
are	O
noted	O
for	O
their	O
cult	O
following	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Due	O
to	O
the	O
system	O
's	O
commercial	O
failure	O
and	O
hardware	O
limitations	O
,	O
Saturn	B-Device
projects	O
such	O
as	O
Resident	B-Application
Evil	I-Application
2	I-Application
,	O
Shenmue	B-Application
,	O
Sonic	B-Application
Adventure	I-Application
,	O
and	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
3	I-Application
were	O
cancelled	O
and	O
moved	O
to	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
the	O
time	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
release	O
,	O
Famicom	O
Tsūshin	O
awarded	O
it	O
24	O
out	O
of	O
40	O
,	O
higher	O
than	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
's	O
19	O
out	O
of	O
40	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
1995	O
,	O
Dennis	O
Lynch	O
of	O
the	O
Chicago	O
Tribune	O
and	O
Albert	O
Kim	O
of	O
Entertainment	O
Weekly	O
praised	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
as	O
the	O
most	O
advanced	O
console	O
available	O
;	O
Lynch	O
praised	O
the	O
double-speed	O
CD-ROM	B-Device
drive	O
and	O
"	O
intense	O
surround-sound	O
capabilities	O
"	O
and	O
Kim	O
cited	O
Panzer	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
as	O
a	O
"	O
lyrical	O
and	O
exhilarating	O
epic	O
"	O
demonstrating	O
the	O
ability	O
of	O
new	O
technology	O
to	O
"	O
transform	O
"	O
the	O
industry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
December	O
1995	O
,	O
Next	O
Generation	O
gave	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
three	O
and	O
a	O
half	O
stars	O
out	O
of	O
five	O
,	O
highlighting	O
Sega	O
's	O
marketing	O
and	O
arcade	O
background	O
as	O
strengths	O
but	O
the	O
system	O
's	O
complexity	O
as	O
a	O
weakness	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Four	O
critics	O
in	O
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthlys	O
December	O
1996	O
Buyer	O
's	O
Guide	O
rated	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
8	O
,	O
6	O
,	O
7	O
,	O
and	O
8	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
and	O
the	O
PlayStation	B-Device
9	O
,	O
10	O
,	O
9	O
,	O
and	O
9	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
EGM	O
reviewer	O
Crispin	O
Boyer	O
,	O
"	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
is	O
the	O
only	O
system	O
that	O
can	O
thrill	O
me	O
one	O
month	O
and	O
totally	O
disappoint	O
me	O
the	O
next	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Retrospective	O
feedback	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
is	O
mixed	O
,	O
but	O
generally	O
praises	O
its	O
game	O
library	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Greg	O
Sewart	O
of	O
1UP.com,	O
"	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
will	O
go	O
down	O
in	O
history	O
as	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
troubled	O
,	O
and	O
greatest	O
,	O
systems	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2009	O
,	O
IGN	O
named	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
the	O
18th-best	O
console	O
of	O
all	O
time	O
,	O
praising	O
its	O
unique	O
game	O
library	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
the	O
reviewers	O
,	O
"	O
While	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
ended	O
up	O
losing	O
the	O
popularity	O
contest	O
to	O
both	O
Sony	O
and	O
Nintendo	O
...	O
</s>
<s>
Nights	B-Application
into	I-Application
Dreams	I-Application
,	O
the	O
Virtua	B-Application
Fighter	I-Application
and	O
Panzer	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
series	O
are	O
all	O
examples	O
of	O
exclusive	O
titles	O
that	O
made	O
the	O
console	O
a	O
fan	O
favorite.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Edge	O
noted	O
that	O
"	O
hardened	O
loyalists	O
continue	O
to	O
reminisce	O
about	O
the	O
console	O
that	O
brought	O
forth	O
games	O
like	O
Burning	B-Application
Rangers	I-Application
,	O
Guardian	B-Application
Heroes	I-Application
,	O
Dragon	B-Application
Force	I-Application
and	O
Panzer	B-Application
Dragoon	I-Application
Saga	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2015	O
,	O
The	O
Guardians	O
Keith	O
Stuart	O
wrote	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
has	O
perhaps	O
the	O
strongest	O
line-up	O
of	O
2D	O
shooters	O
and	O
fighting	O
games	O
in	O
console	O
history	O
"	O
.Retro	O
Gamers	O
Damien	O
McFerran	O
wrote	O
:	O
"	O
Even	O
today	O
,	O
despite	O
the	O
widespread	O
availability	O
of	O
sequels	O
and	O
re-releases	O
on	O
other	O
formats	O
,	O
the	O
Sega	B-Device
Saturn	I-Device
is	O
still	O
a	O
worthwhile	O
investment	O
for	O
those	O
who	O
appreciate	O
the	O
unique	O
gameplay	O
styles	O
of	O
the	O
companies	O
that	O
supported	O
it.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
's	O
Adam	O
Redsell	O
wrote	O
"[Sega's]	O
devil-may-care	O
attitude	O
towards	O
game	O
development	O
in	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
and	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
eras	O
is	O
something	O
that	O
we	O
simply	O
do	O
not	O
see	O
outside	O
of	O
the	O
indie	O
scene	O
today.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Necrosoft	O
Games	O
director	O
Brandon	O
Sheffield	O
felt	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
was	O
a	O
landing	O
point	O
for	O
games	O
that	O
were	O
too	O
'	O
adult	O
 '	O
in	O
content	O
for	O
other	O
systems	O
,	O
as	O
it	O
was	O
the	O
only	O
