MSX1 boot "logo"

By Manuel

Ascended (19678)

29-04-2018, 17:40

As you know, the MSX1 has a very simple boot, it just says:

Quote:

MSX system
version 1.0

For MSX2 and up they did a much nicer graphical boot.

I wonder: what would be the most realistic graphical boot for an MSX1?? Challenge: create one!

Requirements:
- animation must not be longer than MSX2 animation
- must work on any MSX1
- must not require more ROM than the MSX2 animation (how much is it??)
- must be a real teaser of the MSX1 capabilities, in other words: an impressive and/or attractive one!
- must be clear that it is for the MSX system.

Who's up for this challenge?

By Fabf

Champion (266)

29-04-2018, 19:21

Great idea, I always thought MSX1 logo is missing.
I can join because of my poor programming level.
It will be great if contribution could be used in futures MSX machines.

By PingPong

Enlighted (4155)

29-04-2018, 20:35

maybe can be done on screen 1 without vertical animation and almost identical to msx2 one....
just redefine the patterns...
maybe one can simply scroll at 8px steps (fast enough to make it smooth) the charset.

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6092)

29-04-2018, 21:14

Manuel wrote:

- must not require more ROM than the MSX2 animation (how much is it??)

I would say MSX2 animation is quite same size as MSX2+ animation, but it is not quite as clearly separated from other data. In MSX2+ the logo animation is exactly 1.5KB (#600 bytes)

By djh1697

Paragon (1736)

29-04-2018, 21:22

Which screen mode does the MSX2+ animation work in? Not that I am thinking of writing one!

By NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6092)

29-04-2018, 21:30

djh1697 wrote:

Which screen mode does the MSX2+ animation work in? Not that I am thinking of writing one!

From MSX2 to MSX tR the logos work on SCREEN 6. It looks so smooth, because it is using anti aliasing on edges.

By Eugeny_Brychkov

Paragon (1232)

30-04-2018, 19:49

Manuel wrote:

I wonder: what would be the most realistic graphical boot for an MSX1?? Challenge: create one!

Only 4 VDP modes are vailable for MSX1, so not much choice.

Manuel wrote:

- must not require more ROM than the MSX2 animation (how much is it??)

I am more concerned where you are going to fit those 600 bytes into existing MSX1 ROM. There're locations in MSX1 ROM not used by the BIOS/interpreter, and designer will need to find them and ensure they are really not used.

Manuel wrote:

- must be a real teaser of the MSX1 capabilities, in other words: an impressive and/or attractive one!

Adding PSG sound?

I am personally very satisfied with standard MSX1 boot up screen. Simple, tasteful and very effective

By Manuel

Ascended (19678)

30-04-2018, 20:13

PSG sound is allowed.

0x600 bytes is the size limit. Where it should be put: that's for later concern I'm sure NYYRIKKI can find a way to get it crammed in somewhere ;-)

By Parn

Paladin (854)

01-05-2018, 13:34

This forum post got me inspired to work on a proof of concept for displaying the MSX graphic logo on an MSX1. It's fairly unoptimized and it's part MSX-BASIC, part binary files for direct VRAM loading, but I'm sure it can be made smaller in Assembly and I hope it can be a starting point:

msx1logo on Github

I wanted to work in some kind of animation but I thought it would be hard and time-consuming to make it look good in BASIC within size limitations, so I didn't even try for now. Currently it has 1112 bytes, including the loader and binary headers.

By Grauw

Ascended (10821)

01-05-2018, 14:45

Maybe you could anti-alias it with a combination of careful alignment and sprites?

By Parn

Paladin (854)

01-05-2018, 15:16

That's a great idea, but I fear it's beyond my skills, at least at the current size. Do you think it would be worth trying it again, but with a smaller logo? I was thinking about using sprites to make an interesting transition effect.