Projects in development

• New member in the Carnivore family: Carnivore2+ cartridge
• New features for Carnivore2

New member in the Carnivore family: Carnivore2+ cartridge

Carnivore2+ is a multi–functional cartridge for the MSX platform that was created by RBSC (Russian Bear Service Crew) in 2024. It is the successor of the well–known Carnivore2 cartridge that is very popular among MSX users. Carnivore2+ is the new cartridge platform that offers flexibility and extensibility with its unique EFU (Easy Firmware Updating) feature.

The Carnivore2+ platform is flexible, which means that more features will be added into the cartridge as the development goes on. There will be not only software additions, but also some hardware additions to the design. This will allow users to select the firmware that best matches their needs. For example, on a computer with the embedded FMPAC there will be no sense to have the firmware with the FMPAC music module. Instead, a user can upload the firmware with a different music module, SFG (OPM) for example. That would give the opportunity to use 5 different sound cards on a single computer!

• FPGA: Altera Cyclone II, model EP2C8Q208C8N. It has more capacity comparing to the one in Carnivore2
• External storage: CF (CompactFlash) and SD (MicroSD) cards, both can be used if necessary
• RAM: 2048 KB (2 MB), including 1024 KB RAM with MMM mapper and 1024 KB Shadow RAM; it's also possible to use all 2 MB for the RAM and MMM mapper or for the Shadow RAM
• FlashROM: 8 MB for storing Boot Menu, BIOSes and games
• Dual-Slot capable: can load 2 ROMs at the same time
• Supported mappers: Konami4, KonamiSCC, ASCII8, ASCII16, Planar mode (64 KB in slot), custom mappers
• Sound: PPI and PSG emulation, Dual-PSG, Konami SCC and SCC+ emulation, SN7 (SN76489AN) emulation: Jotego
• Music modules: OPLL (MSX Music, FMPAC, YM2413); OPM (SFG, YM2151); OPL (MSX Audio, Y8950)
• FMPAC SRAM (8 KB) emulation, MSX Audio sample RAM (256 KB) emulation
• ADPCM audio sample playback with MSX Audio firmware
• Easy and safe firmware updating on any MSX system from SD or CF card. No need for USB Blaster programmer
• Improved audio schematics with a better and more accessible DAC chip: TDA1387T
• Buttonless deactivation of the cartridge. Now this could be done with a simple magnet without opening the case
• And more to come...

The project is at the active stage of development. It was first presented during the Nijmegen 2024 MSX party. The cartridge will be RBSC–exclusive, which means that for some time it will be only available from RBSC's manufacturer Maxiol. Below you can find the link to Maxiol's webshop.

Cartridge from the first batch:

The first batch will be shipped with the exclusive VIP box. For later batches a simplier packaging will be available.

Like with Carnivore2, there will be a selection of cases with different design and color. Below you can see a video with one of the cases.

New features for Carnivore2

Tasks for developers: