<p= 8>SEGA Saturn Software Creation Standards Ver3.00/

★ Sega Saturn software creation standards

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Sega Saturn Software Creation Standards Ver3.00/Licensed Brand Version

8. main game

1＞ Screen display

1) Limitation of display range of important items

Important information such as the score and number of lives left will not be displayed within 2 cells on the left and right sides of the game screen and 1 cell on the top and bottom (equivalent to 40 x 28 cell mode) (restriction taking into account differences in display area size between monitors) .

2) Unification of terminology/notation

English katakana notation will be unified.

PLAY
→play
(Do not use play)

PLAYER
→ Player
(Do not use player)

SCORE
→Score
(Score - is not used) etc.

The notation of scores/high scores will be unified as shown below.

Table 8-1. Recommended notation for score/high score
○ (recommended notation) × (Use prohibited)

1 PLAYER ONLY score SCORE POINT

2 PLAYER score PLAYER 1/PLAYER 2
(or 1P/2P) 1UP/2UP

high score HISCORE
(or TOP)

The number of aircraft remaining does not count the aircraft currently being controlled by the player.
Example) If the number of remaining planes is displayed as 2, it is recognized that there are 2 remaining planes in addition to "the aircraft currently being operated by the player".
Therefore, if the game is over if one more aircraft is lost, the number of remaining aircraft displayed is set to 0.

To avoid confusion, do not use the same name more than once in the game.
Example) It is not good to have "tournament" as one of the items in "tournament mode".

Keep the level of kanji used constant.
Example: If "equipment" is written in kanji, then "speaking", which is learned in lower grades, should also be written in kanji.

3) Score

**Table 8-1. Recommended notation for score/high score**
	○ (recommended notation)	× (Use prohibited)
1 PLAYER ONLY score	SCORE	POINT
2 PLAYER score	PLAYER 1/PLAYER 2 (or 1P/2P)	1UP/2UP
high score	HISCORE (or TOP)

The initial setting of the score is "0".

4) High score

High scores are not initialized by resetting "A+B+C+Start button" during the game.

2＞ Pad settings/button settings

1) Principles of pad settings

When assigning operations to the CONTROL PAD, the following principles must be observed.

＜ Pad setting principles＞

If the CONTROL PAD is not connected to "Terminal 1", the game cannot be started. (Excluding things such as competitive fighting and falling object puzzles where 1P games can be established with "Terminal 2") In 2P games, the "terminal 1" side always operates on the "1P" side, and the "terminal 2" side always operates on the "2P" side.

2) Principles of button settings

When assigning operations to the CONTROL PAD buttons, the following principles must be observed.

＜ Button setting principles＞

Make sure that there are no unused "A, B, C buttons" The "Start button" ("Start, Pause" function) works regardless of input from other buttons. All buttons should be activated the moment they are pressed (excluding exceptional cases such as presses) Use "A, B, C buttons" preferentially over "X, Y, Z, L, R buttons" ``A, C buttons'' are preferentially used as ``confirm buttons'' (active operations), and ``B button'' is used as a ``cancel button'' (passive operations).

* Don't try to use the "X, Y, Z, L, R buttons" by force; consider using as few buttons as possible, and prioritize ease of use.

3) Basic button setting example

The following is just an example, but don't make the controls too different from other games.
Additionally, in principle, users should be able to freely choose their operating method.
(See item 7. Options )

Basic settings example)

"action"

button	function
A	Special attack
B	Normal attack
C	jump
X, Y, Z	unused
L, R	unused

"race"

button	function
A、C	brake
B	accelerator
X, Y, Z	Change in perspective, etc.
L, R	shift change etc.

"Fighting"

button	function
A, B, C	Kick weak/medium/strong
X, Y, Z	Punch weak/medium/strong
L, R	Defense etc.

"Shooting" (air attack main type)

button	function
A, C	Main attack (air attack)
B	Sub attack (ground attack)
X, Y, Z	special features
L, R	Change of viewpoint etc.

