One Chip MSX on Tokyo Gameshow - First report

Source: Gigamix

Amongst the Playstation 3, Nintendo Revolution and XBOX360 violence on the Tokyo GameShow, one of the biggest gaming fairs in Japan, a booth could be found with another upcoming next-generation machine. We are of course talking about our beloved One Chip MSX, which was on display in one of the booths of the organization of the Tokyo Gameshow: CESA (Computer Entertainment Software Association).

On this weblog a picture of the CESA booth with the One Chip MSX computers on display can be found, together with a couple of very interesting rumors, which the webmaster appears to have obtained by talking to Mr. Yokoi of MSX Association. As it looks now, an improved version of the One Chip MSX will be given a second chance by a second partner after all, at the same price as it was offered by ASCII previously. Three of the rumoured improvements are:

MSX2 compatibility out-of-the box
Two cartridge slots (ASCII planned on only using one)
Several games built in the One Chip MSX firmware

Although these rumours have not yet been confirmed officially, the presence of the One Chip MSX at the Tokyo Gameshow certainly gives a clear indication there still is a future for the One Chip MSX.

Relevant link: Report of One Chip MSX demonstration on Tokyo Gameshow

Comments (17)

By POISONIC

Paladin (883)

17-09-2005, 10:59

finaly they did learn someting the comunity wants msx2

By wolf_

Ambassador (5677)

17-09-2005, 11:06

Just looking way ahead .. but those games.. would they be replacable with software I *do* use?

(by updating the machine yourself).. yet better.. would they be replacable with a little setup-ROM which can restore the basic 1cm in case you ruined it with faulty VHDL-code? (this would save a cable!)

By Grauw

Paladin (1010)

17-09-2005, 12:22

*happy*

By tfh

Hero (588)

17-09-2005, 13:06

Well, this sounds like a better deal indeed

By msd

Paladin (744)

17-09-2005, 13:23

and will they add +12

By Arjan

Champion (504)

17-09-2005, 14:29

does anybody know how people reacted when seeing the One Chip MSX between all those nextgen powerhouses?

By Ivan

Scribe (1354)

17-09-2005, 16:32

Will it be available for Christmas?

By sunrise

Paladin (800)

18-09-2005, 09:00

Poisonic@you only not have to pay for now MSX2, but is that really listening.

Grauw@what makes you happy? Since MSXA as well as Bazix donot have any longer people who ordered since the contracts have been eliminated.
I would have done it so that I was free to see another partner and would have said so from the beginning. In that case you had still 3400 plus bazix orders.Now they have to start all over again.

Thanks to MSD and Wolf since they see what have to be done also

Besides the second slot is not new if you ask

By snout

Ambassador (5382)

18-09-2005, 09:11

I think you're a bit on the negative side here, Sunrise. As it looks now, the One Chip MSX (and with that: the entire MSX computer platform) is getting a second chance of getting into production. I see no reason not to be happy about that. Besides, looking at the rumors, MSX Association has taken comments and suggestions of the MSX community into consideration once again. (As you remember, even the decision to make the final product -and not only the developer boards- FPGA based, was taken after discussions with members of the MSX community, e.g. during the meeting in Tilburg 2001).

Of course there is a lot of work to be done, but we don't know the final specs of the 'second chance' One Chip MSX yet, we don't know the circumstances under which it will be sold and we don't know many other factors that might be important. (Like the minimum amount of pre-orders needed this time, or whether or not there will be pre-orders at all, and if there is a pre-ordering period, for how long it will be opened in and outside Japan). In their mailing, ASCII have promised they would notify the original customers if the One Chip MSX would become available through another partner. I see little reason why people who pre-ordered the One Chip MSX previously, would not do so during a second run. Especially not if these rumors are true. This means that the situation is far from 'starting over again'. Lets just see what the future brings, shall we?

By Ivan

Scribe (1354)

18-09-2005, 10:40

I think that now the pre-order period has no sense. MSX Association and Bazix know, more or less, how many units can be sold.

If there's going to be another pre-order period, please, sell the final product instead of the PCB prototype...

By sunrise

Paladin (800)

18-09-2005, 13:00

What Ivan tells snout is exactly my point. Snout you say that ASCII will notify everyone who has pre-ordered again. Well I think it is absolutely not their business anymore.
It is the business of MSXA to choose a new partner and to deal with that.
If 3400 and maybe more people are interested you have to hold them during a period and not to say it is over and we start all over again.
That isnot meant negative but it would have kept the interest if you ask me.
In Europe, I think everyone would order instantly again.
But Japan I estimate it is different

By Ivan

Scribe (1354)

18-09-2005, 13:14

@sunrise: It's not a bad idea to inform people who pre-ordered the One Chip MSX that a new one is (will be) available through other partner.

By sunrise

Paladin (800)

18-09-2005, 13:35

The information has to come from who is involved and not from the one who has nothing to do with it anymore.
I think if you order something you have maybe a strong word contract with MSXA and not with ASCII, right. My point is simple to say that you have 3400 straight if you put some escape in a contract that you make. I have therefore the believe that many will have no longer interest, and that would make it more difficult.
But I would love to search out if we could make an european version.

By secondphase

Supporter (7)

18-09-2005, 13:42

in usa will say : VOC! voice of the customers. trend in these days, look at dell company and other companies, mass production. if they want to survive we need satisfied customers.

ascii need good marketing people..

By Arjan

Champion (504)

21-09-2005, 22:27

so, when are the OCM boothbabes' pictures?

By snout

Ambassador (5382)

21-09-2005, 22:41