MSX History Book | MSX Resource Center (Pagina 3/7)

Master (135)

19-06-2012, 13:58

From the way I see it and especially the time gap between the release of the initial Spectravideo models, the Spectravideo history is correct. There was a gap far larger than 6 months between the release of the Spectravideos and the announcement of the MSX 1 standard. So much so that while the Spectravideo was a competitive machine technology wise when it was launched the MSX 1 machines were a little behind the technology race.
But yes I agree with the others a history book and more importantly the completing the research is something that it would be best to do sooner rather than later.
I know I have not been active on this site lately (been more focused on YouTube), but I would like to assist in this process if possible.
I have all of the material from the Australian Spectravideo User group, plus all of the other publications from Australia. The Spectravideo was released in Australia at the very start, so the time lines from the initial release here will help put things in order.

Van Maggoo

Paragon (1218)

19-06-2012, 14:57

If you look at this old Article, two employees from Matsushita are actually credited for the idea behind the MSX standard

http://books.google.com/books?id=6C8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA157&dq=Ka...

It doesn't dismiss the theory that Nishi based the standard itself on the SVI design (which itself seems to be based on the Coleco design to some extend).

Van Maggoo

Paragon (1218)

20-06-2012, 15:59

NYYRIKKI wrote:

Maggoo wrote:

Funny find while looking for information, the original US patent for what became the V9938 is available online, it got Nish's name on it :-)

Hmm... Very interesting paper... BTW did you notice that they mention 640x200 resolution

Good catch, I did not see that part... Perhaps a mistake ?

Van Manuel

Ascended (19688)

20-06-2012, 18:41

The X and Y coordinates seem to be 9 and 10 bits respectively... (check the registers).

Van snout

Ascended (15187)

20-06-2012, 19:04

Wasn't 640x200 also used in CGA/EGA?
Without looking at the specs, perhaps it was also intended to be displayed as 320x200 (with one page hidden)?

Either way, interesting find! If we want to make this MSX History book happen, we should gather more and more of this kind of information!

Van msx fan finland

Champion (505)

21-06-2012, 13:50

if you find that DM728P program somewhere , tell to me ,, im looking it...
DM728P it was once in dos diskette 5,25 SVI msx dos diskettes.. where is it now ?
leipuri@jippii.fi

Van mars2000you

Enlighted (6563)

21-06-2012, 14:35

msx fan finland wrote:

if you find that DM728P program somewhere , tell to me ,, im looking it...
DM728P it was once in dos diskette 5,25 SVI msx dos diskettes.. where is it now ?

Check your e-mails

Van tcruise

Master (135)

25-06-2012, 04:54

Check out this interview with a designer who worked for Colecovision during their development phase, adds some more information.
Youtube Interview

Van Maggoo

Paragon (1218)

26-06-2012, 01:23

snout wrote:

Wasn't 640x200 also used in CGA/EGA?
Without looking at the specs, perhaps it was also intended to be displayed as 320x200 (with one page hidden)?

Either way, interesting find! If we want to make this MSX History book happen, we should gather more and more of this kind of information!

Gathering facts is one aspect but I doubt we would be able to have all the needed information for a book without interviewing some of the key people. Nishi of course (has anyone got his contact information? He could probably answer many of the questions we have), Harry Fox or other Spectravideo employees of the time and then perhaps some of the people from Matsushita, Sony, Philips etc... With the internet today it's not that difficult to trace down and reach out to people.

Van Maggoo

Paragon (1218)

26-06-2012, 03:01

Another extremely interesting article which doesn't mention the MSX directly but highlight a lot of the early days at Microsoft and Nishi's role:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870380630457623...