#CD32 Europe Only
80 messages in this thread
And do you want the really bad news for American users…. don't expect a
launch (if at all) until next year for the CD32.
I have just received my lastest October Amiga Format, and there is a
couple of interviews with David Pleasance (Head of Commodore UK) and he
has stated that due to the cost of launching the product in the States it
won't be possible until maybe next year.
Until then the product is only going to be released in the UK & the rest
of Europe.
Of course if you really want one then you can always mail order from the
UK (use a step down transformer, and if you have a multi system TV then
your OK).
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Apparently what you read is incorrect. AmigaReport online reported that
C= officially announced CD32 on August 13 from West Chester. If this
report is correct it will be shown at WOC in Pasadena in Sept. Price is
unspecified.
Even with the costs of introducing a new product C= would be stupid not to
go for the NA market because of 3DO and the Jaguar. They have to start
shipping ASAP before other systems become entrenched. However, the A600
took six months to make it across the big puddle so maybe CD32 will be
delayed as well.
Andrew
Andrew,
Announcing a product and showing it at a few shows isn't introducing a
product to a market….it's testing the waters. Jamie may well be correct,
CD32 may not become available until next year.
But by the same token, it may also become available much sooner or
later than that. I have NO inside information on what its status is for the US
market.
Don
Don:
In an interview with Dave Pleasance the MD of C= UK. It was stated that
the CD32 would not be released in the US, it was a product only for
Europe.
He did give details of the next generation of Amigas due around next July
which would be RISC based and would be able to run programs under Windows
as well as Amiga programs but that it would run Windows programs 5 times
faster than the Pentium. He also said that the price point would be
competetive with the Pentiums. He did however hint that these new Super
Amigas would have to sacrifice some compatability.
I did post a message dicribing this new Amiga a couple of months ago but
was shouted down as not knowing what I was talking about, now it has been
confirmed publically by Dave Pleasance in two Magazines.
Greg
Greg,
I believe that I was one of the folks that shouted you down regarding
Amiga, The Next Generation (or the RISCy Generation?).
I assume that this landmark interview will show up in a US rag sooner or
later. Then, I'll apologize for my previous rudeness 🙂
//Jonathan,
\\//via AutoPilot
You can wait to appologize until you hear that there is a prototype
somewhere or even that one engineer (rather than a marketing guy) is
working on it actively (i.e., full time).
Dale Larson
– An Amiga Software Engineer with some time on his hands.
The magazines it has appeared in over here is the Amiga Notes section of
"Sound on Sound" (August edition) and this months "Amiga Format".
Greg
Greg,
And it's been confirmed by Commodore International Ltd's engineering
department (what's left of them) that Mr. Pleasance doesn't know what he's
talking about.
-sja
Steve:
I think the term "loose cannon" is aplicable here. <grin>
Clint <Chaocity>
Thing is though, it kind of makes you wonder who feeds him this stuff
then… someone must have told him !
Latest update I have is that the have delayed the release slightly in the
UK, the company I am purchasing mine from is recieving the units on the
7th Sept, and mine is going out on the 8th :^) As soon as I get my hands
on it I shall post some thoughts on it.
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Greg,
That interview with David Pleasance was mind-boggling. Because unless
everything I know is wrong, the "super Amiga" he alluded to is pure
fantasy… VERY strange.
Maybe it's a deliberate ploy, to try and deflect everyones attention…
who knows… I suppose we will have to wait and see what develops.
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Don,
Ya, I guess your right. My enthusiasm got the better of me.
I hope they are able to actually start shipping because eventually I want
to develop products for CDROM. Although the Amiga isn't the only game in
town it would be nice to keep it in the family.
Of coarse, we are talking about Commodore. Afterall, weren't the 4000
SCSI-II & DSP susposed to be out in January….
Andrew
What SCSI-II?
Chris
Chris,
Um, well, I'm not exactly sure but basically SCSI-II provides faster
transfers of data. As far as I know, it supports either 16 or 32 bit (I'm
not sure which but I think it is 16) transfers of data compared to, what
is it, 8 or 16 bits for regular SCSI (I think 8 bits). It makes better
use of the 32 bit bus of the new Amigas.
