====== MSX 2+ (1988) ======
===== Features =====
* CPU: Zilog Z80 3.58 MHz
* Co-Processor: Yamaha V9958 Video Display Processor
* RAM: at least 64 KB
* VRAM: 64 KB or 128 KB (up to 192 KB)
* ROM: 32 KB (Basic & BIOS) + 16 KB (SUB ROM > MSX-BASIC V3.0) + 16 KB (KANJI BASIC ROM + KANJI ROM) + 16 KB (DISK ROM)
* Text Modes: 40 x 24 / 32 x 24
* Graphic Modes: Same as MSX2 specs, plus 256 x 212/424; Additional KANJI screen modes (Japanese text screen modes): 40 x 24, 32 x 24, 256 x 192, 64 x 48
* Colors: 19268
* Sound: FM-PAC (OPLL YM-2413) - 9 channel FM synthesizer
* I/O Ports: Joystick(1 or 2), Cartridge(2), Tape(1200/2400 bauds), RGB video output, CVBS/RF video output, Centronics, Sound output
* Keyboard: Full-stroke keyboard
* Built In Media: 720 KB 3,5" floppy drive built in
* OS: MSX DOS
* Built In Language: MSX-BASIC V3.0
===== Usage =====
The MSX2+ driver is very preliminary. Disk drive emulation doesn't work properly for example, and memory emulation isn't very good either. Various MSX1 models are emulated, and there is preliminary MSX2 support through the msx2 and msx2j driver.
The required bios dumps are available at http://www.file-hunter.com/ -- http://www.file-hunter.com/
== Cartridges ==
The ROM mapper (which is specified with -rom x in fMSX) is autodetected but isn't perfect. With the hsi files in the hash directory, cartridges with SRAM or a DAC (like Synthesizer or Majutsushi from Konami) are detected properly.
== Cassettes ==
Tape emulation is done via .wav files; the actual sound the MSX produces is recorded / played back, making tape emulation more authentic. Because of this, you can record your existing tapes to .wav and play them in MESS. Make sure your record them at high quality (44100Hz, 16 bit and mono).
.cas files are also supported but they're converted to sound by the driver on startup. There is no support for writing .cas files.
While recording or playback you can hear the sound through the sound card of your computer. You can control the volume by pressing "SCROLL LOCK" and "~".
.tap files from Virtual MSX can be converted to .cas using imgtool (see imgtool.txt for more information).
== Memory emulation ==
The memory map is from a standard MSX1; there are no subslots, nor MSX2 memory mappers for RAM. RAM is 64Kb in slot 3, and slot 1 and 2 are where the cartridges end up.
== Sound emulation ==
The PSG, PPI (key click), SCC are emulated. The SCC isn't perfect yet, you can hear slight imperfections in King's Valley 2 (when you through the knife), F1 Spirit (when you start a race), Solid Snake (when you get to building 3). The SCC is called 'k051649' in the volume menu.
The FM-PAC is also emulated for which you need the ROM dump of an original Panasonic FM-PAC. However the sound emulation isn't very good at all. :/
The following DACs are emulated: SIMPL, Konami's Synthesizer, Konami's Majutsushi. The keyclick is also done through the DAC. To enable SIMPL (which disables the printer port), press "SCROLL LOCK", "TAB" and go to Dip Switches. Here set SIMPL to "On".
You can control the volumes by pressing "SCROLL LOCK" (so you go to UI mode) and then "~". Press "UP" and "DOWN" to see different sound chips, and "LEFT" and "RIGHT" to change the volume.
== Video emulation ==
The tms9928a (MSX1) emulation is very good, but doesn't emulate changes while the screen is being drawn to the screen.
The v9938 emulation is preliminary and has problems with sprite mode 2 (MSX2 games), interlaced mode, graphic engine emulation, timing (Zanac Ex doesn't run correctly and Aleste only runs in the Japanese version of the driver).
Also the PAL/NTSC (50/60Hz) switch is an evil hack, the actual refresh rate of the screen isn't changed.
Also it's not very well optimized, I'll start optimizing as soon as it works alright.
The v9958 isn't emulated at all.
The MSX1 and MSX2 video chips only only display a limited number of sprites on one line; this causes sprite flickering, you can turn this off (which isn't like a real MSX of course) by pressing: "SCROLL LOCK", "TAB" and going to the Dip Switches menu. Set "Enforce 4/8 sprites/line" to "Off". Note that sometimes this feature is used for other purposes, like making sure a sprite is only partly displayed (when you enter a world in The Maze of Galious for example).
== Printer port ==
The printer port is emulated; output to the port is saved to disk. However no emulation/translation is done, so the data is raw.
