The first computer I (Manu/PKP) ever got was a Sony HitBit MSX.
Just recently (early 2000) it came to my attention that there
is an MSX based video game console called Zemmix. Zemmix is a game system accepting carts made for MSX computers. On this page we've gathered info and pictures of it, but more is needed - If you have
anything more about Zemmix, mail us.
Some
history of our Zemmix : May 2000. It has now been confirmed that we'll be getting that red/black CPC-51 in a few months. Apparently it was stuck in Korean customs because they thought MSX meant MS-X missile parts. Duh.
28th of September 2000. The machine is now here, and working fine.
BIG thanks to Kevin / Assembler for making this possible.
Zemmix console was made by Daewoo.
Zemmix systems were most popular there in 1989. The machines are NTSC, but the power is 220V /100V switchable. They have RCA type audio and video connectors in the back (as well as one RF connector), so they can be used with most TV's.
Seems that Daewoo didn't keep much records of these machines, since an inquiry about Zemmix to Daewoo by a fellow Zemmix -owner resulted in a "we know nothing" - answer. At least
Zemina, Clover, Topia, Screen and Prosoft produced/hacked games for the system (though most of the games are actually by
Konami & other Japanese companies). Found
out a few things about the CPC-51 (probably applies to other Zemmixes as
well) : I inserted my "Nemesis" cartridge, which I've had
since 1980ies, and instead of "Nemesis" the title screen said
"Gradius". Apparently the cartridges somehow recognize that
the machine is from Asia. Same thing happened with Penguin Adventure,
the title screen changed into some Japanese (Korean?) characters. Also
hooked up my Sony disk drive to the CPC-51 - nothing happened.
Apparently Zemmix doesn't have an operating system built-in, or at least
there isn't a way to make it appear. I've yet to try it with a bootable
disk though (my bad, will do this when I have some free time on my
hands). The "keyboard" port on
the bottom still remains a mystery, maybe the 61W keyboard works with 51
as well. Kevin/Assembler reported that he got
a disk drive working with a Zemmix using a Brazilian disk drive adapter
cartridge. Zemina
is Korean for "It's fun!" and Zemmix means "Fun mix."
Or maybe they're "Funny" and "It's fun!" Something to
that effect, anyways. Boxed Zemina cartridges are
extremely hard to find, because they had a trade-in program in Korea where
you could trade your old game for a new one with some extra money. So most
boxes went lost in the process. Thanks to Sander for that bit of
information.
Update 27th of
August 2003 : There's a 4th Zemmix model - the Zemmix Turbo - scroll
down for more information. Thanks to Kris Garrein for letting us know, and
for the picture. Check out his site at http://www.msx.be.tf/
There's also information of a Zemmix PC add-on card there!
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There's at least 4 Zemmix models with some variations |
|
 | Daewoo
Zemmix CPC-50 | | MSX-1 compatible console (plays 128 Kb games). This photo was received from Myke, who got his Zemmix from Ebay 3-4 years ago. Thanks. | | Another picture |  | A pink/white color variation of the CPC-50 version. This photo was downloaded from Funet MSX archives. This one has also a matching joystick, a photo of it might be here soon.
| | Another picture |
 | A
blue/pink color variation of the CPC-50 version.
Photo by Ulver.
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|
 | Daewoo
Zemmix CPC-51R (Red) | | More futuristic version. This one is MSX-1 compatible as well. Picture from the Funet MSX archive. There's a port for a keyboard in the bottom,
the keyboard was sold as a separate add-on.
This is the model we have, though our joystick is colored differently.
The guts of CPC-51.
Thanks to Kevin again.
Another picture.
A white/silver color
variation CPC-51W and a Yellow/Blue/Black variation CPC-51B
As you might notice, the last letter
on the model number refers to the main color on the machine (W for
white and so on). Thanks to STT
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 | Daewoo
Zemmix Turbo | | "Based on the looks of the joystick, I'd say the futuristic looking silvery thingy on the background is another
model of Zemmix. However, I could be terribly wrong." The picture is from MSX World Datas.
