15.Jun.2024
|
Preview video: Beta versions of Gorky 17 and Heretic II
Even though George 'walkereo' Sokianos concentrates mainly on the development of AmigaOS4 software, he also has classic hardware at his disposal. In a detailed video he shows beta versions of Gorky 17 and Heretic II running on his Amiga 1200 upgraded with a PiStorm-lite. (dr)
[News message: 15. Jun. 2024, 09:22] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
15.Jun.2024
|
Survival game: Zombie Survivor V1.10
Sami Vehmaa continues to work on his current project "Zombie Survival", a game for Amigas with a graphics card in which you have to fight off an endless army of the undead (YouTube video). The current version 1.10 offers the following changes:
- more settings to let you tweak the game
- info window in settings
- Bottom Weapon display switch (F1)
- added max Zombie 300
- new blood animation
- after killing a zombie a body lays in ground for some seconds
- several bugs found and fixed
- new speed progress system
(dr)
[News message: 15. Jun. 2024, 08:39] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
14.Jun.2024
|
Creating and reading disk images: Disk Jockey V3.4 for macOS
At the end of March, we reported on Jean-Michel Durand's "Disk Jockey" (DJ), with which you can easily create and analyse (Disk-O-Matic) disc images for retro computers and emulators under macOS 10.13 to macOS 14. After version 3.0, he continued to work on the programme and has now made version 3.4 available.
In addition to bug fixes and performance improvements, DJ now understands HFS+ and makes it possible to extract files from it. Also, whenever possible, Disk-O-Matic now displays the file type in the file browser. It is now much easier to recognise which files are text files, which are images and which are programs, for example.
As the author points out somewhat smugly, there is still no AI in Disk Jockey. It's "aall hand-made with human fallibility, questionable design choices and, most of all, love for the craft. And coffee."
As the author kindly explained to us on request, in addition to the version for macOS, which is being actively developed, there is also a Disk Jockey for Windows, which can also be used to create empty images. However, he left it at that and did not implement the rest of the Disk Jockey, as there are already good solutions for Windows.
Finally, there is Disk Jockey Jr (djjr), Disk Jockey for the command line, which runs on macOS and Linux. It received a major update a few months ago and can now do things that the full Disk Jockey for macOS can do (such as analyse disk images, including ADF). This "branch" is also in active development. (dr)
[News message: 14. Jun. 2024, 12:05] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
14.Jun.2024
Individual Computers (ANF)
|
Individual Computers: Features of Indivision ECS V4
V4 of the Indivision ECS flickerfixer and scandoubler developed by Individual Computers will be available in limited quantities from 15 July. The previous version V3 is sold out. In a forum post, developer Jens Schönfeld explains new functions and details of the new version:
- the FPGA has almost twice the capacity. This lets us implement more features, yet keep the same form factor as the previous versions.
- all-new appearance in all-black. This is in line with the colour of our most successful product ever, the ACA500plus. Not that it matters much in a closed computer, but after 16 years, I felt it was time for a change from the blue that the three previous versions have used. Even the cable to the VGA connector is black!
- more sophisticated clock generation. While Indivision ECS V2 and V3 were completely async, we now have the possibility to generate precise whole-number multiples of the native Amiga pixel clock. This improves the VSync feature a lot, because the monitor's capability requirement is reduced to 50Hz for PAL or 60Hz for NTSC modes, but it doesn't have to be a specific V-Sync-capable monitor any more (like an expensive gaming monitor). Your choice of low-cost monitors with VGA input increases a lot with this - it's the same feature that Invidision AGA MK3 users already enjoy under the name "auto resolution mode".
- EDID monitor identification: The config tool can detect the monitor and read supported modes, so fiddling with monitor settings is vastly simplified
- CIA adapter for keyboard signals: This lets us implement the live-config feature, which is highly appreciated by Indivision AGA MK3 users. Bringing this to OCS/ECS machines, which are often used for gaming, was a "must" - you can pan/zoom the picture with the mouse after pressing a magic keyboard combination while the game is running.
- Graffiti false-positive avoidance: Generally, Graffiti mode is activated on a line-by-line basis using the Genlock Audio bit (GAUD). Some games set this bit without actually wanting to use Graffiti mode. We're developing a heuristic that also looks at more criteria to tell if it's really a program for the Graffiti hardware, or if it's a false positive that would otherwise result in garbled graphics.