Andrew
SCSI-II is 16-bit. WIDE SCSI-II is 32-bit.
Bob
Robert,
No…SCSI-II is 8 bits wide. I'm talking bus width, not card to
computer width.
The base SCSI-II bus will accept SCSI-I perhiperials and is backward
compatible with them. SCSI-I is also 8 bits wide.
Don
Nope I read it correct, it was made very clear… and as I said it came
from the top dog at Commodore UK, I suppose the only thing is that you can
but wait and see… to be honest I hope his comments were wrong, as it's
one hell of a large market to leave out !
By the way his main reasoning behind this move was the current financial
sitiuation that Commodore are in at the moment… they said that to launch
a product like this would cost them about $25 million…. which they don't
have.
He mentioned that it might make it across to the US, but this depends on
how well sales go in Europe (they are hope to shift 600,000 by Jan… of
which I will be one of the owners 😉 as I have already mail ordered mine
from the UK).
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Jamie,
Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you had read it wrong, just that the
report may be wrong. If it costs that much I can see why C= is
apprehensive about introducing a new product. However, if they wait too
long they may lose their chance. I'd bet a good number of NA Amigans
would purchase the product if the price was right, I would. After all,
the majority of CDTV purchases were probably to previous owners.
But the costs are probably more than just advertising. Setting up
manufacture & distribution sites are probably expensive.
Andrew
word on CD32 is that it is HOT and SUPER games already available for it.
realiable source (not CBM officials of any kind) say it leaves 3DO in the dust
when it comes to hi-res full-speed animation it is also less expensive and here
NOW. Hope it makes CBM a bundle.
>>leaves 3DO in the dust when it comes to hi-res full-speed animation
I don't think so. I've seen 3DO do stuff that my A4000 can't, and CD32's just a
Chip RAM A1200. (the Akiko chunky-to-planar chip isn't that big a performance
boost.)
CD32 has a lot going for it — it beats the pants off Sega CD in screen
appearance, and 3DO in price. But I've seen 3DO stuff, and I think your
reliable source is exaggerating… 🙁
Akiko isn't a chunky-to-planar chip. It is an ASIC which contains an
awful lot of stuff needed to make CD32 small and inexpensive. A very
small part of Akiko can perform a trivial (in hardware, time-consuming in
software) chunky-to-planar conversion.
Dale Larson
– An Amiga Software Engineer with some time on his hands.
Thanks for the feedback. I haven't seen anything on 3DO except an amazing
amount of media hype. Have to wait and see. I was told that 3DO gets a bit
clunky or chunky on fast motion at hi-res. I'm a wait and see kind of guy, so
I'd love to see both systems side by side. I certainly do wish CBM well with
CD32 (just read the new Amazing Computing issue's cover article which arrived
today) and hope they make a big bundle on it. It sure looks like CBM is
betting the farm on it. What I've heard so far is rumors, but I trust the
source. If it is selling in Europe as well as is rumored, then maybe CBM has a
WINNER again. 3DO is still vaporware. And we all know from our own experience
with Amiga that the best system doesn't always win the market – even if 3DO is
better it may be too expensive, too late, etc. I'd feel better if I knew CBM
had all the backers that 3DO does, but I don't sell CBM short. They have pulled
off some pretty good coups in the past.
Yeah I know I phoned the UK two days ago to order my very own CD32 🙂
Depending on where I am in the waiting list, I should see it in the next
couple of weeks – only two games are supposed to come with it, but I
ordered it through Indi Direct and they are giving away three games
(Lemmings… clearing old stocks !! plus two of the newer games – Oscar &
Diggers).
The game I am waiting for on this machine is Alien Breed II – I would buy
this machine for this game alone !! (I have the original game, and it's
one hell of an awsome bug hunt) !
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
How much for the CD32 in the UK + shipping? I think I want to develop
FractalPro MPEG movies for it. Look forward to seeing it next weekend!
