MSX

From WE Computers Museum
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MSX.png
MSX
Designer ASCII Microsoft
Manufacturer Canon, Casio, Daewoo, D4 Enterprise, Dragon Data, Fujitsu, GoldStar, Hitachi, Kyocera, JVC, Mitsubishi, National, Panasonic, Philips Pioneer, Radofin, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Spectravideo, Sony, Toshiba, Yamaha, Yashica
CPU MSX, MSX2, MSX2+
3.58 MHz Zilog Z80
MSX TurboR
7.16 MHzR800
3.58 MHz Zilog Z80
Graphics MSX
TI TMS9918
MSX2
Yamaha V9938
MSX2+, MSX TurboR
Yamaha V9958
Memory MSX
8 kB minimum
MSX2, MSX2+
64 kB minimum
MSX TurboR
256 kb or 512 kB
Media ROM cartridge, Cassette tape, Floppy disk
Released 1983-1993
Added to Museum Not yet

The MSX was a video game hardware architecture concieved by and marketed by Kazuhiko Nishi, Microsoft's former Vice President of Sales for Far East.

Name

Kazuhiko Nishi stated that MSX was named after the United States MX missile (Missile-eXperimental).

It stands for "Machines with Software eXchangeability".

Standards

The MSX standard was created in 1983 by ASCII Microsoft. The standard was updated to the MSX2 standard in 1985.

Microsoft dissolved its partnership with ASCII in 1986 and ASCII Microsoft was absorbed into ASCII.

ASCII created the MSX2+ standard in 1988. The last standard, the MSX TurboR, was released in 1990. Only Panasonic was still releasing MSX computers at this point, so it was the only company to release MSX TurboR machines.

Manufacturers

Microsoft never produced their own machine, but the architecture was licensed and sold by Canon, Casio, Daewoo, Dragon Data, Fujitsu, GoldStar, Hitachi, Kyocera, JVC, Mitsubishi, National, Panasonic, Philips, Pioneer, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Spectravideo, Sony, Toshiba, Yamaha, and Yashica.

In all, twenty-two different companies sold MSX-compatible machines worldwide from 1983 to 1993.

Legacy

The legacy of the MSX remains, even after its heyday. Independent games continue to be produced for the system to this day.

In addition, the MSX trademark holders licensed the hardware for computers in the 21st century, such as the 1chipMSX which was released in 2006.

Digital MSX games owned by the WEC Museum

Title Developer Release Notes
Aquapolis SOS Nisso 1983
Bee & Flower Think Soft 1983
Daiva Story 4: Asura's Bloodfeud T&E Soft 1987
Devil Golvellius Compile 1986
Devil's Heaven Nisso 1983
Disc Saga: Episode III - Burning Sword! Compile 1984
Hustle! Chumy Compile 1986
Gulkave Compile 1986
Megalopolis SOS Nisso 1983
Nyanpi ☆ Collection Compile 1990
Pyramid Warp T&E Soft 1983
Sorcery Saga 1-2-3 Compile 1990 Includes Sorcery Saga 1, 2, and 3
Topple Zip Bothtec 1987
Voidrunner Llamasoft 1987
Zanac Compile 1986

Digital MSX2 games owned by the WEC Museum

Title Developer Release Notes
B.G.V.: A Bewitching Night Compile 1991
B.G.V.: Christmas Compile 1988
B.G.V.: Stray Cat Story Compile 1990
Blaster Burn: Budruga Episode III - Score Trial Compile 1991
Children's Wars Compile 1989
DIRES -giger・loop- Bothtec 1987
Dragon's Quiz Compile 1991
Final Jaboon Compile 1992
Green Crystal Compile 1992
Jaboon Runner Compile 1992
Jump Hero II: Life is Jaboon Compile 1992
Kerosuke's Frigid Hell Compile 1992
Kerosuke's Winter Training Compile 1992
Laydock T&E Soft 1986
Pyramid Warp T&E Soft 1983
Rabbit Sparrow: Revival of the Hajao Compile 1989
Randar Burn・April Fool Compile 1990
Randar's Adventure Compile 1989
Randar's Adventure II: Revenge of Death Compile 1989
Randar's Adventure III: A Magician Fascinated by Darkness Compile 1990
Return of Jelda Carry Lab 1987
Rune Master Compile 1989
Rune Master II Compile 1990
Rune Master III: War Among Three Kingdoms Compile 1991
Samurai King Mega On Z Compile 1989
Super Cooks Compile 1989
Trojka BCF 1992
True Devil Golvellius: Horizontal Scrolling Demo Compile 1988
True Devil Golvellius: Vertical Scrolling Demo Compile 1988
True Devil Golvellius: Illustrated Book Compile 1989
Turing Compile 1990
Xak: The Art of Visual Stage Micro Cabin 1989
Zanac EX Compile 1986

Digital MSX2+ games owned by the WEC Museum

Title Developer Release Notes
Laydock 2: Last Attack T&E Soft 1988