Seems that I wasn't wrong, thanks to
the information from Kris G.
The silvery thing in the background is the 'king' of all Zemmixes, the
Zemmix TURBO. I'm thinking it might have something to do with the
Turbo-R MSX... at least it's MSX2 compatible..
The silver thing besides it is a PSU
and the robotic looking thingy on top of it has flashing lights that
react to the game sounds and music.
The two buttons on the front are "Pause"
and "Turbo" and it has BASIC inside.
The lower picture from Kris G.'s site,
thanks.
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Find out more from Assembler -
Home of the Obscure.
| Daewoo Zemmix CPC-61W (Victory) | | MSX-2 (!) compatible gaming console. See the
Mario Brothers game!
(Brother Adventure?) Picture from the Funet MSX archive.
The sound system is strangely close to the Konami one, but not a
perfect match, maybe it just
emulates the SCC sound for Zemina -hacked SCC games, that do not
carry the
chip with them? |
| A red/black color
variation of the CPC-61W model. Photo by Ulver. |
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Keyboard & Cartridge port divider |
How
about that sexy keyboard? The picture is from a box of the
cartridge port divider thingy. It lets you play music in the
games and mess with it in the midi cart program (so I've heard).
More pictures of it :
Picture 1
Picture 2
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| Zemina also made a
4 slot divider and a Nintendo
Famicom (8-bit) cartridge adaptor. Now that would be cool. | | Some web
pages also mention an FM
PAC without SRAM by Zemina. | Ivan
Latorre has a good
page about Zemina memory expansions (Black box,
Golden box, Deluxe box, Deluxe IV, BB RAM) and he also tells me the
following facts :
"Deluxe IV" (and also the other Zemina RAM expansion
cards) aren't normal mapped expansion RAM cartridges. This means
that when I turn on my computer it doesn't recognize the RAM of the
cartridge. I have a MSX2 with 64 Kb and when I insert the
"Deluxe IV" cartridge (which has 512Kb) in any of the
slots only 64Kb are shown at start-up (instead of the theorically
576 Kb=64+512)."
And he got an e-mail from a Korean guy:
"I have ZEMINA's golden box, RCOS program
(RAM CARD Operating System),
Original's MEGA GAME TAPE (very slow ;-) & 3.5 Disk (Upload
program + mega rom image data), ZEMINA's RAM EXPAND CARD's LOGIC
CHART (GOLDEN BOX), etc.
Infomation ZEMINA's RAM EXPAND CARTRIDGE: Black box[Only 1MEGA bit(128Kbyte RAM) & not addition ram
cart.],
Golden box[1MEGA bit(standard) & addition possibility of 32Mbyte
ram],
Deluxe Box[2MEGA Bit(standard) & addition possibility of 32Mbyte
ram]
BB RAM256 [256K bit & static-ram cart.]
it's cartridge is use upload (KONAMI or ASCII Methood MEGA ROM GAME
or
big utils) high price at old times (ram & rom) In case Korea's
1MEGAbit GAME (32Kbyte EPROM x 4) 2Mega & High Mega is Not make,
because very high ROM chip and BIG Cartridge it's cartridgd is very
cool. not use rom & only recycle mega rom image data & get
low price image data zemina is sell japan rom images & copy ROM
Cartridge's (copyright lawless in KOREA, old times ;-) but zemina is
have original games. I look zemina company, old times. very small
company. But very technical company [product: MSX2 upgrade kit,
expand slot, ram expand card, original games, ZEMMIX (not have
keyboard, only game console)'s & MSX1(RGB port) upgrade &
MSX technical support] But ZEMINA is DEAD old times :-("
So Zemina made an MSX2 Upgrade Kit, MSX1 RGB port upgrades
and some other stuff too... Like the Zemmix PC card (!). | |
