Msx Thread !!!

[utri007]

I have two MSX Computers Spectravideo SVI738 and Toshiba HX10

This is interesting MegaFlashROM SCC+ SD, but it says it requires MSX with at least 64K RAM for DOS1 and FAT12 http://www.msxcartridgeshop.com/

None of my MSX Computers has that much free memory. Would it be useable with those? Or are there any other similar products for MSX?

[Retrofan]

But if you go to the Order page you'll see you can buy the MegaFlashRom with a 512K ram expansion.

They are friendly spanish people, so I've asked by email now about your question to know exactly.

Edit: You see? An answer in 40 seconds: . My translation:

If his MSXs don't have 64K he needs the MFR SCC+ SD with 512K RAM.
With this his computers will have 512K RAM so he can use FAT16, Nextor, 4GB partitions, directories, etc.

About if there is any other sd card cartridge for the MSX I think that no, it doesn't exist. Why? Because to user large partitions as it needs, a new disk operative system was developed by a spanish guy, Konamiman. You can read about Nextor, the operative system here, it's very interesting: http://www.konamiman.com/msx/msx-e.html#nestorbasic

[Retrofan]

I was trying this great game: The Cure http://xl2s.eu.pn/games.html , but I have no Fire button working with any of my joysticks, they just jump. Only the space key works as Fire.

Does the game work this way or do I need another joystick?

[emuola]

Originally Posted by Retrofan

I was trying this great game: The Cure http://xl2s.eu.pn/games.html , but I have no Fire button working with any of my joysticks, they just jump. Only the space key works as Fire.

Does the game work this way or do I need another joystick?

MSX joysticks support 2 buttons (some games require two, others just one = Atari standard).

I guess that game supports/requires a 2-button joystick. I modded one of my Comp Pro joysticks to "MSX compatible".

Pinouts here:

http://old.pinouts.ru/Inputs/Joystic...0_pinout.shtml
http://old.pinouts.ru/Inputs/Joystic...0_pinout.shtml

[Retrofan]

In fact I want to mod a Competition pro too. What cables must I change for the button?

Edit:
You posted twice the Atari pinout. I can see how it goes here:
Atari: http://raspinovca.ru/cocolevca/Atari...ck-Connect.gif
MSX: http://www.gamesx.com/controldata/msx.htm

So it seems I have to use pin 6 instead of pin 7 for the second button?. But the cable only has 6 cables inside, so I would have to use another complete cable?

Edit: Forget it, I've just bought a new MSX Mitsubishi one.

[emuola]

Originally Posted by Retrofan

In fact I want to mod a Competition pro too. What cables must I change for the button?

Edit:
You posted twice the Atari pinout. I can see how it goes here:
Atari: http://raspinovca.ru/cocolevca/Atari...ck-Connect.gif
MSX: http://www.gamesx.com/controldata/msx.htm

So it seems I have to use pin 6 instead of pin 7 for the second button?. But the cable only has 6 cables inside, so I would have to use another complete cable?

Edit: Forget it, I've just bought a new MSX Mitsubishi one.

Ok, for the record my Comp Pro was the "reissue" from Speedlink and it has 8 wires inside the cable, so the mod was really easy.

Please give feedback on the Mitsubishi joystick. I've never used/seen one live

[glenn]

Oh, a MSX thread, havent seen it before, so better write something.

I used a Spectravideo 328 when I was young, the 328 is the "pre-MSX" that the standard mainly was based on, to be honest this computer is what I really prefere, mainly because the super cool expansion systems available.

You simply jacked in a "super expander" in the back of the 328 and then you got cardslots and power in a neat box that you could put your monitor on..

the most basic model is SV601 and that was what I normally use..




Yes, its really yellowish, not only the Amigas suffer from this disease.. you can see the original color of the keys on the swedish keyboard stickers..

This is what it look inside with a few cards in it..



Recently I bought a incomplete SV605B, the large metal version of the super expander, these are pretty rare so I bought it a bit too expensive, even if it missed the lid and was untested..




..I havent got around to test it yet, but will do soon..

In the SV601 I have three expansion cards, the most important is a disk controller, and a external diskdrive to that, then I have a centronics-card for printer (and a old 9pin matrix printer connected to it), and then finally a 80col card, it is a kind of graphics card working pretty much as a gfx-card in an Amiga, when you use it it just disable the normal output and use the one of the card instead, however this card display a 80col monochrome image, normally the computer can output only 40col video, but in color.

This can be nice when programming, but also when running CP/M.

My "collection" of spectravideo 3x8 stuff except what I have in the setup on the photo is two extra SV328's, one broken and one working, and a extra centronics card. I also have a collection of spectravideo joysticks including the weird joyball.


Anyway, this is a MSX thread.. do I have MSX hardware ? Yes ofcourse, and as you might have guessed it is spectravideo MSX hardware

The first MSX I got was a spectravideo 728, basically a 328 with MSX compatiblity, a printer port and not as good expansionsystem.

I also got myself a extra 728, but broken, and I have a couple of 80col cards for those too, that I do not use.. I curerently have no diskdrives for them, but a tape unit.

