What does the MSX system have to do with ASCII? Find out!
MSX: Als Sony, Philips, Samsung und Microsoft kooperierten, Computer zu bauen
cross-posted from: https://feddit.org/post/7290025
MSX: Als Sony, Philips, Samsung und Microsoft kooperierten, Computer zu bauen
The original article is in German, but the firefox translate is not bad (kind of funny what it catches on though). A great story about delving into the mystery hardware bins of Tokyo and coming up with some great information on the MSX variations.
A narrow staircase goes down to the retro paradise: In the Tokyo district of Akihabara you have to know exactly where you are going. It is my second visit to this Mecca of old computing technology, in 2018 I was here before. Everything seems to me a little less tidy and quite empty picked, which could also have to do with the fact that the trend to become interested in old game and computer systems has boomed in recent years. However, this has also led to prices rising immeasurably and you will find it more often online than on site.
So be it, I'm only there to touch, to marvel at and to smell. And right in the back of the corner, there is something for which I would have given half a leg as a teenager: a Panasonic FS-A1ST, nicely packaged in transparent film. It was the penultimate MSX calculator that ever existed on the market in 1990, if only in its home market of Japan. Nevertheless, I still knew a few people who had proudly imported the machine to Germany for 1000 DM plus, with a matching power supply adapter from 100 to 230 volts. My goodness was jealous at the time.
MSX? What is MSX please? We had not Commodore C64, C128, later Amiga, Atari (from 800XL to ST, I catch up with the beginning of the nineties, before the Windows wave started, not Commodore C64, later Amiga, Atari (from 800XL to ST, I catch up with epochs in the fast run) and Co.? Maybe another Schneider CPC, a Sinclair ZX Spectrum or an Apple II? With parents suffice a Macintosh?
Among the bridges of Akihabara: Still an experience, but nothing more for bargain hunters.
(Image: Ben Schwan)
MSX stands for "MicroSoft eXtended", according to the later information regarding the father of the standard Kazuhiko Nishi of the Japanese ASCII Corporation (which was now a Microsoft subsidiary) for "Machines with Software eXchangeability" or the names of the first two hardware producers, Matsushita (Panasonic) and Sony. It was an interesting attempt by large, especially East Asian electronics companies, together to conquer the home computer market by agreeing on a common platform. The list of participants reads like a who's who of the big brands, many of which still exist today. Sony was there, Philips from Holland, Yamaha, Panasonic/Matsushita, Sanyo, Sharp (though only in Brazil), JVC, Mitsubishi, Toshiba, Hitachi, Canon, Casio, Pioneer, Yashica (daughter of Kyocera) and (very short) Fujitsu. In South Korea, Samsung, Daewoo and GoldStar (now LG) joined Fenner in Italy. NEC first wanted, but then decided against it on its home market due to the success of the PC-88.
The idea for MSX is said to have had the early nipout Nishi during a visit to Japan by Bill Gates. Or, if you believe Wikipedia, first Microsoft, where Nishi then participated. In any case, the idea in the electronics industry quickly met with approval. They wanted to be stronger together, not working against each other. A frame design by Spectravideo that Nishi had seen in Hong Kong helped. It was decided to take Zilog's Z80A as a CPU at 3.58 MHz, also because it was already CP/M executed with it. There was an agreement on a graphic chip from TI (later: Yamaha), a sound chip of General Instrument and the interfaces with so-called cartridge slots for game modules and hardware extensions. All computers had the same MSX BASIC from Microsoft, whereby manufacturers could excel with add-ons as integrated in the ROM additional software.
MSX had a total of four incarnations. In 1983, MSX 1 (or simply: MSX) was released in Japan and Europe, and the USA was largely left out (except for Spectravideo machines). MSX 1 had the most support, the countless consumer electronics companies apparently felt as if they were establishing a new VHS (the standard format for video cassettes enforced after years in the mass business) – only for home computers. From today's perspective, MSX 1 is quite special and feels old-fashioned, as the graphics still had problems with the color transitions and other difficulties. They tended to save programs on cassette if they were not available as a cartridge, which required a lot of patience. Some games look like they were made for the ZX Spectrum, but this was only because this platform was easily and inexpensively ported, including the very special graphics. The CX5M from Yamaha was very exciting in the MSX-1 segment: The machine had a MIDI interface, which was very rare at the time – before the Atari ST. In musical circles, she became an insider tip.
