Hello there, forum-goers. As Tiger/SonGoku mentioned I'm a friend of his who's a bit interested in the Amiga (in fact, my "Computer Concepts and Applications" instructer wanted me to get and bring in an old A500 or A1200 in to demonstrate how the were still some of the most advanced systems back in the day). Thing is, due to the fact I've a rather seroius back condition, I can't afford to get a towerized A1200 in fear of worsening my spine to the point of ending up in a wheehchair permanently.
Anywho.. I want to get an Amiga not only for games, but to learn how the system works by using real hardware, and program for it. Unfortunately the only A1200 slimline (original case) systems I've seen are either from AmiKit or on eBay. In both cases just about all the ones I've seen are from the UK.
Reason why I wanted to learn how to do some programming for the Amiga computers is just to create a few games on the side while either going to school or after next spring begin work (going to see about majoring as a computer consultant). Since gaming is my primary hobby I have learned of some unique tricks that do involve hacked MegaDrive controllers (known to everyone in North America.. like how I used to refer it.. as the Sega Genesis.. don't ask why I keep referring it as the MD) so the computer could make use of all four or eight buttons (Depending on which type it was). That, plus having played some arcade conversions (like Grandslam's conversion of "Pac-Mania"), I was a bit disappointed and want to see if I could re-do them or create something similar.
I'm also starting to take up some more artistic hobbies (will be buying a guitar around the start of March, and might see about getting some personal art lessons), and want to learn how to use some of the art programs to make use of the Amiga's capabilities (much like in this one old 1985 tv special how the A500 was demonstrated how to take a bland-looking picture of the King Tut sarcophagas face and make it look more metallic and vibrant through layering). Don't get me wrong, having heard from a friend of mine in Norway about gems like Sensi. Soccer and others gaming is a good hobby to keep one's self occupied (collect quite a few old game systems and games), but I need to expand my horizons a little bit.
Well.. that's me and my fascination with the Amiga.
