MSX chess project

Rookie (19)

31-10-2012, 16:12

Pure assembler: ChessY2K on MSX
Description: chess logic - generates moves, verifies check/mate, castlings, en-passant captures, make move, unmake, set position by using FEN or UCI moves, replays chess games from PGN files, user can move pieces and compose positions, no chess engines/AI as MSX not good for it.

Developed on Windows XP, TASM assembler, source :zip of asms
Some tags: MSX DOS .COM module, SCREEN5, preloading to VRAM (used a lot), various VDP functions, HMMM, HMMC, LMMC, file reading, String functions in assembler, module loading in memory
Emulator: BlueMsx on max.speed, double-keypress disabled
Video recording lags but possible on faster hardware. No sound.
Pictures: Chessforeva.blogspot.com

I hope, some assembler parts will be useful for other projects too.

Regards to all,
Chessforeva

By Manuel

Ascended (19308)

31-10-2012, 21:06

Ever tested it on a real MSX2?

I just tried on openMSX, but it's really slow indeed :S Also, when selecting a game from the PGN file, it's a bit hard to navigate. It's as if you cannot use the same cursor key twice after another. You have to use different cursor keys to be able to move properly. Weird?

For the rest, it looks like a nice effort Are you new with MSX and ASM? If so, then it's very impressive!

By Chessforeva

Rookie (19)

01-11-2012, 03:48

PGN replays are slow because of reading/analyzing from file.
The chess position composer in the other COM module is faster. And moving pieces are animated.
I have created a .dsk image (the best demo of this project) where user can move pieces by cursor (press cursor key, then '/' , then key again ... Yes weird). To set up position, press K to put white king, k for black king and so on (KNBQPspace)...
It's working on NLMSX (tested). But on BlueMSX with 999% speed it's better, +screenshots and video captures. Don't know about openMSX, could not get it working by single click.

By nanochess

Master (222)

01-11-2012, 22:21

Hi Chessforeva. Your project looks pretty nice.

I didn't know that you could also code in Z80

By Manuel

Ascended (19308)

01-11-2012, 22:26

I had problems with the cursor to select a particular game from the PGN file. I suspect it will also happen on a real MSX2. (Especially because you mention something weird about 'double-keypress disabled', which I don't know what it is, but it sounds very odd.

By Chessforeva

Rookie (19)

02-11-2012, 02:33

You see, I don't think most people here have real MSX2 at home. My generation has grown up on these. So, it's more thing of sweet memories. Let's use modern technology and make it fast as hardware able to provide, maybe even for new ipads. Kind of wikipedia thing.

By MsxKun

Paragon (1115)

02-11-2012, 11:40

Chessforeva wrote:

No? Well... I have 3. Most of the users I know have some too.
I don't wanna play emulators. It causes no erection!

By Chessforeva

Rookie (19)

02-11-2012, 11:56

Hi, MsxKun! It would be cool If You saved the .dsk on floppy disk and tested on real MSX comp. I've spent days on animation, pieces should be moving not just appearing somewhere. Maybe take a picture of display, I would show to others. But ok if can't. Ah, these were days of spriting and basic-ing ...

By MsxKun

Paragon (1115)

02-11-2012, 21:05

Chessforeva wrote:

K, i'll try this weekend. But I'll use SD card. Floppies are so... yesterday ;)

By Manuel

Ascended (19308)

02-11-2012, 22:12

Move pieces with the cursor... but... you can't move the cursor in the same direction twice... What is this??

By PingPong

Prophet (4096)