The 2012 edition of the great MSXdev contest has been launched ! There are big changes as the contest is now organized by our friends of the very active Karoshi MSX Community. For different reasons, it was no more possible to continue the formule of the MSXdev team.
Other changes are about mainly the RAM size, the ROM size, the promotion of the games, the jury. This time, the deadline has been fixed to 15 December 2012 : the coders have therefore 9 months to develop superb new games for the best 8-bit system ! Important dates The time line is set as follows : 12/03/2012 : MSXdev’12 rules published and project registration opened for contestants 15/12/2012 : game submission deadline 16/12/2012 : MSXdev’12 game poll started 31/12/2012 : MSXdev’12 game poll closed and results announced Game format specs As in the previous editions of MSXdev, the selected format for the games is the MSX ROM file. Cartridges have been the most successful media format for first generation MSX computers, and most of the best games ever produced were published in this format. Nowadays, this format is also interesting because it can be easily loaded into real MSX computers, using a Flash cartridge, a ROM loader or a ROM converter, and it can also be used directly on emulators. Also, there exists a growing phenomenon at the MSX scene of people developing real cartridges, so MSXdev organization wants to encourage this game format. All the games should be 100% compatible with this MSX configuration, that is defined as follows: CPU: Zilog Z80 running at 3.58 Mhz VDP: TMS9918/TMS9928 or compatible video processor PSG: AY-3-8910 or compatible sound chip Cassette interface: 1200/2400 baud RAM: 16 KB (non memory-mapped) VRAM: 16 KB Therefore the games will be tested and evaluated using this configuration. Other compatibility tests will be performed in different configurations, including MSX, MSX2, MSX2+ and Turbo-R computers. The games should work perfectly in any MSX compliant machine with the amount of RAM needed to run the game. If a game does not run properly in all MSX computers with at least 16 KB RAM it could be disqualified by the organization. In addition, it is allowed to make use of additional MSX hardware but they will not be taken into account when determining the final quality of the game by the voters. The goal of the contest is producing fine quality games that could be fully enjoyed in any MSX system. About the ROM size, any size will be accepted as long as it does not require a ROM mapper. In other words, the acceptable ROM file sizes are 8 KB, 16 KB, 24 KB, 32 KB, 40 KB and 48 KB. No megaROMs this time, folks! The reason for this size limit is that we would like to load the games in regular MSX systems without additional hardware. Discover all the other rules on the Karoshi MSX Community ! Games of previous editions will remain available on the MSXdev website, which will host also the MSXdev’12 games, when the contest will be over. MSXdev information and updates All information regarding MSXdev’12 will be published at Karoshi MSX Community forum – http://www.karoshicorp.com To check previous game entries and MSXdev editions, visit the official MSXdev website – http://msxdev.msxblue.com _______________________________________________ MSX mailing list (msx@stack.nl) Info page: http://lists.stack.nl/mailman/listinfo/msx
