I ordered a Sony home computer system from the 80s from Bas and Ditta and had it refurbished and expanded a little to suit my needs.

Z80 CPU
256Kb RAM
128Kb Video RAM
2 Slots
2 Controller ports
RGB Out
720Kb Floppy drive

MSX2 goodness in Sony form. What other computer systems feature a green power button?

The MSX is a home computer system much like the AppleII, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, BBC and Commodore 64. Home computers were first developed in the 70's to be able to compete with the hugely expensive PCs that were available at the time. Home computer systems were relatively cheap and could easily outperform the PCs in terms of graphics, sound and versatility. Read more below on how to actually use games, disks and files on these (old) wonderful computer systems.

Since I had to pull my Fairchild console out anyway to capture some additional footage for the documentary, I thought I would take a moment to do something I've been meaning to do for some time. This is just a direct capture of the 2009 homebrew Pac-Man cartridge by Tim Ruan and Fredric Blaholtz for the Fairchild Video Entertainment System (VES), which was the first ever programmable cartridge-based console, released all the way back in 1976. This was recorded off of my Fairchild Channel F System II, a later revision of the console that redirected the previously internal sound out to the TV to better match the feature set of later competing systems like the Atari 2600 VCS. Naturally, this game is an amazing achievement for a Fairchild system that has a library of fairly simple and blocky games. The occasional graphical glitchiness in various parts seems to be related to my system and/or my capture device, not necessarily the game itself.

MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s. It was a Microsoft-led attempt to create a unified standard among computer companies. MSX-based machines were a rarity in the United States and Britain, but they were very popular in other parts of the world like Asia, Australia, Europe (especially the Netherlands and Belgium) and Brazil. - Read more to view video.

Below are five new casual iPhone photos, this time of various Dragon 32/64, Radio Shack Color Computer (CoCo) and Nintendo 64 (N64) items:

Zippy RaceFrom the guys who brought you the Mr. Chin MSX conversion, comes Pyramid Warp/Battleship Clapton II, which ships next week and Zippy Race, which is accepting orders now. Each game is $60 and comes boxed with a manual. I'm looking forward to mine.

Check out their Website for more information on the games, with more details on the announcement below: http://www.colecovision.dk/collectorvision.htm

Pyramid Warp/Battleship Clapton II: http://www.colecovision.dk/coll-warp.htm

Zippy Race: http://www.colecovision.dk/coll-zippy.htm

I'm impossibly busy this weeked with work (yes, days, nights and weekends at the new job!) and trying to get as much done with the book before Monday's deadline, but I just had to quickly release this press release for Adventure II: Limited Edition on the Atari 5200 SuperSystem from AtariAge. The homebrew was just released after a long, long wait, and from all reports it's been worth it. On top of that, this package also includes lots of goodies ("feelies" if you will), creating a tremendous value and opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts of the system, alike. There's only a few boxed copies left, so I suggest you hurry, hurry, hurry!

The press release:

Search for the Stolen Crown Jewels 2: ColecoVision screenshotCheck out the following announcement from the ColecoVision Programming Yahoo Group... I already ordered my own copy of "Search for the Stolen Crown Jewels 2" for the ColecoVision:

VECFU Screenshot from Emulator: www.vectrex.nlThanks to www.vectrex.nl for the heads-up on, details about and download for the demo for VECFU (Vec-Fu), a one-on-one fighting game for the GCE/Milton Bradley Vectrex (and related emulators). As Vectrex fans know, a game type such as this has yet to grace the suprisingly versatile and unique vector platform, so this is exciting news. I can't wait to download this and play it on my real Vectrex, as superficially anyway, it looks amazing!

And the story, such as it is:

The evil Daimyo and his minions have laid Waste to your temple and killed off all of the other monks while you were away in another province, and now you are on to get your revenge. First off you have to fight against the daimyos champions of martial arts, before you can face the evil one himself.