| If you are not familiar with the Internet and with computers, the instructions on how you download and extract a file can be useful to you. It is very simple indeed ! In order to play MSX Games on your PC you must download a certain number of games and programs. Download simply means that you need to transfer a file from one computer to yours.
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| This is the only kind of MSX game that do not need any emulator. You only need to download and extract the game you want. Once this is done simply double-click on the game to launch it (under Windows95). To Quit the game press on the 'Escape' button while the game is running. This button also permits to save games. |
| To play ROM games again, you need an emulator. This section gives instructions for each emulator present on this website (fMSX, RuMSX, Virtual MSX and BrMSX). Playing ROM games with fMSX-DOS 1.6 : Directly from MS-DOS This method should only be used if you have some knowledge of DOS.
Using fMSX Launchpad : If you do not like MS-DOS at all, then this is the solution ! Read the 'Launchpads' section to learn how to install fMSX Launchpad on your computer.
Using fMSX Shell : These are instructions for another good launchpad. Read the 'Launchpads' section to learn how to install fMSX Shell on your computer.
Frequent problems when using fMSX-DOS : If you have difficulties to launch some games, these few tips may help you out !
Playing ROM Games with RuMSX RuMSX is almost a straight-forward to use emulator. It is the only one which has been specifically developed for Windows95. Here are the basic instructions to use it with ROM games.
Playing ROM Games with Virtual MSX Virtual MSX is another easy-to-use emulator but is restricted to MSX1 Games. No sound is supported and the program is from time to time unstable.
Playing ROM Games with BrMSX This emulator has been written for MS-DOS. It is the fastest on the market but has some limitations (MSX1 only).
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| You can easily play *dsk from almost all MSX emulators. As you have certainly tried to run *.rom games before, I assume you know how to launch each emulator and I am almost sure you almost already know how to do it. However, here are some very brief instructions for each emulator. fMSX-DOS : Either fMSX Launchpad or fMSX Shell have a section called 'DiskA' or/and 'DiskB'. Just select the *.dsk file you want to play and run fMSX. RuMSX : Head for 'Change Media' and select the file in the 'DiskA' tab. Have 'Image file selected' if the game is on your hard-disk or have 'Disk Drive' selected if you intend to play the game from a real MSX diskette (which needs to be in Drive A of your PC). Virtual MSX : Select 'Disk Setup' from the 'Setup' Menu. Choose 'Disk File' and locate the *.dsk game you want to play. If you want to play from a real MSX floppy disk, choose 'DriveA'. BrMSX : In MS-DOS type the command c:/brmsx155/brmsx -diska game.dsk |
| Things are a little bit more complicated if you want to play *.bin, *.bas or even *.ldr games. If you are trying to play these games for the first time, follow then carefully the following instructions. Software Requirements : The instructions given below are specifically written to be used with fMSX-Dos 1.6 and fMSX Shell 1.3. This does not mean that you won't be able to play these games with other emulators and/or launchpads. If you decide to use another software, you will certainly need to adapt the instructions. Start fMSX in MSX2 mode Start fMSX in MSX2 mode and in DISK BASIC (yes, that blue screen!) with command lines instructions (like DOS).
You are now in MSX Disk Basic. You will need a Double Density floppy disk (720Kb). If you don't have one, you can always cover the upper left hole of a High Density Disk (1,4 Mb) with tape. To format the disk, proceed as follows :
Copy all the files (do not include the folders) on your just-formatted floppy (use Windows95). Be sure to copy all the files !!! Most games in *.bas, *.bin or *.ldr formats have several files ! example : godzilla.bas & godzilla.001 & godzilla.002 etc... Create an image of your floppy disk You will need a little utility called 'Dcopy.exe'. You can find it in the 'Emulators' section of this website. Download it and place it in the same folder as fMSX. Follow now the instructions below :
From this point you can either use fMSX Shell or fMSX Launchpad. You are almost there now ! Start the launchpad of your choice, Select the 'MSX2' mode and select your image file (*.dsk format) and click on 'Run'. Your emulator starts, the MSX logo appears followed by the blue screen (Disk Basic version 1.0) Start the Games (finally!) Before typing the command that will execute the game, be sure to know the exact name of the file that matches the game ! Here are the commands you will need to type :
load"nomdujeu.bas",r followed by ENTER
bload'nomdujeu.bin",r followed by ENTER
load"nomdujeu.ldr",r followed by ENTER - Start fMSX Launchpad - Click on the button right to 'Disk Drive A' - Click on 'PC Drive A : MSX Drive A' at the bottom of the window - Start fMSX in MSX2 mode (without the floppy in the drive !) - MSX Disk Basic loads (command lines on blue screen) - Insert your floppy disk in your A Drive of your PC. - Type the command that matches the game you want to play (see above) |
| This question is often asked and unfortunately I am not an expert to answer it. The all I know is that you need a special "SDK" pack, called DAO, which will help to recompile MSX games. The other thing you need is a Borland Assembler and Link and naturally some knowledge of MSX coding to complete analysis of the games (courtesy of Valerye Bostan who recompiled many MSX games).
I have never tried the process but I can remember that I once encountered the software on a MSX site, but I can't remind which one ! However, I think the process is quite hard since if it would not, all MSX games would already been compiled. All compiled games I know are on this site. If you know any other, please let me know. |
| I hope that these instructions have helped you out. If you have more interest in the MSX, you can read Manuel Bilderbeek's MSX FAQ on the following website : The Ultimate MSX Faq You will find there hundreds of answers to specific MSX questions !. |
