MSX - 30th anniversary | MSX Resource Center

Exactly 30 years ago, Microsoft and ASCII announced the MSX computer standard. That's right! For three decades now we have been able to enjoy this 8bit computer - a first attempt to introduce some form of standard in the world of home/microcomputers. Produced by large consumer electronic brands as Sony, Philips, Panasonic, Yamaha and Daewoo; supported by a massive software library created by game developers such as Konami, Falcom, Compile, Hudson and MicroCabin the MSX might not have become the dominating computer standard it was intended to be, but it certainly earned its place in the Annals of computer history.

Not only did MSX give birth to game franchises such as Metal Gear and Bomberman, its open standard and such concepts as a separate Video Display Processor or design moving towards what we nowadays call System on a Chip are true examples how (the vision behind) MSX paved the way for modern day computers and game consoles.

But perhaps the true legacy of MSX is not its commercial success or failure, nor its revolutionary ideas on standardization, hardware design or home automation. It's we, the scene, the community: a dedicated group of active hobbyists that keep our MSX platform alive for more than 30 years now, by releasing new software and hardware, sharing documentation, developing emulators, organizing events, spreading news or simply just by enjoying new or old MSX software.

To emphasize this special milestone we have sent out this press release in the hope that some blogs, websites or magazines will pick up on it. The world should know that 30 years ago a very special computer was released, so special that even today it is still alive and kicking! The 30th anniversary of MSX is a great moment to "spread the word" once more, so by all means let your favorite websites and magazines know about it!

Tonight, a 30th anniversary meetup takes place at Café Batavia, close to Amsterdam Central Station. A great opportunity to share memories of our favorite home computer and make new plans for the future. Later this year, somewhere near the end of October/early November the MSX Resource Center will organize an event that celebrates the 30th anniversary of MSX as well. We will announce full details on this event very soon, and it's really going to be something special, so by all means do keep an eye on our frontpage - as if you didn't have enough reasons to do so already.

Last but not least, we would like to know... (how) are you going to celebrate the 30th anniversary of MSX? What is your fondest memory about MSX so far? And what future do you think lies ahead for MSX? Can we make it until 50? We can if it is up to us!

Congratulations and thanks to all who love and support MSX!

The MSX Resource Center crew

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Reacties (49)

Van Latok

msx guru (3960)

27-06-2013, 00:03

MSX 30 years. For me it's special. Thanks for being, guys! And congrats to you all

Van Bart

Paragon (1422)

27-06-2013, 00:10

Congratulations to all MSX fans! May you run naked in a field of flowers for years to come!

Van MsxKun

Paragon (1134)

27-06-2013, 00:30

Happy anniversary to all!

Van locomosxca

Master (255)

27-06-2013, 00:49

Feliz aniversario a todos los amantes del MSX

Van luppie

Paladin (869)

27-06-2013, 00:52

Happy B-Day to all MSX fans out there

Van syn

Prophet (2134)

27-06-2013, 01:49

It is a double anniversary for me, since my favorite MMORPG Anarchy Online was also born on this glorious day (obviously not the same year ofcourse :D )

Happy MSX Day everyone!

Van Maggoo

Paragon (1218)

27-06-2013, 02:19

Van [D-Tail]

Ascended (8263)

27-06-2013, 07:45

30 years... wow! Congratulations everyone, and thanks to the msx.org crew for supporting the community for almost as long (well... ). I'll be watching this place in case a date is announced for the event!

Van Samor

Prophet (2220)

27-06-2013, 09:31

Hpbd, MSX !

Van konamiman

Paragon (1211)

27-06-2013, 09:38

But wasn't the anniversary on June 16th? What happened the 16th and what happened the 27th?

30 years of MSX, 27 years as MSX user, about 20 years since I started programming, 16 years since I got my Turbo-R... please someone, slow down time a bit!

Van valkyre

Paladin (699)

27-06-2013, 09:37

I will be celebrating by trying to complete 3 of the latest great offerings- shmup, super prehistoric quest and shouganai. I may even dust down the tape recorder and load the first game i ever bought back in 1985- lazy jones! All will be assisted with a few drinks.
Incidently if any uk visitors to this site fancy an anniversary meet up this year, i would be interested.

Van snout

Ascended (15187)

27-06-2013, 10:32

What a great way to celebrate MSX, valkyre!

@konamiman - I honestly don't know. All I know is that @MRC we've been celebrating it on that date since the 20th anniversary. Wikipedia also used to mention June 27th as the date MSX was announced on a press conference, until this edit on December 24, 2012, which cites this book as its source. The first reference to June 27th as MSX's birthday I could find was made here by Guyver800.

Ah well, as long as we have a date (or two) to celebrate, right?

This digging around remembered me of Maggoo's great 20th anniversary demo? If I'm not mistaken this was one of the first releases in a new wave of MSX scene activity.

Van KdL

Paragon (1485)

27-06-2013, 11:49

a.k.a. the 30th of Creamy Mami then ...congratulations! ;)

Van Guillian

Prophet (3529)

27-06-2013, 11:57

@konamiman, @snout: it seems that the first use of MSX trademark was on the 14/06/1983

Van syn

Prophet (2134)

27-06-2013, 12:08

I was lying in bed with my eyes half closed when I posted my previous comment so I hardly read anything you wrote.

But very nice to know the MRC msx 30th anniversary event will be held. I am really looking forward to it!

Speaking of Maggoo's 20th anniversary demo, I was wondering, did anyone made some 30th anniversary demo/video/music/song/tribute/gfx/whatever? I was planning to so some video montage with some text but sorta slipped/forgot/no-time/laziness/ etc .. but ofcourse there is still time, we have a whole year to celebrate

Anyway also thanks for plugging my/our meet-up today snout

Van anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

27-06-2013, 12:18

Hahahahaha! June 16th and June 27th are both correct! Read the full story later today on msx.org -- this is going to be a very interesting read!