Well I got mine from Indi direct (see my other long post on this) total
cost including shipping by Datapost (kind of a speedpost) was 301 pounds
(because shipping is to a country outside of the UK they have to deduct
VAT which is 17.5% – this comes to about 52 pounds VAT, which pays for
most of the postage).
By the way the FMV module should be out quite soon for it as well
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
FMV module? I guess that's the MPEG player. How much for that? Seems the CD32
is a bit pricey. 300 sterling is almost $500US. You can get a A1200 for that
here.
Yeah the FMV module is the MPEG player, from what I have heard it's going
to be about 150 pounds.
Don't forget that the pricing in the UK for both the 1200 & the CD32 is
exactly the same – 299 pounds. Thing is they are both aimed at totally
different markets, thing is if you want to buy a 1200 and then add a CD
ROM drive then it's going to cost alot more.
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
I think I'll make some MPEG FractalPro movies for CD32. Sounds like a nifty
product and I'm looking forward to see it.
Looks like it basically is a base A1200 w/ a double sepeed CD-ROM.
Sounds Great to me, I wonder about the expansion capabilities.
Does it have the HD controller, expansion bus, and PCMIA port?
With the FMV module, probably won't need much more horsepower for use as
an excellent MM delivery sysytem.
Seems theres already plenty of High end Development systems around,
called Amigas.
….John
From the article in Amazing it sure looks like a full expansion port on the
CD32 to me … but probably completely tied up by the MPEG module when
available. Have to see.
Daniel,
I borrowed the CD#32 last weekend complete with FMV module. It completely
occupies the expansion port at the back and even sticks out somewhat,
though this may be because it is not the final product.
Pete Jones. flying on AutoPilot from Brussels, Belgium
Check the article I uploaded CD32 txt. Suggested list is around $400.
Launch is in October, same as 3DO, and while they are competitors,
Commodore's real objective is beating BOTH Nintendo and Sega to market.
Gary
Gary
on AutoPilot from Charlotte, NC
Gary,
OK, thanks. I'll take a look.
Andrew
Seems to me, given some early good trade press on CD32's capabilities,
that C= ought to be out there trying to borrow money so it can afford a
big US introduction as soon as possible. Otherwise, as you say, they'll
surrender the domestic market to the other contenders. CD32 could be the
"firstest with the mostest for the leastest" machine.
— Ron Legro from Milwaukee via AUTOPILOT
(The only way to fly)
Jamie,
Commodore is launching CD32 in the states at the World of Commodore in
Pasadena. I have it on official letterhead from Commodore.
Launchning and shipping is a different matter, wouldn't surprise me a bit
to find out C= will not have them ready for Christmas.
Why would CD32 be different?
-mark=
Otto Pilot Engaged..
Well the reason the CD32 would have a delay in the US is a money problem..
they can't afford to launch it, it's that simple. According to the
interview they already have 30,000 made (now the interview with David
Pleasance must have been in early August to meet the printing deadline for
the magazine, so I can assume they have more machines ready by now).
I have already placed my order with a mail order company in the UK, and
they have said they will be getting machines in the next couple of days.
The FMV is going to be available sometime later this month.
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Mark,
This is a MAJOR roll of the dice for C=; the company's future may
literally depend on them living up to the Oct. shipping date. If they
don't make it, and don't beat Nintendo and Sega to market, we could very
likely be "orphans" within the next 6 months!
Gary
on AutoPilot from Charlotte, NC
==> If they don't make it, and don't beat Nintendo and Sega to market,
==> we could very likely be "orphans" within the next 6 months!
Ouch!!!
One thing i was wondering – C='s goal is to beat Nintendo and Sega with their
32bit
offering.. if that is so i wonder if they plan to have the CD32 sold at the
Toys 'R' Us, Software Etc., Electronic Botique etc.., Because if they plan to
sell these only at Amiga dealerships then CD32 surely won't have much of an
impact if any on the US market anyways. I think C= should stick some
A1200/A4000 brochures and such in the box also. Also a certificate to save
money on the purchase of one of the above computers. Wouldn't THAT be cool!
;^)
I think they would have to sell in the mass market which is probably why
it would cost $25mil (to set up distribution and new accounts.) I hope
they don't do what they did with CDTV and refuse to let Amiga stores sell
them. Actually, I saw a picture of it and it clearly says "Amiga CD32" so
they are not trying to hide that it is a computer.
Ya, you're right. They should have a certificate, proclaiming that after
people have played with CD32 they can buy an Amiga and make CD32 titles!
That is a big advantage over Philips, 3DO et al. No expensive and obsure
h/w & s/w to buy to produce titles. C= should play that part up.
Andrew
Helmet,
Unfortunately, if C= trys to get into Toys R' Us, you can bet that
Nintendo and SEGA will retaliate by threatening to pull their products
(under the table, of course). Remember that Nintendo scandal a while
back?
Rich – Flying the friendly AP skys
I would think they would try to get it into other stores, other than the
dealers. From what I have read so far, they will be selling it in the UK
through high street electric goods stores (such as Dixons & Comet), so it
certainly looks like it won't be limited to the dealers.
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Gary,
Nah, it's only a crisis because Commodore needs the cash-flow they'll get from
selling these, not because of Nintendo and Sega. The Intendo (Nintendigo)
machine isn't slated to ship until *1995*, and Sega recently publicly stated
that they don't have immediate plans for a 32-bit machine because the cost to
consumers would be too high.
Denny,
Seems to me the end result is the same…. sell a lot of CD32/s or else.
Also remember…some companies achieve their goals by lying about what
they are going to do (Windows nearly 3 yrs before intro) and some by
denying what they're going to do. I would not bet the farm on Sega's
sitting this one out.
Gary
on AutoPilot from Charlotte, NC
I'm staring right now at a full page ad in MicroTimes (a multi-platform
computer newsmagazine) announcing WOCA Pasadena. Prominently featured in
this ad are the words," INTRODUCING THE AMIGA CD32. WORLD'S FIRST 32-BIT
CD GAME CONSOLE! NORTH AMERICAN PREMIER AT THIS SHOW!".
Now, I realize that "introducing" is a long way from shipping, but C= is
definitely going to be hitting the US market with this product.
//
\X/ Amiga -Steve ——> On AutoPilot from Silicon Valley
I have seen the same thing in Computer Currents… The people that say
that the CD32 will not be sold here in the US don't know what they are
talking about.
-Jonathan
Not so much as we don't know what we are talking about, but when you
consider that this came from the top person at Commodore UK then you would
half expect them to know what is going on !
To be honest I think it would be absolutly stupid of Commodore not to sell
it in the States, maybe it's another one of their ploys to get it hyped up
for the release ? you can but wait and see.
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Steve,
As I understand it, Commodore's going to make some CD32s available here through
its usual distributor/dealer channels. Which will be good for a few thousand
sales to Amiga users. The vast majority of the 1993 units are going to go to
England, where they know they can sell all they can afford to make.
Interviews with CBM UK officials have stated that the company won't be pushing
CD32 in the US until Mid-94. Which to me makes sense, really, since at that
point they'll probably have some decent applications instead of CDTV and A1200
ports, and hopefully will have recovered enough to make some sort of minor
marketing push.
To bring out CD32 in the US now with major distribution and a few mediocre
games and no real marketing plan would be suicide.
Denny,
That would make sense but I think they should still make it available to
Amiga dealers and for VARs (as you suggest.) My potential business
partner and I are looking at using the CD32 for kiosk installations but if
we can't get a hold of it it will be will have to look at other
solutions.
Andrew
Denny,
I am playing right now with the CD32 equiped with the FMV module (picked
it up a couple of hours ago). The quality of the image is very good, even
on a television set. I shall try later on a monitor. My fifteen-year-old
daughter was sold on it the instant she saw and heard Bon Jovi coming from
a plain old compact disk. I think that this module is going to make all
the difference, because Video-CD is not proprietary to CBM, but a standard
which will be adhered to by all the big manufacturers. This means that
video-cd's will be stocked by record shops in the same way as they stock
Audio-CD's. On the subject of distribution, The General Manager of Benelux
said at the Press conference yesterday that it would be available from
toyshop outlets.
