There is so much knowledge on the forum, I'd really like to know when certain effects were introduced on MSX.

Could you tell me for instance when screensplitting was used for the very first time on MSX?

I remember using an IDE with some russian programming language on MSX1 somewhere in 1988-89. The screen was splitted into textual part where you edit the program and graphical part where execution results were shown, IIRC.

That's going to be hard to determine
I know that dutch groups started using splits around the same time. My guess would be around 1992 by some demogroup of that time. My bet would be RMF or Moonsoft.

I'm talking splitting for the purpose of using the pallette twice (or more)

I believe there are quite some Japanese MSX games from the 80s which use screensplitting as well. It must be earlier than 92 or even 88/89

iirc RMF (that's where I crawled around before I joined the Fuzz) did the first color-split in screen 7.. (on CGPD7) .. together with a huge scroller.

No music .. that was spectaculair in that era .. everybody had music.. RMF didn't have any sound

btw.. ANMA's source of power was in 1992 .. I'd say, make it 1990 or (early) 1991 ..

Space Manbow has a screensplit .. as well as Psycho World..

Aleste 2 is one of the games I'm sure of has a screensplit, it was released in 1989. I think some other games will have screensplits as well.

Sub-question: Are there other computer systems capable of doing screensplits, or is it an MSX exclusive?

Every MSX2 game with a smooth scroll part and a non-scrolling part is most likely a screen split. My guess the first one was made in Zanac-Ex.

So screensplitting is MSX2 (and above) only?

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Aleste 2 is one of the games I'm sure of has a screensplit, it was released in 1989. I think some other games will have screensplits as well. Sub-question: Are there other computer systems capable of doing screensplits, or is it an MSX exclusive?

Question should be what other computer system doesn't have screen Split :-)

C64 had it, Amstrad CPC had it, Atari XL had it in 1979 (even with Display lists that could be programmed like the Amiga), and if I'm not mistaken, I think the Atari 2600 had it also.

PC has it also btw but truly beside on a XT with plain VGA 320x200 card, there is no use for it.

On MSX, one of the first screen split it saw (for colors and reg18) was in some cracked game intro by SMA.

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So screensplitting is MSX2 (and above) only?

The MSX1 VDP has no seperate system for interrupting on a specified line. With a sprite trick it's possible to make one, though the only thing I can think of splitting is mode splitting.

I should have a demo flailing around, which was made for MSX1, by some Russian group. The demo has for example sampled PSG sounds and such. Also... A screensplit!
Ah! I recall its name. It's Lyra-2 I believe. Has anyone additional info on this one? Meanwhile, I'll search for the freakin' thing

MSX1 splits are very well possible, but that's more or less stuff for Plutonium or equal coders Those Finnish guys, like Bandwagon and Lieves!Tuore would most likely know more about this.

Wow.. I never realised companies used splits Always thought it was something from the demoscene..

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Wow.. I never realised companies used splits Always thought it was something from the demoscene..

The upper part of the screen in Space Mambo (Wammes!) is screen5, though the rest is screen4. That explains why the game runs so smoothly, even on a MSX2! (Well... aside from the moving border on such machines.)

And what do you think of Illusion City? It uses a pallette and screen split during conversations, to have character portraits using 16 different colours... Quite nifty

Everyone remembers Nyancle Racing from Bitni? IIRC that game uses a screensplit as well. The game is from 1988 I think...

Another famous MSX game with a split is ofcourse Quarth
But which game was the first? who 'invented' screen splitting? quite interesting