The website for the Nijmegen Fair 2009 is up! This will be the fourth time this fair will be held since its start in 2006 when it took over the role of the former Oss fairs. Together with the MSX fair in Bussum, this fair - which is organized by MSX expert Manuel Bilderbeek - is now one of the two major Dutch meetings in each MSX year.

Features of the fair include:

• Floor area of 218 square meters (about 10 x 22 meters)
  
• Bar
  
• Free entrance
  
• Depending on the amount of booths, the price per table will be €7,- (70x140cm)
  
• Stage available for further activities, if you have suggestions for these or have a fun act you wish to perform (how about singing the Boulderdash theme?), make sure to contact the fair organization!

Traditionally, the nearby Chinese restaurant will be fully loaded with MSX freaks again after the fair. While this restaurant did exceptional business after the fair from 2008, the organization realized that the amount of MSX fans during this diner was quite a bit over the top, to say the least. To participate in the diner in the Chinese restaurant you'll have to reserve your seat with the organization; the limit has been set to 35 persons!

Registration isn't yet possible, but is expected to be roughly two months before the fair. Whether you plan to have a booth or just be a visitor: mark Saturday the 24th of January 2009 in your agendas! Opening times will be as traditional as any MSX fair: 10:00 - 17:00. For an impression of the fair, visit our Nijmegen photoshoot sections for 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Relevant link: MSX Fair Nijmegen 2009

Gaming website Kotaku has published an interview with former Kojima Productions assistant producer Ryan Payton. The interview contains information about Ryan's experience working at Kojima Productions. The most interesting aspect however is the announcement of MGS5, the latest chapter of the famous Metal Gear series that once began on MSX back in the 80's!

Relevant link: Kotaku - Ryan Payton interview

With the addition of an article about Pinky Ponky 3, the whole trilogy of Elf's Pinky Ponky adult games has now been covered at Passion MSX. Just like the previous two articles, screenshots and guidelines are present, yet the final images of this game are left for you to discover!

Relevant link: Passion MSX - Pinky Ponky 3 article

Source: comp.sys.msx

At the MSX Info Update 2008, Alexey Podrezov released CasLink2, the successor to CasLink. CasLink2 is a tool which allows you to upload programs and data from your PC to your MSX via the cassette interface; a very convenient option for those who own an MSX without disk drive. What is interesting about this project is that it is able to directly encode files into the audio signal for the MSX, so you don't need to fiddle around with WAV or CAS files. New features in version 2 include:

• MP3 output for Creative and Apple players
• various MP3 bitrates
• CD quality WAV files
• 3600 baud upload to MSX
• CRC checking of uploaded binaries
• normal and inverted waveforms

Relevant link: CasLink2

***update*** In contrast to what we assumed, bi-directional support is not implemented yet (recording data from an MSX and decoding it into separate files). Sorry about the confusion!

Only days after the news of the first Pinky Ponky, the second Pinky Ponky bangs the door. Passion MSX has just published an article about Pinky Ponky 2, an adult MSX2 game by Elf co. released in 1989. Just like the article for Pinky Ponky 1, there is a guide and a collection of screenshots. Also like the first article, the final screenshots you'll have to manage yourself again!

Relevant link: Passion MSX - Pinky Ponky 2 article

Passion MSX has published a new entry in their steady stream of game articles. This new entry is about the adult MSX2 game Pinky Ponky 1, released by Elf co. in 1989. As with their other articles, screenshots and walkthrough information are present. For the final undressed screenshots of the game's missions you'll have to play the game yourself though.

Relevant link: Passion MSX - Pinky Ponky 1

We're quite halfway the month again, high time to change the poll! Prior to presenting the new poll, let's have a look at the outcome of the SCUMM poll from July/August. What would be the odds a SCUMM-styled game or even a real SCUMM engine would be available on MSX? After 771 votes, here is the result:

1. Yes 50.19%
2. No 49.81%

Well, it's practically 50/50, give or take a few users. Quite remarkable that after the discussion (in which the technical and creative aspects of such a development were seen as barely doable) still half the voters thinks that one day we may well see these games on MSX, games that got so popular on other systems. Time for a new poll, quickly, before Tentacles are taking over and evil demonic skulls claim admin-rights upon which we're all doomed!

What will our MSX-scene look like, ten years from now? Will the offspring of some of our users have become true MSX'ians? Will you still have time for MSX'ing or does your mother-in-law forbid it (as well as forbidding other pleasures in your life)? Will we have faded away, or .. will things be just exactly like they are today? You tell us!

If you have an idea for a interesting poll, send your idea to poll@msx.org and we will consider running your suggestion for a month.

Relevant link: Poll results

The English-French website Passion MSX has added a radio section into their sidebar. The playlist currently is made out of well known MSX game music, with -among others- essentials from Konami, Micro Cabin and Compile (a company continued in Mile Stone and Compileheart, both set up by former Compile employees). Both originals and remixes are featured and some tracks feature an image related to the game.

Relevant link: Passion MSX

The French/English website Passion MSX has published an extensive article about Konami's epic adventure King Kong 2. The article is complete with information about items, weapons and a walk-through with screenshots. If you need even more help to finish this game: a complete map can be downloaded from MSX Solutions as well.

Relevant link: Passion MSX - King Kong 2 article

A few days ago, the Finnish meeting MSX Info Update 2008 took place in Helsinki. Due to the competitions being held, quite a few new products have been released over there!

Music

1. Test.com (PSG) by Yzi / Lieves!Tuore
   
2. Say no to cross development (PSG) by Lagers / Kepekset
   
3. Aliens (SCC) by dvik & Joyrex

Demo

1. Illusion, by dvik & Joyrex
   
2. ATSAAS, by Lieves!Tuore
   
3. Britesux, by Britelite
   
4. Rebirth, by CCFG
   
5. The demo, by Kepekset

In addition, the racing contest was won by Miikka Poikela, while HBP & Weltto created another demo during the party night: Raah.

Pictures of the event, taken by Risto Mäki-Petäys, can be seen here. Videos of the event can be seen here, here and here. An invitation demo from NYYRIKKI can be downloaded here, it requires a turbo R to run.

Relevant link: MSX Info Update 2008