Konix Multi-System articles - The ASSEMblergames.com

GigaDrive · 03-04-2006

I've got two complete articles on the Konix Multi-System, also known as the Slipstream.
one is from EGM, the other from Video Games & Computer Entertainment

EGM Number 3 - August/September, 1989 - pages 30-31

http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/2...63x11780uo.jpg
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/5...83x13158hs.jpg

I believe the above EGM article is repeated in EGM Number 5, which, IIRC, is the 1990 buyers guide, best & worst games of 1989
(that might not be the correct title but something like that, I no longer have the entire magazine but it doesnt matter because the whole article is here from EGM Number 3 anyway)

I will have the VG&CE article up later tonight

edit: here it is

VG&CE November 1989 - Editorial and pages 26-32

http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/7...ditoral9nh.jpg
http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/3...9konix11fa.jpg
http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/3...9konix24gq.jpg
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/424...9konix39si.jpg
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/857...9konix49bt.jpg
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/689...9konix54vs.jpg

for those hungering for more info on the Konix MultiSystem aka Konix Slipstream which is based on Flare-One technology, the forefather of the Atari Panther and Jaguar (correct me if i'm mistaken) there seems to be a decent amount of stuff on the web. why don't we make this a thread for collecting Konix MultiSystem related materials for reading consumption

I just found this index of some info
http://home.wanadoo.nl/hessel.meun/konix/

I thought this system could have caught on in the United States if marketed as a "transformable" videogame system, since the Transformers were so hot then.

RyanGamerGoneGrazy · 03-04-2006

cool,...what a weird little system

Ryan

ccovell · 03-04-2006

I remember that... it looked neat, but the sole demo game for it looked strictly 8-bit. Multi-system had some innovative hardware, but probably failed because few companies actually announced games for it.

liquitt · 03-04-2006

chris got the point, for a 16bit machine, it looked too damn 8bit...well ok it was the first, as they mention, but ...

awesome machine tho, would be cool to own one of those :)

Yakumo · 03-04-2006

I have some videos of the Konix system on my FTP that someone passed over a while ago. You can get the login details from my site.

yakumo

anagrama · 03-05-2006

Issue 8 of Retro Gamer also had an excellent article on the Multi-System, with lots of details about the capabilities of it and the various reasons for it's non-appearance.

Yakumo · 03-06-2006

any chance of a scan for those of us not in the UK? I'd be very interested in reading that.

Yakumo

anagrama · 03-06-2006

I would do if I still it, but I sold it on a while back :/ I'm sure other folks will have it...

03-08-2006

Jeff Minter had some VHS tapes (I think he said they're the last of what remains) of his Konix attack of the mutant camels sequel. They're in the History of Llamasoft presentation he gave at Assembly '04, as well as shots of his unreleased Unity game for the GameCube.

Mqark · 03-24-2006

I've been a devout fan of the Konix multi system since it was in development while I was at school.

I have never wanted to own a console more than I did the Konix. It offered such a unique take on playing games and an incredible amount of power for the cost at the time. Nintendo's revolution console by today's technological standards is quite "revolutionary", but this machine at the time was akin to an alien invention being offered to us by the man who fell to earth.

I have managed to buy the hardware reference guide for the slipstream and the instruction document for the Konix PDS development system. This also came with a floppy with the PDS dev system. If anyone's interested I can post a few scans on a flicker style site (I'll have to sign up to one first - any recommendations?)
I also own the MCS multi system PC steering wheel peripheral which was made from the same mold I understand, but unfortunately just made as a cheap PC controller.

I was going to create a website dedicate to this fascinating system as it is so interesting on so many levels. The design of the console, it's expansion possibilities, the cleverness of the system architecture, it's failure, what it later became, the people involved... so much to say! There is quite a bit of material I could use, both photographic and textual, and I have a Telegames video featuring the Konix which I could encode and host on the website...

I think it's such an important machine that the bitter sweet story of how it could have changed the world and yet never made it to production strikes a chord with today's game developers frustrations with not being allowed to develop creative and revolutionary ideas into commercial games.

I'm still looking out for prototype hardware, which I consider the holy grail of western gaming hardware.

Yakumo · 03-24-2006

I'd be very interested in seeing a site that you put together, Mqark. Nottoo sure about any good free hosting places though.

Yakumo

the_steadster · 03-25-2006

www.imageshack.us

Perfect for hosting >1mb. I look forward to seeing some scans

Mqark · 03-25-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yakumo

I'd be very interested in seeing a site that you put together, Mqark. Nottoo sure about any good free hosting places though.

Yakumo

Thanks for the words of encouragement - well guess I'd better get off my backside and start scanning and putting a site together!

Thanks for the imageshack link the_steadster... I'll probably put some pics and scans up before the middle of next week.

The documents are a bit dry any devoid of any photo's screen shots or diagrams, but there are technically interesting none the less and there are some interesting handwritten ammendments as the system was obviously still being developed and modified.

Stay tuned.
Mqark.

Yakumo · 03-25-2006

Nice. I'm looking forward to this ! The Konix was always something I wanted as a kid :(

Yakumo

Mqark · 03-26-2006

I promised something, it's going to take quite a while to scan all the pages and put together a website, but at least here's something to share.

Front cover of hardware reference manual:

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/3...ampage12pb.jpg

One of the few pages with a diagram of any sort (note the pencil revisions and notes!):

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/453/page68yv.jpg

Instruction page from the PDS dev kit manual - I did say they were very dry... (and apparently not proof read in any way! I guess they were too busy being very clever with blitters and DSP's?)

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2944/pdsscan7ix.jpg

Regards,
Mqark.

Alchy · 03-27-2006

Fantastic stuff! Thanks so much for sharing.

GigaDrive · 03-27-2006

Mqark - outstanding! thank you so much for contributing something interesting to this thread.

SuperGrafx · 03-27-2006

Here are a few more pics:

http://www.retrogames.co.uk/RGonline/html/page_5-6.html

Konix DID release a PC controller using the same casing design as the Multisystem...see here:

That same site is even selling it for 100 pounds plus shipping: http://www.retrogames.co.uk/stock/ht..._consoles.html

Mqark · 04-03-2006

I've got quite a bit extra to add to my site once I can get around to it.
I've got permission from Jon Dean to use the Konix video's that were on the Retro gamer magazine cover disk, and I've got a reasonable amount of magazines from back in the day. Not to mention the rest of the tech documents which I still have to scan in. Boy do I wish I had a sheet feed hopper on my scanner!!!

SuperGrafx, It wasn't actually Konix who released the PC steering wheel controller, but EXACTLY the same mold was used to produce the thing. I have one and you can very easily tell from the quality of the construction of the thing that Konix didn't make it - Konix did make good quality peripherals and this is made from low grade plastics.

Gigadrive, our common interest is remarkably similar - I'd liken it to two Elvis fans, one who likes young Elvis, and the other who likes old Elvis.

Keep an eye on http://www.konixmultisystem.co.uk and I will hopefully collate everything together there into some sort of interesting and entertaining website. There probably won't be anything worth reading for a month or two but when it does go live it should be quite good.

Yakumo · 07-24-2006

Sorry to bring back such an old topic from the dead. I'm sure these shots aren't something you get to see everyday.

Konix light gun that supposedly had force feedback.

Konix disc drive

Konix number pad

Konix foot pedals with some cool 80's Puma

and finally the Konix joystick

Yakumo