#micomsoft

'Xevious'

[X68000] [JAPAN] [MAGAZINE, SPREAD] [1987]

"Four years have passed since the release of XEVIOUS, a game that shocked the video game world in 1983. DEMPA Microcomputer Software Development Lab will release its seventh PC version, XEVIOUS for X68000. By using the X68000, a machine with hardware specifications that exceeded all expectations, programmers' dreams became a reality." ~Ad Caption [BMT🤖]

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'Space Harrier'

[PC-6001] [JAPAN] [MAGAZINE, SPREAD] [1987]

Finally available with high-speed 3D graphics. Emergency Launch Due to supernatural phenomena and an unknown enemy, Dragon Land has been taken over by vicious magical creatures. The righteous dragon Uriah seeks Harrier's help to restore peace. Harrier is a supernatural warrior from Earth. Can you save Dragon Land? Space Harrier, which was considered difficult to play in the PC-6001 version, has finally been realized with high-speed 3D graphics. The rear view of the galloping Harrier remains the same, while the magical creatures of Dragon Land are depicted with their distinctive movements. The high-speed scrolling is so powerful you'll find yourself moving your body involuntarily. Enjoy all 16 exciting levels to your heart's content. ~Ad Caption [BMT🤖]

Firmware 2.04J/E para o Framemeister XRGB Mini

Depois de quase 3 anos sem lançar uma atualização, a Micomsoft surpreendeu e anunciou ontem o firmware 2.04J/E para o Framemeister XRGB Mini.

O anúncio foi feito no Twitter da empresa:

FRAMEMEISTER(XRGB-mini)のβ版ファームウェア2.04J/Eを公開しました！4K対応テレビでの問題改善やスキャンライン機能の追加、PC-8801の表示機能の調整、RGB入力時のドットクロック調整機能の追加など様々です。詳しくはソフトウェアダウンロードページをご覧下さい。https://t.co/IxYyg2naY6

— micomsoft (@MicomsoftX) 17 de janeiro de…

Micomsoft (who are mainly known for Framemeister, XRGB, and other retrogaming things) seems to have developed their own USB encoder board for joystick controls, to co-incide with their XAC-1 gaming desktop.

A few months back I posted about how my 32X was producing crazy video when attached to my projector. The reason was the signal coming from the 32x isn't perfect. It worked fine on a CRT TV but not on my projector. I tried to re-cap the system and even tried another 32X but had no luck. Trying to fix it became a several month journey to discover how each piece of scaling equipment works and getting nice video from each of my consoles.

The composite video output from most systems is crappy.

My AV system can pass through or upscale. My projector will take straight signal, but not 240P straight signal. I had to upscale with my AV unit or buy another upscaler to sit before the AV unit. The AV unit upscaler has issues with some video signals. This is what caused my 32x to have rolling colors in the video. Bummer.

Just buying an external upscaler might work, but it wouldn't improve video quality at all.

RGB video from a 240P console is usually the best signal you can get. Conversion to RGB varies per system. For many, it is as simple as using a SCART cable and a SCART upscaler. SCART is a European/japan plug that supports RGB video. The Euro/Jap standards vary so while the plug looks the same, you can't plug one into another.

Here's what I learned about each console I was going to convert: NES - Doesn't support RGB native. You can use a PPU video chip from an arcade board (expensive) or get a video chip implemented on a FPGA (less expensive - NESRGB) and solder that in. Most people get a SCART cable that does composite and outputs mono over the L/R channels. If you use the SCART cable with just RCA leads, it will not work with a XRGB scaler. I end up plugging the NES via straight RCA into the front of an XRGB scaler. Cost: ~10 Where: Ebay or http://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/

SNES - SCART cable. Some models output slightly better video but seem to be hard to track down. You'll here these called OneChip SNES models. I have one of the non-preferred models and it still looks great to me. Cost: ~15 Where: Ebay or http://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/

N64 - Internal soldering needed and either a SCART cable with internal amp or add an AMP to your N64. I built my own amp circuit and had to play with resistance values a lot. I'd recommend considering variable resistors in your circuit so you can manually adjust the signal. I settled on ~73ohms for each channel. Cost: ~30 Where: Ebay 

Master System - SCART Cable Cost: ~7 Where: Ebay or http://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/

Genesis Model 1/Sega CD model 2 - Same as the Master System SCART. Cost: ~7 Where: Ebay or http://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/

Genesis Model 2 or 32X - SCART cable as 32x outputs RGB. Cost: ~15 Where: Ebay or http://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/

