Introduction
Welcome to our page dedicated to MSX reverse engineering!
On this page, we’ve compiled a list of links to other pages that cover various topics related to MSX reverse engineering. Whether you’re interested in understanding the hardware architecture of retro CPUs, analyzing software at the binary level, or exploring the many mods and hacks that have been created by enthusiasts over the years, you’ll find a wealth of resources and information on the pages we’ve linked to.
So grab your keyboard and mouse, and get ready to dive into the exciting world of MSX reverse engineering!
MSX
The MSX was a standard introduced by Microsoft Japan to make sure no matter which manufacturer build the PC (e.g Sony, Panasonic, Philips) they would all be able to run the same software.
The MSX has a version of BASIC built in which was an extended version of Microsoft Basic, hence the MSX name 1.
There were three different revisions of the MSX:
- MSX (October 21st 19832)
- MSX2 (1985)
- MSX2+ (1988)
- MSX Turbo R (1990)
Introduction to the technology of the MSX
The best video I have found on the MSX is by the Youtuber Displaced Gamers where he goes through all the variations of the MSX (MSX2 etc) and explains the hardware limitations and the impressive feats developers managed to accomplish on the systems:
MSX Games
While the MSX system is most famous for Konami games like Vampire Killer (Castlevania) and Metal Gear there are quite a few games worth playing for the system. What better video to show off the MSX games than the Game Sack episode on the topic:
Sony MSX Hardware
Way before the PlayStation or even the Super Nintendo CD, Sony created hardware for playing games in the form of MSX computers 1. Sony released their HIT-BIT machines which started with the HB-10 which had 16KB of RAM and ranged all the way up to the MSX 2 compatible HB-T600 with 128KB RAM 3.
All Sony hardware that they developed - Generation MSX
All Posts
Magazine Interviews
The magazine index collects developer interviews tagged for this system across all indexed magazines.
| Magazine | Issue | Pages | Developer | Platforms | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retro Gamer | 23 | pp. 58-61 | Tony Porter | ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX, Sega Master System | Porter describes Gremlin Graphics’ home conversions of Gauntlet and the constraints of each machine. |
| Retro Gamer | 56 | pp. 40-45 | Hideo Kojima | MSX | Interview about his game design career, including Metal Gear. |
| Retro Gamer | 86 | p. 101 | Francisco Javier Peña | ZX Spectrum, MSX | Homebrew Heroes Q&A about his 8-bit games. |
| Retro Gamer | 164 | p. 105 | Alastair Brown | MSX | Brown discusses developing the homebrew shooter Codename: Intruder. |
| Retro Gamer | 174 | p. 107 | Oscar Kenneth Albero Ingles | MSX | The Kai Magazine developer discusses creating XSpelunker. |
| Retro Gamer | 180 | p. 49 | John Mullins | ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX | Mullins discusses converting Power Drift to 8-bit computers. |
| Retro Gamer | 182 | p. 50 | John Mullins | ZX Spectrum, MSX | Mullins discusses completing the home computer conversion of WEC Le Mans. |
| Retro Gamer | 187 | p. 26 | Hiroko Yokoyama | MSX2, Arcade | Yokoyama discusses the pixel art behind SNK games including Ikari Warriors. |
| Retro Gamer | 190 | pp. 46-49 | Julio Martin and Javier Arevalo | ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX | Former staff revisit Spanish publisher Erbe and development studio Topo Soft. |
| Retro Gamer | 197 | p. 103 | Juan J Martinez | MSX | Martinez discusses creating his first MSX game, Night Knight. |
| Retro Gamer | 234 | p. 100 | Juan J Martinez | Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, MSX, ZX Spectrum | Martinez discusses programming new games for 8-bit computers, including Hyperdrive. |
| Retro Gamer | 236 | p. 100 | Jon Cortazar | MSX | Cortazar discusses developing homebrew games for the MSX. |
| Retro Gamer | 240 | pp. 98-99 | Marco Blom, Angel Colaso and MSXdev organisers | MSX | Organisers and coders discuss entries in the 2022 MSXdev competition. |
| Retro Gamer | 243 | pp. 84-85 | Pål Frogner Hansen | MSX2 | Hansen discusses the design and programming of Lilly’s Saga for MSX2. |
| Retro Gamer | 252 | p. 100 | Under 4MHz | Master System, Game Boy, MSX, ColecoVision | The homebrew coder discusses multiformat development methods and upcoming ports. |