Amiga CD32, the SX-1 and marvelous possibilities

[ArchM]

Ok, so I have been collecting gaming consoles for a few years now, and I love my collection.  It however mostly consists of the mainstream stuff.  I had been going back to research some lesser known consoles, because I eventually want to have all the consoles released in America, minus the REALLY old stuff, like the first hundred Atari's and whatnot.  
Through Wikipedia, I found out about two systems I had never heard of before; the Pioneer LaserActive and the Amiga CD32.  Thus began my obsession.  
I started researching games on these systems, to see if there were enough good ones to warrant a purchase, and I was just blown away when I started researching the Amiga.  I had no idea about ANY Amiga's, let alone the FANTASTIC array of games available throughout their life cycles.  I have a personal interest in all things Cyberpunk, and also OLD school dungeon crawl RPG's, both of which seem to have been found on Amiga's in abundance.  
So my plan is to get an Amiga CD32, because I want to be able to play them on my TV with the rest of my consoles.  Now, the CD32 seems pretty straight forward, but my real questions are in regard to the SX-1.  
I know I can buy CD32 games, and play them on my CD32 system (when I get one SOON), but I don't know if the PAL system can play NTSC games and vice-versa.  I want to buy whichever one will give me access to the most games.  
Now the SX-1.  
I want access to all the games I can get my hands on, but again, I want them to be able to be played on my CD32.  If I get one of these SX-1's, can I then get a disc drive to play older Amiga games on it?  
I have little programming knowledge, and I really don't have much experience with modifying hardware, but I am willing to do what I need to to get access to all these games.  

Any info or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks all in advance,
Michael

[adolescent]

quote]
ArchM wrote:
I know I can buy CD32 games, and play them on my CD32 system (when I get one SOON), but I don't know if the PAL system can play NTSC games and vice-versa.  [/quote]

Yes.  You can switch between PAL/NTSC in software.  You can also build a switch but that requires soldering.

I want to buy whichever one will give me access to the most games.

Get a PAL model then.  You'll need to have a PAL capable TV/monitor, and a US power supply though.

 
Now the SX-1.  
I want access to all the games I can get my hands on, but again, I want them to be able to be played on my CD32.  If I get one of these SX-1's, can I then get a disc drive to play older Amiga games on it?  

Yep.  You can also add a hard drive and install games there.

BTW, welcome.

[ArchM]

Hmmm, PAL TV huh?  I don't really feel like getting another TV just for this though.  Is there maybe some kind of adapter for the back of the tv that can convert PAL to NTSC, or would that be some kind of weird copyright infringement?

I lost the bid on an SX-1 last night on Ebay because my internet was down, but I will be keeping an eye open for another one to come up for sale.  They don't seem to be very common though.  ><

I should be getting a CD32 within the next 3 weeks I would think, provided there are any good ones up on Ebay.  Are there any places other than Ebay where I might be able to find either the CD32 itself, or an SX-1?

[orange]

I think Playstation 1 had a lot of those various adapters, they should be pretty cheap, easy to find and hack/slash

[ArchM]

So I have been looking around the net while at work for SX-1's or even SX-32's, and they are virtually non-existent.
Are they really this hard to find, or am I just not looking in the right places?  Surely there has to be some kind of Amiga online store that specializes, right?  

[leirbag28]

@ArchM

First off........since your in USA..I highly recommend you get an NTSC CD32.....it plays PAL games in color....versus you getting a PAL CD32 which will show up as B&W on your TV

What brand is your TV?  if it is PHILIPS/MAGNOVOX or Panasonic...chances are it will show PAL.   All Amigas have a bootup menu to let you choose PAL or NTSC.some games only run in PAL or run funny in NTSC mode if they were created for PAL only....which many were!

If you can get an SX32...the PRO version (like I have) get it! as its more integrated and has  a 68030 50mhz processor versus the 14mhz one in the plain CD32/SX-1.....this means you can Play games like DOOM, Breathless, Virtual Karting, FEARS, Alien Breed 3D 2, NEMACIV, TRAPPED 2 and such.

SX32's are SUPER hard to come by.and so are SX-1's.there is also the ProModule which is like an SX-1...also rare.

out of all of these...the SX-1 and ProModule have a space to allow you to plug in the FMV card at the same time....that lets you watch VIdeoCD (VCD) movies on the CD32.............in my experience the CD32 is the Best VCD player in the world.

but FMV cards are harder to come by than SX32's hehe.  Sad I sold mine. I sold it because you cant plug it in with an SX32. I used to have an SX-1 with it......so Awesome!

if you really want a larger amount of games.then I would recommend and A1200 with a 68030 processor instead...........it can play CD32 games and all other Amiga games from Harddrive!  using WHD Load..the A1200 has Video OUT just like a CD32..........so it works on a TV.

again get an NTSC 1200 not a PAL one if you want to use it normally on a TV.

unless you can find a CD32/SX-1/SX32 combo.the A1200 is a much better option for games. Amigas are all really games consoles.......secretly hidden in a computer case with an added keyboard..........so dont be put off thats it looks liek a computer.   a CD32 is actually an A1200/A4000 minus the Keyboard.  and it will play all 16bit Amiga games too!

get WHDload! and JST.

