Identifying Sega Saturn Part Numbers...

[Ktiger41]

Hi,

I was wondering if there was a way to identify a Sega Saturn Game's Part Number. You know, like the Playstation game's part number is its slus number I wanna know if theres a way to find out a sega saturn games part number. I already tried doing it the PSX game way by mounting the image and then searching for a specific file, but that didn't work.

Any advice is welcome. Thnx.

[Ragnar]

I don't believe there is any way to find the stock number other than looking at an original CD. You can't even trust the region code on random images found on the net, they easily modifiable. I can't count how many times I've seen noobs passing around "NTSC-U" versions of Radiant Silvergun

The Saturn could really use a nice hash database so you could at least discern what exactly you have.

[Myst]

"part numbers" sounds weird. Sounds like hardware parts Say "serial number" or "ID"

go to gamefaqs saturn page

Download the Game and Demo Database by Madroms
It's pretty much the Sega Saturn Master List. the most complete one you'll find on the net. Mentions all the ID codes of US/EU/JP Saturn games, number of data/audio tracks and some other detailed stuff.

I use it all the time as reference. Saved on my desktop

Anyways, how do you know the ID of your Saturn game? Some people have said to open the bin with CDmage or a hex editor to find the code but that pretty much locks up my CPU for me, opening such big files. I use Cassini 3. It has a build-in ID reader (left column in the options menu, click on the "get ID" buton and a small window will pop up). Just drag the .bin or .img in the window and it'll show up. No matter if the region has been converted, that doesn't matter. The ID cannot be changed. Check that ID in the master list and you know for certain what the real version is of what you have. This method only works with bin / img (I dunno about iso, I avoid that iso/mp3 crap), there's no option to read the ID from a (mounted) CD. So you have to make an image from it

Girigiri/Cassini 2 also has an ID checker but it's flawed and doesn't always work. This one only reads from (mounted) CD and not images (there is an option to get the ID fro images, but it NEVER ever worked for me), but still sometimes I get ASPI read errors even if the game is emulated and runs fine. If you feel lucky you can use it to get the ID right from the CD. So Cassini 3 is the fastest way to find out what ID your Saturn game has (stay the hell away from Cassini 4 and above)

These ID are pretty handy. They help alot when trying to find info on obscure unknown Saturn games that are.......IN JAPANESE!!
Googling the ID rather than the name yields better results. (or just go to segagaga for the covers if he has them)

[Ktiger41]

Can I get a link to Cassini 3?

[Inferno.]

Can I get a link to Cassini 3?

Sure. Comes with all the files needed in the installer, "cassini_3.exe"
Download

I just use Saturn Region Patcher. Browse the games' image, it'll tell you ALL of the information about it including serial ID.

[Myst]

That sounds even easier I don't use it cause I don't have a Saturn, just emulators hence no region changer needed

[Ragnar]

Mmn, I'm completely wrong. That's quite pleasing

[Inferno.]

Mmn, I'm completely wrong. That's quite pleasing

NTSC-U Radiant Silvergun would have been a patched NTSC-J to U with SRP.
And yes, you were wrong BAHAHAH! sorry.

[The Joker]

what does SRP stand for?

[Inferno.]

Saturn Region Patcher

[Ragnar]

Yep, I knew what was done to the images for people to pass them around mislabeled. But I haven't once needed to use Saturn Region Patcher, so I didn't know it could pick out a stock number

[The Joker]

so how would you go about making a SS goodset?

[Inferno.]

It does a lot more than just tell you the region, serial, and allowing you to change the region.

It also gives you information on the number of tracks, data and audio.
Also: allowing you to export information into a txt file.

[Ktiger41]

mm time to check my collection then. Is there a better program to check for errors in Saturn images besides CD mage?

[Inferno.]

mm time to check my collection then. Is there a better program to check for errors in Saturn images besides CD mage?

Nope.
But hunt out *.mds/*.mdf (Alcohol 120%) images, as they'll have ~2 second out of sync audio.
Check all cue sheets, is what I advise. Oh yeah, if you find anything ISO/MP3, or none lossless. Delete it!
Bin/Cue, Iso/Wav, Iso/Ape, is the way to go! [or any other lossless formats...]