Digital Foundry frist manifested on the pages of Eurogamer way back in 2007, examining the differences between Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 software.But what if Digital Foundry had emerged back in 1994, analyzing the fifth generation consoles: Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation? This question is explored in the inaugural episode of an occasional series titled DF Retro, which revisits the consoles and games of the 90s, utilizing today’s tools and methodologies to compare the games that graced both Sega and Sony platforms.
Cross-platform progress in the 90s was markedly different from today. For over eleven years, Microsoft and Sony have essentially shared the same core AMD technology, simplifying game development. In contrast, during the PlayStation and Saturn era, developers contended with two fundamentally different systems that generated 3D visuals in disparate ways—triangles on PS1 and quads on Saturn—each with unique development environments. While it is widely acknowledged that the PlayStation outperformed the Saturn in 3D graphics, the Saturn still produced extraordinary results, with several titles arguably exceeding their Sony counterparts based on implementation. Developers had to be inventive when supporting multiple consoles, often adopting entirely different methodologies for their ports, even if the end results looked relatively similar.
A crucial concept from this era that has become less relevant today is the idea of a “lead platform.” Historically,games were tailored to specific hardware,leveraging their strengths. This notion was particularly pronounced during the Saturn and PlayStation era,where titles designed for the PlayStation often had difficulties running on the Saturn and vice versa. Today’s video showcases several compelling instances of this.
In the latest DF Retro episode, John Linneman catalogs the multi-platform driving and racing games of the fifth generation console era. This endeavor involved applying techniques honed over the years to analyze mid to late 90s software. Analyzing this older material proved challenging, particularly since digital video footage wasn’t widely available back then. However, thanks to HDMI mods for legacy consoles, we now have the capability for the PlayStation. The situation is more complex when it comes to the Sega Saturn, with its combination of video layers from separate VDP1 and VDP2 processors making HDMI mods impractical. Nonetheless,we’ve made significant progress: Mike Chi’s RetroTink 4K converts and scales RGB signals from the Saturn to a quality that enables our comparative analysis.
Even with these advancements, we faced obstacles; an HDMI output derived from an analog source isn’t always a pristine signal. In many instances, manual performance verification was necessary, which meant frame-by-frame assessments by eye. Certain PlayStation titles also posed issues, particularly those exhibiting screen tearing, which required revisiting older algorithms from Digital Foundry’s early days.
The 90s were a remarkable time for gaming, transitioning from 2D to 3D and embracing experimentation. Notably, titles like WipEout and Destruction Derby — initially Sony first-party exclusives — eventually appeared on the Saturn. While conventional wisdom suggests that the playstation provided a superior experience,we can now back that assertion with measurable data and subjective comparisons. However, it’s worth noting that not every multi-platform release favored the PlayStation.
Elsewhere, Sega’s console managed to deliver noteworthy ports: EA’s The Need for Speed and Road Rash actually saw significant advantages on Saturn compared to the PlayStation. Ubisoft’s Street Racer showcases a developer that produced distinctly different visuals across every iteration of the game—PlayStation featuring full 3D terrain while the Saturn utilized VDP2 for a Mode 7-style effect,with both approaches yielding commendable results.The more one examines 90s multi-platform console development, the more surprising discoveries emerge.
This article focuses solely on driving/racing titles and serves as just the first entry in a series of planned videos.We are already well into a second episode centered on shoot ’em ups, which reveals a similar fascination with how games adapted to the strengths of each system. In retrospect, while there was considerable crossover with games available on both platforms, the significance of exclusives was far stronger back then. Owning both systems was justified, especially from my perspective as the editor of the official Sega Saturn magazine starting in 1996.
The prospect of Digital Foundry-type content existing in the 90s presented considerable obstacles. While frame grabbers capable of digitizing analog inputs permitted capturing high-quality RGB images, they did not accurately convey the CRT experience. Video capture was particularly feasible when working with VHS tapes or broadcast quality Betacam cassettes, but obtaining a digital video of sufficient quality for frame duplication analysis would have been virtually impossible. The shift from analog to digital video outputs dramatically altered the landscape, marking the true inception of the Digital Foundry narrative with the arrival of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Discussion with Experts
Guest 1: Dr. Alex Rivera, Video Game Historian
Dr. Rivera highlights how understanding the technology and development strategies of past console generations can enhance current gaming experiences. “The innovative approaches developers took during that era laid the groundwork for today’s cross-platform development,” he states.
