CompuServe Thread

#CD32 Emulation on Amiga

20 messages in this thread
#132851From: Dominick J. FontanaFeb 20, 1994 4:31 AM
Mark, > Remember now, you can have CD ROM today if you wish it. Yes, but it's my understanding that a SCSI CD-ROM drive will not be able to utilize CD32 disks. The available SCSI CD-ROM disks leave a lot to be desired. I dn't think Mel wanted a CD-ROM drive just for the sake of having it. 😎 I think he wanted to know if a CD-ROM drive would be available for the Amiga that could utilize the CD32 disks. Dom Fontana –> Sent from NY via AP <–
#132852From: GTI GermanyFeb 20, 1994 4:56 AM
Problem with emulating the CD32 is (as I understand it) that most CD32 games address only the joypad. Even with a CDROM drive built into the Amiga 4000 you cannot run most of the CD32 Games, despite having AGA graphics, because you have no JoyPad addresses. CDTV Emulation is possible through the Xetec CDx software which gets around this problem, so maybe its justa question of time before CD32 emulation (obviously only on A1200 & A4000) is possible. Richard Small
#132899From: Mark D. ManesFeb 20, 1994 10:53 AM
Dom, Yep, I realize that. However, I couldn't really tell from his message as to whether he wanted access to the CD ROM titles that are out there like Fred Fish, GIF Galore, etc. So I thought I would point out that he could have a CD ROM today if he wanted it. -mark= Otto Pilot Engaged..
#132971From: Shawn RandolphFeb 20, 1994 9:32 PM
Just a note, Products like ASIM 2.0 and others support DCTV formats but there are incompatiablities. I have tried many and the results are about 50/50. Sometimes you could get a CDTV disk to work in a CD-ROM equipped Amiga just by copying fonts….however CD32 is a different matter 🙂 Shawn Silent Paw Productions
#133092From: Jim SteeleFeb 21, 1994 7:00 PM
I wonder if a CD32 add in for the 1200 makes sense. Seems like this add in would have to have most of the parts of the CD32 onboard anyway. Plus the cost of tooling up the casework & FCC approval. I can't imagine it being much cheaper than the CD32 itself. There are only two reasons to have a CD32 adaptor on the 1200. 1: to play CD32 disks, and 2: to access CD ROM disks. I think both of those could be solved cheaper just by using a CD32 system itself, with some form of networking deal… Maybe by connecting the 1200's PCMCIA slot to the CD32's expansion bus. That way the only new thing needed would be the interface.
#133137From: Shawn RandolphFeb 21, 1994 10:10 PM
Personally, I believe CBM has made another CDTV mistake with CD2. The CD32 has the potential to help rather than harm Amigas. As of right now (as I know) no CD32 game will run on an Amiga. My question is why?? There are many CD-ROM equipped Amiga users out there that look to the IBM platform and see the explosion of CD titles. Granted the market is about 10,000 per 1 Amiga but it seems as though this is the media to exploit for Amiga graphics, especially games. Money is being lost at CBM, I hope someone wakes up and pulls CBM out of a spin with some type of patch to at least allow a AA Chipset CD-ROM equipped Amiga to take advantage of those titles. "Wouldn't it be lovely" 🙂
#133188From: Jonathan BlackwellFeb 22, 1994 2:14 AM
>As of right now (as I know) no CD32 game will run on an Amiga. My >question is why?? The CD32 encompasses more than just an A1200 and a CD, there is a port for the FMV module and there is the Akiko chip that some games are utilizing. To run these games on an A1200 or A4000 would take more than just a CD, it would take at least the Akiko and possibly additional things.
#133247From: Betty Clay/SYSOPFeb 22, 1994 10:58 AM
At the current time, your Amiga does not have all the hardware that is in the CD32. Since many of the better games, etc., are using that hardware, they won't work in an Amiga with only a CDROM drive.
#133276From: Kevin SangwellFeb 22, 1994 5:08 PM
I agree on the majority of what you say, however you'd have thought that those games which don't use the special hardware in the CD32 (Akiko chip) will probably run on a CD-ROM base Amigas. The software houses should think about marketing this fact to the buying public. They are singing the praises of CD-ROM's right now, so why not start offering it to a wider market; those Amiga owners with CD-ROMs, but not CD32s. Sure the games wouldn't be as inpressive as native CD32 games, but I'm sure there are more Amiga owners with CD-ROMs than there are CD32's at the moment. When this situation changes, why not release two versions of the game (I don't know whats involved in coding the new hardware, so this may mean a complete re-write and hence be too expensive to implement) on the same CD-ROM for both CD32 users and CD-ROM users opening the product up to more potential users and hard cash for them (which is what motivates everyone in the computer industry apart from us small-timers <g>). Just my opinion 🙂 Kevin 68030/40 A1200… Flying AutoPilot from Surrey in the UK
#133316From: Jim SteeleFeb 22, 1994 9:58 PM
Well, if the CD32 is a mistake I wouldn't say it was as much of a goof up as the CDTV. At least, there is a market for game consoles. I never understood what the CDTV was supposed to be- a computer pretending to be a stereo component?? If the CD32 is successful in the US, it's going to have to be due to sales to non-Amiga owners. Those buyers won't need compatibility with their computers. I have 4 Amigas, including one with CD ROM.(No AA though) You're certainly right that all those cloneland CD-ROM titles are tempting. But that's going to take emulation for anything other than data type disks. I use a couple of picture disks (not *those* pictures!) from cloneland quite well. CBM has said they're working on CD32- plugins for the 1200 & 4000. I still think it would be easier to just buy a CD32.
