Msx

The MSX series of computers certainly didn't have a presence in North America but they played a very important role in video game history for many other countries, especially Japan.

Most computer formats in the '80's were manufactured by individual companies; each format was incompatible with its competitors. MSX was different. It was meant to be a universal standard for home computers and thus several models were made by several manufacturers(Sony, Philips, Panasonic, Toshiba, etc.). An MSX computer would play MSX software, regardless of who made the hardware.

The MSX format was developed by ASCII and used Microsoft's BASIC as an operating system. The first MSX computers were released in 1983.

An early MSX computer by Spectravideo.
http://www.funet.fi/pub/msx/photos/h...I-328_605B.jpg

In 1985, the next MSX standard, MSX2, was released. Most of the major MSX manufacturers made MSX2 machines as well.

Yet interest in MSX computers had hit its peak before the '80's were over. The new 1988 standard, MSX2+, was far less popular. Panasonic, Sony and Sanyo were the only companies to make them.

The final MSX standard was MSX Turbo R which began in 1990. These were only made by Panasonic.

http://www.funet.fi/pub/msx/photos/h...fs-a1gt_1.jpeg

As for games, there were several great ones released on MSX formats. Many of the best Japanese developers like Konami, Namco, HAL, Irem and Compile supported it, making its game line-up very similar to the Famicom. Outside of Japan, Western-made computer games were often ported to it.

Here are some pics to give a small taste of the MSX's game catalogue.

Eggerland Mystery - HAL, 1985, MSX
http://users.skynet.be/bk288494/Sect.../eggerland.jpg
The first Lolo game.

Metal Gear 2 - Konami, 1990, MSX2
http://users.skynet.be/bk288494/Sect...metalgear2.jpg

Golvellius - Compile, 1987, MSX
[thumbnail]http://kelesis.free.fr/hp/kelesis/golvellius_screenshots/golvmsx1_shot3.png[/thumbnail]

Golvellius - Compile, 1988, MSX2
[thumbnail]http://kelesis.free.fr/hp/kelesis/golvellius_screenshots/golve_msx2shot.png[/thumbnail]

Space Manbow - Konami, 1989, MSX2
http://users.skynet.be/bk288494/Sect...pacemanbow.jpg
Quite a good shooter.

Aleste - Compile, 1988, MSX2
http://users.skynet.be/bk288494/Sect...screenshot.jpg
The first in Compile's great Aleste series. The second game on MSX is a major improvement.

Aleste Gaiden - Compile, 1989, MSX2
http://kelesis.free.fr/hp/compile/al...ALESTEgaid.png
As the name suggests, this is a side-story to the series. It's an excellent shooter, probably the best one on MSX.

Yie Ar Kung Fu 2 - Konami, 1984, MSX
http://users.skynet.be/bk288494/Sect...res/yiear2.jpg

Out Run - Pony Canyon, 1988, MSX2
[thumbnail]http://www.msx2.com/funet/gamecovers/Out_Run_Pony_Canyon_Sega_back.jpg[/thumbnail]
Most Sega games on MSX were ported by Pony Canyon although a few earlier games like Pro Wrestling and Zaxxon were released by Sega itself.

SD Snatcher - Konami, 1989, MSX2
http://users.skynet.be/bk288494/Sect...sdsnatcher.jpg
Mini-junkers.

Saurus Land - Tomy, 1982, MSX
[thumbnail]http://users.skynet.be/bk288494/Sections/reviews/1982/saurusland-play.gif[/thumbnail]

Star Blazer - Star Craft, 1982, MSX
[thumbnail]http://users.skynet.be/bk288494/Sections/reviews/1982/starblazer-play.gif[/thumbnail]

Night Flight - Colpax/Tomy, 1982
[thumbnail]http://users.skynet.be/bk288494/Sections/reviews/1982/NightFlight-play.gif[/thumbnail]
Saurus Land, Star Blazer, and Night Flight are probably the three earliest MSX releases judging by the year on them.

Your thoughts on the MSX?

Konami's output on MSX was particularly impressive. Castlevania, Goemon, Metal Gear, Snatcher... alot of top franchises were started on the system. Compile definatle had some greats too. Metal Gear 2 remains my top pick on the system

Quote:

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Originally posted by Frogacuda
Konami's output on MSX was particularly impressive. Castlevania, Goemon, Metal Gear, Snatcher... alot of top franchises were started on the system. Compile definatle had some greats too. Metal Gear 2 remains my top pick on the system

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Konami is without a doubt the most important contributor to the MSX's gaming library. Sure, there were other developers, but I don't think ports of Ys, Pac-Man and Highway Stars (Rad Racer) has the same sought-after value as Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, SD Snatcher or even Space Manbow. Konami even managed to got away of putting flyers of their latest MSX products in their Famicom games (and vice-versa). Not everything on the MSX was pure gold (Contra and Dracula were much better in their original NES incarnations), but the best is sure worth it.

Did you know that Metal Gear was not Hideo Kojima's first game? It was actually a story-based side-scrolling platform game called Lost Warld (no type there, the title was a combination of World with War). The game was rejected by Konami and never saw released, but Kojima was asked to do another military-themed game for the new MSX2 standards and thus a Snake was born.

Hell it was practically Konami's console. Quality machine, with some of my favourite early game software. Maybe someday I'll rebuild my collection as emulation has destroyed my old game collection.

how did Rad Racer turn out? im sure i can depend on you for some info on that Johnny Undaunted.

oh, and NeoZeedeater, you and Johnny Undaunted should really get on AIM already. especially you Johnny Undaunted! :mad:

The X68000 was Japan's answer to the Amiga, as near as I can tell. They look like they had a pretty kickass lineup, and maybe one day when I'm feeling evil I'll teh r0mZ0r my way through it.

Maybe one day somebody will publish a collection; we're already getting bits and pieces with things like Castelvania Chronicles.

And I'll warn you now 'zeed- I'm getting red-X-o'mania on that first post.

I always thought the MSX was Konami's machine. :sweat:

I vaguely remember coming across an import Saturn game that appeared to be a MSX collection by Konami. I may be mistaken.

It would be nice to see a Konami MSX and MSX2 compilation released.

StriderKyo, the pictures work fine for me. The X68000 does have a kick-ass line-up, some of the best arcade ports of its time. Although games like Ghouls N Ghosts and Space Harrier have equal/better ports now. We didn't miss out on too many exclusives like Chronicles.

Zerodash, here's what MSX Antiques on Saturn consists of: http://www.geocities.com/opcfg3/msxreview.html

On Playstation the same stuff was released in three separate volumes. It's too bad Konami didn't make one for their later MSX games.

Johnny, I'm interested in knowing more about the Rad Racer port. The only Highway Star I know of on MSX is Way Limit's 1983 car maze game.

Vampire Hunter- the first Vania was released on this system.

And the x6800 supposedly has the best version of Undead Line.