MSX-3

MSX-3

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MSX-3 logo

The MSX-3 is a standard for home computers that was announced in the early 1990s as a successor to the MSX-2+ standard. The MSX-3 was intended to further enhance the capabilities of the MSX computer line, which was popular in Japan and several other countries during the 1980s and early 1990s. However, the MSX-3 standard was never fully realized in the form of a commercial product, and it remains a part of the MSX legacy as a concept rather than a widely adopted platform.

History

The MSX standard was originally conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi of ASCII Corporation and Microsoft in the early 1980s. The goal was to create a unified standard for home computers, allowing software and hardware compatibility across different manufacturers. The first MSX computers were released in 1983, followed by the improved MSX-2 in 1985 and the MSX-2+ in 1988.

The MSX-3 was announced as the next step in the evolution of the MSX standard. It was expected to include advanced features such as enhanced graphics and sound capabilities, improved processing power, and expanded memory. However, by the time the MSX-3 was being developed, the home computer market was rapidly changing, with the rise of IBM PC compatible computers and other platforms.

Features

The proposed features of the MSX-3 included:

• Advanced Graphics: The MSX-3 was expected to support higher resolution graphics and more colors than its predecessors, potentially incorporating new video display processors.
• Improved Sound: Enhanced sound capabilities were planned, possibly including support for more sound channels and higher quality audio output.
• Increased Memory: The MSX-3 was to have more memory available for both system and user applications, allowing for more complex software.
• Backward Compatibility: Like previous MSX standards, the MSX-3 was intended to maintain compatibility with earlier MSX software and hardware.

Legacy

Although the MSX-3 standard was never fully implemented, it remains a topic of interest among MSX enthusiasts and historians. The MSX community continues to develop and support the platform through emulation, software development, and hardware projects.

The MSX-3 concept represents an important part of the MSX story, highlighting the ambitions of the MSX standard to continue evolving in the face of a rapidly changing technology landscape.

Related pages

• MSX
• MSX-2
• MSX-2+
• Kazuhiko Nishi
• ASCII Corporation
• Microsoft