CompuServe Messages

David: I don't know of a PC hardware-based emulator that works with the CDTV. I presume you could run a software emulator like PC Task. Either way, you'd need a device driver to access the CD-ROM drive, and it would have to be a PC-based driver. CDTV will handle standard ISO format discs so maybe that's possible, but given that the drive is tied into the Amiga side of the system, maybe not. I just don't know; I haven't heard of anyone doing it. The genlock goes in the video port. I saw it for $150 at Safe Harbor. Safe Harbor also carries a fair selection of CDTV software. US distributors seem to shy from CDTV software, even though there's lots of it out there and new titles on the way. The best selections are from outfits in Great Britain (not as hard as it sounds; you just have to get hold of a British Amiga magazine and look through the ads). CD-ROMs that play in CDTV are available lots of places. The "GIFs Galore" and "Ultimate MOD Collection" discs are two of the best. Walnut Creek Software offers others, too. The latest Amiga Euromags talk of a "CDTV II" machine that will essentially be an A1200 with a CD-ROM drive but no keyboard. This would take advantage of AGA graphics. But Commodore has not officially announced this, yet. It has said it will incorporate CD-ROM drives into all future Amiga machines, but that's about all we know. Exactly what compatibility they will provide, no clue. The Blizzard Board is made by a German outfit. I don't have much info on it. You could try some of the bigger mail-order shops. I know it was being sold stateside. If you can't get the CDTV "Pro" pack, there are, as I said, third-party adapters to let you use a standard keyboard, mouse and joystick. But then you'd need to have all those input devices, as well. I've only got about 10 CDTV discs and most of them I plan to keep. I'd be willing to part with: * "Guy Spy," a shootemup role-playing game from Readysoft. Uses animated characters, a la "Space Ace" and "Dirk the Daring." I'd let it go for $25, about half price. * A CD+G disc of "St. Matthew's Passion" by Johann Sebastian Bach. This is an audio CD with graphics. The graphics include wood cuts pertinent to the music and mulitlingual lyrics. Ten bucks. — Ron Legro, Milwaukee via AUTOPILOT (the only way to fly)