I live in the US as well. For what it's worth, here's a list of things I've found useful:
1. Transformer. For Japanese systems, you may want a 120V -> 100V converter. I use a PowerBright VC-100J. For European systems, you might use something like a PowerBright VC-200W.
2. Video. To get the best possible quality, you'll want to get an MSX with RGB output. S-Video is the next-best option, and it generally looks a lot worse than RGB. So if you get a Japanese system, you'll want an RGB to SCART cable along the lines of http://ebay.to/218NyL3. If you get a European system, a normal SCART cable. You can then use a SCART to HDMI adapter like http://amzn.to/1p08Sa8. Not all adapters will work well with low-resolution 15KHz input. The one I linked to does work pretty well if you tell it to run at 1024x768. (Oh, and audio runs along the same signal, so you'll end up with both video and audio over HDMI.)
3. Audio. If you do get an MSX2, consider getting an FM-PAC. Japanese games from the late 80s will sound a lot better with FM over the default PSG sound chip. The MSX2+ has it built in, and that's probably the main reason to consider a 2+ model.
4. Software. While running the original cartridges can be appealing, speculators have taken over that market. You're much better off investing in an MFRSCC+SD than buying second-hand original games.
If all this blows your budget... you might consider purchasing a Neo Zemmix instead.
This gets you an FPGA implementation of an MSX2+ with 4MB of RAM, VGA out, the moral equivalent of an MFRSCC+SD, and no need for a transformer. I got one from the previous batch, and the total cost was about $150 shipped to the Seattle area. It did take a long time to build and ship out, but the results were totally worth it.
3. Audio. If you do get an MSX2, consider getting an FM-PAC. Japanese games from the late 80s will sound a lot better with FM over the default PSG sound chip. The MSX2+ has it built in, and that's probably the main reason to consider a 2+ model.
Nitpick: not all MSX2+es have it (notably, the Panasonic FS-A1FX and Sanyo PHC-35J don’t).
thanks for the information dude! Are you saying you live in Seattle as well? thats awesome.
You all have given me great information, for now all i have todo is wait for a good listing! i liked the one that was listed for me, but i would like to see other options as well.
im enjoying the heck out of this community, i cant wait to help out and contribute cx
The other thing you might do is ask Bas for pricing on a Philips MSX2. He's like the world's leading expert on refurbishing and upgrading those computers, and is totally trustworthy:
thus come with English language boxes and manuals. That might be a plus depending on how familiar you are with the Japanese language.
im planning on continuing my Japanese language learning, i took two years of it in highschool and i would be able to read games as long as the OS itself (Bios screens ETC) is not in japanese, i should be able to figure it out! I'm leaning more towards buying a Japanese computer since i have shown most interest in that.
Not sure if this was already pointed out but I you want to keep reading Japanese games, I would buy a Japanese MSX computer for sure because they normally include a kanji ROM, if I'm not wrong only few models don't.
It's a 'big' 128kB or 256kB ROM. To display correctly the Japanese characters, some Japanese games require this ROM, which was also sold as apart cartridge.
Not to be confused with the 'small' kanji rom that includes Kanji BASIC (this rom is only available on MSX2+ and turboR).
is it essential to own these? Also, would it be worth it to try to look for MSX-DOS if i can find it in a floppy drive? what inch does MSX take? im only knowledgeable with 3.5".
