FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Anything from run & guns to modern RPGs, what else do you play?
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uroko-sakanabito
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FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by uroko-sakanabito »

Hey there,

i was searching the forums and i could not find a thread for the Fujitsu stuff so i decided to open one.
I am collecting this stuff now for around two or three years and it is my main collection now.

I do not only play the games, i also configure HDDs, install TOS & games everywhere it makes sense and i also have a lot of experience connecting the computers to every monitor or TV i could get in my hands ^_^

So if you have any questions, ask me i have quite a bit time right now and i also love to share informations with other Towns users.

Sorry for my englisch ! -Daniel

PS; A crazy friend of mine was able to run Alltynex on a Marty
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsTy__WbJbM
Yeah too slow but hey, IT RUNS :D

PSS; And again the warning; Do not connect your Towns with cheap FMT to VGA adapters on modern LCD TV´s, this can burn your RGB out !
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drauch
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by drauch »

I don't have any questions right now, but I possibly may in the future. I've been interested in getting into Japanese computers and the like at some point, just not at the moment. Good thread idea, though!
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Austin
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by Austin »

All I can say is I wish I had a Marty. It seems there are a ton of awesome arcade ports on the platform.
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uroko-sakanabito
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by uroko-sakanabito »

And all i can say to that is get a PC instead !

The Marty is very weak and offers no fast mode with it´s 386 !

Games like KyuKyuKe Tiger, Pu-Li-Ru-La or Bubble Bobble run much better with Fast Mode.
In some games it even offers is a extra mode (BB fe). Also the marty has loading times from hell in some games.
And many games do not run.

Here is a quick list of common games whitch have a bonus on the pc;

Marty;

Bubble Bobble (no fast mode)
Image Fight (no fast mode)
Flying Shark (do not have this game but i believe no fast mode)
KyuKyuKe Tiger (no fast mode)
Mad Stalker (crashes on some Marty / pc systems, no idea why)
Pu-Li-Ru-La (no fast mode)
Prince of Persia (slow on marty !)
Prince of Persia 2 (slow on marty)
Raiden (suffers imo a bit under the signal converting)
Tatsujin II (no fast mode)
The New Zealand Story (crashes on most marty´s after stage 1 but can be fixed by booting free software collection before starting)
Viewpoint (no fast mode)

Also it is very hard that Street Fighter, SamSho & Mahou Daisakusen do not run on Martys. Alltynex does run now but not as it should be played. The biggest problem with these systems is the missing RGB out, it really sucks (imo) to play these games over Video or SVideo !

And there is still the list of games whitch do not run on Marty´s;

4D Boxing
4D Driving
4D Tennis
A.III.
A.IV.
Alone in the Dark II
Aoki ookami to shiroki mesushika
Air Combat 2 Specia
Armaranth III
Asuka 120% Burning Fest
Atlas
Atlas II
Aya
Carmen San Diego
Cat's Part 1*
Classic Road
Crusaders of the Dark Servant
Cyberia
Big Honour
Dan
Derby Stallion
Die Gekirin
Doukyuusei*
Doukyuusei II*
DPS zenbu*
Eikan wa kimi ni 3
Ecology Magic
F-15 Strike Eagle
Genocide Remix + Genocide II
Golf Links 386 Pro
Gunship
Hiouden
Hiouden II
Horde, the
J-League Professional Soccer 1994
Kamigami no daichi
Lord of the Rings
Lunatic Dawn II
Mahou Daisakusen
Map Construction + Power Up Kit
Mega lo Mania
Mensoberranzan
Might & Magic – Claws of Xeen
Might & Magic – Dark Side of Xeen
Mirage 2*
Nightmare
Ningyou zukai*
Nobunaga no yabou - Tenshouki
Oobune umijidai II
Orgel
Para Days
Paris – Dakar Sabaku no shissou
Planet’s Edge
Populous II
Power Dolls
Power Dolls II
Princess Maker II
Railroad Tycoon
Rance IV.1 / IV.2*
Ravenloft
Return to Zork
Samurai Spirits
Schwarzschild IV
Sim Ant
Sim City 2000
Sim Farm
Sotsugyou III
Strike Commander Plus
Super Street Fighter II
Syndicate
Tamashii no mon
Tactical Tank Corps DX
Tenka gomen
Theme Park
Todoroki III
Tokio
Ultima Underworld
Ultima Underworld II
Ultima 1-3
Ultima 4
Ultima 5
Ultima 6
Wing Commander II
Xak III

I really like Marty systems specially the car marty´s with home use kit !
BUT for players i really recommend a PC system, it is harder, better, faster, stronger & CHEAPER !
Personally i would never again buy a Towns under 66Mhz !
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uroko-sakanabito
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by uroko-sakanabito »

