The MODE’s firmware is the same for both consoles, meaning users can order one device that will work for either console. Terraonion, which has shipped various flash carts for Neo-Geo and Sega Genesis, is aiming to make an optical disc emulator that works with all Saturn and Dreamcast models, and is easy to obtain and install.
However they’re not a panacea - only certain console revisions are supported, some chips need to be soldered to the console and, with the company being a one-man operation, the products are extremely scarce. A small company named GDEMU has made similar devices for the Saturn and Dreamcast since 2015.
Replacing optical discs with more modern storage media isn’t a new idea. The Terraonion MODE - Multi-Optical Disc Emulator - simply drops into your console of choice, reads ROMs from a storage medium, and passes the data onto the console for processing. Hardcore gamers who miss titles like Panzer Dragoon Saga and Power Stone may want to perform life-saving surgery on their Sega Saturn or Dreamcast consoles this summer, as a new solution will be able to replace dead disc drives, with no soldering skills needed.
As their optical drives burn out, they’re rendered unplayable, which is a shame - these systems were the peak of gaming in the eyes of many.
Classic disc-based consoles are getting long in the tooth.