From what I know.I probably have the most hooked up CD32 in the world:

1) CD32/SX32 Pro 50mhz 128mb RAM  40 gig HD  OS3.9
2) 4 CD32 original Joypads.
3) Original CD32 keyboard (SUPER SUPER SUPER DUPER Rare!)
4) 4 Player adaptor (lets you plug in 4 joypads)
5) TVi  Remote control/Modem (infraRed remote to play CDs)
6) MASPlayer MP3 decoder  (lets you play MP3's through (hardware)
7)SCALA Echo EE100 (Control Video and DV cameras serial port)
3 Sony PS1 LCD screens attached for VJ-ing and DJ-ing at clubs
9) Mr Myza PS/2 Mouse adaptor (Can use PC mice)
10) Mr hardware PC keyboard adaptor (can use PC keyboards)
11) ChromaKey+  (Blue screen Video effects with this)
12) SuperGen SX (Credits and gfx over home videos and CD+G)
13) Sega Genesis Joy extension cables
14) Sega Joypads (4 of them)
15) CDTV keyboard
16) Floppy Drive attached (can read PC disks)


and Soooo much more.......my 40 gig HD is loaded with MP3's, animations for Video, Applications galore to do almost anything even chat on AIM, Yahoo, MSN, Jabber, IRC, ICQ, email...etc...

I am hoping to add an internal DVD-RW combo drive internally soon via the IDE pot on the SX32...(this will be a laptop DVD drive that will go internally under the SX32)

[ArchM]

EXCUSE ME!?!?!?!  The Amiga 1200 has an option to display on my TV!?  You have just completely and totally made my day so much brighter.  I will now begin the task of tracking down a 1200 system on Ebay.  
How is RetroGeek?  Is he good to buy from?  I never quite trust sellers that put pictures of themselves on their sites.  

So an NTSC 1200 system with a 68030 processor?  Check.

[magnetic]

I can testify that Leirbag is one of the foremost authorities world wide on the CD32 (besides the engineers of course ) He used to do crazy demos at our NYC user group meetings - he even had his cd32 setup with 3 mini 10 inch lcd monitors in a grid!

DO NOT BUY FROM 'RETRO GEEK' he is not stable and well known on this site.

magnetic

[leirbag28]

Magnetic is Back!  hehe


@ArchM

Yep!   ALL Amigas have Composite Video OUT.except the A4000, A3000, A2000 (some have only B&W OUT)

THis is what made Amigas so special in the 1980's and 1990's...........they displayed Video directly and the RGB signal is closest to TV signal.....the resolutions are the same.


but even if they didnt have Video OUT, all you had to do was get an RF modulator from eBay...fairly common and go for about $5. although the image isnt all that great.

there are some RF modulators that have S-Video OUT.get one of those if you can...thats if you want S-Video...................but a plain A1200 is perfect for Video Composite OUT for games.  You can even record to a VCR with it.

it outputs  320 x 200, 640 x 400, and 720 x 480....which are all REAL video out........not like PC's that stretch the video or squeeze it....then antialias it to video...........looks awfull!

anyway...dont expect to do Word processing if you only have Composite OUT. however.S-Video is almost as good as RGB.

the CD32 and CDTV are the only ones with S-Video OUT.



EDIT:  by the way........I recently sold the SEGA Genesis Module for the Pioneer LaserActive for really cheap...can't remember how much....but for like $20 or so.  Interesting device :-)   it plugged into the LaserActive and let you play Genesis games nativley...........the device I had came with  a SEGA 6 button compatible pad made by Pioneer.

[ArchM]

RetroGeek has two 1200's up on Ebay right now, and I asked him if one was NTSC or PAL and he replied via email saying it was NTSC.

You say beware though?

[Flashlab]

I never had to deal with Retrogeek personally but word has it that he waits really long after he recieved payment to send the item... or he doesn't send it at all...

So I'd be careful if I were you!

[magnetic]

Flashlab

not only that but isnt he BANNED from most amiga websites?

magnetic

HI lierbag ;-)

You are the CD32 Super Hero!

[Flashlab]

Oh yeah forgot to mention that  :lol:

[ArchM]

Damn, well, glad I found this forum then.  

It is far too hard to play these Amiga games.  Now I can't find an NTSC 1200.  ><
In a moment of desperation, I bought the original Bard's Tale for NES.  That should sate my appetite long enough for an NTSC 1200 or an SX-1 to come up for sale - I hope.

[ArchM]

Ok, so like a noob I JUST went to the "preferred dealers" thread and found out about some good dealers.  In all my internet searching, I didn't find any of these guys!
Anyways, I went on over to AmigaKit and put in question form, pretty much just asking what all I would need for what I want from the machine.  Hopefully I will have a response by tomorrow, and I can take it from there.  
I am in the middle of a move, and as such I don't have internet access until next week - it is like living in the Dark Ages - seriously.