And anytime, syn. I'm in Amsterdam this afternoon, but probably can not make it to the meetup. Have fun!

Van snout

Ascended (15187)

27-06-2013, 12:36

There it is! Enjoy your read ;)

Van mesiasmsx

Prophet (3455)

27-06-2013, 13:44

Happy birthday!!!!!!

MSX is the system!!!

Van Ramones

Champion (264)

27-06-2013, 14:06

Happy MSX 30th anniversary!

CongratuRations ( ) to all MSX users.

Thanks to MRC crew, users, groups, developers, (long etc...) for their support.

This afternoon I'll play Zaxxon, Yie Are Kung Fu and Valkyr to celebrate. My first 3 games.

Van e1000

Resident (35)

27-06-2013, 14:16

Happy Birthday MSX! And congratulations to its community! Long live MSX and its supporters around the world!

Van Daemos

Prophet (2169)

27-06-2013, 14:41

30 years allready. Damn I am becomming old. But yes. I can say to people that the MSX will always go on since we kept it up for 30 years allready!!

All gratz for keeping this standard up for so long. A happy birthday to MSX and may we all prevail for many more years to come

Van Samor

Prophet (2220)

27-06-2013, 16:03

...and a link to the tweakers.net article then:
http://tweakers.net/nieuws/89880/msx-viert-dertigste-verjaar...

Van teroper

Rookie (21)

27-06-2013, 16:05

Wow, what an achievement. 30 years, and still keeps bringing lots of joy and happines to all of us who are using it on these days, and many many years to come. This system will live forever.

Happy Birthday MSX

Van snout

Ascended (15187)

27-06-2013, 16:10

Great to see tweakers pick up the news! Who's next?

Van anonymous

incognito ergo sum (116)

27-06-2013, 16:26

Word is starting to spread, check http://www.apparata.nl/nieuws/msx-bestaat-vandaag-30-jaar-1926 and this MASSIVE FEATURE ON THEREGISTER!!!

Funniest/most 'impressive' newswire syncs so far are Yahoo Finance and Wall Street Journal.

Van Samor

Prophet (2220)

27-06-2013, 16:40

nice feature at theregister.

Van e1000

Resident (35)

27-06-2013, 17:38

Hey this is my homage to the most magical computer ever made: http://goo.gl/sSHRy

I know it is in Portuguese, I'll try to create a view for English posts.

Meanwhile, please, fell free to download the code here and add your changes into it.

You can enhance the music, change the screen, add sprites and effetcs!

Let us cellebrate! MSX 4EVER!

Van tvalenca

Paladin (747)

27-06-2013, 18:51

Does anyone know which was the first MSX computer launched? (brand/model)

Van JohnHassink

Ambassador (5684)

27-06-2013, 18:56

Congratulations everyone!

Van snout

Ascended (15187)

27-06-2013, 20:06

Tvalenca, according to ascii it was the Mitsubishi ml 8000, see the other news of today

Van arjan.arends.16

Supporter (1)

27-06-2013, 20:45

Happy B-day !!

http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=4389473

Van Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1803)

27-06-2013, 21:00

Jay! 30 years of MSX And looking back I think I travelled along for 25 years of that journey

Van SkyeWelse

Champion (471)

27-06-2013, 23:18

Happy 30th Birthday MSX. : ) Here's to another 20 years of new MSX developments to keep it alive for the 50th Anniversary. : )

-Thomas

Van Imanok

Paragon (1200)

27-06-2013, 23:23

Happy 30th anniversary!! Keep on MSXing!!

Van snout

Ascended (15187)

28-06-2013, 00:02

Guru3d had posted about it as well, shamelessly copying text from mrc without linking to msx.org. Ah well...

Van snout

Ascended (15187)

28-06-2013, 00:21

http://www.guru3d.com/news_story/msx_turns_30_today.html

Van Samor

Prophet (2220)

28-06-2013, 10:39

I didn't even know that site still existed... haven't been there in recent years.

Van syn

Prophet (2134)

28-06-2013, 12:12

very nice picture skyeweise! I am using it as a desktop wallpaper atm.. any chance of a higher resolution version thoug?

Van SkyeWelse

Champion (471)

28-06-2013, 14:15

Hi Syn,

Sure! Try this one out.

It's the largest one I have at the moment. These were made for our 30th Anniversary World of MSX Computing Exhibit at the Atlanta Vintage Computer Festival back in April.

-Thomas

Van Pac

Scribe (7103)

28-06-2013, 14:53

Thank you for keeping MSX alive!

Van hbarcellos

Hero (649)

28-06-2013, 21:36

Sander, maybe send it to the OSNEWS guy. I think he's also from the Netherlands and IMHO the site is quite good.

http://www.osnews.com/submit

Van snout

Ascended (15187)

29-06-2013, 09:28

http://www.usgamer.net/articles/msx-the-little-hybrid-that-c...

Van syn

Prophet (2134)

29-06-2013, 12:55

SkyeWelse wrote:

Hi Syn,

Sure! Try this one out.

It's the largest one I have at the moment. These were made for our 30th Anniversary World of MSX Computing Exhibit at the Atlanta Vintage Computer Festival back in April.

-Thomas

Awesome .. thank you ;) Replaced some random porno babe wallpaper with this one ;)

Van Gradius2

Hero (657)

01-07-2013, 17:34

Happy 30th! 28th as user!

Van Imanok

Paragon (1200)

28-06-2016, 10:12

Happy 33th anniversary!

Van Colemu

Hero (544)