SECRETS OF THE SEGA SATURN 3D CONTROL PAD

[@dougr.8653]

Perfect research about Sega's controller. The 3d controller for Saturn was better than Dreamcast's. The six face buttons made a lot of difference.

[@TheSuperPlayer707]

That's right. I always hated the lacking of the *Z* and *C* buttons on Dreamcast. Thankfully the Xbox Fat controller restored them, maybe on a not so much comfortable way, but restored them anyway.

[@rars0n]

To me, it also feels a lot more comfortable to hold and use, especially for long periods of time. I really like the smooth, wide circular mechanism compared to the Dreamcast stick with its little bumps as well. All of my DC analogue sticks have a little bit of looseness to them that allows them to rotate (not around in a circle, but on the vertical axis). It doesn't register any kind of movement when this happens, but it makes the stick feel a little loose and sloppy. I've never had any other analogue controllers that have had this quirk.

[@madhatter8508]

I like the Dreamcast stick and triggers better, and the overall shape in my hands, but I wish it had six buttons on the face and the Saturn's d-pad. Maybe if Bernie Stolar hadn't completely ruined Sega's brand in the US, the Dreamcast controller would not have been so different from the Saturn controller.

[@halo3odst]

The saturn 3d controllers analog stick does indeed rotate as you described, as does that of the dreamcast and nintendo 3ds. I could swear that i knew of a few other controllers with this quirk however i wont list them unless im sure.

[@strykah92]

Mad Hatter given Stolar’s other infamous perceptions of the US market, I genuinely wouldn’t be surprised if reducing from 6 to 4 face buttons on the Dreamcast controller was his idea. I can picture him in a board room meeting spouting some “consumers find ABC and XYZ too confusing”-type absurdity lol.

[@Inignot12]

This channel is so high quality, I hope you're safe and well Jenovi and keep up the great work!

[@Jenovi]

Thank you very much! Things are good on my end considering everything happening in the world. Hope you're good as well.

[@Larry]

I used to use the Master System handle controller on Virtua Racing quite a bit as a kid, worked fine, aside from lacking the change view button. But there's a couple of SMS controllers being secretly compatible with the Mega Drive/Genesis, the Sports Pad Trackball was another, worked on the EA version of Marble Madness.

[@Jenovi]

WHAT!?????? Dude, I need a Sports Pad so I can see this in action. As I understand it, the Handle Controller (Master System) isn't analogue?

[@Larry]

@@Jenovi They're pretty rare, In fact my one I bought from the (until recently) only guy on youtube to have a video on it. But I'm not 100% on the handle controller, I thought it was digital only myself, but I wonder if there's a way to test it?

[@RichardCraig]

Like.... the whole damn controller seemed like a prototyping bed for eventual Dreamcast tech. You can really feel how Sega was going hard to make Saturn work until ol' Bernie Stolar made his famous "Saturn is not our future" statement that derailed all of this amazing stuff. Luckily they were able to rework most of it into the Dreamcast.

[@Jenovi]

The unfortunate bit was some of the peripherals, like the Dreamcast steering wheel, were a bit low quality due to budget constraints.

[@ScottWozniak]

3:31 That dance was *just* long enough to make me uncomfortable. Still love you, man! 😂❤️

[@Jenovi]

Mission accomplished. 😆

[@ScottWozniak]

@@Jenovi 😊

[@goukigod]

So bad it’s good!

[@ultrairrelevantnobody1862]

It's a shame Sega shot themselves in the foot during the Saturn's relevancy. We could have seen more promising 3D games that made great use of the 3D control pad.

[@Jenovi]

So much potential.

[@WrestlingWithGaming]

Great video, Jenovi. I learned a ton watching this one. Also, pretty sweet dance moves, sir.💃🏻😍

[@Jenovi]

100% true, that backpack is only 5% the side and weight of a CD-i.

[@Korncakes1]

Didn’t even bother to check the title once I saw it was a Jenovi video, I already knew it was going to be good. I was stoked to see you on Wrestling with Gaming last week too. Keep it up brother!