one	O
that	O
allowed	O
an	O
18+	O
rating	O
for	O
content	O
in	O
Japan	O
...	O
some	O
games	O
,	O
like	O
Enemy	O
Zero''	O
used	O
it	O
to	O
take	O
body	O
horror	O
to	O
new	O
levels	O
,	O
an	O
important	O
step	O
toward	O
the	O
expansion	O
of	O
games	O
and	O
who	O
they	O
served.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Sewart	O
praised	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
first-party	O
games	O
as	O
"	O
Sega	O
's	O
shining	O
moment	O
as	O
a	O
game	O
developer	O
"	O
,	O
with	O
Sonic	B-Application
Team	O
demonstrating	O
its	O
creative	O
range	O
and	O
AM2	O
producing	O
numerous	O
technically	O
impressive	O
arcade	O
ports	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
commented	O
on	O
the	O
many	O
Japan-exclusive	O
Saturn	B-Device
releases	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
connected	O
with	O
a	O
subsequent	O
boom	O
in	O
the	O
game	O
import	O
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
's	O
Travis	O
Fahs	O
was	O
critical	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
library	O
's	O
lack	O
of	O
"	O
fresh	O
ideas	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
precious	O
few	O
high-profile	O
franchises	O
"	O
,	O
in	O
contrast	O
to	O
what	O
he	O
described	O
as	O
Sega	O
's	O
more	O
creative	O
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
output	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sega	O
has	O
been	O
criticized	O
for	O
its	O
management	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Stolar	O
has	O
also	O
been	O
criticized	O
;	O
according	O
to	O
Fahs	O
,	O
"	O
Stolar	O
's	O
decision	O
to	O
abandon	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
made	O
him	O
a	O
villain	O
to	O
many	O
Sega	O
fans	O
,	O
but	O
...	O
it	O
was	O
better	O
to	O
regroup	O
than	O
to	O
enter	O
the	O
next	O
fight	O
battered	O
and	O
bruised	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Dreamcast	B-Operating_System
would	O
be	O
Stolar	O
's	O
redemption.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Stolar	O
defended	O
his	O
decision	O
,	O
saying	O
,	O
"	O
I	O
felt	O
Saturn	B-Device
was	O
hurting	O
the	O
company	O
more	O
than	O
helping	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sheffield	O
said	O
that	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
quadrilaterals	O
undermined	O
third-party	O
support	O
,	O
but	O
because	O
"	O
nVidia	O
invested	O
in	O
quads	O
"	O
at	O
the	O
same	O
time	O
,	O
there	O
had	O
been	O
"	O
a	O
remote	O
possibility	O
"	O
they	O
could	O
have	O
"	O
become	O
the	O
standard	O
instead	O
of	O
triangles	O
...	O
if	O
somehow	O
,	O
magically	O
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
were	O
the	O
most	O
popular	O
console	O
of	O
that	O
era.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Speaking	O
more	O
positively	O
,	O
former	O
Working	O
Designs	O
president	O
Victor	O
Ireland	O
described	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
as	O
"	O
the	O
start	O
of	O
the	O
future	O
of	O
console	O
gaming	O
"	O
because	O
it	O
"	O
got	O
the	O
better	O
developers	O
thinking	O
and	O
designing	O
with	O
parallel-processing	O
architecture	O
in	O
mind	O
for	O
the	O
first	O
time	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
GamesRadar	O
,	O
Justin	O
Towell	O
wrote	O
that	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
's	O
3D	O
Pad	O
"	O
set	O
the	O
template	O
for	O
every	O
successful	O
controller	O
that	O
followed	O
,	O
with	O
analog	O
shoulder	O
triggers	O
and	O
left	O
thumbstick	O
...	O
</s>
<s>
Douglass	O
C	B-Language
.	O
Perry	O
of	O
Gamasutra	O
noted	O
that	O
,	O
from	O
its	O
surprise	O
launch	O
to	O
its	O
ultimate	O
failure	O
,	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
"	O
soured	O
many	O
gamers	O
on	O
Sega	O
products	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sewart	O
and	O
IGN	O
's	O
Levi	O
Buchanan	O
cited	O
the	O
failure	O
of	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
as	O
the	O
major	O
reason	O
for	O
Sega	O
's	O
downfall	O
as	O
a	O
hardware	O
manufacturer	O
,	O
but	O
USgamer	O
's	O
Jeremy	O
Parish	O
described	O
it	O
as	O
"	O
more	O
a	O
symptom	O
...	O
than	O
a	O
cause	O
"	O
of	O
the	O
decline	O
,	O
which	O
began	O
with	O
add-ons	O
for	O
the	O
Genesis	B-Operating_System
that	O
fragmented	O
the	O
market	O
and	O
continued	O
with	O
Sega	O
of	O
America	O
's	O
and	O
Sega	O
of	O
Japan	O
's	O
competing	O
designs	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Dreamcast	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sheffield	O
portrayed	O
Sega	O
's	O
mistakes	O
with	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
as	O
emblematic	O
of	O
the	O
broader	O
then-decline	O
of	O
the	O
Japanese	O
gaming	O
industry	O
:	O
"	O
They	O
thought	O
they	O
were	O
invincible	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
structure	O
and	O
hierarchy	O
were	O
necessary	O
for	O
their	O
survival	O
,	O
but	O
more	O
flexibility	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
greater	O
participation	O
with	O
the	O
West	O
could	O
have	O
saved	O
them.	O
"	O
</s>
<s>
Pulp365	O
reviews	O
editor	O
Matt	O
Paprocki	O
concluded	O
that	O
"	O
the	O
Saturn	B-Device
is	O
a	O
relic	O
,	O
but	O
an	O
important	O
one	O
,	O
which	O
represents	O
the	O
harshness	O
of	O
progress	O
and	O
what	O
it	O
can	O
leave	O
in	O
its	O
wake	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