#133427From: Stephen BaileyFeb 23, 1994 2:30 PM
PMFJI, but I have a basic question, Has emulation evolved to the point where I could use something like EMPLANT or AMAX on my A2000 with an attached SCSI CD-ROM to play MAC-Based CDs, use software like Photoshop, Kaos Tools, etc., and access America On-line with their free software for PCs and Macs? I'm a junior scout in the area of CDRom and emulation. Would love to hear a yes to my question. Could it be….
#133601From: Jim SteeleFeb 24, 1994 3:31 PM
Well… I don't have an answer for you. It ought to be possible, but I can't speak from personal experience. You could ask over in the Utilities Unlimited section of Amiga Vendor for info on the Emplant. There's a version of Emplant with SCSI, so I'd assume it would work with a CD-ROM. I don't know about Amax. I do have the original cartridge Amax, but haven't got around to trying my CD-ROM with it. That's on my list of things to do eventually. 🙂 -Jim
#133721From: Christopher TolmieFeb 25, 1994 9:38 AM
Stephen, I asked Jim Drew (CEO of Utilites Unlimited) in the CO last week about what he would recommend as the minimum Amiga system to use with EMPLANT. His answer was an A3000. You want to get above the 8MB memory limitation of the 2000, around 16MB is desirable. I'd like to hear from any EMPLANT users whose base machine is an A2000.
#133734From: Stephen BaileyFeb 25, 1994 2:22 PM
Chris, In response, what if my A2000 has an '040 (33mHz) and 18MB RAM? I missed the conference, hopefully it will be edited and posted. Stephen Bailey Sawyer & Bailey Film & Video CIS # 72773,2451
#133764From: Christopher TolmieFeb 25, 1994 5:59 PM
Then I say get the EMPLANT try it and then report back here about your results!
#133807From: Jonathan BlackwellFeb 25, 1994 10:28 PM
Christopher- I use one of my Emplants on an A2000 with a PP&S 28Mhz 040 populated with 16MB of 32bit RAM. Works great! The A3000 has the Zorro III, that is the only advantage that I can see. -Jonathan // Amiga online via Autopilot \\// MAC Quadra 900 & 486 emulation via Amiga!
#133365From: Paul ToalFeb 23, 1994 2:39 AM
Commodore has no intention on making a 1200 thingie to play CD32 titles. If you want to play them, buy a CD32. They are 2 different products for 2 different markets. This comes from uncle Lew himself and Jim Dionne on his last day of employment. Jeff still thinks it isn't going to happen.
#133906From: Shawn RandolphFeb 26, 1994 3:24 PM
Well I am back from travel to add to this thread again, The CD32 IS an Amiga. At its roots it possess the fundemental heart and soul of an Amiga. My somewhat negative comments toward the CD32 are made at both a professional and user level. As a professional I see CBM spending ALOT of money pushing the CD32. While I would have thought 2 years ago that this was great, CDTV has taught me otherwise. Why isn't CBM putting their money into the Amiga and new Amigas. They have a wonderful niche market which they can only maintain through trying to be competitive and offer something other platforms don't have. Nintendo and Sega Genesis spend MILLIONS of dollars to promote their products. CD32, will have only a following from the Amiga community because of zero exposure on TV. This results in low US sales, which results in fewer third party products, which results in an overall loss in the US market place. It is well known that Amiga owners by more new CBM products than new users. Without those MILLIONS in advertising there will be fewer new users than other game platforms. Let me say I am not mad, but I am concerned for CBM's future in the US. I for one will not go out and buy a CD32 just to have yet another deadend product in a few months. If new users are reading this thread my best advice is to buy an Amiga 4000. Buy a CD-ROM with or for your unit. This is the best way to take advantage of changes that will for certain hit the Amiga community soon. Ah tis lovely to go on and on 🙂
#133926From: Chris LesterFeb 26, 1994 6:35 PM
Just what is available for the A4000 in CD-ROM titles? I realize that CDTV may work (If it's not 1.3 specific), and CD32 may be made compatible… but other than the Fred Fish library, and other large CD based PD archives, what is there for us in the CDRom world? (Looking in retro at this message, it looks a little glib, and I apologize, but I am sincerely asking this question… A CD-ROM would be really nice, (so would a 4000 :-), but would it be an expensive paperweight, or could I get some serious computing out of it?)
#134249From: Jerry ThompsonFeb 27, 1994 10:27 PM
There are many CDTV titles which will work on an Amiga equipped with a CD-ROM and a Xetec or Asimware driver. There is at least one encyclopedia and atlas, several discs on gardening, many games will work as well. I'm appending an old compatability list from Xetec's driver, but you contact Xetec directly to find out about any specific titles: