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Sega Saturn software creation standards
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Sega Saturn Software Creation Standards/Sega Brand Version/Ver3.00


8. main game

1Screen 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

3) Score
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.

2Pad settings/button settings

1) Principles of pad settings
When assigning operations to the CONTROL PAD, the following principles must be observed.

Pad setting principles

2) Principles of button settings
When assigning operations to the CONTROL PAD buttons, the following principles must be observed.

Button setting principles

* 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 setting 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

3Pause
* 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 [PLAYER1PAUSE] 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.

4reset

* 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)

5Game 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.

2) Proceed to the next screen
If the continue selection is not made, the screen returns to the "SEGA logo" at the beginning of the application after a certain period of time.

6Ending/staff roll

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

2) Name used for staff role
Real names can be used in staff roles.
Attachment 3: Follow the provisions of “ About staff roles ”.

3) Proceed to the next screen
After the ending/stuff roll ends, return to the beginning of the application ("SEGA logo") using the timer or any button input.


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Sega Saturn software creation standards
Copyright SEGA ENTERPRISES, LTD., 1997