For those not familiar with the MSX line of computers, here's an interesting interview with Bill Gates about it. https://shmuplations.com/billgates/ https://sh

For those not familiar with the MSX line of computers, here's an interesting interview with Bill Gates about it. https://shmuplations.com/billgates/ https://shmuplations.com/billgates/ The short history is that it was somewhat modeled on the "post-IBM" IBM-PC market dynamic, with there being an industry standard hardware platform that originated from a single maker (in this case ASCII), but available to anybody, with Microsoft supplying core software components. However, it was to target the 8-bit micro computer market, which at the time had an absolutely dizzying number of incompatible computers even though they often relied on very similar core components (Z80 or 6502 processors, similar audio, similar video, etc.) There was intention to bring it worldwide, and it made its way out of Japan and into Europe, South America, and even a few parts of the Middle-East. However, it never really made it in the most competitive markets of North America and the UK. In the U.S. Jack Tramiel made it a point to underprice and over-feature the Commodore line of computers to beat the MSX and everybody else in the 8-bit market. And in the UK, the ultra-low priced ZX Spectrum line (as well as a healthy market in the BBC Micro and others) kept it out. Ultimately, the 8-bit market just vanished anyway and there were no real credible compatible upgrade paths out of it. There was a 16-bit MSX variant based on the R800 released (the TurboR), but the MSX market was dead by then. The MSX is mostly well known these days as an early home for Konami at a similar time as the Nintendo Entertainment System. The MSX computers feature almost a parallel universe of high-quality Konami titles that either exist only on the system, or are alternate takes on famous NES games. If you want to see what the MSX was like, I'd suggest looking at MSX2 or MSX2+ games as being the closest to what NES players might remember. The original MSX was very similar to the Colecovision in terms of power and the games can be somewhat underwhelming. There's a number of online emulators, I'd highly suggest seeking out one that hosts Space Manbow, a completely unique Konami side scrolling shoot-em-up that's absolutely as good as anything else contemporary. https://www.file-hunter.com/MSX/index.php?id=spacemanbow https://www.file-hunter.com/MSX/index.php?id=spacemanbow