At 15:32 10-7-00 +0200, you wrote:
> > But still, why is Europe (and other parts of the world) so fixated on
> > MSX 2, with MSX-MUSIC and MSX-AUDIO then?
>
>because that's the most frequently appearing configuration, at least
>in Europe, AFAIK! in other words: there's the largest user-base.
>The more you deviate form this user-base, the smaller chances will be
>that anyone else but yourself will be playing your game, using your tool
>etc...
I thought MSX was out of commerce these days, because this is more like
commerce.
>Apart from that, programming for this config is quite easy: standard
>MSX2 graphics handling and lots of music tools available. If you want
>to develop for e.g. 2+, the only really valuable extra features are:
>(and you said so yourself, IIRC)
>
>- horizontal scroll in HW
>- extra colordepth for background graphics.
Using the MSX-standard, yes. So the MSX-MUSIC, built-in Kanji or sometimes
even DOS2 are ignored.
>IMHO, most games and other apps can do without the HW horizontal scroll
>and the value of extra colordepth is killed by the fact that it's a b*tch
>to program, right?
Right, but if you've got a game with a smooth horizontal scroll, would you
prefer the shocky edges at left and right without overlaying sprites (to
prevent the flashing sprites) or would you like the game to use the
hardware scroll when V9958 was detected? Two advantages:
1. You can do more with code, as the scrolling part itself is done by hardware
2. The shocky edges are gone so even without sprites you will need to use
for your game
So nothing about the extra colordepth here.
> > but when it comes to
> >video extensions (digitize and superimpose for V9938, V9958 and V9990 and
> >just MSX2+ features and Gfx9000) is hardly used.
>
>
>digitizing/superimposing: Name more than 2 useful applications for it.
> Especially: name a useful application of these features in a game ;-)
> ('cause 90% of the applications programmed for MSX are games...)
Okay, digitizing/superimposing was a bit over the top, but many programmers
just don't use the MSX 2+, Turbo R and Gfx9000 features. It's a shame really.
>V9958/MSX2+ features: see above
>
>Gfx9000: I'm not a happy owner :-( My guess is: you can't add V9990 features
>to your program as additional stuff, like you can do with music extensions.
>You'll have to rewrite your game/util/whatever for it, meaning more effort.
>Another thing is IMHO, this:
Are you an owner who is not happy with his purchase or just someone who
doesn't have it? You usually write a program directly for that VDP. At the
moment, there are some programming tools (like GBASIC) which enable very
simple use of Gfx9000 and sometimes even Video9000
digitizing/superimposing. The problem is IMHO, today's MSX-programmers are
or too lazy or too busy to do something for the V9990, because they lack
the knowledge or the means (the Gfx9000 for example).
>The image of the Gfx9000 is completely separated from the image of the V99x8
>of your MSX so you either need an extra monitor, or an RGB-switch: extra
>hardware - extra hassle. If the Gfx9000 would have been designed differently
>(I'm not saying *better*!), so you could superimpose the V9990 image on the
>V99x8 image or vice versa, I think it woudl have been much more appreciated...
Well, maybe you can't ADD it, but you can surely use it to make your game
better by using a higher resolution for example. The speed the V9990 uses
to complete commands won't make any difference. Use SCREEN 5 or SCREEN 7
pictures the SCREEN 1 way... What could be better than that?
Initially Gfx9000 has superimpose (it still has), but because of missing
GEN-locker Sunrise decided to just not use it by not distributing the cable
for superimpose with it. Video9000 handles superimpose correctly but I
agree it's a bit too expensive just to play a game for Gfx9000 without the
need to switch connectors or a second monitor.
>Just my 2cents,
You know cents are enstinct (hmm... dictionary isn't within arms length) :)
GreeTz, BiFi
Visit my Home Page at www.bifi.msxnet.org
mail me at: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
FTP: ftp.bifi.msxnet.org
ICQ #36126979
****
MSX Mailinglist. To unsubscribe, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
and put "unsubscribe msx [EMAIL PROTECTED]" (without the quotes) in
the body (not the subject) of the message.
Problems? contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
More information on MSX can be found in the following places:
The MSX faq: http://www.faq.msxnet.org/
The MSX newsgroup: comp.sys.msx
The MSX IRC channel: #MSX on Undernet
****