Hey, here is a quick guide about how to setting up a extern SCSI Mo Drive as HDD (in english)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=4 ... 1ad204f196

Some systems need to label the drive first, just follow Bernhards comments
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ZOM
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by ZOM »

Ah, that looks simple enough, thanks for posting this info!
I have yet to pick one of these systems up, but I'm waiting till I get the same chance as you; a clean-looking FM V-Towns for a decent price. :)
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uroko-sakanabito
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by uroko-sakanabito »

I am now for around one week in FMV-Towns gaming / MS Dossing and i really would recommend this system to everyone;

There are a few FM Towns games that will not run like Mahou, Rainbow Island & Alone in the Dark. But most off my other games run fine (no i have not tested all!). The MS Dos part comes with a Sound Blaster 32 Midi card and that simply is awesome ! There is also some kind of build in converter that scales 15/24/31 Khz modes to VGA. The Towns games run now in every mode on my LCD TV ! AWESOME !

I have installed Ultima Underworld 1,2, a japanese Dos Puyo Puyo II and Doom.
They run perfect and you can even play them with the FMTowns Pad ^_^
Maybee i can install Win 95 tomorrow and test newer Ego Shooters like Half Life and Quake 1,2

200MHz & 65 MB Ram are much more power than the most (all?) Towns only systems !

I can play MS Dos Doom & Tatsujin II on the same system now :D

+ You can easily replace the DD´s and CD Drive !
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ZOM
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by ZOM »

uroko-sakanabito wrote:...There are a few FM Towns games that will not run like Mahou...
Ouch! That will probably place a real dent in my plan. Darn, did not know this, thanks for the information - seems I really need to get an FM Towns II if I want to play my Mahou Daisakusen, eh? Seems like I have to re-think things again.
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uroko-sakanabito
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by uroko-sakanabito »

For Mahou you need at least a system with 20Mhz & HDD (without HDD get 66Mhz!)
But even on the perfect setup it plays a bit strange, Mahou is really not THAT great on FMTowns.
It is ok but it´s not worth to get a system just for it !
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Domino
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by Domino »

How did you get your FM Towns?
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uroko-sakanabito
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by uroko-sakanabito »

All from yahoo.jp
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antares
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by antares »

Just wanted to say I had 4D Sports Driving and it is possible to play on the Marty. But you need a mouse to make selections and after driving one track you are asked to input your name which you can only do with a keyboard.
Loading times also are very loooooooong.

What is this free software collection you mentioned?
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uroko-sakanabito
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by uroko-sakanabito »

Free Software Collections are very cheap to buy @ yahoo and from interest cause they boot a lower version (early FSC <10 but no guarantee if you want a specific numer i have to ask the guy who found the New Zealand Story trick) of the Towns Operating System (TOS). Some of them include little games like this one here; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMWRCh5fO4s Most of the stuff is free software like paint & video programms.

You can avoid the New Zealand Story crash after stage 1 and the Marty sound bug by booting them fist and starting the game under the earlier Towns OS version.
I believe the same thing does work with Taito Chase HQ sound bug (not on every system) but i have not tested this

Here are a few FSC pictures (and a few other games)
http://picasaweb.google.com/11254911850 ... directlink#
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by Jeneki »

Some day I'd like to try the first Rayxanber game on FM Towns.
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uroko-sakanabito
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by uroko-sakanabito »

It is sooo hard, i hate it ^_^
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uroko-sakanabito
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by uroko-sakanabito »

Hey, a quick update on FMV Towns Computers;

I have found a way to play Mahou Daisakusen on it;
Download vtowns.exe

http://download.goo.ne.jp/software/cont ... 48315.html

Install the programm in Dos or Windows Mode, start it with vtowns.exe /m8

Mahou runs fine !

Here are a lot of Boxshots;
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 81ce0a5fa8

Feel free to add me, facebook is the most active place for FMT users (english)
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by Shou »

Never went after an FMV since these play Towns games under emulation. The best normal Towns is the HC.