Pete Jones, flying on AutoPilot from Brussels, Belgium
You swine !!! I have to wait another week to get hold of mine :^) what
games are available at this very moment in time ? I know mine is going to
be shipped with Diggers, Oscar & Lemmings (the company I have ordered it
from are throwing this one in as extra).
But I would like to know what else is available, then I can get some more
games added to my package before it gets shipped.
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Jamie, how did you order yours? I definitely want one, and would be happy to
go to the trouble of ordering from an English shop – but I don't know any
English shops. Help?
Bob
Better wait for the U.S. release, or you'll wind up with a PAL machine
that needs a transformer. :')
//
-Karl \X/ Amiga and Autopilot: The *only* way to fly!
I don't mind either; the PAL is a non-problem, as it is (or should be) a matter
of changing a preferences setting. Transformers are cheap, and as I am going
to Europe next year anyway I will want to buy one anyhow.
Bob
Ok you want to order from the UK, then here goes… It's funny as although
I am English myself I have always ordered mail order from the US ! mainly
as the bulk of the large mail order houses have been over there. But the
past year I have noticed alot of UK mail order houses getting bigger &
bigger.
In my quest to get my CD32 I called two companies 1) Gordon Harwood
computers 2) Indi Direct Mail.
Both of these companies have large multi page adverts in the major UK
magazines.
The first company I called was Harwoods, the were very plesent, and I got
all of the info out of them I needed…. I then got to payment… Visa
please… and then I got I'm sorry Sir we don't accept overseas orders
with Visa due to credit card fraud !!!!!!!!! Lets just say I couldn't
believe this…. anyway I thanked them for the info, and said that I could
not place my order with them.
Next on my hit list was Indi Direct – well all I can say is EXCELLENT
company, very pleasent on the phone, all I asked them was when it would be
released and if they accepted Overseas Visa orders. Once I had the info I
sent them a fax placing my order. The only thing I didn't have would be
the total cost including shipping.
Anyway I requested they send me a fax back with the total cost of the
order & methods of available shipping (plus costs), and for the first time
ever someone actually sent me a fax back !! (I have yet to get a US mail
order company to do this).
They gave me three options of shipping Datapost (like Fed ex), Airmail &
Seamail.
One of the best things of ordering from the UK is that if it is export
they have to deduct 17.5% VAT – which for me payed my full postage costs!
Total cost including sending by Datapost (three day delivery) was 301
pounds. If you get it sent by Airmail then it is about 20 pounds cheaper.
The other good thing about Indi is that they are also shipping one extra
game – Lemmings. along with the two bundled games – Diggers & Oscar.
Anyway give them a call – the phone number is
UK (543) 419999 or FAX (543) 418079
If you are used to calling US mail order houses then you should have no
problems with these guys, they are a well set up operation.
One other thing is that they are getting stocks of the CD32 on Sept 7th
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Thanks for the info!
Bob
As to what is available now, not a lot, but what is coming soon is of keen
interest to many, so this unofficial list of games rumored to be "coming
soon" for CD32 was compiled from the nets and I will give it to you only
on the understanding that it is rumors. It was compiled in the USA by some
of the amis who may never see one according to the EuroPress cock crowing.
My thanks to Gary Stimpson.
–=*=– Games to be released for the Amiga CD32 –=*=–
Compiled from various sources on the networks.
1884 (Millenium)
7th Guest (Virgin) –
Perhaps. Once the FMV module is out.
Akira (Ice) –
From the film.
