Need advice: A500 or A1200?

[eliyahu]

@folks

ok, guys. at amiwest this year i decided i wanted to get a keyboard-based classic amiga for the children to play games on. i really, really liked the A500 -- it seemed very solid and was compatible with just about everything. but the A1200 is faster, and it has AGA. so....

which one should i get? are there any advantages to the A500? i don't really want to go down the emulation route, nor minimig or anything like that. i'm looking for a one-piece amiga that will hold up to a seven year-old boy and his friends. which reminds me: i'm going to need a very sturdy joystick as well.

i welcome your suggestions! :hammer:

-- eliyahu

[Paulie85]

I use an A500 with a couple Cruiser joysticks (very sturdy) for gaming. My brother had a tendancy to throw joysticks across the room when he lost a life and we went through a lot of them before we bought the Cruisers. He tried his best but never managed to break them.

Most people go with the 1200 though for the reasons you have mentioned and due to WHDLoad fixing most incompatibility issues with games. I enjoy using the original floppies for games so a 500 suits me better compatibility-wise.

I have had the A500 since 1989 and it has never had any issues/repairs, there is also a new accelerator coming out will eventually add AGA/RTG (amongst a lot more stuff) but it may take a while for all the features to be fully realised.

[fitzsteve]

I would say if you are going to use floppy based media go with the A500, if you want to install a CF card and WHDLoad then the A1200 but you will need at least a trapdoor Ram upgrade.

[SACC-guy]

I vote for the 500...
but check out this site for cool "new" add-ons for the 500

http://kipper2k.com/amigaforsale/

[fitzsteve]

I vote for the 500...
but check out this site for cool "new" add-ons for the 500

http://kipper2k.com/amigaforsale/

Probably a bit delicate if it'll be used by children.

[SACC-guy]

Probably a bit delicate if it'll be used by children.

the 500? or the add on card? delicate?

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

A500 if cost is an issue, A1200 if not.  AGA games are generally better.  Arcade Evolution joystick from AmigaKit is great, sturdy and new hardware (as opposed to trying to use some 20-year-old controller).

[rednova]

Hi:

With the a500, you can play all the original games intended for amigas 500,
like shadow of the beast and gunship.
I use an amiga 2000 myself, and I am happy because I can play all the
original games of old.
If you just wanna play great and old amiga games, the 500 is the way to go.

[eliyahu]

@thread

i'm really surprised, but it almost sounds like the A500 is the way to go. i have to admit i rather like the look of it as well, but from the gaming perspective, is having AGA a must or not really? aharon (my son) is rather partial to racing games and shoot-em-ups, for example. any 'must-have' games in those categories that require AGA?

-- eliyahu

[SamuraiCrow]

The AGA version of Deluxe Galaga is more playable because some bonuses are more colorful and easy to spot.

Also the hard drive controller is handy for hooking up a CardFlash adapter to save on 20 year old magnetic media.  This argument may be reversed quickly if the Apollo sandwich FPGA boards come out first for the A500, however.

[klx300r]

@ eliyahu

if you want to play newer games circa early 90's fps or rpgs than a basic 500 won't do but like others have said you can get the new ACA 500 from Individual computer which has had great reviews though i'd recommend buying a case for it as your kids might be tempted to mess and that could be quite costly.
AGA is nice but there is a very small amount of games that were AGA only.

personally I much prefer my 1200 over my 500 simply because it takes up less space on my desk & the expansions are endless.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

There are some great games that require AGA or are much better with it. Deluxe Galaga is one. Examples a'plenty on YouTube.

Aladdin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok30lXVXqlk


Banshee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGcgsO_RCLs

And some great games that don't require it:

Turrican 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW4CDWyhxLw

Ruff 'n' Tumble
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Kvpm4t4A1o


You can watch YouTube videos all day for more examples. And then of course there's all the first person shooters, AB3D, etc., that require it. Personally I kind of wish I had it in my A2000, or that more games supported video cards. I'll probably upgrade to an A4000 just for AGA someday when I can afford one, but in the meantime I'm not gonna die without it.

[Paulie85]

Turrican 2 and Ruff n Tumble both run fine on my OCS A500.

Banshee is the only Non-OCS game I really miss.

[klx300r]

@ Oldsmobile_Mike

ya put it THAT way then you don't give the old 500 a chance do ya:razz:

[ChuckT]

@folks

ok, guys. at amiwest this year i decided i wanted to get a keyboard-based classic amiga for the children to play games on. i really, really liked the A500 -- it seemed very solid and was compatible with just about everything. but the A1200 is faster, and it has AGA. so....

which one should i get? are there any advantages to the A500? i don't really want to go down the emulation route, nor minimig or anything like that. i'm looking for a one-piece amiga that will hold up to a seven year-old boy and his friends. which reminds me: i'm going to need a very sturdy joystick as well.

i welcome your suggestions! :hammer:

-- eliyahu

A younger computer may last longer than an older one but nothing is for certain.
I think I would go for the upgrade.