[@Jenovi]

Glad you enjoyed it! Trying hard not to disappoint.

[@rars0n]

Looking back at all of this stuff, it seems pretty clear that Sega had a lot of innovative designs being developed for the Saturn that unfortunately were either abandoned or pushed back and re-worked into Dreamcast technology. I say unfortunately because as much as I love the Dreamcast, it would have been really cool to see this stuff available for the Saturn. It almost makes me wonder though if perhaps Sega was a bit too ambitious. They had so many console designs and peripheral designs happening all at the same time. It's far too often that developers overlook interesting concepts because the people who own a peripheral are only part of the total user base.

[@Jenovi]

Interesting thought for sure. I guess for Sega, the pursuit of the arcade continues to this day, that the pursuit to bring that experience home in the best way possible remained until the bitter end with the Dreamcast.

[@miaouew]

I LOVED this controller the first time I tried it, it was at a Toys R Us when I was visiting my grandparents out of state and I played Nights into Dreams at a Saturn display stand. I was blown away by the controller and environments

[@Jenovi]

Still a great controller too.

[@lostboy626]

That’s so crazy! I had no idea there were that many planned accessories! And we thought the Dreamcast was already ahead of the curb, but these advances were already set to launch for Saturn years before! Sega lived up to their old slogan “welcome to the next level”.

[@Jenovi]

Right?!

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Very interesting video there Jenovi. Good documentary of history

[@Jenovi]

Thanks my friend. Glad to see you're still around and kicking.

[@st1ka]

Excuse me folks, I'm off to make Dancing Jenovi gifs

[@Jenovi]

Annnnnd it's done

[@st1ka]

@@Jenovi Yes it is! :P

[@6Stevo]

This was awesome! I rarely see any info I wasn't already aware of these days. But I had no idea Sega had all these peripherals in the works! I remember the Saturns 3d controller. Still to this day one of my fave controllers. Oh and I loved the dancing btw! 😂

[@Jenovi]

Glad you enjoyed the entire show. 😉

[@theguest103]

it's wonderful that we live in a timeline where i can play final fantasy 7 with a Sega Saturn 3D control pad running through an emulator while using a mayflash adapter...just to spite sony!

[@ms.ilovecotton9778]

Always learning something cool on this channel!

[@Jenovi]

Awesome, glad to hear that! 😆

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

3:33 In the words of The Wrestler That Made Milwaukee Famous, Da Crusher, "t'ousand dames just fainted."

[@Jenovi]

😂🤣 .... and then, he woke from his dream.

[@drgribb]

I love that you had the Tanglewood Soundtrack in your Genesis during the video. Also, you blew my mind when you brought up the Interactor! I hadn't thought of that in years! My brother and I picked one up for like, $5 at a garage sale way back when we were kids (in addition to some decent wireless rf snes controllers that we still use today when we get together). I'm scared to look up what those things must cost now. I recall the box saying or implying things that super did not sound appealing, like along the lines of "feel it when you get hit", or "feel real pain" or something lol. We had trouble getting it to work properly though (might've been busted) and must've thrown it out at some point. I still would put it on and run around the house with the master system light gun though and feel like such a badass haha. As always, excellent and well-researched video, man!

[@Jenovi]

This gave me a good chuckle. I remember running around the house playing Doom guy. Bringing back the memories.

[@HistoricNerd]

Great video man, This was awesome stuff to learn about.

[@Jenovi]

Historic Nerd Inspired content.

[@HistoricNerd]

@@Jenovi I'm glad I planted the idea :)

[@TheSuperPlayer707]

I love how your channel style it's keeping growing, I liked so much your humorous moments hehe... The 3D Control Pad it never let to be my all time favourite (alongside to the Gamecube Controller) and these are some of the reasons to keeepin' loving it. Great work, Jenovi!

[@Jenovi]

Thank you so much 😁

[@LilUltraKataru]

Sega revolutionized so much stuff, why don’t they see what they can do in this generation?