Alien Breed 2 (Team 17)
Ambermoon CD32 – November release
B17 Flying Fortress (Microprose)
Body Blows 2 (Team 17)
Burning Rubber (Ocean)
Cannon Fodder (Virgin) <<*>>
Captive 2 (Mindscape)
Chaos Engine (Mindscape)
Civilization (Microprose)
Creation
Daughter of Serpents (Millenium)
Defender of the Crown II (Sachs Entertainment)
Diggers (Millenium) –
"Diggers has been written from scratch on the CD32 –
it's not a conversion. There are six digital CD audio
tracks, at *least* 256 colours used throughout, with
24-bit copper backgrounds. The 34 levels each consist of
32,000 locations, with seven terrain types. Because we
didn't have to worry about the size of the game, we were
able to go to town with the amount of graphics."
– Toby Simpson ( Programmer )
Dino Worlds (Millenium)
Dogfight (Microprose) <<*>>
Dracula (Psygnosis)
Drive Fractalus (Mindscape)
Dune (Virgin)
Dune II (Virgin)
England World Cup '94
Epic (Ocean)
FA Premier Soccer (Ocean)
First Contact (Ocean)
Flashback (US Gold)
Flight of the Amazon Queen (Renegade)
Formula One GP (Microprose)
Frontier (Konami) <<*>>
Hero Quest-Legend of Soracil (Gremlin)
Indiana Jones FOA (Lucasarts) <<*>>
Inferno (DID/Ocean)
International Championship Golf (Ocean)
James Pond (??)
James Pond 2 (Millenium)
John Doe (Ocean)
Jurassic Park (Ocean) –
This is an Ultima Underworld/Wolfenstein 3D type game where you
have to hunt Raptors etc…
18+ months in development so far: October
release. "We couldn't do the 3D section with the
kiddy-type consoles, but we can with the Amiga."
– Ciaran Brennan of Bastion, Ocean PR
May be bundled with the CD32.
Legacy (Microprose)
Lemmings Compilation (Psygnosis) <<*>>
Liberation (Mindscape)
Lionheart (Thalion)
Litil Divil (Gremlin)
Lotus Turbo Trilogy (Gremlin)
Magic Carpet
Microcosm (Psygnosis)
Monkey Island (Lucasarts)
Monkey Island 2 (Lucasarts)
Monkey Island 3 (Lucasarts) – <<*>>
Perhaps.
Mortal Kombat (Acclaim/Probe)
Mr. Nutz (Ocean)
Nick Faldo's Championship Golf (Grandslam)
Nigel Mansell GP (Gremlin)
Oddysey (DID/Ocean)
One Step Beyond (Ocean) – <<*>>
The follow-up adventure of Quavery Colin. Release: Christmas.
Overdrive (Team 17) <<*>>
Pinball Dreams
Pinball Fantasies (21st Century) –
256 colour tables, CD-quality audio.
Pinball Illusions (21st Century) –
Perhaps.
Premier Manager (Ocean)
Project X2 (Team 17)
Putty (System 3)
Return to the Lost World (Mirage – may licence)
Rise of the Robots (Mirage – may licence)
Robocod [3] (Millenium)
Rough and Tumble (Renegade)
Second Samurai (Virgin) <<*>>
Sensible World of Soccer (Mindscape)
Sim Life (Mindscape)
SleepWalker (Ocean)
Snooker/Pool 2 (Virgin) <<*>>
Space Junk (Mirage – may licence)
Super Frog (Team 17)
Star Trek 25th Anniversary
Syndicate (Bullfrog) –
Ability to look into buildings and rotate the 3D view (and no
doubt the other graphics & sound will be improved)
TFX (Ocean) –
Used to be Inferno.
The Legend of Soracil (Gremlin) <<*>>
The Ninja Trilogy (System 3)
The Two Towers
Ultima Underworld (Mindscape)
Uridium 2 (Renegade)
Utopia 2 (Gremlin)
Wing Commander (Mindscape)
Wing Commander 2 (Mindscape)
World Circuit Grand Prix (Microprose) <<*>>
Zool (Gremlin)
Zool 2 (Gremlin)
<<*>> = New since last update
-END-
P.S. I can see some logic to the ideas expressed here that CBM can't put
up the price of a major ad campaign in the US for CD32. This is not the
kind of machine you sell at small dealerships, it is a mass consumer item
and requires massive advertising. The 32 bit won't mean a thing to the
vast majority of buyers of this item, they will buy on glitz and promises.
