Last year, the European website of MSX-Association caused a bit of a stir during the short period it was online. One speculation after another kept the scene busy. And suddenly, the same European website disappeared. Since then, one could say that some of the turbulence in the scene also disappeared, or at least cooled down.

And then, like a phoenix, the European MSXA website seems back in action again. This time however, it only contains a few messages in English and Japanese. Perhaps, this action is the result of a few humorous IRC-chats with the person in question in the last few days. 'Humorous' would be an objective description of this log, in which Kay Nishi is said to visit Europe in July while skipping The Netherlands, MSX-Association has a London office with five paid employees, admin Rikusu was sent to a Japanese court and admin wolf_ was going to be fined for 3200 euro for his 'role in Bazix' (while -naturally- also receiving a court order from Japan in the near future).

We must emphasize that today is the last day of March, not the first day of April. Some people are clearly ahead of time. Whatever the worth of all this is for anyone to decide, but any hope that something useful will emerge from MSXA-Europe is probably wishful thinking.

Relevant link: MSXA - Europe

Konami has decided to release five of their classic MSX games for the Virtual Console, a specialized section of the Wii Shop Channel. These games are Yie Ar Kung-Fu 2, the majestic shooter Space Manbow, the racer Road Fighter, the epic Penguin Adventure and probably the most famous MSX game Metal Gear. The latter was previously only available as a bonus of the game Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence. Earlier, Aleste and Eggy have been released for the Virtual Console, these five new releases bring the total number of VC MSX games to seven!

Relevant link: Joystiq

In February this year, D4 Enterprise launched the English version of Project EGG. Recently, the Bothtec game Anty, the Infogrames action game TNT and the Compile shooter Guardic have been added to their catalogue. Now, a total of 15 games, for MSX and for other retro computers like PC-9801 are available to non-Japanese users as well, embedded in an emulator core. More titles are expected to be added in the future.

Relevant links: Anty, TNT and Guardic in Project EGG English

Last weekend D4 Enterprise have launched a new version of their retro gaming website Amusement Center. The most noticeable differences with the previous website are the addition of an English section and support for Paypal. Although not the entire website has (yet) been translated to English, the complete catalog of Project EGG, which consists out of roughly 500 classic games - including many MSX titles - has finally become available for people outside Japan.

Although most games are in their original Japanese language, the English localizations previously available in WOOMB can be obtained in Project EGG as well. An earlier announcement from Bazix and D4 Enterprise revealed that more localized games can be expected in the future. To celebrate the launch of the English website new members can get no less than 4 games for free.

Relevant link: Amusement Center (English)

Last month, we reported about the release of the English version of Project EGG. Yesterday, a new title was added to the catalogue of the English version: the famous Compile shooter Zanac.

Relevant link: Zanac in Project EGG English

Source: D4 Enterprise

As we had reported previously, D4E have organized an essay contest with which no less than 20 One Chip MSX computers could be won. All the contestants had to do, was write a short essay on their 'MSX feeling'.

Last week, the 20 winners to the contest were announced. The results of the contest, including short jury remarks can be found over here. Of course, it's all in Japanese, but that's where Google Translate comes in handy.

Relevant link: D4E MSX Essay contest - Results

It has been quiet around Bazix in the past half year. In summer 2008, they announced that they had ended their cooperation with MSX Association during a situation that still leads to debates. In addition, they wouldn't be able to deliver the much anticipated European version of the 1chipMSX, and the WOOMB website would be taken offline. In that same newspost however, there was this slight hint at the bottom, describing what has just been published at the Bazix website!

On February 1st, 2009 D4 Enterprise Japan, in cooperation with Bazix, is to launch an English counterpart of their popular retrogaming service Project EGG. Although initially aimed at the non-Japanese speaking people in Japan, the English Project EGG will offer PayPal-support, effectively enabling customers from outside Japan to purchase games as well. As Bazix has announced earlier, games previously released in WOOMB will become available again as a result of this partnership.

Initially, more than 500 retrogames will become available in the English version of Project EGG, amongst which many MSX titles. Directly after its launch, only a handful of non-Japanese games or Japanese games translated to English will be available, but this amount will increase in time. Copyright proprietors of retrogames who wish to license their games for distribution through D4 Enterprises retrogaming services are invited to contact Bazix. Visit the Bazix website for the contact details.

Bazix expect to expand their cooperation with D4 Enterprise in many other ways as well, such as the distribution of games for the iPhone/iPodTouch via the Apple Appstore. As soon as more information can be disclosed, Bazix will make an announcement on their website.

Relevant link: Bazix

Source: MSX Forum

D4 Enterprise have released the classic Compile shooter for MSX called Aleste for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch in the iPhone Appstore. Running on a new official MSX emulator, specifically developed for the Apple devices, the game can be controlled by tilting the iPhone. The international version runs Aleste in English, as previously released in WOOMB. An extra screenshot of the game can be spotted in D4E's press release (PDF).

Relevant link: Aleste for iPhone/iPod Touch product page

ASCII have announced a new version of MSXPLAYer for the Sharp EM-One Alpha, which is a mobile phone/PDA running on Windows Mobile version 6. Bundled with the emulator, which is only available online, are several games, such as Hanafuda Koikoi, Jump Up! and Bokosuka Wars. From the looks of it, the emulator will deliver an MSX1 experience only.

Relevant link: MSXPLAYer for EM-ONE Alpha website

You may have noticed that various things are going on in the MSX Revival lately, such as the recent transfer of the MSX trademarks from MSX Association to the MSX Licensing Corporation and the fact that there still isn't a Western edition of the 1chipMSX yet. Little over an hour ago, Bazix has announced on their website that Bazix has decided to stop being the European representative of MSX Association. A summary of the full message:

• Bazix has not been able to bring the commercial MSX Revival beyond the Japanese borders
  
• Bazix is no longer a representative of MSX Association
  
• Bazix will not be able to deliver us the announced Western 1chipMSX
  
• Woomb.net will be taken down until further notice. Current Woomb customers will be able to download and play their purchases though.
  
• Bazix announces to cooperate with D4 Enterprise and the newly formed MSX Licensing Corporation in one or more retro gaming projects. More info will be expected during autumn 2008.

The full text can be read on the Bazix website. It's clear that Bazix has no intentions to stop their activities, but the transfer of the MSX trademark has put MSX Association into a different position. This, combined with the fact that the Western edition of the 1chipMSX hasn't worked out so far, made Bazix decide to break up with MSX Association and continue their activities with D4 Enterprise/MSX Licensing Corporation. As for the three announced prizes for the MEGA challenge, these have been secured. They will be 1chipMSX'es, but obviously not the intended Western ones.

To end with a bit more optimistic tone: There's still the Project MSX site from D4E. Who knows, the 'one or more retro gaming projects' may just be related to that. We'll keep you informed of further developments!

Relevant link: Bazix