[@PKGangsta18]

Why am I now discovering this channel?? Subscribed :) I always wondered why the 3D NiGHTs Controller had that expansion slot

[@Jenovi]

Sweet!

[@RetroGamePlayers]

Fish on!!! Dude your channel is blowing up! Nice work man you're kicking A and taking names!

[@Jenovi]

Thanks Amigo. Sorry for the late reply, no clue how I missed these comments.

[@iwonderifthisislegal]

1969...Duckhunt🦆🤔🤔??? Do I have the right to have my mind blown right now or are you messing with my head, bro?!

[@arnechino]

Namco Shootaway comes to mind...

[@townlinetim876]

You are on a roll with these amazing informative videos. I am impressed. Congratulations on 10k subs you deserve it.

[@Jenovi]

Thank you so much 😀

[@eliotcole]

I remember the old articles about using the fishing controller to play Soul Caliber!!

[@worsel555]

3:30 *Nature documentary voice over* "Here we see the wild Jenovi engage in the ritual mating dance to attract a mate, hoping to feel the 'bodyblows' and 'explosions' he wears the Interactor in hopes his retro prowess will help seal the deal along with his practiced and well honed moves. Let's hope he is successful."

[@TheSuperPlayer707]

LMAO!

[@Jenovi]

Ken Williams 😅😂🤣

[@IanThunderbolt]

Rivers in the Desert with the haptic backpack made my day

[@Jenovi]

Thanks Ian.

[@MrSolidtiger]

The extra peripherals for the Saturn being recycled into the Dreamcast was a smart move. Sega did phuq up when they chose a Nintendo style D pad over their own superior D pad.

[@elbryan42]

Your videos keep getting better and better. The cutaways had me laughing. Keep it up! :)

[@Jenovi]

Glad you like them! 😁

[@RichardCraig]

7:10 - I've wondered the same thing ever since I played the arcade version of Virtua Racing in an emulator with a d-pad. The way it controlled, the way the car moved and felt, all was almost identical to the Genesis game despite the arcade game being designed around a wheel and not a digital d-pad. I wish someone could find that code and enable it... VR for Genesis is one of my favorites!

[@reagandow850]

I think you naught be the first Chippendale’s dancer I’ve ever seen with haptic feedback Jenovi!! ;-)

[@Jenovi]

🤣

[@bournedevinesupreme]

First time viewer here, I'm impressed. The footage, lighting, research...the entire production is superb. You make the Gaming Historian look like an amateur. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your channel.

[@HeroJournalism]

Wow - discovered a new fact to add to my research for that Trak Ball doc I've been wanting to do forever! I'll cite you as a source

[@madhatter8508]

I often wonder what it would be like in an alternate universe where Sega of America didn't release the Saturn early and didn't hire that idiot Bernie Stolar to kill the Saturn in 1997. Sony still would have dominated that generation, but the Saturn could have sold as well or better than the Nintendo 64 like it did in Japan. There would be late-life Saturn games with rumble features and a VMU like the Dreamcast. Shenmue and Sonic Adventure would have been Saturn games. There might even have been a power base converter-like accessory for the cartridge slot to play Genesis games on the Saturn. Dreamcast would have come out a year or two later, against the PlayStation 2, and probably with double the RAM, a faster SH-2 or an SH-3 CPU, a PowerVR3 GPU, and a DVD drive (added after Sony announced the PS2 w/ a DVD drive). The Dreamcast controller would have been more like the Saturn 3D analog controller, with 6 face buttons and the usual 8-way Sega d-pad.

[@Jenovi]

I think in that case, they don't exit the console market early with the Dreamcast, but that still remains their final system.

[@danfortuna1984]

I feel the persona music was a perfect fit for this type of video 👍🏻

[@Jenovi]

Thanks Dan. I've been looking for the right video to showcase this music.

[@penatio]

This needs more views. Thanks!