Nonetheless, if CBM lets the biggest market in the world get away they
will have shot themselves in both feet and deserve no sympathy.
Tom
AGA means "Amiga is Going Again"
{ Internet: jonest@hfsi.com 1:147/2020.5@fidonet }
>>> The 32-bit won't mean a thing to the vast majority of buyers…
Who are you kidding? Game console kids can understand the difference
between 8-bit (NES) and 16-bit (SNES, Genesis). You'd better believe that
they're drooling over the prospect of 32- and 64-bit machines.
Of course, the games have to be there – there should have been Street
Fighter II, or a good clone.
Last…the "bitness" of a machine is like how PC's are sold. Folks know
that a 486 is better than a 386, but don't know why. They just want
them.
//Jonathan,
\\//via AutoPilot
I may have been a bit too cynical there, Jonathan, and you have a point:
my customers all want a 586 and don't have any idea why. I install 486
unix workstations for people who use it to type letters on and look
forward to the pentium for some unknown reason.
Yeh, the kids can dig V8 is better than 4-banger, good point. The killer
game would put CBM back into business right now, and my money would be on
Frontier. It should be out end of september/early oct if you believe the
pr folks at Konami, but the CD version will need some gfx work first.
Tom
AGA means "Amiga is Going Again"
{ Internet: jonest@hfsi.com 1:147/2020.5@fidonet }
Getting the CD32 out to the USA quickly can have other benefits, too.
I was just at Walmart's today, checking out the usual
Packard-Bell/Acros/PS/1 machines. Seems that they had a couple of
"multimedia" packages in line…which were, of course, terrible. Not to
say that "multimedia" can't work on a PC, but it needs horsepower,
graphics horsepower, local bus, etc…which these "bargains" did not
have.
Drop a CD32 in line with these (which were located a few feet from the
video games), and you'll really see a revolution.
//Jonathan,
\\//via AutoPilot
I have a interesting question reference CD-32, from what I have read
read the CD-32 is based on the A-1200. Now from everything I've read on
the 1200 one has to add 32-bit memory to get it to run at a usable speed.
Now how is the the CD-32 going to run these extremely large CD-Rom based
programs (games) on only 2-meg of chip ram?
Curious….
Eddie.Ski
You know I think the greatest thing about CD32 is that it is one computer
that CBM will HAVE to market through video stores, department stores and
other mass merchandise outlets. Just to get the name Amiga in common usage
and known could be the best thing to come out of this.
I hope people do see that the CD32 is a superior game console that is also
part of the Amiga computer line, and appreciate the connection. It could
as you say make the Amiga multimedia system more familiar and convincing.
Tom
AGA means "Amiga is Going Again"
{ Internet: jonest@hfsi.com 1:147/2020.5@fidonet }
There is a VERY good clone of Street Fighter II – It's called Body Blows
and it's done by Team 17 – it's WAY better than the original Street
Fighter II – there is also a follow up planned.
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Jonathan,
I think Mortal Kombat will more than make up for the lack of a street fighter
2. Just make sure they do it right! And get this machine to market before the
Atari box comes out.
From the lineup of titles that you mentioned I would find it very very hard to
beleive that C= will not release this machine in the U.S., those kinds of
developers are banking on big money, and to get it is going to require both
sides of the pond.
Interesting to see Mortal Combat in there. If it's much better than the SNES or
Genesis versions it should sell a lot of machines. Especially since the censors
at SNES have seen fit to remove some of the more graphic scenes of violence
from the game….
I can't stand for the truth of this list in it's entirity, it is a pure
rumor compilation remember. But yes, it is a who's who of the best games
around darned near and I hope it comes true.
