MiSTer FPGA Sega Saturn Core vs Saturn! A Preview of MiSTer FPGA vs Real Hardware

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MiSTer FPGA vs emulation time with a preview of the MiSTer FPGA Saturn core compared to real Sega Saturn hardware. Retro games console showdown! and I am sure I will do MiSTer FPGA vs emulation soon for Saturn!
Sega Saturn on MiSTer FPGA is now on update all and while its still in beta there are still a ton of of best Sega Saturn games and Sega Saturn hidden gems to play! MiSTer FPGA Saturn core fun times! and the FPGA Core has been updated again! Bringing in some important fixes to some of the best Sega Saturn games! so let's do ANOTHER testing update video on the Sega Saturn FPGA core because why not! The ram controller has been rewritten and fixed up in dual updates!
and as of today we have a new core that fixes a lot of the MiSTer FPGA Sega Saturn core bugs on VDP1 and VDP2 for games like Sega Rally, Tomb Raider and Panzer Dragoon Zwei! MiSTer FPGA review time! Just remember these TEST cores are not the same core you get in Update_All today! So let's do some more testing and show you some Sega Saturn widescreen content! now with more Nights into Dreams! and maybe soon a MiSTer FPGA vs emulation episode!
and if you need a MiSTer FPGA guide I have them on the playlist :)
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I asked, you answered...and I try to listen :) Of all the requests for new content on the channel one of the most frequently asked for videos is a series on the Terasic DE-10 Nano MiSTer FPGA hardware...so here it is! Retro gaming goodness.
SRG320 just updated the Sega Saturn core with new code...AGAIN......so of course we are going to test the new binary and see how it performs. and now it's been folded into MiSTer Main and Update_all! Seriously...the improvements in performance and compatibility is a small retro gaming miracle! A LOT of games we tested previously have HUGE improvements and some new games work that never used to! and some games that STOPPED working on previous cores are now back and better than ever! Plus Burning Rangers has a seriously awesome improvement!
and now we have new working games that never worked before as well! Amazing. This is a core testing video with user requests! So enjoy!
This core fixes a massive ton of issues from the last Saturn core. Also make sure you update MiSTer main as there are some CD loading fixes in there that benefit Saturn!
and now it seems like more people that have older RAM modules / the four chip ram module variants are seeing more success running the current Sega Saturn MiSTer FPGA core too!
and game saves are here! Which is HUGE for the core! Because playing Sega Saturn in FPGA on MiSTer FPGA without being able to save your game was NOT easy!
So that means its time to test a new batch of games...viewer requests too!
Note: this is the current build of the Sega Saturn core for MiSTer FPGA and NEW GAMES WORK! but really its the save functionality that is the huge thing! Also this is a MiSTer FPGA Sega Saturn setup guide as the core is once again manually installed and you need to switch to MiSTer Unstable Main vs being on Stable main...which I will show you how to do in the video!
This is part of the MiSter FPGA Sega Saturn testing series...but now with a brand new core build! So lets put it through its paces! Because the audio quality on the new core just sounds PERFECT...in spots!
Note; you may need to format memory depending on the game. See here vampier.net/Sa...
and thanks to Andy D!
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Questions? Comments? Just leave them below and I will do my best to answer each and every one of them!
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VGE
#retrogaming #misterfpga #sega #segasaturn #retrogamer #retrogames #arcade #arcadegames #arcadegame #emulator #emulation #retrogaming

[@bearonguitar]

If the Saturn core is running at the correct clock frequency, the differences in sound comes down to how the console output is being filtered, where as the Mister core outputs a direct, full frequency range audio signal. It's quite apparent as the console has more of a smooth sound with a rolled off high frequency range, sounding slightly darker but also seemingly more refined, where as the Mister output has a very bright and coarse sound including lots of audible noise in the higher frequencies, which is entirely filtered out by the console. In terms of an analogy, to me it's like comparing a good quality image to a version of the same image that has been visibly over-sharpened, where there are artificial details visible where there shouldn't be any. This is where the audio filter presets come in, and I'm sure that the core can be made to sound identical, or at least extremely close to the console, to the point where most users wouldn't be able to tell them apart anymore. Since the game developers likely tweaked their game audio to sound great with the tonal characteristics of the console audio output in mind, in a similar way as to how graphics were specifically designed using CRT monitor technology, the core audio playback needs to be filtered accurately in order to sound authentic, and as ultimately intended by the developers. Fortunately my Mister build is finally coming together, so that I can resume development of my first audio filter presets soon.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Audio is a bit of a blind spot for me if I’m being honest. Just not my thing

[@stellarola]

World hunger will be solved if you did your comparisons similar to VGDECIDE. I still like to watch, but man...such a missed opportunity to showcase FPGA accuracy. I believe you will come through! 🙏🙏

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Not sure what you even mean?