Tha latest addition is a machine I really wanted when it was new, a spectravicdo 738 X'press.. a MSX "1.5" machine, it have the VDP of MSX2 but not the ROM and VRAM for full MSX2 compatiblity.

I have swapped the badly working SD (360k) 3.5" drive for a brand new samsung HD-drive that I converted to shugart standard and use as a DD-drive, I could have used a Amigadiskdrive instead but didnt want to cannibalise on my Amiga stuff.



The next project is to upgrade the VRAM, unfortunatly my machine is the late version without the additional space for VRAM and RTC on the motherboard, so I'm making an adaptercard in eagle, and will send it away for manufacturing any day now.. then I also have to change the ROM's so I get the machine MSX2-compatible.


I doing a project creating hardware for old spectravideo computers, mainly the 3x8 series, but the VRAM adapter is for 738, and I designing a disk controller for 728 too.. there is not much progress in the projects, mainly because I became a dad twice since I started it, also a lot of people was interested in testing the hardware, noone was interested in helping me develop it, but I work on it sometimes.

My badly updated webpage about it..

http://www.spectravideo.se

Hmm, I just have to post this pic too, it is a photo of my setup I had 1984, I was 10yo as you might see on the pother stuff on my desk

[Retrofan]

Great machine. Thanks for the photos

Originally Posted by emuola

Please give feedback on the Mitsubishi joystick. I've never used/seen one live

It looks very nice and it's NOS, but the stick doesn't make any click, it goes very loose in any movement. I wouldn't recommend it.

But yes, now I've got a working second button .

[gimbal]

*shiver*

pure hardware pr0n.

[Puni/Void]

Here's the old MSX I've had since I was a child. Still works and some of the games are still, honestly, very good - Knightmare and Salamander for example.

I have posted more pics here: https://oldschoolgameblog.com/2016/0...irst-computer/

[glenn]

So your diskdrive in the 738 still works ? ..they are pretty crappy, I swapped mine since it was broken, and I now can use Double sided disks too

(I'm sure I could have fixed the original drive, probably only needed to be cleaned and oiled up.. but since it is just SSDD..)

[Retrofan]

Just to comment that I've seen this cable: http://retrocables.es/tienda/index.p...duct&id_lang=4

It allows you -as it seems- to use a Megadrive pad -he uses Megadrive 2 pads- with two buttons as the MSX needs. I've ordered one and I hope it will support more joysticks too.

I saw it in this video from MSX Land: [ Show youtube player ]

[Higgy]

Hi guys,

I picked up a HX-10 a little while ago. I found a SD card tape emulator project based on an Arduino - the Casduino:

http://arduitapemarkii.blogspot.co.uk/

I have made one using a small Pro Micro clone. It works really well

[amiman99]

I just acquired a Yamaha CX5M computer, trying to learn everything about them.

I noticed that most games did not work on it because the RAM is only 32K.

Anyway, I played with the synth part of the computer and it sounds really good.

[Shatterhand]

There's an adapter that you can build yourself but I've seen people selling it too, called the Megajoy, and it lets you use all 6 buttons of a Mega-Drive pad on an MSX...

of course games have to be written specifically for it, so far I've seen a hacked version of Vampire Killer (AKA Castlevania) to use all 6 buttons and nothing else.

[Shatterhand]

Originally Posted by amiman99

I just acquired a Yamaha CX5M computer, trying to learn everything about them.

I noticed that most games did not work on it because the RAM is only 32K.

Anyway, I played with the synth part of the computer and it sounds really good.

Most games should work with 32k anyway. How are you loading those games?

[amiman99]

Originally Posted by Shatterhand

Most games should work with 32k anyway. How are you loading those games?

I'm using audio from laptop or PSP converted with multiple programs. I have GP2x for playback, but for some reason the MSX does not like it's audio output.
Most caslink2 conversions did not work from ROM files. I can see the name loading but then it hangs or just gives me "OK". The relay clicks when the load is done, so I can see that it knows the file is done.

Almost all CAS files in OTLA loads will give me error on Win98 (does not work on my Win7 64bit), some will work, I like the speed.

CAS2WAV looks best, but some games give OK, or not enough RAM errors.

I'm trying to use WAV files instead MP3 for better compatibility, but some wav files are non standard that my PSP can not play it.

for ROM files converted I'm using BLOAD"CAS:",r
for CAS files converted with CAS2WAV I'm using RUN"CAS:" - best compatibility.


So, it's been an adventure.

[Higgy]

Here is a picture of the tape emulator in use:




And one of the inside:


155157

[Retrofan]

Hi:
I've received the cable I commented: http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=...&postcount=594

And it's a must-have. I've got a QuickShot Chimera 3 as my favourite joystick, and the second buttons works perfect (I've played The Cure http://xl2s.eu.pn/games.html ). I guess the second button will work in the MSX with almost whatever joystick using this cable adapter .

Ups! Post 5000

[Retrofan]

I've just seen this game, also in cartridge, Sector 88:

[ Show youtube player ]

https://www.msx.org/forum/msx-talk/s...-magazine-game