Why did Sega choose the SH-2 for the Saturn?
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 chip has a calculation system similar to a DSP [ digital signal processor ], but we realized that a single CPU would not be enough to calculate a 3D world.”
When did the Sega Saturn come out in the US?
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. Part of the fifth generation of video game consoles , it was the successor to the successful Sega Genesis .
Is there an arcade board based on the Saturn?
Sega developed an arcade board based on the Saturn’s hardware, called the Sega ST-V (or Titan), which was intended as an affordable alternative to Sega’s Model 2 arcade board as well as a testing ground for upcoming Saturn software.
Why was the Sega Saturn considered a failure?
Sega Saturn. Having sold 9.26 million units worldwide, the Saturn is considered a commercial failure. The failure of Sega’s development teams to release a game in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, known in development as Sonic X-treme, has been considered a factor in the console’s poor performance.
What kind of engine did the Saturn SL2 have?
It produced 85 horsepower, which is meager by today’s standards but on par with the 88-hp Ford Escort LX of the time. The higher-level SL2 and the sporty SC coupe received a dual overhead cam engine, with a bump to 124 hp.
When did the Saturn’s series get a facelift?
Meanwhile, the S-Series received another facelift for the 2000 model year — but although this is considered the third generation of the S-Series, it was still fundamentally unchanged from the original 1991 car. The model lingered on until 2002 when it was finally replaced by the Ion, another badge-engineered model.
What kind of car is the Saturn L series?
While still not an SUV, the L-Series was a midsize sedan — a good step up from the S-Series. But while the S-Series was an original in-house design by Saturn engineers, the L-Series was little more than a badge-engineered Opel Vectra.
When did the Saturn’s series get a makeover?
S-Series sedans and wagons were given an exterior makeover in 1996, followed by the coupes in 1997 (sadly losing the pop-up headlights). Unfortunately, this makeover went only skin deep, with little more than minor changes under the new plastic skin.