MSX2 - backward compatibility with MSX1 software

Rookie (24)

10-02-2018, 10:12

Hey people,

I am about to pick up an MSX VG-8235.
I know it's an MSX 2 but I was wondering.......how backward compatible are these with MSX1 software (games) ?

By Pencioner

Scribe (1518)

10-02-2018, 10:20

almost 100% - only some demos abusing MSX1 VDP undocumented features will not work properly. but there's only a few

By 19rsn007

Rookie (24)

10-02-2018, 10:25

Cool, thanks for the answer
So I can assume MSX 1 games I have will play on this machine
Good to know!
I never had an MSX before so this is a whole new world to me

By TheKid

Paragon (1238)

10-02-2018, 11:10

Some MSX 1 games need a poke before the will work (poke -1,170) or needs to be started by holding the CTRL button.
Oh, and in case you are unaware, the 8235 has a single sided drive, so most 1 disk msx 2 games can't be played.

By Samor

Prophet (2145)

10-02-2018, 11:57

unless it was modded, yes.

..the color palette is also slightly different compared to MSX1, a bit more colorful (I prefer it).

Some MSX1 games use extra effects when played on MSX2, such as Nemesis 3; the "fire planets" in the first level level are an example.

By 19rsn007

Rookie (24)

10-02-2018, 11:57

Okay good to know this.
I am very new to the MSX world.
Had a VG8020 in the past but didn't like that machine a lot so I traded that for something.......can't remember what is was but it had to be some tools or ic's which I needed in the past.

By meits

Scribe (6491)

10-02-2018, 13:45

What Samor says.
This is what drove me nuts in the past. Disk hacks of megaroms all required 256KB of RAM (8235 has 128KB) and original diskgames are mostly supplied on doublesided disks (8235 has a single sided drive).
Nowadays there's an easy way out: MegaFlashROMSC+SD 512K by msxcartridgeshop.com . You won't need your diskdrive anymore and it adds RAM.

Coming to think of it... How to save your game state in, for example, YS if you don't own a double sided diskdrive? Or Xak or SD Snatcher for that matter?

By 19rsn007

Rookie (24)

10-02-2018, 15:02

It just arrived, it has a 360k drive indeed (well that's what the case states at least) and also the case states 256k ram (but as far as I can find on the internet it has 128k).

Didn't open it up yet to see if it has been modded in some kind of way though

By meits

Scribe (6491)

10-02-2018, 15:42

Philips added video RAM and main RAM (128kB each) and printed that on the case.
An original 360kB diskdrive in a 8235 is very high. If it's being replaced by a 720kB diskdrive it's clearly visible since the replacement drive won't fill the original gap completely.
If it's the original diskdrive, keep in mind that it might not work anymore due to it's rubber belt being worn out.

By 19rsn007

Rookie (24)

10-02-2018, 16:48

Drive is busted indeed..original 360k drive (drive belt I presume).
I did read something about 720k drive replacement........might look into that later on.
The thing is working at least

By JohnHassink

Ambassador (5601)

10-02-2018, 16:56

Meits wrote:

Coming to think of it... How to save your game state in, for example, YS if you don't own a double sided diskdrive? Or Xak or SD Snatcher for that matter?

Aren't those games stored on double sided disks to begin with?
By the way, I think to remember saving Hydlide and Game Master states to disk with a single sided drive.