If you visit this website since many years, you have for sure noticed that we have a big preference for games in ROM format. Not only because it’s the only format accepted by the great MSXdev’ contest, but also because it’s so easy to run a ROM game in an emulator.
In second place for the comfort of the end-users, we have the DSK format. In some cases, this format is the only solution for coders when they want to include saving options other than S-RAM management or to use MSX-DOS2 for some unknown reason. Here the problems can start their annoying existence, when coders forget to rename a BAS file as AUTOEXEC.BAS or to include a similar AUTOEXEC.BAT file. It can be even worse when organizers of a contest remove the MSX-DOS files and provide only the other files as loose files.
The less interesting format is the CAS format because it requires to enter the good command to launch the game (I know that openMSX can ‘detect’ and execute the required command, but it’s not guaranteed to work in all cases). When a contest accepts this format, it can have its nostalgic charm, but generally CAS should only be used when a game requires ‘extra’ memory, I mean the memory that is lost when you use at least 1 drive.
Most CAS games can be converted into DSK games and most DSK games (or provided as loose files) can be converted into ROM files. In the following threads, I’ve added the procedure to follow if you want to make yourself these conversions. If some coders agree with the publishing of the converted versions, they can contact me.
At the moment, the conversion tips are limited to #msxdev Compo 2012 and MSX-BASIC 2012 Contest, more tips for other contests are planned. Enjoy the real MSX spirit !
MSX-BASIC 2012 Contest :
#msxdev Compo 2012 :