Difference between revisions of "MSX emulators"

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(→‎Generations: Note on MSX1 PC "Pioneer Palcom PX-7".)
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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|Home computer]]
 
|generation = Z80-based home computers
 
|generation = Z80-based home computers
−
|release = 1983
+
|release=1983 (MSX)<br>1985 (MSX2)<br>1988 (MSX2+)<br>1990 (MSX turbo R)
−
|discontinued = 1996
+
|discontinued=1993 (MSX turbo R)
 
|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.
+
}}
 +
{{For|other emulators that run on MSX|Emulators on MSX}}''
  
−
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''' 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.
  
−
==Generations==
+
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.
−
 
 
−
{{Main|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSX#Manufacturers Manufacturers list}} (Wikipedia)
 
−
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 '''Pioneer Palcom PX-7''' is a 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;
 
−
* ''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. Panasonic's '''FS-A1''' (1986), '''FS-A1mkII''' (W/ added keypad) and its Italian counterpart, the '''Toshiba FS-TM1''' were based on this standard;
 
−
* ''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. Panasonic's '''FS-A1FX''' (1988) and '''FS-A1WX''' (W/ added MSX-MUSIC & a Japanese Word processor), while the '''FS-A1WSX''' (1989) was the last MSX 2+ computer;
 
−
* ''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.
 
  
 
==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"|Operating System(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"|[[Accuracy]]
+
! scope="col"|[[Emulation accuracy|Accuracy]]
−
! scope="col"|[[libretro|Libretro Core]]
+
! scope="col"|[[libretro]]
 +
! scope="col"|<small>[https://retroachievements.org/gameList.php?c=29 Retro<br/>Achievements]</small>
 +
! scope="col"|<abbr title="Free/Libre and Open-Source Software">FLOSS</abbr>
 +
! scope="col"|Active
 
! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]
 
! scope="col"|[[Recommended emulators|Recommended]]
 
|-
 
|-
−
|[[blueMSX]]
+
!colspan="13"|PC / x86
−
|Windows, Multi-platform<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]
+
|[[openMSX]]
−
|{{✗}}
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
 +
|[https://github.com/openMSX/openMSX/releases 19.1]  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 +
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
−
|{{✓}} ||Cycle ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
+
||Cycle ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
 
|-
 
|-
−
|[[openMSX]]
+
|[[blueMSX]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/bluemsx/ blueMSX_libretro]</small>
−
|Multi-platform
+
|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>
−
|[https://github.com/openMSX/openMSX/releases/tag/RELEASE_0_14_0 0.14.0]
+
|[http://www.vik.cc/bluemsx/download.html 2.8.2]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
−
|{{✓}} ||Very High ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
+
||Cycle ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=lractive>[https://github.com/libretro/blueMSX-libretro/commits/master Libretro core is still active].</ref> ||{{✓}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[MAME]]
 
|[[MAME]]
−
|Multi-platform
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
−
|[http://www.mamedev.org/release.html {{MAMEVer}}]
+
|<abbr title="Latest development version">git artifacts</abbr><ref group=N>[https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-windows/master CI-Windows] [https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-linux/master CI-Linux] [https://nightly.link/mamedev/mame/workflows/ci-macos/master CI-Macos]</ref></br>[http://www.mamedev.org/release.html {{MAMEVer}}]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]<ref group=N>As 0.251, 0.139 (2010), 0.78 (2003), 0.37b5 (2000)</ref>
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
−
|{{~}}
+
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{~}}  
 
|{{~}}  
−
|{{~}}  
+
||High ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
−
|{{~}}  
+
|-
−
||High ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
+
|[[fMSX]]<br/><small>[https://docs.libretro.com/library/fmsx/ fMSX_libretro]</small>
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
 +
|[http://fms.komkon.org/fMSX/#Downloads {{fMSXVer}}]<br/>[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✗}}  
 +
||Mid ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}
 +
|-
 +
|[https://www.retrovirtualmachine.org/changelog/ Retro Virtual Machine]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
 +
|[http://www.retrovirtualmachine.org/ 2.1.9]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{TBD}}
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Pantheon
+
|[http://webmsx.org/ WebMSX]
−
|Windows
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Web}}
−
|[http://bostjan-grandovec.si/Content/News.htm {{PantheonVer}}]
+
|[https://github.com/ppeccin/WebMSX/releases git]
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
−
|{{~}}  
+
|{{✓}}
−
|{{✗}} ||High ||{{✗}} ||{{~}}
+
||High ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}  ||{{~}}
 +
|-
 +
|[http://emulicious.net/ Emulicious]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
 +
|[https://emulicious.net/downloads/ {{EmuliciousVer}}]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|?
 +
|?
 +
|?
 +
||? ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
 +
|-
 +
|[[ares]]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS}}
 +
|[https://github.com/ares-emulator/ares/releases {{aresVer}}]
 +
|{{✓}}||{{✓}}||?||?||?||{{✗}}||{{✗}}||{{✓}}||{{✓}}||{{✗}}
 +
|-
 +
|[[higan]] (火眼)<br/>byuu (謬/view)
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
 +
|[https://github.com/higan-emu/higan/releases {{HiganVer}}]
 +
|{{✓}}||{{✓}}||?||?||?||{{✗}}||{{✗}}||{{✓}}||{{✗}}||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Clock Signal|CLK]]
 
