Playball III by Sony/Klon had a lot of qualities that could have made it a good game by design, graphics, music, creative voice simulation using the YM2413, and an innovative center-view that allowed the game to be played from the perspective of the pitcher instead of the traditional batter perspective. It also featured imperfect players, from time to time someone will let the ball slip between their fingers.

Unfortunately the game also had flaws that plagued its gameplay. It was glitchy, and more significantly, unoptimized code made the game slow. To say the least, Klon seemed to lack experience with MSX programming. This is where sd_snatcher kicks in. Today, he released an enhanced HD version of Playball III. Its improvements are plenty.

• Hard disk installable
  
• Turbo fixed, the game can be played at decent speed
  
• Turbo is enabled by default for MSX computers that support it
  
• Enhancements, bugfixes and speed optimizations, read the included documentation for details
  
• Problems caused by corrupted files from bad dumps were fixed

This HD version is very CPU intensive, the minimal hardware requirements are an MSX2+ with a 7MHz Z80, an MSX turbo R is recommended.

Relevant link: FRS' HD Games

Django has provided a new translation for fans of the RPG genre: the 1990 game Devil Hunter is now partially translated. Despite being an MSX1 game, the graphics look very detailed and colorful. The gameplay and the controls may lack behind a bit for those who've been spoiled by famous MSX2 RPG's such as Xak, Dragonslayer, Ys and SD Snatcher. Now that the game is a bit more playable, brave adventurers may give it a try.

Relevant link: Passion MSX - Devil Hunter

Shiver me timbers! For all ye swashbucklin' sprogs and landlubbers out thar who want to raise the Jolly Roger but only met the cat o' nine tails, scallywag Vampier has created a new video for all ye lily-livered gentlemen o' fortune, Yo-ho-ho. In fifteen videos he'll be demonstratin' how to finish this grand fine game called Makaijima - Higemaru, an MSX2 doubloon from 1987 by Capcom. By the Powers, yarr!

Relevant link: Makaijima - Higemaru video

And so, with the first month of the new year behind us already, it's high time to look at the monthly downloads statistics. DemonSeed's Descending Theme from Deep Dungeon Adventure proved to be a popular download, as well as the usual Metal Gear franchise. If only Konami would know.. Would they actually know? Without further ado: the downloads statistics of January 2010!

MSX downloads Top 10 - January 2010

1. Descending Theme from Deep Dungeon Adventure (114 downloads)
   
2. 666 The Haunted House (66 downloads)
   
3. PCM Encoder (65 downloads)
   
4. Default General MIDI soundbank (53 downloads)
   
5. Protracker (49 downloads)
   
6. Pyramid Quest (43 downloads)
   
7. SymbOS MSX (41 downloads)
   
8. Rick Dangerous (39 downloads)
   
9. Deltree (39 downloads)
   
10. Blue Warrior (34 downloads)
    

MSX Related downloads Top 10 - January 2010

1. Metal Gear 1 (126 downloads)
   
2. Kings Valley 2 (56 downloads)
   
3. Aleste 2 - Area 1 (52 downloads)
   
4. Metal Gear - Red Alert (50 downloads)
   
5. Maze of Galious - Castle (49 downloads)
   
6. Metal Gear 2 - Solid Snake intro 2008 (48 downloads)
   
7. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake introdemo (46 downloads)
   
8. Penguin Killer (36 downloads)
   
9. Metal Gear 2007 (29 downloads)
   
10. Solid Snake 2007 (29 downloads)
    

Our download database contains over 1000 entries of freeware MSX downloads. If you feel that your software should be in this list, make sure to send us your entries. And maybe next month your entry will grace the top 10 charts!

Relevant link: MSX downloads database

For years aorante has had an MRC account, but only since this month he showed himself to us. His first newspost submission is all about creating graphics. In fact, it's about a little tutorial he has put online in which he explains how to use Photoshop (Elements) in order to create MSX1/screen 2 graphics.

Relevant link: Photoshop Screen 2 tutorial

MRC translator dim-kut compiled and built openMSX for a Linux distribution called PuppyRus. PuppyRus is Russian branch of Puppy Linux that can run from a CD or USB drive-on-a-key, even on very old machines with 128M RAM or less. With PuppyLinux you can boot from your CD or USB drive and play MSX games using openMSX on virtually any PC you encounter on your way. This is extremely convenient for people who don't own their PC or laptop, or have sysadmin's restrictions at their workplace or on public PC machine.

Relevant link: openMSX package for Puppy Linux

MRC translator cax made a mod of Zx-81's Dingux port of Marat Fayzullin's fMSX. He's felt a few features were missing and added the following:

• added full-screen up-scaling
  
• added MegaROMs type auto-detection by SHA1 (so games like Aleste and Batman work now)
  
• assigned "Exit" from menu to X button
  
• first save state is loaded automatically on ROM opening
  
• path to last opened rom/dsk is remembered after exiting from emulator
  
• fixed "sound persists on state loading" bug
  
• fixed gfx garbage in menu (manifests itself in full-screen mode)
  
• fmpac.rom is not loaded after reset if "Music FM-PAC" is switched off in Settings

Update: fixed loading zipped ROMs (was broken in original mod release)

Relevant link: cax' homepage

Raymond, not our favourite bird, but the Dutch guy with the big MSX tattoo on his leg, created a new personal website. Unfortunately for non-Dutchies, the tale about the legendary MSX tattoo will remain a mystery, because its carrier's homepage is in Dutch. People that understand this language can read all about ray2day's MSX adventures on Raymond's MSX pagina.

Relevant link: Raymond's MSX pagina (Dutch)

Currently, Vampier is creating more videos than mankind has time to watch them. His latest output is a walkthrough of Konami's legendary MSX1 platformer The Maze of Galious. Like his other recent game walkthroughs, prepare for razor sharp image quality!

Relevant link: The Maze of Galious video

You may recall the promotion video made for MSX Info Update 2010, about four months ago. It's a returning tradition, a video where a running MSX can be found in the middle of nowhere of Finland, caves not excluded. As of today, the website of the Finnish MSX meeting MSX Info Update has been updated with the latest news. The dates of this year's edition have been set to the 21st and 22nd of August 2010, Helsinki, Finland. If you fancy a good old challenge to show your skills: there will be three of them:

• Demo competition
• Music competition
• Hardware competition

Remote entries are also accepted, as long as they're sent to NYYRIKKI in time (see website). Other details concerning the competition rules can be found at the MSX Info Update website.

There's a sell/buy table, there will be plenty people around who could help you with any problems, whether related to hardware or software. If you fancy code obfuscation, you know who's there to guide you to permanent brain damage! For MSX fans who live in or near Finland: don't miss out on this event. For people who live a bit farther away: this would be the golden opportunity to visit an MSX fair, enjoy the idyllic countryside, and meet NYYRIKKI and legendary viking Ahti. What more could you possibly want? The entrance is free!

Relevant link: MSX Info Update 2010