Japanese shmups in English at WOOMB.net

grunny · Post by **grunny** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 1:26 pm

At WOOMB several Japanese shmups have been re-released, completely translated to English, licensed by their original distributors. First batch of games released includes Aleste (Power Strike), Aleste 2, DASS, Laydock and Zanac. Worth checking out.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:12 pm

Well, you should point out that those are MSX games....

I thought Woomb would actually become vapourware, but they are managing to release the games, even though their library is still small.

I wonder how long they will last.....

Good to know they managed to re-release DASS... they should try to get the rights to publish Kyokugen too

Ceph · Post by **Ceph** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:34 pm

If you buy games from them you get files only, right? No boxes, no printed manuals and you can't play them on a real MSX.

So if I bought Aleste 2, I'd basically pay €10.99 for the rom file of a 17 years old game. That's pretty lame.

Post by **Shatterhand** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:47 pm

I thought the games were boxed with manuals? I remember this project aimed at real MSX users...

I was already finding lame the asking prices + membership fees.. if all you get is a FILE then it really sucks...

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 3:52 pm

Ceph wrote:If you buy games from them you get files only, right? No boxes, no printed manuals and you can't play them on a real MSX.

So if I bought Aleste 2, I'd basically pay €10.99 for the rom file of a 17 years old game. That's pretty lame.

Exactly my thoughts!

You don't get the real deal, just a "launcher" program (which is the emulator I suppose), the game file (with indeed translated texts on screen) and a PDF file with the manual.

It must be said however that the manuals are fully translated from the original and, if I understand correctly, apparently printable in the same style/layout as the original manual.
This is about the only interesting thing of this stuff as far as I am concerned. And who needs a manual or English on screen to play an 8-bit Shmup anyway

Most of the big games which require a lot of japanese knowledge (like Shalom, Metal Gear 2, the Y's games, etc.) probably have roms out with translated text anyway. And for instance Golvelious (a featured game on Woomb) was perfectly playable without any jap. knowledge anyway.

They won't get my money!*

The one chip MSX on the other hand might be something for me..., a shame the European distribution has been postponed due to European manufacturing rules or something like that.

*if they'd sell physical products (boxed, manual, disks) for the native system that might change though.

grunny · Post by **grunny** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 9:05 pm

tough crowd ^_^. WOOMB might not be the thing for you, but it's a bit more than just "downloading files".

- It's a complete package of game embedded in a user-friendly emulator + manual in PDF format (not just a file)
- It's all legal (the MSX emulation, the software and the localization)
- It's been officially (re)translated to English

Admittedly, a box + manual (original reprint) would be even better, but we can't have it all, eh?

P.S. Kyokugen does rule big time indeed!

bay · Post by **bay** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 2:52 am

Super Laydock wrote:The one chip MSX on the other hand might be something for me..., a shame the European distribution has been postponed due to European manufacturing rules or something like that.

no longer! got this in my email box today..

Code: Select all

Bazix is proud to announce that a Western edition of the One Chip MSX is
finally available for pre-order. We can now offer you a One Chip MSX that
is compliant to CE and RoHS directives, allowing distribution outside
Japan. Only a limited amount of One Chip MSX computers will be available
in the initial batch, for a sale price of € 192,44 ex VAT. You can order
yours at http://www.bazix.nl/onechipmsx_preorder.html

The One Chip MSX comes with the full VHDL code that is used in its default
configuration as an MSX2 computer, schematics to the One Chip MSX PCB, a
blueprint of its casing and the software required to start developing VHDL
yourself. Additionally, several tools will be included with the One Chip
MSX, including one to program the FPGA chip from MSX-DOS. The VHDL code
included with the One Chip MSX - and alterations based on it - can be
re-distributed freely for non-commercial use. For more information on the
One Chip MSX, please read our updated One Chip MSX FAQ at
http://www.bazix.nl/onechipmsx_faq.html

At Bazix, you will get an English version of the One Chip MSX manual and a
power plug adapter for use of the One Chip MSX on 220V sockets. We also
offer a free service to restore your One Chip MSX (when bought from
Bazix), should its FPGA be programmed with non-working code, in the first
year after purchase.

If you don't want to miss out on this limited offer, place your pre-order
right now at http://www.bazix.nl/onechipmsx_preorder.html

Best wishes,

Bazix

i for one am getting one, anyone else?

rolins · Post by **rolins** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 3:21 am

Well I was planning to get the OCM, but US price is $245. If I'm going to pay that much I rather save up for a Turbo-R.

bay · Post by **bay** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 4:47 pm

rolins wrote:Well I was planning to get the OCM, but US price is $245. If I'm going to pay that much I rather save up for a Turbo-R.

I'm curious if the 1-chip-msx can run roms off the SD/MMC card slot..

As far as i understand the english translations are just ROM data with an emulator?.. if you can take that ROM data and place it on a SD/MMC.. thats a choice way to program and play games on the 1-chip-msx..

i've seen lots of homebrew and development after the end of life of the MSX.. this could mean good things for the MSX homebrew community.

think of all the shmups!