My Fresh HDD died and I replaced it but don't have any of the original discs so the machine will not come up. Do you have any the installers?
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uroko-sakanabito
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by uroko-sakanabito »

I would download Towns OS from here;
http://fullmotionvideo.free.fr/forum/vi ... fa02e07f54
and install it... its just a bit of klicking on icons... nothing too hard :-)
(HDD install icon has HDD written on it... if i remember correct)

FMV is emulation (a bit) yes.. but there is also towns hardware in these machines :-)
I can play all of my Towns games on this PC (except Rainbow Island), i have Windows 98 with Direct x9, Midi!, USB, MP3, browser and emulators (c64, SNES, Mega Drive...) and also all of my MS Dos / Win 95 / 98 games run (Doom, Duke, Blood) even the old ones like Jill of the Jungle or the first Keens. I really love this unit (and there are very cheap @ yahoo all under 100€)

PS maybee you have to set partions first, that´s a bit more complicated...
I will make a video tutorial in the next weeks... join the facebook group, there are a few really skilled people there !
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by rockleevk »

I don't know if this thread is a little old, but i wanted to ask something about purchasing a FM-TOWNS... (first post, by the way)

I'm looking for a FM-TOWNS Fresh or another that runs with a 486 CPU in my case, do you know where i can go to get one or if there's sombody who sells them or has another one to sell?

I tried on the last days to find something, but all I see is 386 units(like the first model FM-TOWNS) and some FM-Towns Marty going around on sale, but i can't find a 486 TOWNS by now.

Thank you for your help.
-Rockleevk
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robivy64
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by robivy64 »

Search YJ Auctions, and have some patience.

They don't show up often.
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gbaplayer
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by gbaplayer »

Or ask user b_rapid on ebay. but be careful: he is a great guy but his prices are sometimes a little high.
Games can be easily bought on http://www.suruga-ya.jp if you know a middleman. ;)
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rockleevk
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by rockleevk »

Ok, I imported games from other platforms before on suruga-ya, its a very useful place to shop =D.
I'll try to contact the user you said and see if there's any Towns Fresh / i486 around there.

PS: The FM-Towns II Fresh has HDD built in it or i have to purchase a SCSI/IDE drive to get it to work in order to install games.

Thanks for all your help!
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by 1983parrothead »

I have an FM TOWNS II HR model computer, but it automatically turns itself off. What's the problem? Do I need to send it somewhere for repair?
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by Austin »

Well, here's a funny turn of events since my last post in 2011--A friend loaned me a FM Towns Marty! I just received it in the mail yesterday and gave it a go for a little bit, primarily with just Raiden. I'm fairly impressed with the port overall and I am enjoying the feel of the system and the controller so far. Over the coming weeks I'll be trying different games (primarily late '80s/early '90s arcade ports, as that's what interests me about the console) to see what has been translated well and what runs well. So far though, my first impressions are good.
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by SuperDeadite »

Play Rayxanber. One of the few true exclusives that is actually good and runs perfectly on the Marty.
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by Austin »

Is there a confirmed list of games that run on a Marty (including games that require separate accessories for operation, like a mouse or keyboard)? My friend that had loaned me his Marty ended up offering to sell it to me for a decent price, so I went through with it. Now that I own one I am more interested in looking at getting a better idea of what games actually work on it and what do not. I'm just curious if there's a "definitive" list somewhere.
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EllertMichael
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by EllertMichael »

Austin wrote:Is there a confirmed list of games that run on a Marty (including games that require separate accessories for operation, like a mouse or keyboard)? My friend that had loaned me his Marty ended up offering to sell it to me for a decent price, so I went through with it. Now that I own one I am more interested in looking at getting a better idea of what games actually work on it and what do not. I'm just curious if there's a "definitive" list somewhere.
This may be of some help to you: LINK
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gabbafiend
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by gabbafiend »

Austin wrote:Is there a confirmed list of games that run on a Marty (including games that require separate accessories for operation, like a mouse or keyboard)? My friend that had loaned me his Marty ended up offering to sell it to me for a decent price, so I went through with it. Now that I own one I am more interested in looking at getting a better idea of what games actually work on it and what do not. I'm just curious if there's a "definitive" list somewhere.
I made a Marty compatibility list based on information from the official FM-Towns magazine ("OH! FM-Towns") a few years ago.
Here's the list (it's the second post):
http://www.triggerzone.de/forum/viewtop ... =1397#wrap


uroko-sakanabito also copied part of the list in one of his earlier posts in this thread.
It would've been nice if he had mentioned the actual source.
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by Austin »

Nice, thanks guys! That's just what I was looking for.

Has anyone had any issues getting certain confirmed Marty-compatible games to run? I recall having issues getting the first Alone in the Dark to load, for instance (not that it's ideal to play it on a Marty anyway, but I digress).
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Re: FM Towns Computer / Marty Thread

Post by SuperDeadite »

Some games are very specific on what they need to run. Games that require a keyboard and mouse often won't even try to boot if everything isn't plugged in. Some games need a formatted floppy during bootup as well as they copy some data over to use as a cache space. In the end most people that really want to get into the Towns library usually just buy a PC as the Marty is a pain in the ass.
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