KrakenGraph Lite - V9990 cartridge by MSXCalamar

Time to talk about KrakenGraph Lite, a V9990 cartridge developed by MSXCalamar. Although it seems this is a recent project, in fact it was already announced a year and half ago.

Today we could say that this new piece of hardware is closer to becoming a reality. As they explain, the current prototype board most probably will be the last version before the mass production.

It's expected to make official announcement at the next 53rd MSX meeting in Barcelona next June.

Relevant link: KrakenGraph Lite (Spanish language)

Comments (41)

By Grauw

Ascended (10862)

28-03-2018, 00:20

It’d be cool to see superimposing in the feature list, but it looks snazzy either way! Might want to get one of these, since my original Graphics9000 is pretty old…

By alexito

Paladin (761)

28-03-2018, 00:41

Will be nice if they make Super Impose Capability for sure.

check the Super Impose on Nms8280 and Playsoniq VDP:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i33vp3jukMQ&t=86s

By mariocavalcanti

Expert (114)

29-03-2018, 01:05

Very good to see it is coming! I like this part: "the current prototype board most probably will be the last version before the mass production."

By N.I

Master (180)

29-03-2018, 07:41

Amazing news! V9990 chips are sitting in various places.

By msd

Paragon (1532)

29-03-2018, 16:22

Still can get those chips , wonder how many chips where produced

By Ivan

Ascended (9374)

29-03-2018, 17:57

And it will be incredibly cheap: around €60.

By meits

Scribe (6582)

29-03-2018, 19:03

What makes it "lite"? Does it miss features? I might want one, but only if it's 100% GFX9000 compatible.

By Pac

Scribe (7176)

29-03-2018, 19:43

I assume it is related to the size.

By syn

Prophet (2147)

29-03-2018, 23:29

Ivan wrote:

And it will be incredibly cheap: around €60.

wow no reason not to get one then!

By keith56

Master (162)

30-03-2018, 06:01

If this is compatible with the technobytes model, with a lower cost, then this is excellent news! (not that I'm saying I think the technobytes one is overpriced)

the V9990 is an amazing bit of kit... and anything that gets it into the hands of more MSX owners is great for the MSX community!

By Robby

Master (220)

30-03-2018, 15:55

I am curious if they can really deliver it for that announced price of approx 60e. Is already a working prototype available?
And will it include casing?

By odaman68000

Rookie (27)

31-03-2018, 10:48

Wow, I want to purchase it!!

By Manel46

Paladin (680)

01-04-2018, 17:06

Meits wrote:

What makes it "lite"? Does it miss features? I might want one, but only if it's 100% GFX9000 compatible.

KrakenGraph Lite, in MRC, is 100% compatible with the GFX9000.
But also the superimpose function.

By Grauw

Ascended (10862)

01-04-2018, 17:19

Manel46: Are you now saying that it has a superimpose function, or that you want it?

By Manel46

Paladin (680)

01-04-2018, 17:56

That has it, Grauw. I'm sorry for my English.
These days Germán is on vacation. Next week will answer all your questions here

By syn

Prophet (2147)

01-04-2018, 18:55

wtf the lite also has super impose? nice!!!

By Grauw

Ascended (10862)

01-04-2018, 19:42

In that case it’s definitely a guaranteed buy from me . I hope it’s Video9000 compatible? Looking forward to Germán to return from his vacation .

By Pencioner

Scribe (1633)

02-04-2018, 00:07

Superimpose... uhmmm unbelieviable. Really-really? You're the best!

By tvalenca

Paladin (747)

04-04-2018, 19:35

judging by PCB layout, it doesn't look like to have any genlock capabilities, so it can't superimpose on any video signal.

By syn

Prophet (2147)

04-04-2018, 21:41

Iirc the superimpose wasnt even guaranteed for the normal /big krakengraph (afaik they said they would look at it). Indeed, i don't see room for a video input although im not at all a hardware expert.

By MSX Calamar

Resident (64)

05-04-2018, 13:56

Hello

This is MSX Calamar.

KrakenGraph Lite is compatible with GFX9000/PowerGraph. Same functions in a Konami case.
KrakenGraph (full version coming late 2018) includes superimpose function, also in a Konami case.

Both versions come with casing, box and user guide. Also with free game.

