Yeah,
So i've recently become addicted to my saturn again. Lots of good software and whatnot just easily pull me back to that system over and over. Arcade perfect ports of Capcom fighting games especially are amazing.
Anyway, so here's my idea listed in a few key points :
1. Each and every game on saturn has a soft reset function.
2. The reset function, in theory, accesses a title screen name that's stored in the memory of the unit OR it goes to a specific file named "so-so."
3. All saturns have a drive door switch which can be taped/secured in place so that the drive door may be opened at will, even when the unit is running.
4. Booting an original and swapping it with a copy during operation DOES result in the game continuing normal operation off the copy.
5. There is a 21pin chip for newer saturns available widely, but 20pin chips are like rare/lost technology. Even rarer is the dual 20/21pin chip.
So here's my theory :
First, find a basic game that stops the disc at one point or another (whether it be a option screen or another screen) (yes, you can hot swap with the disc moving, but it will slowly kill your laser motor.)
If we were to obtain the code or perhaps hack a game file that is accessed by the soft-reset, then we can possibly run backups without the use of a modchip or the fabled swap-trick.
If anyone else is interested in helping me with this little project, please do contribute. It'd be nice to breath some new age hacking into an old console.
-jin