The second standard version MSX2 followed in 1985. The graphics were improved, floppy drives became normal, there were special systems for dispersing video (genlock) and the graphics improved. The systems lay, although they were 8-bit computers with still the same old Z80A, due to their multimedia possibilities, at least for fans somewhere between C64 and Amiga, minus the graphical interface. In addition, thanks to MSX-DOS, one could even read MS-DOS files from the PC, Microsoft made it possible. MSX2+ with better graphics (19268 colors at the same time!) and better sound (MSX Music with FM sound) followed in 1988. Up to this point, however, the caravan of the major manufacturers had already moved on, not a single machine was launched in Europe. Sanyo, Sony and Panasonic stayed in Japan.
(Cont'd)
MSX packaging: Here are some scraps from Sony and Sanyo. The HB-T7 even had a modem.
(Image: Ben Schwan)
Nevertheless, the business continued to go well there, thanks to the many games of countless well-known studios. There was even a separate online game service called THE LINKS. Konami debuted popular series such as "Metal Gear" on MSX today. There were titles like "Dragon Quest" or "Final Fantasy", "Vampire Slayer" and many more for MSX, in wonderfully detailed pixel graphics. The last rearing of the standard, the MSX turbo R, with which only Panasonic/Matsushita dared a new beginning from 1990 onwards, was consequently also a purely Japanese phenomenon. The very interesting machine had installed an R800-RISC chip, which was Z80A compatible, but could also switch to a proprietary mode with 29 MHz.
I myself came to MSX by chance. A electronics-loving relative had brought the computer from a wholesale market where he was on offer. It was an MSX 1 from Sony from its "HitBit" line, an HB-75D (the "D" was of course for German keyboard). The 1984 machine had 64 KByte RAM and a connection for a cassette drive, a great cursor pad to play for playing and was made in chic black with grey and red accents.
It was a machine made for young computer enthusiasts, including a easily understandable manual with typical Japanese charm. The integrated BASIC from Microsoft was much better than the annoying POKErei, which you had to perform on a Commodore. I got my first games on cartridge from Konami, which you put into one of two slots. Later, a game master was added, a second cartridge, which was inserted in parallel with a game and which then unlocked cheats and Easter Eggs. I spent countless afternoons with "Nemesis" and his followers, "Penguin Adventure" or "F1 Spirit". I taped dozens of long pages of listings, so that the machine singed a current hit with the not really good original sound chip (unfortunately much worse than that of the 64) or invited me to a round spaceship ball mill.
"Space Manbow" by Konami: One of the dream games of my youth. Unfortunately, they did not want to sell this advertising sign, which is in a showcase – exhibit.
(Image: Ben Schwan)
After Sony's MSX1 followed an MSX2 from Philips. He then already had a built-in 3.5-inch floppy drive and the said better graphic. My last MSX was an MSX2 from Sony, but used and with a repeatedly wobbly contact DIN plug for the keyboard, which I soldered myself together. Since MSX was not widely used in Germany, despite the well-known brand names, there was a nationwide network. There were also MSX fans in Switzerland and especially in the Netherlands. At early, tinkerers and importers were working on a lot of material from Japan, whether they are exciting magazines or (of course, in particular) games. Getting to know other people who had MSX things that had never seen before was always exciting for everyone involved. And an early love for Japan also established itself with many MSX fans, even before you knew the hype about anime and manga in this country.
If you want to deal with MSX today, you have a lot of opportunity to do so. In addition to collecting the hardware itself, which can really go into the money (see below), there are countless locally running emulators. JavaScript-supported Web-Emus such as FileHunter, which provide many of the largest MSX hits and run completely installation-free in the browser, is an entry point. Really great are, for example, "Quarth" and "Space Manbow" by Konami, "Columns" by Sega or "Gorby's Pipeline" by Compile, to name just a few random examples. "SD Snatcher" is an absolute Konami classic, which almost nobody knows.
The MSX0 stack : A current portable MSX clone, which is only medium-good to operate.
(Image: Ben Schwan)
The right dose of MSX is available but only with real hardware. However, you should only buy used MSX calculators (unless you have a landing condition) if they have been maintained and, if necessary, brought back into shooting. If you are from Japan, it needs a power supply converter. Typical retrocomputer problems such as leaked equipment that makes a recapping necessary, drive straps that crumbling, or discolored enclosures are commonplace. And suitable change is also needed with more special models. For example, Japanese dealers are currently selling Sony's very last MSX, the 1989 MSX2+ system HB-F1XV, in an adequate state for almost 1800 dollars. For Panasonic's FS-A1GT, the second and last MSX turbo R (and therefore very last MSX calculators) from 1991, a saying 4000 dollars are being called on eBay for a model including complete accessories.
And the hobbyist scene continues. Platforms such as MSX.org and conferences such as the MSX2 GOTO40 (this year in the fall in Holland) gather screwdrivers, developers and other freaks that have not given up the MSX standard, connect modern hardware, translate games and much more. MSX Father Nishi also remains active. He has been dreaming of MSX 3.
