Difference between revisions of "MSX emulators"

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|title = MSX
 
|title = MSX
 
|logo = Msx.png
 
|logo = Msx.png
|developer = Microsoft Japan, Sanyo
+
|developer = Microsoft, ASCII Corporation
 
|type = [[:Category:Computers|Computers]]
 
|type = [[:Category:Computers|Computers]]
 
|generation = Z80-based home computers
 
|generation = Z80-based home computers
Line 8: Line 8:
 
|discontinued = 1996
 
|discontinued = 1996
 
|emulated = {{✓}}
 
|emulated = {{✓}}
}}'''MSX''' is a [[wikipedia:Zilog_Z80|Z80]]-based family of home computers, designed by Microsoft in cooperation with ASCII Corporation, which appeared in 1983. They were popular in Asian, South American and European countries as well as the former [[wikipedia:Soviet_Union|Soviet Union]], but they are virtually unknown in USA.
+
}}
 +
'''MSX''' is a [[wikipedia:Zilog_Z80|Z80]]-based family of home computers, designed by Microsoft in cooperation with ASCII Corporation, which appeared in 1983. They were popular in Asian, South American and European countries as well as the former [[wikipedia:Soviet_Union|Soviet Union]], but are virtually unknown in North America.
  
The games came either as cassettes or floppy disks, but only the former is preserved on the No-Intro set for now. You'll also need an extensive BIOS pack, though RA's bluemsx core only requires four. There are game manager tools to help with configuring which BIOS and games come with which feature. The Japanese Wii [[Virtual Console]] also included basic MSX 2 emulation.
+
MSX software came on a variety of media, including cassette tapes, 3.5" floppy disks, ROM cartridges, and even LaserDiscs. Only ROM cartridges are preserved on the No-Intro set for now. You'll also need an extensive BIOS ROM pack, though if you're using the blueMSX core in RetroArch, you'll only need four of them. There are game manager tools to help with configuring which BIOS and games come with which feature. The Japanese Wii [[Virtual Console]] also included basic MSX 2 emulation.
 
 
==Generations==
 
 
 
The MSX standard evolved in several steps, which are reflected in greater or lesser support by emulators:
 
 
 
* ''the MSX 1'' is the original 1983 machine, with a 3.58Mhz Z80, an AY 3-8910 sound chip, and a TMS video processor — it offers resolutions up to 256x192 with attribute-based colours, single-colour sprites and no hardware scrolling. This machine primarily differs from contemporaries such as the ColecoVision and Sega SC-3000 only in its sound chip;
 
* ''the MSX 2'' is a 1985 revision that significantly upgrades the video processor; the maximum resolution is now 512x212, sprites are up to 16 colour, hardware vertical scrolling is available, more normative bitmap and non-attribute-based tile colour modes are offered, and primitive graphics acceleration is available — the video processor can independently perform tasks such as drawing lines and filling rectangles. Unlike the TMS chip in the MSX 1, no other machines use this video processor, so MSX 2 emulation is attempted less often than MSX 1 emulation;
 
* ''the MSX 2+'' is a minor revision from 1988 that adds hardware support for horizontal scrolling and a few extra colour modes; some 2+ models offer an optional modest speed improvement to the Z80 to 5.37Mhz;
 
* ''the TurboR'' from 1990 offers the R800 processor as an alternative to the Z80, which is an offspring of the Z800, offering Z80 backwards compatibility with significantly increased throughput.
 
 
 
Commercial software overwhelmingly targets the MSX 1 or MSX 2 standards, with some able to benefit from the improved horizontal scrolling of the MSX 2+. Neither the 2+ nor the TurboR sold in substantial volumes, and a proposed MSX 3 standard never reached consumers.
 
 
 
==Specific Machines==
 
{{Main|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSX#Manufacturers Manufacturers list}} (Wikipedia)
 
 
 
MSX machines were manufactured by a wide range of companies including Pioneer, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, Sanyo, Philips and LG Goldstar. Some of the notable machines include:
 
 
 
* the '''Pioneer Palcom PX-7''', an MSX1 computer aimed at the Japanese market. It was meant for attaching to a [[LaserDisc]] player, and as such has Superimpose capabilities (putting pictures and texts above the Laser Disc image). The PSG sound is stereo, contrary to almost all MSX machines. Pioneer also sold the '''ER-101''' interface (Laser Vision) unit which made it possible for all MSX computers to have the same functionalities as the Palcom PX-7;
 
* Panasonic's '''FS-A1''' (1986), '''FS-A1mkII''' (W/ added keypad) and its Italian counterpart, the '''Toshiba FS-TM1''' were based on the MSX2 standard; and
 
* Panasonic's '''FS-A1FX''' (1988) and '''FS-A1WX''' (W/ added MSX-MUSIC & a Japanese Word processor) are MSX 2+ derived hardware; the '''FS-A1WSX''' (1989) was the last MSX 2+ computer.
 
  
 
==Emulators==
 
==Emulators==
 +
<div style="max-width:100%; overflow:auto;">
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
 
! scope="col"|Name
 
! scope="col"|Name
 
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
 
! scope="col"|Platform(s)
 
! scope="col"|Latest Version
 
! scope="col"|Latest Version
! scope="col"|Active
 
 
! score="col"|MSX 1
 
! score="col"|MSX 1
 
! score="col"|MSX 2
 
! score="col"|MSX 2
 
! score="col"|MSX 2+
 
! score="col"|MSX 2+
 
! score="col"|TurboR
 
! score="col"|TurboR
! scope="col"|[[Emulation Accuracy|Accuracy]]
+
! scope="col"|[[Emulation accuracy|Accuracy]]
! scope="col"|[[libretro|Libretro Core]]
+
! scope="col"|[[libretro]]
! scope="col"|[[Recommended Emulators|Recommended]]
+
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>
 +
! scope="col"|Active
 +
! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]
 
|-
 
|-
!colspan="11"|PC / x86
+
!colspan="12"|PC / x86
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[openMSX]]
 
|[[openMSX]]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
|[https://github.com/openMSX/openMSX/releases/tag/RELEASE_0_15_0 0.15.0]
+
|[https://github.com/openMSX/openMSX/releases git]  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 +
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
|{{}}  
+
||Cycle ||{{}} ||{{✓}} ||{{}} ||{{✓}}
|{{✓}}  
 
||Cycle ||{{}} ||{{✓}}
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[blueMSX]]
 
|[[blueMSX]]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}<ref group=N name=libretro>Only available outside of Windows as a libretro core (e.g. [[RetroArch]]).</ref>
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}<ref group=N name=libretro>Only available outside of Windows as a libretro core (e.g. [[RetroArch]]).</ref>
|[http://www.vik.cc/bluemsx/download.html 2.8.2]
+
|[http://www.vik.cc/bluemsx/download.html 2.8.2]  
|{{✗}}
 
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
||Cycle ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
+
||Cycle ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[MAME]]
 
|[[MAME]]
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|[http://www.mamedev.org/release.html {{MAMEVer}}]
 
|[http://www.mamedev.org/release.html {{MAMEVer}}]
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
|{{~}}
+
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{~}}  
 
|{{~}}  
|{{~}}  
+
||High ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
|{{~}}  
+
|-
||High ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
+
|[http://webmsx.org/ WebMSX]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Web}}
 +
|[https://github.com/ppeccin/WebMSX/releases git]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
||High ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}  ||{{✓}}
 +
|-
 +
|[[fMSX]]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
 +
|[http://fms.komkon.org/fMSX/#Downloads {{fMSXVer}}]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
||Mid ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
 +
|-
 +
|[[ares]]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
 +
|[https://github.com/ares-emulator/ares/releases {{aresVer}}]
 +
|{{✓}}||{{✓}}||?||?||?||{{✗}}||{{✓}}||{{✓}}||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Clock Signal|CLK]]
 
|[[Clock Signal|CLK]]
|align=left|{{Icon|macOS|FreeBSD}}
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
|[https://github.com/TomHarte/CLK/releases {{clkver}}]
+
|[https://github.com/TomHarte/CLK/releases {{clkVer}}]
|{{✓}}
 
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
||Cycle ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
||Cycle ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Pantheon]]
 
|[[Pantheon]]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 
|[http://bostjan-grandovec.si/Content/News.htm {{PantheonVer}}]
 
|[http://bostjan-grandovec.si/Content/News.htm {{PantheonVer}}]
|{{✓}}
 
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{~}}  
 
|{{~}}  
 
|{{~}}  
 
|{{~}}  
||High ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
|High
|-
+
|{{✗}}
|[http://webmsx.org/ WebMSX]
+
|{{✗}}
|align=left|{{Icon|Web}}
 
|[https://github.com/ppeccin/WebMSX Git]
 
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
|{{✓}}
+
|{{✗}}
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✗}}
 
||High ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[MSXPLAYer]]<br/><small>(fMSX based)</small>
 
|[[MSXPLAYer]]<br/><small>(fMSX based)</small>
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 
|<small>MSX Game Reader<br/>(Commercial)</small>
 
|<small>MSX Game Reader<br/>(Commercial)</small>
|{{✗}}
 
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{~}}  
 
|{{~}}  
 
|{{~}}  
 
|{{~}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
||Mid ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
||Mid ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}} ||{{✗}}
|-
 
|[[fMSX]]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
 
|[http://fms.komkon.org/fMSX/#Downloads 5.4]
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✗}}
 
||Mid ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20071206014650/http://www.dridus.com:80/~nyef/darcnes/ DarcNES]
 
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20071206014650/http://www.dridus.com:80/~nyef/darcnes/ DarcNES]
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
 
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
 
|[https://segaretro.org/DarcNES 9b0401/9b0313]
 
|[https://segaretro.org/DarcNES 9b0401/9b0313]
|{{✗}}
 
 
|{{~}}
 
|{{~}}
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
||Low ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
||Low ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
!colspan="11"|Mobile / ARM
+
!colspan="12"|Mobile / ARM
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[http://www.explusalpha.com/home/msx-emu MSX.emu]<br/><small>(blueMSX tech)</small>
 
|[http://www.explusalpha.com/home/msx-emu MSX.emu]<br/><small>(blueMSX tech)</small>
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Linux|webOS}}
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Linux}}<br>{{Icon|webOS|Pandora|Pyra}}
|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.explusalpha.MsxEmu 1.5.43]<br />[https://github.com/Rakashazi/emu-ex-plus-alpha Git]
+
|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.explusalpha.MsxEmu {{.emuVer}}]<br/>[https://pyra-handheld.com/repo/apps/78 1.5.46.02 Pyra][https://repo.openpandora.org/?page=detail&app=MSXemu_ptitseb Build 16 Pandora]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|High
 +
|{{✗}}
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="12"|Consoles
 +
|-
 +
| [[fMSX]] PSP
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|PSP}}
 +
| [https://archive.org/details/fmsxpsp.7z 5.4.2]<br/>[https://github.com/8bitpsp/fms git]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|Mid
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|-
 +
| PSPMSX
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|PSP}}
 +
| [http://zx81.zx81.free.fr/serendipity/index.php?/archives/368-PSPMSX-MSX-Emulator-for-PSP-v1.5.1-Irda-Joy.html 1.5.1]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|Mid
 +
|{{✗}}
 
|{{~}}
 
|{{~}}
|{{~}}  
+
|{{✗}}
|{{~}}  
+
|{{✓}}
|{{~}}  
+
|-
||High ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}
+
|MiiSX
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Wii}}
 +
|[http://wiibrew.org/wiki/MiiSX 0.4]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|?
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{}}
 +
|-
 +
|BlueMSXbox
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Xbox}}
 +
|[https://digiex.net/threads/bluemsxbox-v8-download-msx-msx2-msx2-emulator-for-xbox.13764/ v8]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
 +
|-
 +
|[http://msxds.msxblue.com/ msxDS]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|NDS}}
 +
|0.94
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}}
 
|-
 
|-
|[https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/threads/emu-ex-plus-alpha-ported-to-the-pandora.70450/ MSX.emu]<br/><small>(blueMSX tech)</small>
+
|DreamMSX DC
|align=left|{{Icon|Pandora}}
+
|align=left|{{Icon|DC}}
|[https://repo.openpandora.org/?page=detail&app=MSXemu_ptitseb Build 15]
+
|[https://consolecopyworld.com/dc/dc_emulators.shtml#DreamMSX 0.2g]
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
|{{~}}
+
|{{}}  
|{{~}}  
+
|?
|{{~}}  
+
|{{✗}}
|{{~}}  
+
|? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
||High ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}
+
|-
 +
|UltraMSX2
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|N64}}
 +
|[https://www.zophar.net/utilities/n64util/ultramsx2.html 1.0]
 +
|?
 +
|{{}}  
 +
|?
 +
|{{}}  
 +
|? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{}}
 
|}
 
|}
 +
</div>
 
<references group=N />
 
<references group=N />
 +
 +
You may also want to check out [http://takeda-toshiya.my.coocan.jp/ Takeda Toshiya's website] for emulators of many old Japanese computer systems (see the Download section of [http://takeda-toshiya.my.coocan.jp/common/index.html the Common Source Code Project]). Includes yayaMSX1, yayaMSX2, yayaMSX2+ (MSX/MSX2/MSX2+ emulators by Mr.tanam and Mr.umaiboux), yayaFS-A1 (by Mr.umaiboux) and ePX-7. [http://www.emu-france.com/emulateurs/10-ordinateurs/282-takeda-emulation/ Emu-France] also has a bunch of Takeda's emulators mirrored. Their downloads are smaller than Takeda's own releases.
  
 
===Comparisons===
 
===Comparisons===
;[[openMSX]]:Another open source project in active development. In recent years, it has surpassed blueMSX in terms of accuracy and the quantity of emulated hardware.
+
====PC====
;[[blueMSX]]:An open source project that's cycle accurate with very high compatibility.
+
;[[openMSX]]
;WebMSX:An open-source MSX emulator written in HTML5 and JavaScript. It can install as a WebApp on iOS/Android/Desktop, and then run offline. An extensive list of Features can be found at its GitHub page. It has customizable touch controls/virtual keyboard that suit Android and iOS usage, and you can join friends in multiplayer games. [https://www.msx.org/news/en/new-webmsx-emulator Made by Paulo Peccin (ppeccin)].
+
:In recent years, it surpassed blueMSX in terms of accuracy and hardware support. It's also the only MSX emulator that supports Palcom LaserDisc games.
;[[MSXPLAYer]]:This commercial emulator from the early 2000's were initially found bundled with magazines or hardware. Nowadays, the most recent version of [https://www.msx.org/wiki/MSX-PLAYer MSXPLAYer] is to be found accompanied with the MSX Game Reader released in 2004-2005. [https://www.msx.org/articles/msxplayer-gamereader-edition Its emulation accuracy of MSX 1 was only above average, but its TurboR accuracy was surprisingly good.]
+
 
 +
;[[blueMSX]]
 +
:An inactive open source project with cycle accuracy and, thus, very high compatibility. It is also available as a libretro core.
 +
 
 +
;WebMSX
 +
:An HTML5 emulator written in JavaScript by Paulo Peccin (ppeccin).<ref>https://www.msx.org/news/en/new-webmsx-emulator</ref> It can be installed as a web app on iOS/Android/Desktop, and run offline. It has customizable touch controls and a virtual keyboard for mobile usage, and netplay support for multiplayer games. A more extensive list of features can be found at its GitHub page.
  
<u>'''Mobile:'''</u>
+
;[[MSXPLAYer]]
;MSX.emu:An open-source emulator that uses blueMSX's emulation backend and built on top of the developer's Imagine engine used in all his applications. It emulates the MSX range and [[ColecoVision_emulators|ColecoVision]]. Most MSX games should run & audio can be good. [[SG-1000 emulators|Sega SG-1000]] support is planned in the future. Contact developer for the [http://cydia.saurik.com/package/com.explusalpha.msxemu/ Cydia store version] on [http://www.explusalpha.com/home/general-info/platforms/ios iOS].
+
:A commercial emulator from the early 2000s that was also distributed through magazines and hardware.<ref>https://www.msx.org/wiki/MSX-PLAYer</ref> Its most recent version was accompanied with the MSX Game Reader produced between 2004 and 2005. The accuracy of its MSX 1 emulation was only above average, but it had surprisingly good TurboR accuracy.<ref>https://www.msx.org/articles/msxplayer-gamereader-edition</ref>
  
;<u>Lists:</u>
+
====Mobile====
:- [http://takeda-toshiya.my.coocan.jp/ Official website of Takeda] consisting of Takeda Toshiya's emulators for many old Japanese computer systems (See Source Code & Binary Archives under the Download sector [http://takeda-toshiya.my.coocan.jp/common/index.html here]. Includes yayaMSX1, yayaMSX2, yayaMSX2+ (MSX/MSX2/MSX2+ emulators by Mr.tanam and Mr.umaiboux), yayaFS-A1 (by Mr.umaiboux) and ePX-7.)
+
;MSX.emu
::- [http://www.emu-france.com/emulateurs/10-ordinateurs/282-takeda-emulation/ Takeda Common Binaries] (An archive of all Takeda emulators for Japanese systems including the FM-7 at Emu-France.com. Smaller file size than at the official website.)
+
:Uses blueMSX's emulation backend and built on top of the developer's Imagine engine used in all his applications. It emulates the MSX range and [[ColecoVision_emulators|ColecoVision]]. Most MSX games should run, and audio can be good. [[SG-1000 emulators|Sega SG-1000]] support is planned in the future. Contact the developer for the [http://cydia.saurik.com/package/com.explusalpha.msxemu/ Cydia store version] on [http://www.explusalpha.com/home/general-info/platforms/ios iOS].
 +
 
 +
==Hardware Variants==
 +
===Generations===
 +
There were multiple revisions to the MSX standard, reflected in greater or lesser support by emulators:
 +
 
 +
* ''the MSX 1'' is the original 1983 machine, with a 3.58Mhz Z80, an AY 3-8910 sound chip, and a TMS video processor — it offers resolutions up to 256x192 with attribute-based colours, single-colour sprites and no hardware scrolling. This machine primarily differs from contemporaries such as the ColecoVision and Sega SC-3000 only in its sound chip;
 +
* ''the MSX 2'' is a 1985 revision that significantly upgrades the video processor; the maximum resolution is now 512x212, sprites are up to 16 colour, hardware vertical scrolling is available, more normative bitmap and non-attribute-based tile colour modes are offered, and primitive graphics acceleration is available — the video processor can independently perform tasks such as drawing lines and filling rectangles. Unlike the TMS chip in the MSX 1, no other machines use this video processor, so MSX 2 emulation is attempted less often than MSX 1 emulation;
 +
* ''the MSX 2+'' is a minor revision from 1988 that adds hardware support for horizontal scrolling and a few extra colour modes; some 2+ models offer an optional modest speed improvement to the Z80 to 5.37Mhz;
 +
* ''the TurboR'' from 1990 offers the R800 processor as an alternative to the Z80, which is an offspring of the Z800, offering Z80 backwards compatibility with significantly increased throughput.
 +
 
 +
Commercial software overwhelmingly targets the MSX 1 or MSX 2 standards, with some able to benefit from the improved horizontal scrolling of the MSX 2+. Neither the 2+ nor the TurboR sold in substantial volumes, and a proposed MSX 3 standard never reached consumers.
 +
 
 +
===Specific models===
 +
{{Main|wikipedia:MSX#Manufacturers{{!}}Manufacturers list}} (Wikipedia)
 +
 
 +
MSX machines were manufactured by a wide range of companies including Pioneer, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, Sanyo, Philips and LG Goldstar. Some of the notable machines include:
 +
 
