Some time ago a patch for an improved version of R-Type was released. However, that version did some changes to the game that may have given it a lighter interrupt handler, but it also tended to regularly crash during the game with MSX-MUSIC detected.

This version comes in an additional ROM image that requires the original game to run and start the game via a menu. It's available in the download section of my Home Page.

Xak - The Art of Visual Stage

The Super Latok and Level options can only be modified when the Debug Menu was loaded from Game Disk 2. Be sure to re-insert the correct disk before leaving the Debug Menu.

• open the main menu
• select the empty line (see the image)
  
• keep the B-trigger pressed doing the following sequence
  (this only works with a joystick or -pad):
  • up
  • up
  • down
  • down
  • right
  • left
  • right
  • left
  • A-trigger

Xak II - Rising of The Redmoon

The End Demo option is only accessible when the Debug Menu was loaded from Disk 5. Be sure to re-insert the correct disk before leaving the Debug Menu.

• press ESC to pause the game
• do the following:
  • type: MIYUKI
  • press the SELECT key
  • type: XAK2

Fray - In Magical Adventure

This also applies to the GoGo Pixie minigame in The Tower of Cabin.

• press SHIFT to open the game menu
• go to the system menu (see the image)
  
• high-light the BGM test option (see the image)
  
• keep the B-trigger pressed
• wait for the text to complete printing
• do the following:
  • up
  • up
  • down
  • down
  • right
  • left
  • right
  • left
  • A-trigger

Xak - The Tower of Gazzel

• press ESC to pause the game
• do the following:
  • up
  • left
  • down
  • right
  • A-trigger
  • up
  • left
  • down
  • right
  • B-trigger
  • up
  • left
  • down
  • right
  • A-trigger

The Tower of Cabin

• press ESC to pause the game
• do the following:
  • up
  • right
  • down
  • left
  • A-trigger

Illusion City

• during the game keep the B-trigger pressed doing the following sequence:
  • up
  • up
  • down
  • down
  • right
  • left
  • right
  • left
  • A-trigger

I've released an updated version of FIXBOOT. It fixes a small bug that caused disks/paritions with the dirty disk flag set not to be corrected and adds the option to force the Volume ID to be according the MSX-DOS2 specifications. This only works on FAT12 paritions.

Today I received a Franky cartridge from Sander van Nunen after I offered to look into how things work with it. But first a few specifics...

Franky is a cartridge extension containing a 315-5124 chip, which is available in the Sega Master System consoles. This chip contains both a VDP and the SN76489 PSG. The VDP is based on the TMS9928A and extended with some console-specific features:

• palette in 2 banks with 16 colors each of which 1 bank dedicated to backdrop and sprite colors
• horizontal and vertical hardware scrolling
• TMS9928 style tile patterns and sprites where each pixel can have its own color
• line interrupt
• extended name table with up to 512 tiles, options to mirror, flip, change priority (sprites will go behind it) and palette bank for a tile
• flags to disable specific rows or columns from scrolling (useful for score boards in games that use scrolling)
• access to horizontal and vertical counters

The audio exits 2-way, to the MSX via de cartridge slot and via de 15-pin SUB-D (VGA connector), which has the same pinout as the ESE3 for convenience purposes.

Right now many Sega Master System titles can be played when they get converted while the game files get loaded. Some titles have been converted manually already as the automated converter has problems converting those.

Yesterday I got an original ARC: 2 diskettes and a cartridge in the box. After a short while I decided to dive into the internals of the protection the cartridge contains. With some preparation work I did a bit over 2 years ago, I found out how the protection works and I've already implemented it in openMSX and closedMSX. The cartridge also contains a ROM which required to be dumped and after a while I was able to play the game. In less than a day I was able to create both the emulation code and a block diagram of the protection.