[@Vinnay94]

1:46 (Bottom Right Picture) It appears SEGA were gonna add Gyro controls for the 3D controller much like what we see today with the Switch, PS3-PS5 and Mobile Gaming.

[@IanMicheal]

Very good video being a sega homebrew dev for dreamcast i learned somethings and that's hard to do nice work

[@Jenovi]

Glad to hear!😆

[@loganjorgensen]

Do kind of wish there had been more joystick top buttons, as well as twisting ones 'ala arcade Ikari Warriors. Funny how long it took for Rumble to come around considering it was a lesser replacement for other more patented force feedback. Never been that fond of trackballs apart from mice but I was thinking paddle control could have been integrated into the contemporary controller by using mouse scrolling wheels at the shoulder button position. All things considered the SS steering wheel turned out pretty good, the base being held down by the user's legs is something I wish more companies had copied. Much like arcade sticks steering wheels tend to be too light and mobile in operation where rubber feet don't help that much. The fishing pole kind of has the same problem as a flightstick, it's too overly specific in form. If Sega had made a generic brick wand like the Wii it wouldn't negate fishing add-ons like a spinner and Virtua Tennis wouldn't have to use a fishing reel for motion control heh. Same thing with gun games, slap the brick into a gun shell. I just love how they replaced the smooth SS D-pad circle with that hard sharp cross on DC, new is always better. :S That clock add-on is pretty funny though considering anything can display that such as the TV or the eventual VMU. I really wish the VMU could have been bigger though, like the original GB screen for example.

[@Jenovi]

Oh man, a GB screen sized VMU would have been amazing!

[@RiasatSalminSami]

Why are modern consoles offer so less now? These old consoles and their extra peripherals really kept the excitement.

[@Leo-xh8pp]

I loved the video ! thanks for sharing this interesting information! 👍

[@BryanTruong]

Interesting and informative as always!

[@Jenovi]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@alejandrosantana8657]

A video about Sega whit Persona music... I just feel like in home

[@Jenovi]

Thanks! I'm a huge Persona fan.

[@rexbk09]

Yes, I had an Aura interactor AND Sega Activator Interactor ... Cinemassacre and many more, have made a fool of the child me ...

[@RetrOrigin]

I own a Saturn 3D pad with a Dreamcast connector. I have only found 1 video and 1 forum post from other people who own a controller like this. Have no idea where it came from since there's no official info anywhere. Some people think it is just a mod made by a japanese modder (although it's kind of stramge all 3 controllers I know about are the american Black model) and some other people think it may be some kind of prototype.

[@Jenovi]

Thanks for watching. As I understand it, someone was making these in limited supply a number of years back. They were very expensive and not many sold. The idea was folks liked this controller more than the DC revision. I remember seeing is discussed in forums and while people liked the idea, they hated the price.

[@RetrOrigin]

@@Jenovi Thanks for the info. I got mine on ebay really cheap (about $6) from a japanese seller several years ago. The auction didn't really have any details so I guess most people didn't notice the Dreamcast connector. The PCB inside looks really well made (there's an actual custom printed PCB on it and not some breadboad hack job), so that's why I wasn't sure of it's origins.

[@TopSpot123]

Very good, informative, and fun video!

[@Jenovi]

Thanks amigo. Always appreciate you stopping by.

[@maneco88]

Good vid. A lot of good information.

[@Jenovi]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@saskatoonguy]

What the...? I had no idea that the 3D pad had a removable cord. Sure as heck, just checked my Japanese one (the Dreamcast looking one) and the cord came right off!

[@Jenovi]

Wild right? I figured after 20+ years, someone would have created an after market add-on.

[@sonarbu4805]

Those drawings are soooo detailed and nice, did you draw them? Great work!

[@aortaplatinum]

This thing has always been weird to me. Weirdly shaped, weird how few games were designed to properly use it, weird how it's the only analog stick I've ever used that actually gives more resistance the further you push it, weird how some games let you use both stick and Dpad interchangeably without having to flip the switch- now I wonder if there were any games that took advantage of that, analog for movement, digital for camera control or something

[@locked01]

Fantastic content!

