Help me spread the word about MSX

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Door Pulstar

Supporter (3)

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17-12-2008, 18:32

http://www.racketboy.com/retro/sega/sms/2008/12/sega-master-system-101-a-beginners-guide.html

I've offered racketboy to write about the MSX but it seems it's been too long for me (not to mention my lack of involvement other than gaming) to write about the MSX without some MAJOR injustices. The article above is a general guideline I was asked to follow.

Intro - Well this is probably the easiest bit :P

Historical Impact
1-First standard of Home computing from Japan, suffered from regional business animosities
2-Major platform for Japanese devs before the Famicom
3-Elite coders from many countries grew up with the MSX
4-Used to sub bootleg VHS tapes
5-Prominent platform for computing in several regions
6-Edutainment through the likes of Konami and Sakhr
7-???
Strengths
1-Metal Gear and Snatcher, and Hideo Kojima's debut with Penguin Adventure
2-Microsoft's first foray into the gaming industry, albeit strictly in an indirect manner
3-Quality Japanese games for the international market
4-???
Weaknesses
1-Was too late to the scene to compete with the C64 and IBM PC
2-Limited library compared to the Famicom and C64
3-Lack of scrolling and unfriendly documentation hurt software development for it
4-???
Game Library
What are the games that defined the MSX? And what are the better ports that appeared on it? What are its cult classics?
Hardware variations
What are the models worth mentioning here? Or is it enough to list major manufacturers and the difference between the MSX and MSX2
MSX Accessories
I only had the gamepad and I don't have it anymore. What else was there?
Emulation
We'll talk about MSXPLAYer and the various other emulators, as well as Nintendo's VC of course.
Importing
Are MSX carts region free?
Affordability
I've had a hard time finding bids for it on eBay.

All contributions will be credited (in fact I'll link racketboy here) and I appreciate all the help you can give! (not looking to take any credit for myself but the MSX was my first computer and it's a special product that more need to learn about)

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Van JohnHassink

Ambassador (5655)

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17-12-2008, 19:12

Nice!!! Big smile

Game Library
What are the games that defined the MSX? And what are the better ports that appeared on it? What are its cult classics?

Important games (click the name for info):

* Puyo Puyo - First version ever appeared on MSX2

* Penguin-Kun Wars 2 - The first game in the series is very well known, but on MSX2 appeared its (better) successor

* Aleste series - It all started on MSX

* Zanac series - Especially Zanac-Ex (on MSX2) is unsurpassed

* Fantasm Soldier Valis II - The MSX2 version is still one of the very best

* Vampire Killer (Castlevania) - Looks and sounds better on MSX; harder gameplay but lacks scrolling

* Golvellius 2 - Like the SMS version but looks and sounds better & different maps

* Final Fantasy - The MSX2 port destroys the NES version

* Psycho World - Original version of the popular game known on SMS and Game Gear as "Psychic World"

* Firehawk - Thexder 2 - The MSX2 version of this game is excellent

* Xak series - Much better than most versions on other platforms like SNES

* XZR/Exile series - Even the SEGA 16-bit ports cannot compete with the MSX2 versions

* Ys series - Not bad ports at all; browse the site for the next 2 parts

...I must have forgotten loads and loads of them but I hope to have helped you out a little.

I didn't just list games that I like, but merely games which are popular on other systems and which had an impact on gaming in general.

BTW - AFAIK the MSX doesn't lack scrolling but the older generations have no hardware supported (esp. horizontal) scrolling like the SMS and NES do.

About games that defined MSX?

Well, one of those must be Penguin Adventure, and you already named it. :)

Van wolf_

Ambassador_ (10088)

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17-12-2008, 19:44

RNFF is a historical contribution to the list of wacky games LOL!

Van Pulstar

Supporter (3)

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17-12-2008, 19:53

Thanks for the games you'd saved me a lot of research! I think the Goonies is a worthy addition also? Additionally, I'd really appreciate more help regarding the history/pros/cons bits. And I had a cassette player that loaded tapes into the MSX. I don't think it was official though. Any pages with info regarding accessories?

Van JohnHassink

Ambassador (5655)

afbeelding van JohnHassink

17-12-2008, 20:02

4W 5H33T, I forgot to mention:

* Eggerland series - Known on other systems (notably NES) as "Lolo's Adventure"

RNFF is a historical contribution to the list of wacky games LOL!
True dat! :)

@ Pulstar: Yes, the Goonies, another one I've forgotten!
Also, check out Konami's Nemesis/Gradius series; some of those appeared (in that form) on MSX only, like Nemesis III!
Also Salamander (a.k.a. Lifeforce) is totally different on MSX.

And don't forget Space Manbow while you're at it.

AFAIK the MSX tape player was official!
I vaguely remember an MSX logo on it.

Van JohnHassink

Ambassador (5655)

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17-12-2008, 20:25

Oh yeah:

The MSX2 version of Konami's Contra (Gryzor) is important too.

And you might want to add the games Maze of Galious, Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 - Solid Snake to the list.
Another popular series which finds its roots on MSX! Smile

About documentation, here's a truly valuable internet gem:

http://www.faq.msxnet.org/

Van Manuel

Ascended (19270)

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17-12-2008, 20:52

What about Dragon Quest?

And indeed, check that FAQ Smile

Van anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

afbeelding van anonymous

17-12-2008, 22:33


And you might want to add the games Maze of Galious, Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2 - Solid Snake to the list.
Another popular series which finds its roots on MSX!

Right! Nowadays, Metal Gear has to be mentioned. Games that today are popular, such as MG, Final Fantasy or Castlevania are important to "spread the word about MSX"

Other popular games, such as R-Type or Rastan Saga, which were very popular in the arcades have also good versions for MSX.

{mod: removed double post}

Van Huey

Prophet (2694)

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17-12-2008, 22:41

Perhaps the Korean MSX console and games are worth a mention (Zemina, Zemmix)

Van poke-1,170

Paragon (1782)

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18-12-2008, 04:08

guess the variety machines and add ons too ? laserdisc for instance Wink
And the fact sony made them, so it's not the playstation as their first
move into games.

Van Huey

Prophet (2694)

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18-12-2008, 09:26

Don't forget the MSX in space!

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