The MSXdev has the tradition to have a dedicated jury team to judge and score all enlisted game entries. And it’s not uncommon to have 8-bit veterans doing that job. For this year’s edition there’s no exception as we assembled a juror panel consisting of four jury members to take on that task and bring it home. It is with great pride that we introduce you to this edition’s international MSXdev jurors.

Assembling a distinguished team of MSX enthusiasts to evaluate the work of others is a venture we eagerly undertake. Navigating the digital realm, we’ve scoured the globe, searching far and wide to connect with individuals who share our passion. We’ve successfully gathered a group of four exceptionally skilled individuals: Santi, Gryzor87, Wyz, and Mumbly (names altered for anonymity). We extend a hearty welcome to our jury members!

Judging

The juror panel will evaluate each game based on its quality and provide a rationale for their scores. The list of scores will be published, and the winner will be declared once all games have been assessed by the panel. Additionally, the jurors’ scores and their justifications will be accessible for public download as a PDF file from the official MSXdev website.

Every entry will be judged on different qualities of the game by the jury panel. Certain aspects are assigned to a particular expert-juror. They will endow two (2) types of scoring per game; one on their particularly assigned department, and one on their overall impression of the game. These are separate points to deal out. A score can range from 1 to 100 points. The total score of a game is the average of all scores given by the panel.

The game aspects that are rated separately are game-mechanics (code), sound, and pixels. Jury deliberation officially starts right after the game-submission deadline of MSXdev24. The jurors are given 5 weeks to reach a final conclusion, which we will bring forwards shortly after that. So, exciting times are ahead!

Jury introduction

Let us now introduce each member of the jury. As mentioned, we have four esteemed individuals who undertake the substantial task of meticulously evaluating every MSXdev24 entry, providing their candid yet consistently positive feedback. It’s not just a job; it’s an extraordinary one.

Santi, U.S.A – Mechanics

Brain Games is a name that resonates with followers of MSXdev. Santiago Ontañón, or ‘Santi’, has made a mark in previous competitions with this moniker. His unique approach to game development, combined with his remarkable talent and attention to detail, has earned him multiple awards in the event. To illustrate, games such as XSpelunker, a classic platformer, and The Menace from Triton, a vertical shoot ’em up, demonstrate the exact kind of craftsmanship that captivates gamers’ hearts.

Originally hailing from Spain, Santi currently resides in Philadelphia, where he works as a research scientist in artificial intelligence at Google. Beyond coding MSX games, he dedicates much of his leisure time to playing squash, practicing piano, and constructing Lego models.

His appointment as a jury member is a testament to his unmatched knowledge of game development. Santi will be judging game play and its mechanics – great having you aboard, mister!

Gryzor87, Spain – Sound

In the current MSX scene, Gryzor87’s name frequently appears in various game releases. A notable example is Pampas & Selene, where he produced exceptional SCC tracks and effects. As a video game musician, Gryzor87 not only composes MSX music, but also goes on sidequests into the diverse world of retro computer game sounds.

Living in Spain, working as a high school math teacher, Gryzor87 is into synths, horror movies, traveling and hiking, anime, and ofcourse videogames. Even as his love for retro gaming may go back to earlier years, he is just as impressed with present day game releases for MSX and other retro 8-bit computer systems.

As a judge for the Sound category, Gryzor87 is the man for this edition of the dev show. Welcome sir!

Wyz, Spain – Sound

Yes, you read that right.. this year, we have a jury duo for the Sound department! Sir WYZ will team up with Gryzor87 to get this job done.

WYZ, real name J. Vicente Masó hails from Cartagena, in the southeast of Spain, very close to the wonderful Mar Menor. In his professional life, he is the technical manager of an analysis laboratory. His hobby is are trail running, and obviously he’s a fan of MSX and its scene.

WYZ has participated and collaborated with games in several editions of MSXdev since the first edition in 2003. He has great memories of those beginnings with Eduardo Robsy as organizer. To him, the music and sound of MSX games and demos are a constant source of fun from which there was lot to be learned from both the musical works and the people who make them.

Awesome having you in the team, sir.

Mumbly, Belgium – Pixels

This year’s pixel art competition will be judged by none other than the creator of the recent published game Tiny Magic, the illustrious Mumbly. Renowned for his work with the demo group Abyss in the nineties, he produced some remarkable 8-bit wonders. Later, the group shifted focus to MSX game development, releasing titles like Match Maniac and the eagerly awaited but still incomplete shooter, X-Tazy. Mumbly’s contribution was crucial, providing top-notch imagery for these projects.

In recent time, Mumbly revisited MSX game development and released the highly acclaimed MSX2 puzzle game, Tiny Magic. He was responsible not only for the stunning graphics but also for the coding. Indeed, it’s a game whose graphics showcase the skills of a pixel art master.

Mumbly, an IT solution architect in the Telecom sector, calls Belgium his home, where he indulges in visual arts and theatre. He yearns for mindful retreats and dubs himself a dreamer, eager to assume the role of pixel arbiter. The anticipation for MSXdev24 is high, as he’s already impressed by the caliber of recent retro creations.

It’s wonderful to have you serving jury duty, Mumbly.

Conclusion

Behold the finalized jury team for MSXdev24! The MSXdev Team is thrilled to have such esteemed experts to our ranks. We extend our best wishes for an enjoyable and fulfilling experience, and have full confidence in their understanding to navigate the challenging responsibilities of jury duty. We are sure you have too!