A couple of weeks ago I revived my old MSX2 computer (SONY HB-F500F). I immediately sourced from Japan a cartridge of Vampire Killer edited by Konami in 1986. The plot is basic, but my recollection of the game was delightful. Simon Belmont (シモン・ベルモンド), you, must find Dracula in his vast satanic castle and slay him! Few tried to turn the beast into whipped cream but failed miserably. To be honest, I was a bit anxious to play this game some 32 years later. But after booting into the game, my fear vanished pronto. The gameplay, the graphics, and the music were as good as I remembered them. Something else vanished as well: my player skills!
Man, I never owned an MSX machine. Did own a TI 99/4A. Still have my C-64 and C-128 and a CoCo. I love those graphics! Sprite main character (I assume), but look at that background! Lots of colors is nice, but you can do so much with two colors in an 8×8 block to give a decent setting! Awesome!
Man, I never owned an MSX machine. Did own a TI 99/4A. Still have my C-64 and C-128 and a CoCo. I love those graphics! Sprite main character (I assume), but look at that background! Lots of colors is nice, but you can do so much with two colors in an 8×8 block to give a decent setting! Awesome!
Many MSX game cartridges have an availability to be converted from ROM to data storage like floppy disk or cassette tape. Unfortunately, MSX2 cartridge was not available, may it has higher data size than 64KB which it cannot be converted to cassette tape storage.
So, many owners of MSX are still have limited number of games to use, as MSX2 owners benefit from higher computer specifications.
Thank you Jamel Tayeb for sharing the MSX hardware and utilities.
Have a nice weekend
Many MSX game cartridges have an availability to be converted from ROM to data storage like floppy disk or cassette tape. Unfortunately, MSX2 cartridge was not available, may it has higher data size than 64KB which it cannot be converted to cassette tape storage.
So, many owners of MSX are still have limited number of games to use, as MSX2 owners benefit from higher computer specifications.
Thank you Jamel Tayeb for sharing the MSX hardware and utilities.
Have a nice weekend
James Gardiner thank you for your comment. I had the same 2 color limitation (but on an 8 pixels segment, not a block) with my DAI (InData). This Belgian computer had an amazing resolution of 528 x 240 pixels though. It is known as a design initially developed for TI UK, but TI US rejected it to finally adapt its 99/4A for the European market.
It is funny, on Friday I was talking with two friends and we laughed at ourselves finding the Videopac (Philips) graphics stunning, commenting on “how the gorilla was cool” and that “tank was so realistic”. Well that gorilla and that tank were the same block of huge pixels 🙂 We agreed that the real magic didn’t happen on the screen, but in our heads supported by the beautiful artworks on the packaging.
James Gardiner thank you for your comment. I had the same 2 color limitation (but on an 8 pixels segment, not a block) with my DAI (InData). This Belgian computer had an amazing resolution of 528 x 240 pixels though. It is known as a design initially developed for TI UK, but TI US rejected it to finally adapt its 99/4A for the European market.
It is funny, on Friday I was talking with two friends and we laughed at ourselves finding the Videopac (Philips) graphics stunning, commenting on “how the gorilla was cool” and that “tank was so realistic”. Well that gorilla and that tank were the same block of huge pixels 🙂 We agreed that the real magic didn’t happen on the screen, but in our heads supported by the beautiful artworks on the packaging.
MOHAMAD GHOUL thank you for your comment. Yes, that was indeed a common thing we used to do (transferring the ROMs content to floppy disks :)). As you mentioned it, the mega ROMs – allegedly the best games – could definitively not land onto a cassette tape or sometimes a floppy). Unfortunately for me, I lost all my floppies over the years (or I could not locate them in my treasure trove). Right now, I plan to buy cartridges for the games I really loved. I may very well end as you wrote, with only few of them 🙂 Have a great week!
MOHAMAD GHOUL thank you for your comment. Yes, that was indeed a common thing we used to do (transferring the ROMs content to floppy disks :)). As you mentioned it, the mega ROMs – allegedly the best games – could definitively not land onto a cassette tape or sometimes a floppy). Unfortunately for me, I lost all my floppies over the years (or I could not locate them in my treasure trove). Right now, I plan to buy cartridges for the games I really loved. I may very well end as you wrote, with only few of them 🙂 Have a great week!
Jamel Tayeb
The Vampire Killer is one of the interesting adventure game. I hope you find the best choice of cartridges and recover your lost floppies. Here is one of my MSX ROM cartridges that was my 1st bought game in 1991, It is the ROAD FIGHTER, it was available on cassette tape and takes time to reach the cassette player counter to 032. Probably, I consider it a 32KB, and other longer games may take 064 for loading as maximum RAM is 64KB on MSX computer.
https://plus.google.com/photos/…
Jamel Tayeb
The Vampire Killer is one of the interesting adventure game. I hope you find the best choice of cartridges and recover your lost floppies. Here is one of my MSX ROM cartridges that was my 1st bought game in 1991, It is the ROAD FIGHTER, it was available on cassette tape and takes time to reach the cassette player counter to 032. Probably, I consider it a 32KB, and other longer games may take 064 for loading as maximum RAM is 64KB on MSX computer.
https://plus.google.com/photos/…
MOHAMAD GHOUL this is a good game! Really nice gameplay, nice graphics and increasing difficulty. I recall the oil spill and ramming into opponents cars 🙂 You have good taste Mohamad!
MOHAMAD GHOUL this is a good game! Really nice gameplay, nice graphics and increasing difficulty. I recall the oil spill and ramming into opponents cars 🙂 You have good taste Mohamad!
Jamel Tayeb Thank you for your kind words, and the recall of 90’s gaming history.
Jamel Tayeb Thank you for your kind words, and the recall of 90’s gaming history.