"Role playing" "Adventure"

button	function
A	Check etc.
B	cancel
C	Decided, window open
X, Y, Z	Special functions (MAP display, etc.)
L, R	special features

3＞ Pause

* Regarding pauses, games that do not require pauses due to the nature of the game, such as role-playing games and adventure games, and games where the "start button" is used for other purposes are not eligible.

1) Pause on/off

Be sure to press the ``start button'' to turn on and off the pause.
If two players are playing at the same time, both CONTROL PADs can be used to pause and cancel. In this case, it is desirable that the operations on the "terminal 1" side and the "terminal 2" side be independent (if a pause is performed on the "terminal 1" side, it can only be released on the "terminal 1" side).

2) Screen display

While pausing, the word [PAUSE] is displayed on the screen (to distinguish it from a hang-up caused by a bug).
When two players play simultaneously, if the pause operations on the ``terminal 1'' side and the ``terminal 2'' side are made independent, it is desirable to distinguish them on the display, such as [PLAYER1 PAUSE] and [PLAYER2 PAUSE].

3) Pause prohibited state

Pause does not work when the development company logo, title screen, demonstration screen, or nothing is displayed on the screen.

4) Sound during pause

Turn off the sound while pausing. If the BGM is interrupted due to a pause, it will continue from where it left off after being canceled.

4＞ reset

* For Sega Saturn, there are two types of reset: a hard reset that is performed using the ``reset button on the main unit'' and a soft reset that is performed using a combination of buttons on the CONTROL PAD (``A+B+C+start button''). The former hardware reset is defined in the main unit's boot ROM, so applications are basically prohibited from changing the processing content. The latter software reset is defined to be user-friendly by adding processing such as changing the jump destination and retaining data. The reset stipulated in this creation standard is a software reset performed by the combination of buttons on the latter CONTROL PAD ("A+B+C+Start button").

1) Reset

Make sure to "reset" no matter what screen you are on. In this case, high scores and option settings will not be cleared (limited to resetting within the main game).

* Excluding special processing timings such as during disk access.

2) How to reset

If the CONTROL PAD's "A+B+C buttons" and "Start button" are pressed at the same time (in terms of processing, if the "Start button" is further pressed while the "A+B+C buttons" are pressed at the same time), a reset will occur, and the Depending on the status, you will be taken to the following screen.

In the main game (after game start)	→ “Title screen” (game start screen)
Inside the title loop (before the game starts)	→ "Multiplayer screen" (in the main body BOOT ROM)

* When resetting from within the title loop (when moving to the main unit's "Multiplayer screen"), the high score option settings can be initialized.

3) Resettable terminal

Reset can be applied from all "used terminals".

Reference) Resetting the omnibus format application

In an omnibus-style application where multiple titles can be played, a reset within the main game (after each game starts) of each game contained therein will display a message on each "title screen," and from each title loop. A gradual reset is desirable, such as returning to the "main title (integrated title) screen" and then returning from the main title loop to the "multiplayer screen (inside the main unit's BOOT ROM)."

 In the main game of each game

 →"Title screen" of each game

 Inside each game title loop

 → “Main title (integrated title) screen”

 Inside the main title loop

 → "Multiplayer screen" (in the main body BOOT ROM)

5＞ Game over/continue

1) Continue

As a general rule, set the continue function. There are no particular regulations regarding the number of continuations, but the method should be as follows.

[YES or NO] Based on selection method Decide with "Start button", do not use other buttons Perform a “countdown” and return to the “company name logo” after a certain period of time (The countdown will not be accelerated by button input.)

2) Proceed to the next screen

If the continue selection is not made, the screen returns to the "company name logo" at the beginning of the application after a certain period of time.

6＞ Ending/staff roll

1) Cancellation not possible

Ending/staff rolls cannot be canceled (skipped) (but soft reset is enabled).

2) Proceed to the next screen

After the ending/staff roll ends, use the timer or press any button to return to the beginning of the application ("company name SEGA logo").

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★ Sega Saturn software creation standards

PLAY	→play	(Do not use play)
PLAYER	→ Player	(Do not use player)
SCORE	→Score	(Score - is not used) etc.