By Grauw

Ascended (10862)

05-04-2018, 14:14

Very awesome, I’m going to eagerly await the KrakenGraph full then!! A superimpose function is the main Gfx9000 feature I’m still wishing for!

About my earlier question, will the superimpose function be Video9000 compatible? The Video9000 has a register to select the video signal source, so that you don’t get presented with a blank screen until the V9990 is initialised for superimposing. This is also supported in openMSX. Documentation is here, see sections 5 (GEN and TRAN bits), 7 and 9.

By Pac

Scribe (7176)

05-04-2018, 20:39

Grauw wrote:

Very awesome, I’m going to eagerly await the KrakenGraph full then!! A superimpose function is the main Gfx9000 feature I’m still wishing for!

I wonder which applications you have in mind... Up to now I don't see any to go for the full version... just asking

By syn

Prophet (2147)

05-04-2018, 21:32

Very nice to hear about the full version getting super impose!

By Manuel

Ascended (19812)

05-04-2018, 22:02

It can save you 2 monitors or a switching device if you could superimpose on top of the normal MSX image

By MSX Calamar

Resident (64)

06-04-2018, 12:02

Yes, it will be Video9000 compatible with superimpose function. Same register to select the video signal. But, only RGB input.

By MSX Calamar

Resident (64)

06-04-2018, 12:03

You can mix v9990 video with VDP video signal on same TV

By Grauw

Ascended (10862)

06-04-2018, 14:40

@MSXCalamar Awesome! I’m psyched! Can’t wait!

@PAC Convenience mostly, single monitor setup. I also see some interesting possibilities for creating games with optional extra features, e.g. using the MSX VDP as an extra parallax background, or using the V9990 as an optional front layer for extra visual effects.

By Pac

Scribe (7176)

06-04-2018, 16:23

True, I didn't realize the possibility of a single monitor.

By MSX Calamar

Resident (64)

09-04-2018, 11:50

Testing KrakenGraph Lite on MSX1

https://twitter.com/Dalekamistoso/status/982168660465741825

By Grauw

Ascended (10862)

09-04-2018, 13:03

Is that a Sony Playstation RGB connector?

Smart, since those cables are easily available!

By MSX Calamar

Resident (64)

10-04-2018, 08:53

Grauw wrote:

Is that a Sony Playstation RGB connector?

Smart, since those cables are easily available!

Yes! Easily avaliable and cheap cables!

By Grauw

Ascended (10862)

22-05-2019, 10:43

MSX Calamar wrote:

Hello

This is MSX Calamar.

KrakenGraph Lite is compatible with GFX9000/PowerGraph. Same functions in a Konami case.
KrakenGraph (full version coming late 2018) includes superimpose function, also in a Konami case.

Both versions come with casing, box and user guide. Also with free game.

Is that full version with superimpose function still coming? I hope so!

By Robby

Master (220)

28-05-2019, 10:06

And/or is de Lite version already released for sale?

By MSX Calamar

Resident (64)

28-05-2019, 11:09

Robby wrote:

And/or is de Lite version already released for sale?

Not yet.
I've been working on the Wozblaster Enhanced ( http://www.msxcalamar.com/catalog/index.php?id_product=32&co... ).

Only few details of KrakenGraph Lite to be finished this summer (I hope).

By sunn

Expert (105)

03-12-2019, 13:24

Any news from this wonderful cart?

By decola

Supporter (2)

19-06-2020, 00:03

Still not available?

By gdx

Enlighted (6636)

15-04-2021, 02:07

What happened to this project?

By psxdev

Resident (45)

15-04-2021, 19:27

Wip
https://twitter.com/MSXCalamar/status/1381308211853164544?s=19

By bsittler

Champion (368)

16-04-2021, 16:40

What is the 3.5mm jack for? Is that RGBS in for superimpose?

Or is it audio out to make it easy to connect a second TV input to this without an audio splitter from the machine's main output?

If superimpose is indeed implemented, is there RGBS input on some pins of the video connector, or elsewhere? Or is superimpose input a different format?

Or is it just superimpose-capable output, where it defaults to black screen signal instead of white when the V9990 is not used so it can be "under" another VDP's signal as a background?

By sdsnatcher73

Enlighted (4467)

16-04-2021, 17:19

It is audio in (from your MSX) and it is then combined to the PlayStation compatible output.

KrakenGraph Lite - V9990 cartridge by MSXCalamar

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