MSXdev25 #10 Planet X9

Supporter (4)

03-10-2025, 19:20

Hi, I'm relatively new to the MSX scene.
I've tried the game on several emulators, but it doesn't work.
I've switched between MSX1, MSX2, MSX2+, and MSX TurboR, and it still doesn't work.
According to the contest rules, it should be compatible with classic machines.
What am I doing wrong?
Best regards.

By valkyre

Paladin (821)

03-10-2025, 19:31

Have you selected the v9990?

By mononoke66

Supporter (4)

03-10-2025, 19:45

valkyre wrote:

Have you selected the v9990?

Hi, I've been looking for that option in my favorite emulator (BlueMSX) and can't find it anywhere.
Could you tell me where it is in the menu?
Thanks

By ToriHino

Paragon (1094)

03-10-2025, 19:46

You need to select indeed the gfx9000 or video9000, and preferably also the moonsound extension and it should run (best to run on OpenMSX or the real hardware). For MIDI you can select the FS-A1GT or on real hardware use MSX Pico or MIDI-PAC2.

By giuseve

Paladin (988)

03-10-2025, 19:53

VIrus detected by McAfee when downloaded
source https://www.msxdev.org/2025/10/03/msxdev25-10-planet-x9/

By TFH

Prophet (3881)

03-10-2025, 19:57

giuseve wrote:

VIrus detected by McAfee when downloaded
source https://www.msxdev.org/2025/10/03/msxdev25-10-planet-x9/

Probably a false positive. Virus-checkers don't understand Z80 executables ;-)
My virusscanner would remove quite a big chunck of the MSX software from my downloadsite if I didn't exclude those directories from the scans.

By mononoke66

Supporter (4)

03-10-2025, 20:17

ToriHino wrote:

You need to select indeed the gfx9000 or video9000, and preferably also the moonsound extension and it should run (best to run on OpenMSX or the real hardware). For MIDI you can select the FS-A1GT or on real hardware use MSX Pico or MIDI-PAC2.

Thank you very much for the information.
I tried searching for an option called gfx9000 or video9000 in the BlueMSX emulator but couldn't find anything similar. I understand it won't be compatible, although I'd been told it was a good emulator. I'll try another one.
Thank you very much.

By TFH

Prophet (3881)

03-10-2025, 20:39

mononoke66 wrote:

ToriHino wrote:

You need to select indeed the gfx9000 or video9000, and preferably also the moonsound extension and it should run (best to run on OpenMSX or the real hardware). For MIDI you can select the FS-A1GT or on real hardware use MSX Pico or MIDI-PAC2.

Thank you very much for the information.
I tried searching for an option called gfx9000 or video9000 in the BlueMSX emulator but couldn't find anything similar. I understand it won't be compatible, although I'd been told it was a good emulator. I'll try another one.
Thank you very much.

It's a good emulator, but it's over 16 years old and doesn't support everything.
Go for OpenMSX. Not as easy to setup, but the best you can get.

By JGM

Master (164)

04-10-2025, 08:58

Wow, it is finished, cant wait to play it, this is AWESOME news!!!

By Robosoft

Master (133)

04-10-2025, 13:54

The good old Philips Music Module midi out is also supported!

By JGM

Master (164)

04-10-2025, 17:13

Will there be a physical release?

By pakoto

Champion (320)

04-10-2025, 17:36

it works in wondertang tncart, but there are tiles that disappear, just like in "intruder" game.

By ToriHino

Paragon (1094)

04-10-2025, 17:45

It was tested on two different physical V9990 cartridges, as well as the MSX-VR. After some tweaking in the code it showed no artefacts anymore on any of these setups. That dual monitor setup looks great btw

By pakoto

Champion (320)

04-10-2025, 21:23

yes, It's not a problem with this game.
Wondertang - tncart uses an experimental v9990 core that still not 100% compatible.

By ZOMGUgoff

Expert (122)

04-10-2025, 22:47

I'm not getting any activity with the MIDI PAC v2. The last update video mentioned the MIDI PAC was supported, but not specifically the v2. It should be compatible, right?

By ToriHino

Paragon (1094)

04-10-2025, 23:18

Yes it works with MIDI PAC v2.

By guantxip

Paragon (1627)

05-10-2025, 12:09

I assume there won't be any MIDI output through the Tada MIDI printer port. It would be great on the Turbo R ST to not have to use an slot expander.

By spl

Paragon (1504)

06-10-2025, 09:27

mononoke66 wrote:

valkyre wrote:

Have you selected the v9990?

Hi, I've been looking for that option in my favorite emulator (BlueMSX) and can't find it anywhere.
Could you tell me where it is in the menu?
Thanks

BlueMSX is not active since loooong time ago and it doesn't support V9990. Use OpenMSX instead

By dodogildo

Master (154)

06-10-2025, 10:08

Hmm, on real hardware, I'm having some garbage characters on this part of the screen:
(great game btw )

By ToriHino

Paragon (1094)

06-10-2025, 19:24

guantxip wrote:

I assume there won't be any MIDI output through the Tada MIDI printer port. It would be great on the Turbo R ST to not have to use an slot expander.

That interface is quite CPU intensive, maybe the TurboR could pull it off. I'll put it on the todolist, but no promises

By ToriHino

Paragon (1094)

06-10-2025, 19:27

dodogildo wrote:

Hmm, on real hardware, I'm having some garbage characters on this part of the screen:
(great game btw )

Mm strange indeed. According the pictures it looks like you're using a Power Graph? We test it on two different V9990 variants, both showed differnt behavior wrt artefacts. However in the end on both it looked OK. This looks like there are yet some more differences between the various V9990 cartridges?

By dodogildo

Master (154)

07-10-2025, 08:02

ToriHino wrote:

Mm strange indeed. According the pictures it looks like you're using a Power Graph? We test it on two different V9990 variants, both showed differnt behavior wrt artefacts. However in the end on both it looked OK. This looks like there are yet some more differences between the various V9990 cartridges?

Yes it’s Powergraph Lite. I can test with another V9990 variant (TRH9000) as well and let you know in a couple of days.

By journey

Paladin (744)

07-10-2025, 09:02

I tried it with MSXVR and with the real MSX Turbo-R ST with the Sunrise GFX9000 version 1.1. Everything seemed fine.
By the way, I tried playing it without looking at the manual...impossible!
So I downloaded the manual, translated it into Italian, printed it, and will study it because it looks like a really interesting title!

I have a curious question: the OPL4 audio reminded me of the SID style. Was this a deliberate approach? While the MIDI version has a more traditional audio (and, in my opinion, better sounding).

By GhostwriterP

Paladin (817)

07-10-2025, 10:13

You can watch the making of planet x3 on The 8-bit Guy's channel, it's explained there.
PS: Both planet x3 OSTs (FM & MIDI) can also be listened to on youtube.

By ToriHino

Paragon (1094)

07-10-2025, 18:49

Indeed, as GhostwriterP mentioned, some background behind the choices about the music style are quite well explained in the 8-bit Guys channel.

Btw, @GhostwriterP: I don't think I mentioned already but your answers especially related to the VDP commands of the V9990 linked to P1 mode in various forum threads on this site really helped me in getting them to understand and work with them, so thank you for that!

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