I want an Amiga gaming system!

[jjans]

I am a longtime amiga 500 owner (going on 17 years). I am still using the original Amiga 500 I bought in 1986.  It is true that this system does not come stock with a hard drive.  However there are lots of SCSI controllers for this machine such as the A 590. CD-ROMs and hard drives are easy to get, and are also dirt cheap. A lot of classic original games for the Amiga, came in Non DOS format, which prevented copying to either other disks or hard drives.  There's software available to install a lot of the non DOS games such as WHD-load.

It is true that the Amiga 1200 is a fantastic system that runs AGA games.  However, there's tons of software out there, that was written specifically for the Amiga 500.  If you wish to take a chance to purchase a real Amiga system, I would have to argue strongly in favor of the Amiga 500.  The main reason simply price.  They are a dime a dozen on ebay right now. In fact I have 7 of them. If you wind up being disappointed, then the investment is minimal. They are tough as nails too, as the beer stains, and cigarette ashes inside mine can attest to.

If you like the system, you can either expand the A500, or invest in an A3000/A4000's. I have always been in awe of the bigger Amigas, but have never actually purchased one as I have always been content with mine by expanding. Now I can burn music or data CD's, play music, or with a simple double click, revert the system to play the very first Amiga Classic game I ever purchased, (Darkside). My first PC is long dead, and is now stripped and reborn housing a SCSI CD-Writer, SCSI CD-ROM, and 6 GB of Hard-Drives externally connected to my A500.

There are a couple of issues to consider. First is the monitor (Commodores A1084/1084s). You need this to run the games. A520 Modulators that allow hook up to a normal TV, are not well suited for games( the original intent for the system). Next is the floppy disks. They are 720 KB, getting old, and harder to find. They are not the same format as PC 1.44MB. They are not readable with PC's either.

The monitor,  and 1 hard-drive are the hardware failures I have experienced, that were easily replaced at inexpensive cost. As time marches on this will no doubt change...

I strongly suggest you first try Cloanto's Amiga Forever. I run it on Windows XP and find it quite amazing. I can assure you of one simple fact despite my argument in favor of the A500. You will enjoy ANY Amiga you decide to obtain!!!!

[jjans]

mepmepmep wrote:
@jjans
You have certainly pushed the old 500 to its limits. CDRW, nice:) Interesting post! But I disagree with a few things.

First is the monitor (Commodores A1084/1084s). You need this to run the games

I do not understand this. Why does he need a monitor to run games like R-Type or Silkworm. The TV-output of the A520 is as good as on any old games console, NES, SNES, MasterSystem, MegaDrive (Genesis) etc. You do not need a monitor for these do you? I could agree if the guy was going to play textbased adventures... but arcade games? I've played Amiga games on a TV-set since '89. Maybe theres something wrong with me;-)

Next is the floppy disks. They are 720 KB

Amiga floppys are 1MB unformatted, 880K formatted, as far as I know. But I agree they are hard to find, and of deteriorating quality. Hmm.. That is an argument for storing the games on HD that I did'nt think of... well, well..

In regards to the floppies, I stand corrected as they are indeed 880K, and I'm not sure where I got 720 K from.?*&?? Must have had a brain fart...

As for the A520, you just peeked my interest, as I had no idea they worked that well. I must confess to claim ignorance. It was my understanding from prior reading , that TV's had trouble showing the correct colors of Amiga games. I'd love to see a screen shot of an A520 in action. I have also seen them on ebay for reasonable prices. My wife is gonna kill me thanks to you!!!

The reason I wanted the CDRW was for burning ADF's of my games as bakups, and raw images that I submit to the CAPS project...

Thanks for sorting me out on the errors!

[jjans]

Tons of games to check out:
http://www.back2roots.org/

A500 Hardrives:
http://amiga.resource.cx/exp/search.pl?product=A500&company=

http://www.amiga-hardware.com/gvphd+.html

http://www.amiga-hardware.com/hd500.html
http://www.amiga-hardware.com/supradrivescsi.html

[jjans]

@mepmepmep

mepmepmep wrote:
@jjans

I'd love to see a screen shot of an A520 in action

Look, see here.

Hey Thanks for the link! I'm impressed and have learned something new!

[jjans]

Yes it is crazy, because most Amigans are nuts about their Amigas!

I'll say it again, no matter WHICH Amiga you choose, You will not be disappointed. The Amiga 500 will not play AGA Games.  In regards to backwards compatibility question with the lots of older games and the A1200, I do not believe this is a difficult issue either, considering the WHDLoad option. As a registered user, I use it to install many of my NONDOS games to HD on my old beast to great result.

I think the AGA graphics are awesome too!  If I were to upgrade,  I would choose an A3000. But I haven't because I'm content with the old girl 500.

[jjans]

...but the A3000 is not an AGA machine.
blakespot

True, alas, but I like monitor support it has. Also does it not have  flippable 1.3 or 2.0 AmigaOS Roms ?

[jjans]

Hey leirbag28:

Thanks for the info on the A520. Very interesting. How do you find it for applications run from Workbench?

[jjans]

@mepmepmep & leirbag28:
Thanks for the info. Any ideas on how I can justify 'borrowing'  the family's big screen TV without causing a riot?

What the hell was the original post anyway???

Oh yeah, mugenakuma, sounds like you want the A1200. There seems to be people here with that fine system, that are able to help you out with any A1200 questions.

Here is an interesting link:
http://www.amigau.com/c-amiga/A1200.htm