Tom
AGA means "Amiga is Going Again"
{ Internet: jonest@hfsi.com 1:147/2020.5@fidonet }
I read in "Amiga Format" that Microprose is going to hold up release of
Civilization for CD32. It seems there is currently no way to save games,
since the machines have only 1k of nonvolatile memory and no floppy drive
as yet. I wonder how many other games this little problem will affect?
//
-Karl \X/ Amiga and Autopilot: The *only* way to fly!
Tim,
Don't be jealous. When your one arrives you get to keep it. I have only
borrowed one from Commodore Belgium. Belgium will be bundling Oscar and
Diggers. At the moment, nothing else is ready, I think. You might consider
getting hold of some of the existing CDTV titles. A lot of them work on
the CD32. You might also want to put in an early order for the FMV
module. Video-CD is great!
Pete Jones, flying on AutoPilot from Brussels, Belgium
Don't worry I already have the PAL version of Trivial Pursuit ! which
never did work using my other CD Rom drive and the Xetec software, so I
will finally get to use that. (I also have the Guinness Disc of records –
although this was total rubbish – I hope there will be a much better and
more up to date version available).
I'll get my parents in the UK to buy my the FMV module for my birthday,
which is coming up in a couple of months time :^)
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Tim,
Yes, there is a second edition of the Guiness Book of Records specifically
for the CD32. Should be available Real_Soon_Now. 🙂
Pete Jones, flying on AutoPilot from Brussels, Belgium
Thanks for the info on the Guiness book of records. Do you know if it's
the same people doing it ? or has someone else taken on the task (which I
hope, as the first one was dreadful).
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Tim,
I think it is the same people. I'll check on it.
Pete Jones, flying on AutoPilot from Brussels, Belgium
You depress me Jamie
You are related to Tim Lloyd I'll bet, aren't you? Guy I sometimes talk at
on Fidonet, also in HongKong. Well, I still have my multisystem TV from
the 10 years we were in Germany, that would be a good use for it alright.
Actually we USa Amigans are getting used to being mushrooms, no problem. I
will be happy just to see Commodore continue to be a going concern.
Tom
AGA means "Amiga is Going Again"
{ Internet: jonest@hfsi.com 1:147/2020.5@fidonet }
Well I am more than related ! it is ME !!!!! I'm using my brothers account
on Compuserve as I don't have one :^)
Yeah your multisystem TV would be fine, I have one of those. The only
thing you would need is a step down/Up transformer for the power supply.
(Luckly with HK still being a British Colony we have PAL Tv and the same
power supply as the UK).
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Heeehehe. Hi Tim.
Actually my multisystem has british channels, I checked, and I still have
a xformer I "turned around" to run my Euro SX64 on 115vac too when I
returned. They won't really make me do that…will they?
I have a feeling it isn't worth waiting for a CD32 romdrive for older
Amigas, though, with the exception of the 1200 maybe. Bet they take longer
to emerge than the A590 and cost as much as the CD32 itself.
Tom
AGA means "Amiga is Going Again"
{ Internet: jonest@hfsi.com 1:147/2020.5@fidonet }
You would certainly need the Step up transformer for the CD32…..
Yeah I wouldn't want to wait for the CD Rom drives for the 1200 either. I
us a 3000T at the moment and have a Texel double speed CD ROM attached to
that…. fat lot of good that did for me ! I'm getting the CD32 mainly
because everytime I sit in front of my tower the only thing I seem to do
is log onto BBS's read Fido & call compuserve ! So I needed the lastest
cutting edge games machine to relax with (I can't wait for Alien Breed II
!!!!!!!).
Tim
On AutoPilot Over Hong Kong
Hallo Tim
>because everytime I sit in front of my tower the only thing I seem to do
is log onto BBS's read Fido & call compuserve !
My own reasoning exactly. I don't dare let my kids use my Amiga anymore
because it has become too important as a communication organ and general
business machine to risk trashing it. I want CD32 as a dedicated fun
machine again, and yes Alien Breed II and Frontier are the ones I also am
looking for first (but won't get first).
Tom
AGA means "Amiga is Going Again"
{ Internet: jonest@hfsi.com 1:147/2020.5@fidonet }