Quote:

If Japanese just had used SMS or MSX2 technology for MSX in 1980, now, in 2008, we would have jet MSX computers (maybe MSX8) instead of Playstations and Xboxes. Commercially, TMS VDP and low (and hard to locate) RAM killed the MSX1. (SW tended to use less resources to widen the possible user base) The average MSX1 was outdated wrt competitors already in 1982.

I agree.
the msx killer was the poor msx1 VDP.

And it's not a question of cheapness. Often a question on how to do things. take two examples:

a) the VIC-II provided better sprites with a less bandwith requirements. the trick? just put the sat table into the chip itself.
b) the VIC-II provided better multicolor mode with reduced color spill even using less vram due to the better arrangement of data than the VDP.

Quote:

If Japanese just had used SMS or MSX2 technology for MSX in 1980, now, in 2008, we would have jet MSX computers (maybe MSX8) instead of Playstations and Xboxes. Commercially, TMS VDP and low (and hard to locate) RAM killed the MSX1. (SW tended to use less resources to widen the possible user base) The average MSX1 was outdated wrt competitors already in 1982. I agree. the msx killer was the poor msx1 VDP. And it's not a question of cheapness. Often a question on how to do things. take two examples: a) the VIC-II provided better sprites with a less bandwith requirements. the trick? just put the sat table into the chip itself. b) the VIC-II provided better multicolor mode with reduced color spill even using less vram due to the better arrangement of data than the VDP.

I agree too. I just wanted to point reasons why TSM was selected for MSX.

But must say it´s hard to imagine japanese making 64K MSX2 technology machine in 1980. Instead I like to imagine if they just had made their MSX plans in the end of the seventies and released MSX(1) in 1979 in Japan and 1980 worldwide if possible (I know, it took two years (from 1983) to start MSX world conquering..) and started to market MSX2 worldwide in 1982. As in 1983 Spectrums and Commodore 64s were market leaders already, at least in UK, so 1983 was the LAST possible beginning year for worldwide selling of MSX2. I think so. 1985 could have been THE year for Turbo R...? or something equivalent... But still I wonder how MSX2 could have battled with IBM PCs and later against PC clones, that would be interesting IF-history to read!