[@stellarola]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Side by side comparison synced up 1:1. You’re creating a montage not a real side by side comparison. FPGA hype is all about the accuracy. You have the platform to showcase that. What does this format do other than it “looks accurate”. Let’s just show that it IS accurate. Just sync the video of the games attract mode. It will show off gameplay without having to touch the controller so it will be 1:1.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

This is a preview and the core is not ready for side by side cutscenes. As stated in the video

[@stellarola]

@@VideoGameEsoterica I made this same comment 2 years ago on your CPS2 comparison video. I was just hoping we'd see a 1:1 comparison with real hardware on any videos since then.

[@jordiasensio6571]

For me there's a tiny difference in lighting, probably unnoticeable if you actually play. Great work !

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Glad you enjoyed

[@washaa]

Thank you for the comparison, the progress of the core is amazing. Source 1: SS, 2: FPGA

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I have to check. I’ve forgotten now funny enough

[@jiijijjijiijiij]

Is there any software emulator that manages to replicate the graphics of Burning Rangers this accurately? FPGA emulation might be the superior option in a lot of cases at this point.

[@ammonitida]

Yes. It's called Beetle Saturn.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Mednafen does a great job

[@markkilborn512]

It's so close I think anyone but the hardest core of Saturn fanatics would be unable to tell the difference. It's magic. I love that people make cores like this for us

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s exceedingly close and it’s not even finished which is a testament to how good the core already is

[@cardetailingstudioaustria4121]

Absolut top video Saturn vs mister ❤ I hope more mister Vs real hardware is in the Pipeline 😊 Thx Thx

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

More videos will come out don’t worry :)

[@METR0lD]

Love the comparison videos!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Always fun to make. Comparing good things (Vermont cheddar) to other good things (Wisconsin cheddar)

[@METR0lD]

Source 1 is real Saturn hardware, source 2 is MiSTer!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I maybe have been drinking and I’m no longer sure of the answer here

[@METR0lD]

That explains why you said that Wisconsin cheddar is good! Bring back sober VGE!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Hahaha maybe I got drunk. So what

[@PeranMe]

Oh wow, this is one video I’ve been waiting for! Thank you! ❤

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Just a preview. More to come :)

[@Vvewa]

Hope there's a randomizer that adds a purple tint or yellow tint everynow and then to replicate the finicky db10 port and 3rd party scart cables.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

A good question but I don’t believe so

[@tappersreviews4677]

Impressive. Hoping to get a $99 Mister clone maybe this summer.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Seems like that may very well be the case

[@FrankTinsley]

Have you considered making short versions of these videos with only the new information and nothing else? I end up leaving the videos part way through because I miss the new information.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

No. The videos are the length they are as that’s where I felt like they needed to be

[@zeldajunkielol2]

Any plans of doing a video comparing the n64 core to real hardware?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yep :) just need to work on it

[@souLmauri]

I Love VGE and Saturn core ❤

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Aww thanks

[@alfredaxelsson5765]

1: Sega Saturn. 2: MiSTer FPGA Core.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Correct :)

[@bartvb5059]

セガサターン、しろ！

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Not sure what it says but 👍

[@bartvb5059]

@@VideoGameEsoterica it's Segata Sanshiro's catchphrase. 'Play Sega Saturn!' (and indeed you should!)

[@sunderark]

@@VideoGameEsoterica It's a multi pun on top of that. Segata Sanshiro, Sega Saturn, shiro! Also the Sega Saturn was white.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha i wish YT studio on phone had a translation feature like it does on desktop

[@strider2k2]

Hmm, going with my gut feeling here, I think sample #1 looks like FPGA while sample #2 is Sega Saturn.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Popular guess today

[@mrwebzone]

is the first one Saturn and the second one MiSTer? I want to say the second one looks like a cleaner image but I'm prepared to be wrong 😅

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I have to check lol. Even I forgot now

[@jiijijjijiijiij]

I had the same guess, but for me it was because the color saturation seemed higher for the first. It could be down to the capture signal but the neon style lighting doesn't seem to pop as much on Mister in the side-by-side comparisons, even if it's only what looks like a 5-10% difference.

[@mrwebzone]

@@VideoGameEsoterica lmao it's very hard to notice a difference!

[@mrwebzone]

@@jiijijjijiijiijyeah, it's very hard for me to tell personally, the second one looks like a HDMI signal to me but I don't really have an eye for these things , but I do see what you mean about the colors looking back at the video.

[@jiijijjijiijiij]

@@mrwebzone And the only reason I even made that call is because VGE showed a side-by-side literally right before. With fresh eyes I'm pretty sure I would never notice.

[@Cookiedon15]

1 core 2 Saturn

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

A popular guess today

[@tonyt611]

1 is msirer

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

That’s the most popular guess today

[@Ragesauce]

FIRST!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

In my heart