What is required to play this MSX Interstellar LD game?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Was browsing on eBay today (11-09-2014) and came across this Funai produced Interstellar LD shmup game that runs on MSX hardware. How does one go about running this particular Interstellar LD game? And what appropiate MSX hardware would be need to run it properly?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Inter-Stellar-F ... 3f3ffa7dc3

I've played the uber-rare sitdown Funai produced Interstellar arcade cab at the Modesto, CA based Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theater back in March of 1984. It took two CEC tokens to credit up a single session, but man, it was awesome for it's time. It's more easier to source an upright Interstellar cab than it is to source a sitdown cab, indeed. The American subsidairy of Funai was based out of Las Vegas, NV, so yes, Interstellar did get a proper distribution to the American arcades during that time. Not to mention that Funai did a proper arcade LD game sequel follow-up called: "Interstellar - Zangus" as well.

Sure, I've seen/played the upright Interstellar LD cab brought in to the once-a-year California Extreme show in years past...it's cool. I've never seen the uber-rare sitdown cab of Interstellar brought in to a CAX show though -- that'd be one for the ages and a definite first.

Back in the mid-1980s at a local arcade hangout called Cals-R-Cade in Modesto, CA, they had a rare arcade Interstellar promo poster on one of the walls which had a cool tagline: "3, 2, 1, Blast Off to Interstellar Adventure!" with the distinctive Funai name at the bottom of the poster that was produced for the American arcade market/distributors. Haven't seen one since then. The really odd thing was, I never saw such an Interstellar cab inside that arcade despite seeing that particular poster hanging on the wall at that particular point in time.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Ed Oscuro]

You need an MSX system, a MSX-compatible LD, and the game. Possibly the MSX will need some special connectors, but I think the LD just connects via a serial port.

[SuperDeadite]

There are only 2 models of MSX that have the special video hardware inside to do the sprite overlays. They are both really expensive. There is also a standalone module that can add this hardware to any MSX, but it is even rarer and more expensive. Anyone that wants to play MSX-LD games is best off buying a full working setup at once. It will be a lot of money, but trying to piece toghether the full setup will probably take years, and end up costing even more.

[Domino]

There are only 2 models of MSX that have the special video hardware inside to do the sprite overlays. They are both really expensive. There is also a standalone module that can add this hardware to any MSX, but it is even rarer and more expensive. Anyone that wants to play MSX-LD games is best off buying a full working setup at once. It will be a lot of money, but trying to piece toghether the full setup will probably take years, and end up costing even more.

And not worth it gameplay wise.

[Ed Oscuro]

There are only 2 models of MSX that have the special video hardware inside to do the sprite overlays.

Bah, forgot about that. These models have video titling features, as memory serves. I wonder who bought these for the games, and who bought them for the video titling features...