Amiga CD32
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Commodore Amiga CD32 | |
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| Manufacturer | Commodore |
| Type | Video game console |
| Generation | Fifth generation (32-bit/64-bit era) |
| First available | September 1993 (US) |
| CPU | Motorola 68020 |
| Media | CD-ROM |
The Amiga CD32 was one of the world's first 32-bit CD-ROM based game consoles. It was first announced at the Science Museum in London, United Kingdom on 16 July 1993 and released in September of the same year. The CD32 was based on Commodore's Advanced Graphics Architecture chipset, and was of similar specification to the Amiga 1200. Using 3rd-party devices, it was possible to upgrade the CD32 with keyboard, floppy drive, and mouse, turning it into a personal computer. A hardware MPEG decompression module for playing Video CD was also available, however, as few as 400 modules have made it to market. Often regarded as a failure, the CD32 managed to secure over 50% of the fledgling CD-ROM market in the UK in 1993 and 1994 outselling the MegaCD, Philips CDi and even PC CD-ROM sales. The CD32 was released in the United States and Canada, but was not successful. Commodore was not able to meet demand for new units because of component supply problems. The success of the CD32 in Europe was not enough to save Commodore, and the bankruptcy of Commodore International in April 1994 caused the CD32 to be discontinued only months after its debut.
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[edit] Technical specifications
- Main Processor: Motorola 68EC020 at 14.3 MHz
- System Memory: 2 MB Chip RAM
- 1 MB ROM with Kickstart ROM 3.1 and integrated cdfs.filesystem
- 1KB of FlashROM for game saves
- Graphics/Chipset: AGA Chipset
- Akiko chip, which handles CD-ROM and can do Chunky to Planar conversion
- Proprietary (MKE) CD-ROM drive at 2x speed
- Expansion socket for MPEG cartridge, as well as 3rd party devices such as the SX-1 and SX32 expansion packs.
- 4 8-bit audio channels (2 for left, 2 for right)
- Gamepad, Serial port, 2 Gameports, Interfaces for keyboard
[edit] Accessories and 3rd Party Devices
The CD32 could be enhanced using these devices: ProModule, Paravision SX-1 and DCE SX-32 (which optionally includes 68030 CPU).
Those devices extended the capability of Amiga CD32, allowing it to utilize hardware such as an external 3.5" floppy disk drive, hard disk and IBM PC keyboard. An Amiga CD32 could be turned into a de facto Amiga 1200 via the addition of 3rd party packages. The SX-1 appeared to have been designed around Commodore's mechanical specs and not the actual production units – it did not fit very well and required an internal 'modification' to fit properly. Consequently, the SX-1 could be jarred loose if the console was not handled gently. The upgraded SX-32 expansion pack (which included a 68030 25MHz processor) solved these problems.
As well as its own special controllers, the Amiga CD32 is also compatible with SEGA Megadrive/Genesis controllers.
CDs created for the CD32 conform to ISO 9660 level2, mode1, although the Rock Ridge and Joliet extensions are not compatible.
[edit] Software
If you turn the system on without a CD, a splash screen will appear and a tune will play. After this tune ends, you can hit the blue button on the gamepad to enter a language selection menu. You can also hit the red button to access a menu where you can view the contents of the internal Flash ROM. Unlike most game consoles, this menu does not allow you to delete items. Instead, the system will automatically overwrite the oldest entries when memory runs out. The menu allows you to "lock" files to prevent them from being overwritten.
At launch the CD32 was bundled with two games, Diggers, a new game from Millennium Interactive, and Oscar from Flair. The CD32 was capable of running most of the titles developed for the Amiga CDTV multimedia device (differences in CPU speed and Kickstart version prevented some of the earlier CDTV titles from running).
Like all Amiga computers, the CD32 has a hidden boot menu that can be accessed by plugging an Amiga mouse into port 2 and holding both buttons down while turning the system on. Most of the options in this menu aren't useful on a CD32, but from this menu you can choose to boot in either NTSC or PAL mode. This is important, as there are some games that will refuse to work if the system is in the wrong mode, also since most games don't advertise what video mode they were developed for. It should also be pointed out that despite the naming, the menu really only allows a choice of 60Hz or 50Hz video output; a PAL system booted in NTSC mode will still output a video signal using PAL color encoding, which will usually result in a black and white picture when connected to an NTSC television.
While the console was fairly successful during its lifespan and managed to be the best-selling CD format console in 1993, it was not able to sustain its growth, with Commodore filing for Chapter 11 just a year after its release after not being able to secure additional CD32 shipments for the holiday season. It was speculated that the holiday season could have kept Commodore afloat for another six months. Another problem was the lack of original games, which had also plagued the CDTV before it. Most CD32 titles were simply A1200 games on a CD, with the occasional full motion video sequence or CD audio tracks added on.
However, a large fanbase carried over from the success of other Amiga computers, and several notable titles, such as Microcosm, Liberation: Captive 2, Simon the Sorcerer and Super Stardust prevented the console from sliding into total obscurity.
[edit] Uses of the CD32
109 CD32s were installed in 1993 to run the interactive exhibits at the London Transport Museum, Covent Garden. They provided information, animations, pictures, sound and text available in several languages. The systems were produced by the company Index Information.