|[[Clock Signal|CLK]]
−
|macOS and UNIXalikes
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
−
|[https://github.com/TomHarte/CLK/releases {{clkver}}]
+
|[https://github.com/TomHarte/CLK/releases {{clkVer}}]
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
−
|{{✗}} ||Cycle ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
||Cycle ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
 
|-
 
|-
−
|[[MSXPLAYer]]
+
|[[Pantheon]]
−
|Windows
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
−
|?
+
|[http://bostjan-grandovec.si/Content/News.htm {{PantheonVer}}]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{~}}
 +
|{{~}}
 +
|High
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✗}}
 
|{{✗}}
 +
|-
 +
|[[MSXPLAYer]]<br/><small>(fMSX based)</small>
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 +
|<small>MSX Game Reader<br/>(Commercial)</small>
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{~}}  
 
|{{~}}  
 
|{{~}}  
 
|{{~}}  
−
|{{~}}  
+
|{{✓}}
−
||Mid ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
||Mid ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 +
|-
 +
|[https://web.archive.org/web/20071206014650/http://www.dridus.com:80/~nyef/darcnes/ DarcNES]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows|Linux|macOS|FreeBSD}}
 +
|[https://segaretro.org/DarcNES 9b0401/9b0313]
 +
|{{~}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
||Low ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 +
|-
 +
|[http://cngsoft.no-ip.org/cpcec.htm MSXEC]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Windows}}
 +
|[http://cngsoft.no-ip.org/cpcec.htm 20240422]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|?
 +
||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{?}} ||{{✓}} ||{{TBD}}
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="13"|Mobile / ARM
 
|-
 
|-
−
|[[fMSX]]
+
|[[openMSX]]
−
|Multi-platform
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Android}}
−
|[http://fms.komkon.org/fMSX/#Downloads 5.4]
+
|[https://github.com/openMSX/openMSX/releases/download/RELEASE_0_15_0/openMSX-openmsx-0.15.0.apk 0.15.0]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
||Cycle ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
 +
|-
 +
|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/bluemsx/ blueMSX_libretro]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS}}
 +
|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
||Cycle ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=lractive></ref> ||{{✓}}
 +
|-
 +
|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/fmsx/ fMSX_libretro]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS}}
 +
|[https://buildbot.libretro.com/nightly/ libretro core]
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✓}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
 
|{{✗}}  
−
||Mid ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}}
+
||Mid ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
 
|-
 
|-
−
|MSX.emu
+
|[http://www.explusalpha.com/home/msx-emu MSX.emu]<br/><small>(blueMSX tech)</small>
−
|Android
+
|align=left|{{Icon|Android|iOS|Linux}}<br>{{Icon|webOS|Pandora|Pyra}}
−
|[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.explusalpha.MsxEmu 1.5.34]
+
|[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="13"|Consoles
 +
|-
 +
|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/bluemsx/ blueMSX_libretro]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|XB1|SXS}}
 +
|[https://www.retroarch.com/?page=platforms libretro core]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
||Cycle ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{~}}<ref group=N name=lractive></ref> ||{{✓}}
 +
|-
 +
|[https://docs.libretro.com/library/fmsx/ fMSX_libretro]
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|XB1|SXS}}
 +
|[https://www.retroarch.com/?page=platforms libretro core]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
||Mid ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✓}}
 +
|-
 +
| [[fMSX|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
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 
|{{~}}
 
|{{~}}
−
|{{~}}  
+
|{{✗}}
−
|{{~}}  
+
|{{✓}}
−
|{{~}}  
+
|-
−
||? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
+
|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
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}}
 +
|-
 +
|MSXAdvance
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|GBA}}
 +
|[https://emutopia.com/index.php/emulators/item/345-msx/522-msxadvance 0.4]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|?
 +
|?
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|Low ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✓}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 +
|-
 +
|DreamMSX DC
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|DC}}
 +
|[https://consolecopyworld.com/dc/dc_emulators.shtml#DreamMSX 0.2g]
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|?
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 +
|-
 +
|UltraMSX2
 +
|align=left|{{Icon|N64}}
 +
|[https://www.zophar.net/utilities/n64util/ultramsx2.html 1.0]
 +
|?
 +
|{{✓}}
 +
|?
 +
|{{✗}}
 +
|? ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}} ||{{✗}}
 
|}
 
|}
 +
</div>
 
<references group=N />
 
<references group=N />
  
−
===Comparison===
+
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.
−
;[[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.
+
 
−
;[[blueMSX]]:An open source project that's cycle-accurate with very high compatibility.
+
===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).<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.
 +
 
 +
;[[MSXPLAYer]]
 +
: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>
 +
 
 +
====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_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.
  