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 11:25 pm

grunny wrote:tough crowd ^_^. WOOMB might not be the thing for you, but it's a bit more than just "downloading files".

- It's a complete package of game embedded in a user-friendly emulator + manual in PDF format (not just a file)
- It's all legal (the MSX emulation, the software and the localization)
- It's been officially (re)translated to English

Admittedly, a box + manual (original reprint) would be even better, but we can't have it all, eh?

P.S. Kyokugen does rule big time indeed!

Sounds great to me, unless I can find an MSX 2 on Ebay, and even then you have to consider memory, etc.

Super Laydock · Post by **Super Laydock** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 11:43 pm

bay wrote:

Super Laydock wrote:The one chip MSX on the other hand might be something for me..., a shame the European distribution has been postponed due to European manufacturing rules or something like that.

no longer! got this in my email box today..

Code: Select all

Bazix is proud to announce that a Western edition of the One Chip MSX is
finally available for pre-order. We can now offer you a One Chip MSX that
is compliant to CE and RoHS directives, allowing distribution outside
Japan. Only a limited amount of One Chip MSX computers will be available
in the initial batch, for a sale price of € 192,44 ex VAT. You can order
yours at http://www.bazix.nl/onechipmsx_preorder.html

The One Chip MSX comes with the full VHDL code that is used in its default
configuration as an MSX2 computer, schematics to the One Chip MSX PCB, a
blueprint of its casing and the software required to start developing VHDL
yourself. Additionally, several tools will be included with the One Chip
MSX, including one to program the FPGA chip from MSX-DOS. The VHDL code
included with the One Chip MSX - and alterations based on it - can be
re-distributed freely for non-commercial use. For more information on the
One Chip MSX, please read our updated One Chip MSX FAQ at
http://www.bazix.nl/onechipmsx_faq.html

At Bazix, you will get an English version of the One Chip MSX manual and a
power plug adapter for use of the One Chip MSX on 220V sockets. We also
offer a free service to restore your One Chip MSX (when bought from
Bazix), should its FPGA be programmed with non-working code, in the first
year after purchase.

If you don't want to miss out on this limited offer, place your pre-order
right now at http://www.bazix.nl/onechipmsx_preorder.html

Best wishes,

Bazix

i for one am getting one, anyone else?

I am seriously considering getting one while I can.

This is one sweet piece of hardware! It's programmed to be an MSX2 computer, but has the potential to be even more.

The One Chip MSX is a lot more than just an MSX computer. The core of the One Chip MSX is an Altera Cyclone EP1C12Q240C8 FPGA chip, which is a Programmable Logic Device. This means that the functionality of the chip can be altered partially, or even completely, at any time, using a programming language called VHDL. This opens a wide range of possibilities, such as extending the MSX standard with new features, or even implementing your favorite classic computer or console in the FPGA chip. So, without making any physical hardware modifications, you can gain control over what the One Chip MSX actually does.

Meaning you can make it into a 2+, or even c64, NES or whatever doesn't exceed the limitations of the chip (it sounds pretty capable in any case) . The SD slots make for the possibility to load all different files. Only thing truly MSX about this are the MSX cartridge slots I suppose (though even they may be the same as for certain other classic systems, I dunno though).

It's just the price not being what I can or am willing to afford atm.

I might break down and get one anyway though, it's highly limited and might be worth the money due to it's possible rarity alone.

And if the 1chip programming scene takes off, who knows what great stuff lies ahead...

ED-057 · Post by **ED-057** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 7:56 am

I ordered an OCM. The price is high... but then again it is kind of hard to find an MSX computer (or upgrade one) with 1MB RAM, MSX-MUSIC, and SCC.

I think it should be able to run any disk-based game from the memory card, and at least some ROM images.

bay · Post by **bay** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:41 pm

ED-057 wrote:I ordered an OCM. The price is high... but then again it is kind of hard to find an MSX computer (or upgrade one) with 1MB RAM, MSX-MUSIC, and SCC.

I think it should be able to run any disk-based game from the memory card, and at least some ROM images.

provided it can do it, it's a sweet setup.

as mentioned above, the reprogrammability of the system is very cool. it's not to say i'm going to spend lots of time doing it, but if some enthusiast groups get into it then i'd have a morphable system... just think.

msx week, play your MSX* shmups!
c64 week, play your c64 shmups!
atari week, play your atari shmups!
* week, play your * shmups!

omg i'm in heaven.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 3:18 am

Depending on the cost (and predicted success) of a Dumas module I might spring for one of those.

That said, I should really just look into a RAM upgrade. Too bad a SD Snatcher style SCC+ cartridge with 128K RAM (RAM soldered into the high and low slots) still won't give me 256K, only 192 :(

Dark Schneider · Post by **Dark Schneider** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:07 pm

Yes I also ordered a 1chipMSX/OCM. Shame I have to wait until 'spring 2007' before I get it

Also, AFAIK the English release of Kyokugen ~The Shooting Star Children~ can still be purchased from this place. I have to admit, I am not sure about this. I bought mine while MSX Info Blad were still active. But at least it won't hurt you to send an email to Club Hnostar and politely ask about it