Where is Amiga DE.

[Magic-Merl]

Many many moons ago, living in the UK, I decided to take a trip and visit Eyetech to aquire a brand new box with a dodgy looking CD inside called "Amiga Party Pack".

I had been waiting for this for a long time.  Eyetech were still developing the A1, at the time, and all was looking quite possitive on the Amiga scene.

After a 3 hour drive back home, I couldn't wait to install my new software.  It was great.  The documentaion was a little sparse and the DE was possibly a little strange, but what the hell.  We had a new piece of software to develop for - and for my money I could develop for ALL platforms at the same time (well....that was the impression).  Bliss.

I spent days and days learning to code, it was a pleasure.

Within a week I had the workings of a simple tile editor.  Within 2 I could scroll the tiles (very smoothly) around the screen in all directions.  I hooked up with a guy from America who had numerous 2d graphics that he wanted to see running in a game which moved the development of my tile editor into a mini game construction kit.  Our characters could slide down slopes.  Climb up steps, ropes and ladders.  Colide with enemies and selected background tiles, collect items, fire weapons - all the usual 2d platform stuff.

I was very impressed with my efforts.  But what happened to DE.  Amiga seemed to loose the plot.  I lost interest (as did many of us) and never programmed for DE again (after the first six months or so)

I liked the concept of DE,  but nothing has happened of any interest for a long time.  Does anyone know what has happened to Amiga DE.  Not so much what Tao want to do with Intent but specifically the Amiga.

How many copies of the Amiga Party Pack were sold?

Are there still active developers, if so how many?

[Magic-Merl]

Is the software still compatible with all the devices out there utilising Tao's Intent or Intent 2 for that matter.  Phones, PDA's, Set Top Boxes etc.

Not that I am interested in developing (don't have the time).  But I am curious.

[Magic-Merl]

Cast your minds back.  Didn't Hyperion claim to have the DE totally integrated into the OS by OS5.  A long way away I know.

Another good idea ruined by Amiga Inc.  Another sunken ship which stands very little chance of being salvaged.

May it rest at the bottom of the Amiga abyss along with every other piece of hardware to date.  (With exception of A1 & OS4 Beta of course)

[Magic-Merl]

I commend you optimism.

I bought my first Amiga waaaay way way back.  I mean I was one of the first to own one and have owned many over the years.  I just think we should be looking towards maybe AROS at this point.

It only lacks a USB stack & an installer. Big tasks I grant you but look what these guys have done.  Purely for the sake of passion for the platform.

I hope KMOS come through I really do.  But hey.  Remember Escom, remember Gateway.  Companies with financial elbow who failed to realise the Amiga's potential.

Back to the point.  I hope KMOS do something with DE (or the Amiga for that matter), even if it is developing their own hardware independent platform.    
But I think this might be a long way off........

[Magic-Merl]

Bennymee

You are a sad sad person.  It scares me that not only do you have all of this information crammed into your brain, it worries me more that you can actually access it.

Even worse.  You wrote it down, now my head hurts too.

Cheers