 +
* the '''Pioneer Palcom PX-7''', an MSX1 computer aimed at the Japanese market. It was meant for attaching to a [[LaserDisc]] player, and as such has Superimpose capabilities (putting pictures and texts above the Laser Disc image). The PSG sound is stereo, contrary to almost all MSX machines. Pioneer also sold the '''ER-101''' interface (Laser Vision) unit which made it possible for all MSX computers to have the same functionalities as the Palcom PX-7;
 +
* Panasonic's '''FS-A1''' (1986), '''FS-A1mkII''' (W/ added keypad) and its Italian counterpart, the '''Toshiba FS-TM1''' were based on the MSX2 standard; and
 +
* Panasonic's '''FS-A1FX''' (1988) and '''FS-A1WX''' (W/ added MSX-MUSIC & a Japanese Word processor) are MSX 2+ derived hardware; the '''FS-A1WSX''' (1989) was the last MSX 2+ computer.
  
 
==Resources==
 
==Resources==
Line 183: Line 264:
 
* [http://www.faq.msxnet.org/suffix.html ROM and disk images] (The Ultimate MSX FAQ)
 
* [http://www.faq.msxnet.org/suffix.html ROM and disk images] (The Ultimate MSX FAQ)
 
* [http://www.msxcartridgeshop.com/ MegaFlashRom] (MSX Cartridge Shop. Cartridge with flash ROM memory.)
 
* [http://www.msxcartridgeshop.com/ MegaFlashRom] (MSX Cartridge Shop. Cartridge with flash ROM memory.)
 +
 +
==References==
 +
{{reflist}}
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==

Revision as of 22:39, 11 August 2022

MSX
Msx.png
Developer Microsoft, ASCII Corporation
Type Computers
Generation Z80-based home computers
Release date 1983
Discontinued 1996
Emulated

MSX is a Z80-based family of home computers, designed by Microsoft in cooperation with ASCII Corporation, which appeared in 1983. They were popular in Asian, South American and European countries as well as the former Soviet Union, but are virtually unknown in North America.

MSX software came on a variety of media, including cassette tapes, 3.5" floppy disks, ROM cartridges, and even LaserDiscs. Only ROM cartridges are preserved on the No-Intro set for now. You'll also need an extensive BIOS ROM pack, though if you're using the blueMSX core in RetroArch, you'll only need four of them. There are game manager tools to help with configuring which BIOS and games come with which feature. The Japanese Wii Virtual Console also included basic MSX 2 emulation.

Emulators

Name Platform(s) Latest Version MSX 1 MSX 2 MSX 2+ TurboR Accuracy libretro FLOSS Active Recommended
PC / x86
openMSX Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git Cycle
blueMSX Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD [N 1] 2.8.2 Cycle
MAME Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 0.264 ~ High
WebMSX Web git High
fMSX Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 6.0 Mid ~
ares Windows Linux macOS v136 ? ? ?
CLK Linux macOS FreeBSD 2024-01-22 Cycle
Pantheon Windows 13.640 ~ ~ High
MSXPLAYer
(fMSX based)
Windows MSX Game Reader
(Commercial)
~ ~ Mid
DarcNES Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 9b0401/9b0313 ~ Low
Mobile / ARM
MSX.emu
(blueMSX tech)
Android iOS Linux
webOS Pandora Dragonbox Pyra
1.5.77
1.5.46.02 PyraBuild 16 Pandora
High
Consoles
fMSX PSP PSP 5.4.2
git
Mid
PSPMSX PSP 1.5.1 Mid ~
MiiSX Wii 0.4 ?
BlueMSXbox Xbox v8 ?
msxDS Nintendo DS 0.94 ?
DreamMSX DC Dreamcast 0.2g ? ?
UltraMSX2 Nintendo 64 1.0 ? ? ?
  1. Only available outside of Windows as a libretro core (e.g. RetroArch).

You may also want to check out Takeda Toshiya's website for emulators of many old Japanese computer systems (see the Download section of the Common Source Code Project). Includes yayaMSX1, yayaMSX2, yayaMSX2+ (MSX/MSX2/MSX2+ emulators by Mr.tanam and Mr.umaiboux), yayaFS-A1 (by Mr.umaiboux) and ePX-7. Emu-France also has a bunch of Takeda's emulators mirrored. Their downloads are smaller than Takeda's own releases.