Guest 2: Lisa Chen, Game Developer
Lisa Chen shares her perspective on the evolution of game graphics, stating, “While hardware limitations forced creativity in the 90s, today’s streamlined technology allows for more uniform experiences, but we lose some of that experimental spirit.”
Guest 3: Raj Patel, Console Technology Expert
Raj Patel offers a technical insight, explaining, “The unique architectures of the Saturn and PlayStation highlight the creativity in overcoming challenges. Understanding these differences is crucial for developers aiming to evoke nostalgia in modern games.”
Discussion Prompts:
- What are your thoughts on the impact of hardware limitations on game design in the 90s?
- How do you feel the spirit of innovation in today’s gaming industry compares to that of the past?
- Which games do you beleive deserve a modern re-evaluation based on these technical differences?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
How has John Linneman’s DF Retro series changed our understanding of 90s gaming narratives, especially regarding multi-platform titles?
Interview between time.news Editor and DF Retro Expert John Linneman
Editor: Welcome, John! It’s great to have you here to discuss teh fascinating world of 90s gaming, especially through the lens of your new series, DF Retro. Let’s dive into your latest episode where you compare the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. What sparked the idea of this series?
John Linneman: Thanks for having me! The idea came from a desire to explore a pivotal era in gaming using today’s analytical tools. Digital Foundry has been tackling modern gaming performance, but I wanted to revisit the 90s—an era filled with experimentation and cutting-edge technology. It posed unique challenges that developers faced at the time, and I thought analyzing those with a modern perspective would be intriguing.
Editor: Absolutely! you mentioned how different the game advancement processes were back then compared to now, particularly regarding the PlayStation and Saturn. Can you elaborate on this “lead platform” concept you explored?
John Linneman: Sure! Back in the 90s, the notion of a “lead platform” meant that games were ofen developed with one console’s strengths in mind, leveraging its specific hardware capabilities. As an example, a game designed for the PlayStation would struggle to run efficiently on the Saturn due to their differing architectures—PlayStation using triangles and Saturn utilizing quads. This didn’t just influence performance but also the overall design and gameplay of the titles.
Editor: That’s an critically important distinction. Given that modern consoles frequently enough share the same core technologies, how did these differences effect developers at the time?
John Linneman: It was a parallel-world scenario. Developers often had to adopt drastically different approaches for each platform, which impacted the final product significantly.you would see some games excel on one console while failing on the other. Our retrospective allowed us to showcase those discrepancies—like how WipEout looked on the PlayStation versus its Saturn counterpart—which wasn’t just about graphics; the entire gaming experience was affected by the platform-specific optimizations.
Editor: That nostalgic gaming landscape was quite revolutionary! You also touched on the technical challenges when analyzing older games with today’s equipment. What were some of the hurdles you faced?
John Linneman: Oh, there were plenty! For one, analog sources don’t always provide the cleanest output for modern analysis. We had to rely on tools like Mike Chi’s RetroTink 4K to scale the Saturn’s RGB signals properly. Sometimes, even frame-by-frame assessments were necessary for performance verification as video quality was not as pristine. Older titles that suffered from screen tearing needed us to revisit algorithms from our early Digital Foundry days to accurately measure their performance.
Editor: It sounds like a painstaking but fascinating process! With the ancient context you provided, what surprises did you encounter in your analysis of multi-platform titles?
John Linneman: One major surprise was realizing that not every multi-platform title favored the PlayStation, contrary to popular belief. While the PlayStation generally performed better in 3D graphics, there were Saturn titles that offered unusual results based on their specific implementations. It’s fascinating to see that while the overall narrative of the time painted one console as dominant, the reality on a game-by-game basis is far more nuanced.
Editor: It’s incredible how retrospective analysis can shift our understanding of past gaming narratives. What do you hope viewers take away from your DF Retro series?
John Linneman: I hope viewers appreciate the creativity and ingenuity developers employed during that era. It wasn’t as simple as just picking a console; it was about navigating real limitations and choosing to innovate under pressure. it’s essential to highlight those efforts, as they laid the groundwork for where we are today in the gaming industry.
Editor: Fantastic insights, John! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this engaging topic. I can’t wait to see how the series evolves and what other hidden gems from the 90s you uncover!
John Linneman: Thank you! I’m looking forward to diving deeper into this incredible gaming history with everyone.