−
;Lists:
+
===Specific models===
−
:- [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; and yayaFS-A1 by Mr.umaiboux).)
+
{{Main|wikipedia:MSX#Manufacturers{{!}}Manufacturers list}} (Wikipedia)
−
::- [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.)
+
 
 +
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 132: Line 358:
 
* [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==
Line 139: Line 368:
 
[[Category:Computers]]
 
[[Category:Computers]]
 
[[Category:MSX emulators|*]]
 
[[Category:MSX emulators|*]]
 +
[[Category:Z80-based]]

Revision as of 07:35, 26 April 2024

MSX
Msx.png
Developer Microsoft, ASCII Corporation
Type Home computer
Generation Z80-based home computers
Release date 1983 (MSX)
1985 (MSX2)
1988 (MSX2+)
1990 (MSX turbo R)
Discontinued 1993 (MSX turbo R)
Emulated ✓
For other emulators that run on MSX, see Emulators on MSX.

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 Retro
Achievements 		FLOSS Active Recommended
PC / x86
openMSX Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 19.1 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cycle ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✓
blueMSX
blueMSX_libretro 		Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD [N 1] 2.8.2
libretro core 		✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cycle ✓ ✓ ✓ ~[N 2] ✓
MAME Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD git artifacts[N 3]
0.265
libretro core[N 4] 		✓ ✓ ✓ ~ High ✓ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✓
fMSX
fMSX_libretro 		Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 6.0
libretro core 		✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ Mid ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓ ~
Retro Virtual Machine Windows Linux macOS 2.1.9 ✓ ✗ ✗ ✗ ? ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ TBD
WebMSX Web git ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ High ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ~
Emulicious Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 2024-04-30 ✓ ? ? ? ? ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓ ✗
ares Windows Linux macOS v138 ✓ ✓ ? ? ? ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗
higan (火眼)
byuu (謬/view) 		Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD v110 ✓ ✓ ? ? ? ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✗
CLK Linux macOS FreeBSD 2024-05-05 ✓ ✓ ✗ ✗ Cycle ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗
Pantheon Windows 13.640 ✓ ✓ ~ ~ High ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗
MSXPLAYer
(fMSX based) 		Windows MSX Game Reader
(Commercial) 		✓ ~ ~ ✓ Mid ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗
DarcNES Windows Linux macOS FreeBSD 9b0401/9b0313 ~ ✗ ✗ ✗ Low ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✗
MSXEC Windows 20240422 ✓ ✓ ✓ ? ? ✗ ✗ ? ✓ TBD
Mobile / ARM
openMSX Android 0.15.0 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cycle ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✓
blueMSX_libretro Android iOS libretro core ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cycle ✓ ✓ ✓ ~[N 2] ✓
fMSX_libretro Android iOS libretro core ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ Mid ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓ ✓
MSX.emu
(blueMSX tech) 		Android iOS Linux
webOS Pandora Dragonbox Pyra 		1.5.77
1.5.46.02 PyraBuild 16 Pandora 		✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ High ✗ ✗ ✓ ✓ ✓
Consoles
blueMSX_libretro Xbox One Xbox Series X/S libretro core ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cycle ✓ ✓ ✓ ~[N 2] ✓
fMSX_libretro Xbox One Xbox Series X/S libretro core ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ Mid ✓ ✓ ✗ ✓ ✓
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 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✗ ? ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✓
MSXAdvance GameBoy Advance 0.4 ✓ ? ? ✗ Low ✗ ✗ ✓ ✗ ✗
DreamMSX DC Dreamcast 0.2g ✓ ✓ ? ✗ ? ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗
UltraMSX2 Nintendo 64 1.0 ? ✓ ? ✗ ? ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗ ✗
  1. ↑ Only available outside of Windows as a libretro core (e.g. RetroArch).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Libretro core is still active.
  3. ↑ CI-Windows CI-Linux CI-Macos
  4. ↑ As 0.251, 0.139 (2010), 0.78 (2003), 0.37b5 (2000)

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

  1. ↑ https://www.msx.org/news/en/new-webmsx-emulator
  2. ↑ https://www.msx.org/wiki/MSX-PLAYer
  3. ↑ https://www.msx.org/articles/msxplayer-gamereader-edition

External links

Retrieved from "https://emulation.gametechwiki.com/index.php?title=MSX_emulators&oldid=85668"