Page 1 of 1

1chipMSX- A new MSX clone

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 11:46 am
by 87th
http://www.msx.d4e.co.jp/
I really want one of these. My MSX2 is almost broken, has no floppy drive, takes up a lot of space, and can't be moved (short cables mean I can't place it on my lap to play).
This plays games off cartridge, lets you use your own keyboard or joypad (there are 2 USB ports and a PS/2 port) and lets you save to SD card! I think you might be able to load ROMs off of SD, too (A japanese speaker can help clear this up). That would mean you could play the English fan-translations of MetalGear (MG: Redux), MetalGear 2: Solid Snake, Snatcher and SD Snatcher on a home console (with your biggest TV).
I really like the idea, and the price of 20,000 Yen (£90/$170) doesn't put me off.
I'm not sure where I can order one from.

EDIT-
I've just found the European distrubtion site. They're not selling them just yet, but they will once 500 people have signed up to their Newsletter (or so I understand).
http://www.bazix.nl/onechipmsx.html

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:21 pm
by Marc
You should be able to load ROMs off an SD to it, yeah. By the way, the Japanese site says only 5,000 will be made.

That thing looks really nice. They said they were showing a playable version at TGS. People could bring their own games and try them out.

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:33 pm
by 87th
That's just the first batch. They're making more for international sales. They will also support the firmware (I think updates will be installed via SD card). You may be able to run MSX2+ games on it, in the future.

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 12:35 pm
by Artemio
I want one of those too =)

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2006 1:17 pm
by Marc
87th wrote:That's just the first batch. They're making more for international sales.
Are you sure? http://www.bazix.nl/faq_will_there_be_a ... uters.html

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:27 am
by 87th
I'm pretty sure that concerns the first batch of international 1chipMSXs.

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 9:12 am
by Marc
Hmm, well that's the impression I got from reading both sites. That it's being shared worldwide. Only saying. Anyone who really wants one is better off getting it as early as possible anyway.

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 4:02 pm
by Artemio
I don't know if you guys subscribed to the newsletter:, here is what they said last night:

Thank you very much for subscribing to the One Chip MSX newsletter. The reactions we received so far are overwhelming. It's about time to give you an update on the One Chip MSX distribution status. In Japan, D4 Enterprise has just started taking orders on the first batch of 5,000 One Chip MSX computers.

As you may have noticed, Bazix has not started taking orders yet. It has turned out that a few parts on the One Chip MSX board are not compliant with European production directives, which means that the One Chip MSX cannot be distributed to Europe or the USA in its current form. However, together with D4 Enterprise and the manufacturer of the One Chip MSX, we are currently investigating the possibility of producing a separate batch of One Chip MSX computers that should comply with these production directives. We expect to be able to reveal more information on this in the near future.

We understand you would like to get your hands on a One Chip MSX as soon as possible, and highly appreciate your patience and understanding. Through this newsletter, we will keep informing you on the status of the One Chip MSX production, distribution, pricing and (pre)ordering.

Best wishes,

Bazix

Bazix VOF
Hoge der A 30-2
9712 AE Groningen
TEL: +31(0)50-3112518
CoC: 02084964
VAT: 8136.21.914

Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 4:14 pm
by 87th
I got that. Disappointing, but we can only hope for a second batch.

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:42 pm
by 87th
They're up for European pre-order, now. Including postage, and VAT it comes to around 229 Euros (around £150). Yikes!
...I'm still going to buy one. :)/:(
http://www.bazix.nl/onechipmsx_preorder.html

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 2:10 pm
by Artemio
I just pre-ordered one as well... It is indeed a bit expensive, but I believe it is worth it.

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 3:01 pm
by 87th
I thought I'd be regretting it within an hour, but I'm actually happier now that it's pre-ordered, than when I had the option.

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:25 pm
by Artemio
I haven't completed the last step o fteh pre-order yet.... So I must say I am still in the "previous step". That 360 HD-DVD drive is getting my attention now, even with that Dolby Digital downsampling stuff... Reading...

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:42 pm
by 87th
I haven't read much into it, but is there much point? I don't think the range of HD-DVDs is going to justify the price for a year or so, by which time, the price may have dropped, anyway.

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:38 pm
by Artemio
The real problem is not any spending more on dvds... as opposed to buy some of them again on HD.

Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:07 am
by 87th
There's a small page long feature on the OneChip MSX in the new GamesTM magazine, including an interview with Sander Zuidema- the spokesman of Bazix, which I can type up if anyone's interested (he confirms the ability to run games from SD or MMC cards, and mentions something about new homebrew games for the system).

Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 12:29 pm
by Artemio
I had to cancel mine due to other (unexpected) expenses I had.. So I'll have to wait for yoru opinions here

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 3:48 am
by 87th
I'm actually avoiding spending money while I'm on holiday, just so I can still get one. I don't think there's much I want to get while I'm here, anyway (although I managed to pick up a near mint Phantom Brave for £5, yesterday).

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 4:52 pm
by 87th
Guess who's back!
Bazix newsletter wrote:Earlier this month a meeting between representatives of MSX Association, ESE Artists Factory and Bazix took place in Tokyo, Japan. During this meeting, the status and future of the Western One Chip MSX Project was discussed. As we already knew, several changes have taken place in the organisations of the parties involved - especially in the organisation of D4 Enterprise, the Japanese company that produced the One Chip MSX for the Japanese market. As D4E focuses more and more on digital software distribution, it didn't seem probable for this company to become responsible for the Western One Chip MSX after all, so we came to the conclusion that it would be better to focus on production of the Western One Chip MSX elsewhere.

Together with MSX Association and ESE Artists Factory we have discussed the changes that have to be made to make the One Chip MSX suitable for commercial distribution on the Western market, as well as some possible improvements compared to the Japanese version. Next, we have started looking around for companies that can produce the Western One Chip MSX. In the coming weeks, we expect to receive several quotes which we shall then compare and discuss with our Japanese partners. We will also try to investigate the effect of some of the discussed improvements to the One Chip MSX design on production costs. After carefully weighing all options we will select a final design for the Western One Chip MSX.

On www.onechipmsx.com we will soon launch a blog on which the process of the Western One Chip MSX project can be followed. Naturally, we will also keep informing you via this newsletter. As an added bonus, people who have pre-ordered the One Chip MSX in the past will get priority treatment over those who didn't as soon as the ordering period for the Western One Chip MSX opens. But of course, also people who didn't pre-order will get their chance to obtain a One Chip MSX when it becomes available.

On behalf or all parties involved we would like to express our regrets for the slow pace in which the Western One Chip MSX has progressed so far. Our aim to bring the new MSX computer to markets other than Japan proved to be a tough challenge and the setbacks we have encountered have frustrated us possibly more than they almost certainly have frustrated you. Due to the agreements with our Japanese partners we could reveal very little to no information so far. We expect to bring you a steady flow of new information from now on and aim to send out status updates at least once every two months. Furthermore, if you have any suggestions, questions or feature requests for the Western One Chip MSX and its production please let us know so that we could take them into consideration.

Best wishes,

Rieks Warendorp Torringa
Sander Zuidema

Bazix VOF
http://www.bazix.nl/
http://www.woomb.net/
I didn't think they'd ever do it, after this long a wait.

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 5:34 pm
by Marc
See, good things come to those who wait. *nudge, nudge*

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:02 pm
by snatcher1988
Is this emulator supposed to be better than the BlueMSX?

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:33 pm
by 87th
It's not an emulator. It's a new MSX2 that's compatible with a lot of new technology (including USB controllers and SD cards). Most importantly, you can use either physical cartridges or ROM files. It's ideal for anyone with MSX cartridges and a failing MSX. My Hit-Bit's pretty much dead, so I've been looking forward to this for a while.

You can read about the system here-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1chipMSX

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 4:34 pm
by X_Lupin
Neato! I guess I'll be ordering one when they become available.

Again, this is the only forum I know that makes me lust for dated technology, rather than fancy new graphics cards... :???:

Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 5:56 pm
by JimboKudo
X_Lupin wrote:Neato! I guess I'll be ordering one when they become available.

Again, this is the only forum I know that makes me lust for dated technology, rather than fancy new graphics cards... :???:
It also makes it easier to wait for the translation patch. I still plan on using these forums anyway, even after that. Definetly the best forum I've ever been on.

Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:13 am
by 87th
Remember, this is an expensive little toy. The original price was 20,000 Yen (And the current exchange rate makes that roughly £95/$185/€125). The people behind this have been doing around 2 years of unpaid work, so I wouldn't be too surprised if the price has changed since then. You'll have to be a pretty hardcore fan of MSX games to buy this without feeling short-changed.