Comparisons

PC

openMSX
In recent years, it surpassed blueMSX in terms of accuracy and hardware support. It's also the only MSX emulator that supports Palcom LaserDisc games.
blueMSX
An inactive open source project with cycle accuracy and, thus, very high compatibility. It is also available as a libretro core.
WebMSX
An HTML5 emulator written in JavaScript by Paulo Peccin (ppeccin).[1] It can be installed as a web app on iOS/Android/Desktop, and run offline. It has customizable touch controls and a virtual keyboard for mobile usage, and netplay support for multiplayer games. A more extensive list of features can be found at its GitHub page.
MSXPLAYer
A commercial emulator from the early 2000s that was also distributed through magazines and hardware.[2] Its most recent version was accompanied with the MSX Game Reader produced between 2004 and 2005. The accuracy of its MSX 1 emulation was only above average, but it had surprisingly good TurboR accuracy.[3]

Mobile

MSX.emu
Uses blueMSX's emulation backend and built on top of the developer's Imagine engine used in all his applications. It emulates the MSX range and ColecoVision. Most MSX games should run, and audio can be good. Sega SG-1000 support is planned in the future. Contact the developer for the Cydia store version on iOS.

Hardware Variants

Generations

There were multiple revisions to the MSX standard, reflected in greater or lesser support by emulators:

  • the MSX 1 is the original 1983 machine, with a 3.58Mhz Z80, an AY 3-8910 sound chip, and a TMS video processor — it offers resolutions up to 256x192 with attribute-based colours, single-colour sprites and no hardware scrolling. This machine primarily differs from contemporaries such as the ColecoVision and Sega SC-3000 only in its sound chip;
  • the MSX 2 is a 1985 revision that significantly upgrades the video processor; the maximum resolution is now 512x212, sprites are up to 16 colour, hardware vertical scrolling is available, more normative bitmap and non-attribute-based tile colour modes are offered, and primitive graphics acceleration is available — the video processor can independently perform tasks such as drawing lines and filling rectangles. Unlike the TMS chip in the MSX 1, no other machines use this video processor, so MSX 2 emulation is attempted less often than MSX 1 emulation;
  • the MSX 2+ is a minor revision from 1988 that adds hardware support for horizontal scrolling and a few extra colour modes; some 2+ models offer an optional modest speed improvement to the Z80 to 5.37Mhz;
  • the TurboR from 1990 offers the R800 processor as an alternative to the Z80, which is an offspring of the Z800, offering Z80 backwards compatibility with significantly increased throughput.

Commercial software overwhelmingly targets the MSX 1 or MSX 2 standards, with some able to benefit from the improved horizontal scrolling of the MSX 2+. Neither the 2+ nor the TurboR sold in substantial volumes, and a proposed MSX 3 standard never reached consumers.

Specific models

Main article: Manufacturers list (Wikipedia)

MSX machines were manufactured by a wide range of companies including Pioneer, Panasonic, Sharp, Sony, Sanyo, Philips and LG Goldstar. Some of the notable machines include:

  • the Pioneer Palcom PX-7, an MSX1 computer aimed at the Japanese market. It was meant for attaching to a LaserDisc player, and as such has Superimpose capabilities (putting pictures and texts above the Laser Disc image). The PSG sound is stereo, contrary to almost all MSX machines. Pioneer also sold the ER-101 interface (Laser Vision) unit which made it possible for all MSX computers to have the same functionalities as the Palcom PX-7;
  • Panasonic's FS-A1 (1986), FS-A1mkII (W/ added keypad) and its Italian counterpart, the Toshiba FS-TM1 were based on the MSX2 standard; and
  • Panasonic's FS-A1FX (1988) and FS-A1WX (W/ added MSX-MUSIC & a Japanese Word processor) are MSX 2+ derived hardware; the FS-A1WSX (1989) was the last MSX 2+ computer.

Resources

References

External links