TurboGrafx - Mod a TG16 or Duo to support it, then add a cable. Cost: ~15 for cable. Where: Ebay

Saturn US - US/JP Saturn have different video output from Euro consoles. This was tricky to figure out. Some SCART cables will work on all systems, some will not. The best info I found was: "The difference between pal and ntsc saturn pinouts is that ntsc models output c-sync, while pal saturns output +9vdc on the same pin. RGB Scart cables require a certain voltage on pin16 of the scart plug, to tell your TV that the input is RGB, and not the default composite. " ... "However, ALL Saturns have a +5vdc pin on the AV out. If a cable uses that for RGB switching, then it'll work on ALL Saturns, pal and ntsc. The trick is to know if your cable does that. The cables at Rob Webb / consolegoods are confirmed to use +5v, so they'll work on all saturns. The cables sold at playasia use +9v and will only work on pal machines. Adaptorman on ebay sells separate cables for each model for some reason, though I'd be willing to bet that his usa/jpn cables work on pal consoles equally as well." from http://segasaturngroup.proboards.com/thread/4373 Cost: ~20. Where: http://www.consolegoods.co.uk/ - Rob Webb

I want to mention that a US distributor of SCART cables had cheaper prices but seems to have closed right before I placed my order. Not sure if they will be back or not. The site/ebay seller is Retro Console Accessories. Takes forever for them to stock something.

Upscalers vary in price. The cheapest I found were on Ebay for about $50. The high end models seem to be made by Micomsoft. Most recommend either the XRGB3 or XRGB Mini. XRGB3 outputs DVI. XRGB Mini outputs HDMI. XRGB3 has a bit finer control over the signal, but the Mini seems to make up for other short comings. See reviews of them here: http://retrogaming.hazard-city.de/

You can find Micomsoft upscalers on Ebay, Amazon.co.jp and Solaris Japan. Most are over priced on Ebay and Solaris Japan has expensive shipping. Amazon.co.jp has the best prices but won't ship to the US. A neat site called Tenso.com will act as a proxy and ship the item to you once they receive it from Amazon.co.jp. They charge a fee and shipping cost that was $35 dollars for my package. Amazon.co.jp charges about $310 for the XRGB mini. Total cost was $345. The cheapest I found on Ebay was $400! I assume the Ebay sellers are getting them via tenso and marking up to cover the Ebay costs and make a small profit. Tenso.com does require a valid ID be sent to them electronically before they will ship to you. I scanned my drivers license and blocked out the parts they didn't need.

The Micomsoft units take Jap SCART input. All your consoles are Euro SCART is you bought the above cables for NTSC systems. You need a converter. http://www.retrogamingcables.com/ sells a D connector to Euro SCART connector for the XRGB mini for $25. They also sell a Euro to Jap converter for the XRGB3.

SCART connectors are a bit annoying to deal with and can wear out over time. You can get cheap switches on Ebay to avoid this. According to reviews they introduce ghosting or other artifacts to the picture. I saw this first hand in 2014 on both a powered and an unpowered switcher. The Shinybox 4x2 and 6x2 switchers consistently get great reviews, but seem to be available only in the UK or by import. I contacted Shinybow and they have a US site that sells the 6x2 for $175 + $10 shipping. http://www.ani-av.com/shop/ is the distributor.

So what did this all cost for perfect video? A lot. $20 x number of consoles. $25 for Euro->Jap SCART converter $340 for an Upscaler $175 for a switch

I had to add two more pieces to really solve all issues.

After everything above some of the consoles couldn't lock on sync. A sync cleaner SCART to D connector was purchased to replace the previous EURO SCART to D connector is needed. This works fine with all consoles I have plugged into it. Some boards may not like it and you will have to switch to the regular cable.

The second piece is a DOCTOR HDMI. My projector and AV unit are very slow to handshake on a signal. The DOCTOR HDMI sends a constant EDID to eliminate handshake problems. When the unit loses a video signal, the screen still blanks for a few seconds. It no longer is a game destroying 10-15 seconds though. The Saturn still has issues when it changes from 240p to 480i as the XRGB Mini is slow to change video modes, but it isn't nearly as frustrating now. Sonic 2 - 2 player special stage and some N64 games which switch video signals constantly, are still un-playable.

Is it worth it? I'm not sure.

If you want perfect video, yes. If you just like playing the games and want them to work, probably not. I'd recommend you just get a composite upscaler in that case.