Hi!

I have submited this new to MRC and it will be soon published in the front page, but I do need to know what do you think about this.

MSXdev'04 is not very different to MSXdev'03, but has some minor changes:

-Fixed game size: 8 KB ROMs for MSX with 16 KB of RAM.
-Shorter deadline: it finishes in 31st July 2004.
-Only one judge: Nestor Soriano, aka Konami Man.
-Beta version publishing is allowed.
-Greater prizes: I have donated a Turbo-R ST computer if enough people join in.

Have a look at the rules, prizes and everything else in http://www.robsy.net

Kind regards,

Ed Robsy

MSXdev is here again!!! give it a chance this time.


Good luck Edu.

I think, that people like you make MSX still be here. I wishing arrive summer to see new games. Good luck.

WYZ: I am waiting to see what can you do with only 8 KB. It will be a good test for you compression systems! Of course, if you want you can send more than one game.

I hope that the other contestant of MSXdev'03, Dioniso, will also join with interesting games.

Kind regards,

Ed Robsy

The idea of a competition is nice. And if it's managed good, it can be a big success (look at the snowfall challenge) but why does your competition have these strict rules? only 8kb rom, msx1.
iirc your last competition failed because of these rules.
- there are only very few ppl that have the knowlegde to create msx 1 game roms.
- iirc most ppl left in the msx scene are more interested in MSX2 and higher
- making a game is very time consuming.

I wish you good luck with this competition, and I hope many ppl will join, but looking at MSXdev'03 I fear the worst

Quote:

I hope that the other contestant of MSXdev'03, Dioniso, will also join with interesting games.

No doubt about it! Time to code again. So wake up, everybody, and don't leave your new MSX1 project for the last days ... you know.

I'm sure this time more coders will enjoy this competition: you are already a winner, if you just code for fun.

MSX1 scene.

Chaos, I organize these competitions because for me, the MSX system mean MSX1. Anyone is free to choose, and I do love the first generation machines. About the requirements, they are usual for ANY cartridge game. For example, all Konami MSX1 ROMs and megaROMs only use 16 KB of RAM and 16 KB of VRAM. The tiny size of the games is due to the fact that there can be important differences between a 8 KB game and a 32 KB game, and thus, everybody plays with the same rules. The other consideration is time: is relatively easy to produce a 8 KB game, because it is necesarily simple. And I love easy games. I expect to get some impressive classic-gaming packed in only 8 KB.

For example, SNAIL MAZE, the example 8 KB game, occupies less than 6 KB and any part of it has been compressed/optimized. I know that it is a so simple game: I expect to get better games in this competition, but I was able to code it in just one day, and another more to add the sound system and in-game song. In six months then I can produce 6x30/2=90 games. Perhaps it is a bit excessive for only one contestant...

No, seriously: I decided these rules because I think that they are clearer and they will increase the number of contestants. Everyone has enough time to code a tiny 8 KB games in 6 months: 8 KB x 1024 bytes / (30 days x6 months) = 45 bytes every day. It is not difficult to code 45 bytes every day, isn't it? And so, everybody can participate in this contest without stopping their own MSX projects.

More opinions? Does anybody think that a Turbo-R is an excesive prize? Will it atract any MSX coders/users?

Ed Robsy

I think it's great making these competitions, it'll keep our beloved MSX alive.

I already had in mind developing something for MSX, so I'm thinking about joining the competition.
But dunno whether I have enough time for it, and I never never wrote something for MSX. (Well I wrote some small things w/ BASIC, but never did something 'big' ) For me, it's a whole new world to explore

Quote:

More opinions? Does anybody think that a Turbo-R is an excesive prize? Will it atract any MSX coders/users?

Hmmm... don't think much about prizes, because I usually code for fun.

But to be honest, the prizes DID attract me in a way
My MSX2+ isn't working at the moment, so I'm wishing to hold that T-R in my hands soon


Sousuke

Go on, Sosuke. You have enough time to learn an average level of assembly language. Or, maybe, you can just take a Colecovision ROM and create a port for MSX. It should not be difficult: remapping the BIOS calls and patching the sound system. Well, actually it could be more difficult than programming a new 8 KB game.

What about a Z80 tutorial, a good MSX reference and two thousand coffees? That is the way I learned. And I still code with lots of caffeine in my blood!

ColecoVision games can already be played on MSX by using Marcel de Kogel's excellent emulator, Mission.

The game that I didn't submit for MSXDev'03 because I had no time to finish it, after all packing takes about 16K, which means it won't be submitted for MSXDev'04 too, because of 8K requirement.

Well, I'll wait for MSXDev'05 then, maybe requirements will change.

You still can send it to MSXdev'03, that it is not a contest, just a platform for distributing games... Anyway, it is very easy to fill only 8 KB. Karoshi is working in a bunch of new 8 KB games.

And some of them, believe it or not, Guyver, TOTALLY ORIGINAL!!!!

Kind regards,

Ed Robsy
http://www.robsy.net

How many of them will be entered in MSXdev'04?

I guess that all of them!

Funny: You love the first generation MSX system and make a game-competition dedicated to that machine (the msx1)

Yet you're main price to win is a last generation MSX (turbo R)...

so, you expect to have a MSXDEV'05 for MSX1 machines again while the other year you provided the winner with an upgraded system... quess who's NOT gonna do the MSX1 stuff from that time on anymore.

Still I'm with you on such good initiatives... (I'm not gonna participate tho)