Frequency for the Need of a Mouse

Rookie (20)

12-07-2021, 06:44

Hi guys, I am contemplating if I should purchase a mouse for my MSX2+. How frequent or how likely is it that I will be using the mouse for, say, gaming? What is mouse mainly used for anyway? I always thought that a mouse for an MSX being 8-bit machine is a bit too much to use?

Для того, чтобы оставить комментарий, необходимо регистрация или !login

By geijoenr

Champion (391)

12-07-2021, 07:29

I have one and never used it for a game. But there is software you can use with it.

By gflorez

Resident (63)

12-07-2021, 07:47

First of all, watching a mouse pointer moving so smooth and precise on an 8 bit computer is almost a miracle. That feeling alone is worth having a mouse.

Second, the system is very well designed because it is inside the mouse where the hard work is done calculating the relative displacements of the hand on the X and Y axis. This alone saves a lot of Z80 processing time, that only needs to ask every 1/50 second to the joystick port by means of a short routine. So, the MSX mice don't need an special mouse port, only the joystick port(this leads us to one of the drawbacks of the system... you need to swap controllers often...)

Said that, there were only a few classic programs or games that used it, but it has been instead widely used on home-brew software.

Without hesitation, the most known mouse software is SymbOS, a wonderful Windows stile environment.

By gflorez

Resident (63)

12-07-2021, 08:05

But... where are the MSX mice nowadays?

There are several options, being the original one the most expensive. You can search for example on Ebay. You will understand what I mean.

You will also find that there are also some offers of PS/2(or USB) to MSX converters that can suit you, still not so cheap.

But if you are a handy-man, your best option is to build yourself a ground-cheap Arduino PS/2 adapter designed by genius NYYRIKKI.

By gflorez

Resident (63)

12-07-2021, 08:28

Now you must decide: a ball mouse or an optical mouse?

Again, you can save problems and some money buying a modern optical mouse. Added to an adapter, It will give you more movement resolution(smoother and more accurate movement) and also no need of a mouse mat or cleaning the ball often.

Believe me: forget about the "ball mouse original feel".

By jltursan

Prophet (2619)

12-07-2021, 08:53

...and you know, SymbOS needs a mouse :)

By amang

Rookie (20)

13-07-2021, 09:23

>> You will also find that there are also some offers of PS/2(or USB) to MSX converters that can suit you, still not so cheap.

I am looking to hook up my wireless Logitech mouse to this adapter: https://www.ebay.com/itm/124775766611
Coming from that era, I am not a big fan of a ball mouse, so an optical is more practical to use.

By jltursan

Prophet (2619)

13-07-2021, 10:08

Beware the not all optical mouses work with this interface, the mouse still need to be internally PS/2 compatible...

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6091)

13-07-2021, 11:09

For gaming it is not a must (Ok maybe on SymbOS) and not often supported at all... but I would say ie. Match Maniac is much better with it... but ie. Arkanoid is too hard without it and Breaker is too easy with it... I would not have nerves to do ie. pixel graphics without mouse, but I must say I'm not pixel artist anyway. If you like ie. writing own BASIC programs, mouse is many times the most easy way to implement cursor movement. I always keep mouse nearby, but it is not something you keep connected all the time. Practically it all comes down to what you want to do, but let's put it this way: Personally if I would be missing a mouse, I would next time rather invest to it than to another game... Likely it will have more use in long term compared to a game purchase.