kelbot ◖⎚∠⎚◗Feb 28, 2021
Gemini is like retro game systems and fantasy consoles. Highly constrained relative to modern tech which forces creativity and I find such things very interesting.
Show threadFiXato

@kelbot tight constraints is also a discussion point that keeps coming up with each iteration of the #MSXdev competition btw; just see the comments on the 2021 edition's announcement: https://www.msx.org/news/challenges/en/msxdev21-is-on

You have one side arguing the constraints should be as tight as possible to force contestants to focus on the gameplay and clever tricks so a game actually gets finished, and the other side who says it should also be open for later generations of #MSX, such as #MSX2, more RAM, and perhaps even audio and graphics extensions such as #OPL4 and #V9990 and also judged as such.

Mar 1, 2021 at 8:35amWeb
Show threadkelbot ◖⎚∠⎚◗Mar 1, 2021
@FiXato I remember reading that when I saw the announcement a while back. How do you feel about it on the MSX specifically?
Show threadFiXatoMar 1, 2021

@kelbot I personally wouldn't mind seeing some more #MSX2 games instead of the steady flow of #MSX1 games.

The #MSXdev competition has done a great job at breathing back life into the first generation of the #MSX standard, at least when it comes to #games, but perhaps it's time for later revisions to be put a bit more into the spotlight instead.

Having said that, I don't think it's the responsibility of MSXdev to organise that. If they want to keep their scope limited, I can completely understand that, especially since it would add quite a bit of complexity to the judging process.

Instead, people are free to organise another competition, contribute to existing multi-platform ones, or just release outside of any compo.

The MSX scene has had MSX2 or more free-form competitions in the past, usually running concurrently, and I guess that the low participation count is being attributed to MSXdev overshadowing them. Something that perhaps is not quite fair to state.

Anyway, I welcome any event that brings some more attention to the system from my childhood, even though I don't actively use it anymore myself.

Disclaimer:
While I am not directly involved in MSXdev, I am somewhat part of the #MSXResourceCenter at msx.org (I edit news posts, do some moderating, take part in staff discussions, and occasionally contribute original content too), which took over organising MSXdev since this year's edition.

Show threadkelbot ◖⎚∠⎚◗Mar 1, 2021
@FiXato A lot of other game jams and compos have various categories but yeah I see the argument for both sides. Maybe somebody neds to start a MSX2 compo at a different time so they aren't directly competing as much.