When was the first screensplit being used?

By Latok

msx guru (3866)

11-05-2004, 19:14

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?

By cax

Prophet (3737)

11-05-2004, 19:18

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.

By Bart

Paragon (1422)

11-05-2004, 19:19

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)

By Latok

msx guru (3866)

11-05-2004, 19:23

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

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (9950)

11-05-2004, 19:24

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..

By snout

Ascended (15184)

11-05-2004, 19:31

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?

By BiFi

Enlighted (4348)

11-05-2004, 19:32

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.

By Latok

msx guru (3866)

11-05-2004, 19:34

So screensplitting is MSX2 (and above) only?

By Maggoo

Paragon (1216)

11-05-2004, 19:37

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.

By BiFi

Enlighted (4348)

11-05-2004, 19:44

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.

By [D-Tail]

Ascended (8258)

11-05-2004, 19:59

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.