[@MorganIsAway]

Great stuff as usual.

[@lucasmacleod8761]

Great vídeo buddy 👏👏👏👏👏

[@epicon6]

I miss the original 3 button Mega Drive controller. Easily the best and highest quality Sega controller (the second gen fixed one) The Xbox Series controller is basically a modern version of that but it’s missing the Z and C buttons to complete the ABC XYZ. The OG Xbox controller was close because it had 6 face buttons with the white and black buttons. Honestly ABXY isn’t enough buttons on top in many games.

[@zackschilling4376]

Was that a humble brag with the Web Of Fire in the 32X? JK, great video as always homie.

[@Jenovi]

Much appreciated! You see the price of Web of Fire recently? It's unreal!

[@zackschilling4376]

@@Jenovi Oh. My. God. $489 cart only, and it looks like thats not a bad price. I knew it was like $300 a while back, but DAMN thats Snatcher numbers.

[@Jenovi]

$1480 on the last CIB sold via auction. www.ebay.com/itm/Sega-Genesis-32X-THE-AMAZING-SPIDER-MAN-WEB-OF-FIRE-CIB-with-Case-NEAR-MINT/143601730954?hash=item216f54858a:g:pRkAAOSwkB1euH0l#vi__app-cvip-panel

[@zackschilling4376]

@@Jenovi Someone is selling a replacement case for it for $99.95. No original anything, just some custom printed cover stuck in a generic plastic case. Insane! www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Sega-32X-Replacement-Case-Amazing-Spider-Man-Web-Of-Fire-NO-GAME/282894604870?hash=item41ddd51a46:g:UZAAAOSwCkFasqwb

[@EtherBoo]

Great video as usual. You look a little slimmer as well!

[@Jenovi]

Thanks on both accounts. Had some health issues, put on some weight, now I'm trying to get it back under controller. I'm where I want to be now, 40+lbs lighter as well.

[@EtherBoo]

@@Jenovi that's awesome dude. Congratulations!

[@Jenovi]

Appreciated

[@nosebeareatsfudge3275]

your channel rocks!! keep up the good work and dance moves🙃

[@Jenovi]

certainly. I appreciate the support. Thanks!

[@CDages]

Jump pak? Did you meant to say Expansion Pak when discussing the Saturn Ram expansion cart? o.O Informative video btw.

[@Jenovi]

I 100% misspoke. Meant to say Expansion Pak. To be honest, I've wrongly referred to the Expansion Pak as the Jump Pak before, so I should know better. Nasty habit that one. Much appreciated to have you watch and let me know without raking me over the coals.

[@CDages]

@@Jenovi No worries. Yeah, I work in a retro game store in CA so I always get customers asking for Expansion Paks but are often asked for incorrectly, like under the Controller Pak or Jump Pak name. Makes things a little tricky getting the customer the item they actually need -_- Looks like you had some fun with this particular video.

[@Jenovi]

You close to Riverside? I work down there and have a friend with a store in Ontario.

[@CDages]

@@Jenovi 'fraid not. San Fernando Valley. What's the name of his store? Perhaps I've been to it before.

[@Jenovi]

Pixel Vault Games.

[@raymonddiaz7413]

Great video, Sega was such a forward thinking company. Would’ve loved that driving stand for the Saturn. Does anyone have the name of the song that plays around the 6 minute mark?

[@Jenovi]

Not sure the name, but it's from Persona 4. I believe it plays when you're walking around the town.

[@hicknopunk]

Great video!!!

[@Jenovi]

Thank you!!😆

[@LEVELMotorsports]

Diggin the Persona 5 music.

[@Jenovi]

thanks 😄. I love that OST.

[@zackschilling4376]

3:49 What was that sit down arcade game? It looked pretty cool though. Looks like it says Line Of Fire.

[@Jenovi]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_of_Fire_(video_game) Spot on!

