Hi, I am new to the msx scene (and the retro computer scene in general) and I've got a simple question that I just can't seem to find the answer to: Does an American msx have full compatibility with a Japanese msx (ie. can I play Japanese games on an American system) and vice-versa?

-thanks ahead

Yup, the idea was that everything MSX should be compatible with everything else MSX. While you're gonna find the odd exception, I guess you could say that this is largely true. Mind you, there were 4 generations of MSX computers, and you can't run MSX software made for an MSX2 on an MSX1 computer. Normally MSX1 software should run on an MSX2 though, and the only known exception to this rule is the famous cassette port which started to disappear from MSX computers since the MSX2+ generation.

But anyhoo, yes, software will usually run on any MSX model, if it was correctly programmed that is. For most software this will be true, but there are never any guarantees. I would guess that about 99% of all commercial software titles was programmed well enough to run on any computer. If you have a specific title in mind, you can just ask here if there are any known issues.

Thats great, I appreciate the quick reply! The games I had in mind were the Aleste games and Space Manbow.

-thanks again!

For Aleste and Space Manbow (and all other practical purposes ) you need at least an MSX2

As far as I know both the Aleste games and Space Manbow work fine on any MSX2 computer with 64kB of RAM. They would also work fine on an MSX2+ or an MSX turboR.

Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it! Now I can't wait to get started...

Some other remarks:
- there are no American MSX machines, AFAIK. Maybe one or two models like an American version of the Yamah CX-5M or the Spectravideo SVI-728. Anyway, those are all MSX1 and won't run Aleste or Space Manbow
- in the US, you'd better use a Japanese MSX anyway, because it has NTSC output. Unless your TV can handle PAL, of course. Then you'd better get a European one, because it has a US-English keyboard mostly (or something easier t use than a Japanese one anyway).l
- I know one Japanese game that won't run on a European MSX: Metal Gear (Japanese version). Konami did this on purpose, it's not the fault of MSX.

The MSX 2 have better graphics and a better support for a Memory Mapper System.
The other features are very similar in both models. It is possible even to listen some music's from Aleste and other famous games.

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As far as I know both the Aleste games and Space Manbow work fine on any MSX2 computer with 64kB of RAM.

Sure, even in MSX 1 machines that are turned into MSX 2 machines [with the addition of more ROM and a new VDP]

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They would also work fine on an MSX2+ or an MSX turboR.

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- I know one Japanese game that won't run on a European MSX: Metal Gear (Japanese version). Konami did this on purpose, it's not the fault of MSX.

Honestly I don't really see the need for that particular purpose. If non-japanese people are willing to pay for a japanese version of a game, why do something that won't enable those non-japanese people to play the game? (luckilly I do have a japanese MSX as well so I can play the japanese Metal Gear, but still...) I really can't call this a well-thought commercial action...

Hey ! sorry to butt in like this starslight , but as long as you started a thread for stupid questions , i don't have to start my own . here's da question : i need to get some roms / disks from the internet to my MSX , but i can't use a regularly formatted floppy because MSX won't recognise it - or won't boot from it - so i tried downloading an emulator to try and use it , but i still can't figure out how .. here is what i want : to get software from the internet on an MSX formatted floppy . any suggestions ?

a HD disk you mean?

tape the HD-hole (not the write protected hole) .. format it on an msx .. and you can use it @ PC

(or get a genuine 720kb disk somewhere)

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Hey ! sorry to butt in like this starslight , but as long as you started a thread for stupid questions , i don't have to start my own . here's da question : i need to get some roms / disks from the internet to my MSX , but i can't use a regularly formatted floppy because MSX won't recognise it - or won't boot from it - so i tried downloading an emulator to try and use it , but i still can't figure out how .. here is what i want : to get software from the internet on an MSX formatted floppy . any suggestions ?

Not a problem! I'd like to learn as much as I can, so if any one else has any "stupid questions" just let 'em fly. Thanks a lot for the information guys, it certainly beats learning by trial and error.

Most stupid questions are answered in the FAQ though: http://faq.msxnet.org/

I can´t resist answering to this topic.

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But anyhoo, yes, software will usually run on any MSX model, if it was correctly programmed that is. For most software this will be true, but there are never any guarantees. I would guess that about 99% of all commercial software titles was programmed well enough to run on any computer.

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Anyone who has owned lots of cassette games and was the one who had to load them, knows that above 99% is certainly not true!!!

(I had / still have lots of cassette games)

Many games didn´t work on certain MSXs at all, without "special program" which fixed the problems somehow. And those "special programs" were usually NOT included in your cassette game´s instructions, but may have been found in MSX related magazines. (or then not)

So, on example Gauntlet ran really well on Toshiba HX-10. But on ... sony hb-75 or svi-728 (or both?) player sprite was not visible! great isn´t it!

another example was that Operation wolf didn´t run on Toshiba HX-10. On svi-728 it worked.

____________________________ <-- you can add here eNdLeSs list of msx games which works only on certain MSXs

What I have learned of my cassette games, too many games were n0t programmed well enough.