== MSX2 RTC ==
The real-time clock, which keeps information like the time and date, should be emulated correctly. However in PAL mode the timing isn't correct as the refresh rate isn't properly adjusted. All settings are saved to disk.
== Keyboard/joystick/mouse ==
The keyboard layout should be properly emulated. Joysticks seem to default to having key-bindings as well, so pressing "CTRL" or "ALT" will also work for the joysticks, but might give some unexpected results.
The mouse emulation doesn't work properly yet. :(
== Disks ==
Disks are emulated through proper wd2793 emulation. Currently only the Philips and Sony diskroms are supported; the Panasonic machines use the tc8566af diskcontroller (unemulated) and the Brazillian machines are port-based (not memory-mapped).
You need a proper diskrom dump, and the msx.hsi file in place. The diskrom should be recognized as type 15 otherwise the driver doesn't know it's a diskrom.
Next specify the diskrom as one of the cartridges. That should do the trick. :) Note that only .dsk files are supported; other formats can be converted to .dsk using imgtool (it can convert .msx, .img, .ddi, .xsa, multidisks -- see imgtool.txt for more information).
Errors aren't properly handled yet. "not ready" is reported as "record not found", which results in "Disk I/O error" in MSX-BASIC.
Also not that memory emulation isn't complete so MSX2 memory mappers don't work yet.
===== Known Issues =====
The MSX driver currently emulates the MSX1, international, UK, korean and Japanese models.
* Not emulated: Printer port, diskdrives, megaRAM, Sound Cartridge (SCC+), MSX2, etc..
* Cartridge emulation: The MSX has 64kB RAM, like most (by far) MSX1 computers. It is located in slot 3. Two cartridges are allowed: the first in slot 1 and the second in slot 2. So subslots aren't emulated (yet). The msx.hsi file is important. The <extrainfo> tag specifies the type of ROM mapper. See msx.hsi for more information.
* Sound emulation: The standard sound chip, the PSG (AY8910) is emulated, so is the extension that was included in some Konami cartridges: the SCC. The keyclick (PPI) is also emulated, as is the FM-PAC (you'll need the fmpac.rom of the original Panasonic FM-PAC for this). Unfortunately the YM2413 emulation in MAME does not emulate the volumes correctly. Last but not least, the DAC in Konami's Synthesizer is emulated, and the SIMPL (DAC on the printer port). The DAC in Konami's Matjusushi is also emulated, but the driver lacks MSX2 support.
* SRAM in cartridges: A number of cartridges (Hydlide 2, Xanadu, The Game Master 2 and more) had on-board sram. This sram is automagically saved as a MEMCARD.
* Tape emulation: Unlike other MSX emulators, the tape emulation is not done by trapping BIOS calls. In our opinion this is an evil kludge; apart from that, our setup does have an advantage. Tapes with a custom loader (using direct access to the hardware) will work fine. It is done by saving the tape as a .wav file. In principle, you could record a tape to .wav, and load them into MESS.
===== History and Trivia =====
After Microsoft left the MSX project in 1986, ASCII continued alone. They presented a new improvement of the MSX 2 standard in 1988.
No great enhancements, the MSX 2+ has 19268 colors instead of 512, some more graphic / KANJI resolutions and the FM-PAC cartridge is included, providing 9 channels of FM sound without drums or 6 channels FM sound with 5 FM drums.
MSX2+ computers were only produced by Panasonic, Sony and Sanyo (the one pictured here is the Panasonic FS A1 WSX). There were only available in Japan...
//(info from old-computers.com)//
== MSX2+ compliant machines ==
* Panasonic/Matsushita (Japan)
* FS-A1FX: 64kB Mapper RAM (MSX2+)
* FS-A1WX: 64kB Mapper RAM (MSX2+)
* FS-A1WSX: 64kB Mapper RAM (MSX2+)
* Sanyo (Japan)
* Wavy 35: 64kB Mapper RAM (MSX2+)
* Wavy 70FD: 64kB Mapper RAM, built-in 3.5" disk-drive (MSX2+)
//(MSX2+ system list compiled from the list by TRD, Manuel Bilderbeek & Alex Wulms. Thanks to Stefano Priore, for abridging it to MSX2p specific info.)//
===== Links =====
* MSX FAQs -- http://www.faq.msxnet.org/
* Passion MSX -- http://www.passionmsx.org/
* MSX Resource Center -- http://www.msx.org/
* MSX2+ at old-computers.com -- http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=291
===== Other Emulators =====
* blueMSX -- http://www.bluemsx.com/
* openMSX -- http://openmsx.sourceforge.net/
Generated on Sun Jul 19 10:17:28 2009