[@zackschilling4376]

@@Jenovi I never seen it at any of my local arcades back in the day. I saw Operation Wolf/Thunderbolt, Time Crisis, House of The Dead, T2, Rev X, but never this.

[@sovo1212]

What are the sources of these designs? Are they in the USPTO database? Can you provide a link?

[@BlownMacTruck]

For some reason I can’t see you playing Persona. You’re too much of a tough dude to sit around playing hilariously super Japanese RPGs. Then again you dancing around with the Interactor was amazing and hilarious.

[@Jenovi]

I travel a ton for work, so there's always time on a flight for the Vita. Persona for me is top 5 all time. Can confirm, tough country dude is a solid description. 😁 Appreciate you watching this and the comment.

[@johneygd]

Mmm ,sounds more like the history behind that controller and how that controller paved the way for the dreamcast controller, so that 3D comtroller with it's detachable feature was a feature with pheriperals in mind wich never come to fruition,that's sad.

[@Jenovi]

Indeed

[@MellowVR24762]

New sub great channel 😁👌

[@Jenovi]

Thanks you. 😆

[@JCM217]

If only the Saturn had been held back until it was ready, perhaps it would have changed Sega’s trajectory. I always get a little sad seeing and remembering how awesome they were in the 90’s, and what a shell they are today.

[@NoNoseProduction]

Probably would have bombed still. But at least the Dreamcast would have been sold in more stores increasing their market penetration

[@Jenovi]

I agree 100%

[@JCM217]

NoNoseProduction I’m not so certain. They bombed hard because Sony reacted to every action Sega took and improved upon it, and Sega did the opposite. Sony reacted properly to the price, for instance, and Sega reacted to the PlayStation’s power by making the console more expensive and harder to develop for. The company infighting was probably the biggest deciding factor. It is really nuts how such an incredibly successful company coming off of the Sega Genesis had so many massive missteps.

[@Kunigun]

Gear of Thunder Gamers of 80's:)

[@jacklazzaro9820]

This video is great How are you doing during these times, btw?

[@Jenovi]

Doing ok. About to head back to work next week. I've been doing work on the farm, but this is back with the public. Should be interesting.

[@fabiomoreiras5750]

Parabéns ótimo vídeo

[@savageduck2613]

3 things: you look like a different person when not sitting in front of the camera and when you show the controllers are you just pressing buttons.or playing games? I found a magnavox odyessy 2 on Craigslist that I think is missing the tv hookup and I don't see a controller ( which I thought were hard wired into the console) for 25 dollars but I could probably get for cheaper ( it also has a game). Is that worth it?

[@Jenovi]

1. Yeah, I'm not happy with how I look when facing the camera, and quite frankly I guess I look how I've been feeling. Not sure how to rectify that. My recording space if tight so for now it's a matter of dealing with my setting. 2. Mostly playing games, though I was in the middle of moving when the pandemic hit, so some consoles are boxed and I'm just showing the controller (the Xbox stuff and Playstation). I still have my retro stuff hooked up. 3. Going from memory, I believe the Odyssey 2 is hardwired in most variants though I understand another detachable versions exist. I own the hard wired one. Also, they should be cheap to find in great shape with most CIB games running $5.. I believe the Odyssey 1 has detachable controllers only. So I'm not sure I would pay $25 for a console with no controller.

[@savageduck2613]

@@Jenovi thanks. I think that those little skits were actually really fun. I also meant that I could probably get down the price of that odyssey since it has been on Craigslist for a while I'm thinking 15 dollars

[@Fellipe2k5]

👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@sngcube6473]

U got my like ⚫🕹️🎮

[@amerikaOnFire]

Japan got quality 3 and 6 button arcade sticks for the MD/Genesis. The rest of the world got the terrible versions that barely work :(

[@urkelheimer]

Who cares who did it "first" all of these things were done first on computers and at university.

[@travismcdowell8352]

Ahhh man I don't want a history lesson I just would like to what the 3d controller is compatible with. This is way way to much information

[@blackblood1645]

1st?

[@Jenovi]

2nd by my feed...... so close. 😉