- I have kept the amount of memory on the flickerfixer at 8MBytes. Although I'm constantly trying to reduce prices, it would not have made any sense to reduce the amount of memory to 2MBytes (whích is the next-smaller chip you can buy), because it would make double-buffering impossible. Instead, I have wired this Ram differently, so we can address it byte-by-byte. This doesn't impact the current functionality (which only uses 16-bit accesses to this memory), but will allow us to add things in the future that would be very slow to do on the previous versions of this flicker fixer.
- the OSD now has true transparency and can be positioned in any corner of the output picture. I know that many people find the OSD just annoying and always switch it off, which is of course still an option. For those of you who have the OSD visible, it can now softly fade out to complete transparency, adding a little modern "bling" to the look-and-feel.
- Improved interlace handling: If you drag sreens and you have a non-interlace screen in front of an interlace screen, the whole picture will turn to interlace if you drag the front screen down. Previously, this resulted in a screen mode change on Indivision, which may result in the monitor going into re-sync mode, showing a black screen for a few seconds. The new interlace handling can now avoid this.
As the developer goes on to explain, there are further plans. The price of Indivision ECS V4 will remain the same as that of V3 until the functions have been completed. There is no timetable for the implementation of the following features:
- change position and zoom factor in auto-resolution modes
- improve auto-resolution to support 3x and 4x pixels
- detect and support A2024 "Hedley monitor" screen modes
- make OSD auto-sizing, so readability on high-resolution monitors is improved
- inhibit Amiga's access to mouse movement data during live configuration (movement only - LMB can't be inhibited!)
- add a framebuffer mode with 256 colours out of 21 bits colour, 1024x768 and 1280x1024 pixels
- add 64x64-pixel sprite with 4 colours to framebuffer mode
- add 2D acceleration to framebuffer mode
- add second draggable screen to framebuffer mode (must have same resolution as first screen)
- implement P96 driver for framebuffer mode - don't expect wonders here! It's questionable if Picasso-II performance can be reached.
(dr)
[News message: 14. Jun. 2024, 06:32] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
13.Jun.2024
|
Worth a read: 42 years of programming - The Amiga
Matthias Wiesmann is a Swiss computer scientist who took part in a programming camp 42 years ago, where he learned to program for the TRS-80. As he writes in his blog, programming languages have changed a lot over time, and the computer world used to be much more diverse back then:
"These days, a lot of concepts in computer science settled on one solution: there is one network stack, one type of filesystem, one low-level programming language, etc. It certainly makes things simpler, but this kind of consensus is also a big risk. What I will do is go over the various devices I interacted and explain how they were weird compared with today’s mental model."
In a previous article in English, Wiesmann took a look at the Commodore 64. Now he has turned his attention to the Amiga under the title link and describes the special features of the system from a personal perspective: chipset, planar graphics, weird graphics modes such as HAM8, interlaced graphics and sound modules. (nba)
[News message: 13. Jun. 2024, 13:39] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
13.Jun.2024
|
Floppy disk images: Disc Image Manager V1.47 for Linux, macOS and Windows
Gerald J Holdsworth's Disc Image Manager is an application used to load a retro disc image, read the catalogue and output any required files. In addition, it will also add files to the image, delete, and rename files and directories. On the Amiga side, reading and writing of AmigaDOS disks and hard disks with OFS and FFS formatting are supported (not fully tested with FFS). Support for directory cache and international characters is still missing (amiga-news.de reported). Version 1.47 provides several new features and bug fixes.
The author also provides a detailed PDF manual. (dr)
[News message: 13. Jun. 2024, 08:43] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
12.Jun.2024
|
Book: AmigaOS 3.2 Reference Manual - Limited print run, pre-orders being taken
Press release: Following the successful release of the German edition, Look Behind You is delighted to announce the English version of "AmigaOS 3.2 Reference Manual". This comprehensive guide is essential for anyone using the AmigaOS in its latest and greatest version 3.2 (up to and including 3.2.2.1).
In this upcoming reference book, which will span around 450 pages, readers will not only find a clear explanation of the basics and advanced functions of AmigaOS 3.2, but also valuable insights into the Amiga system, from A to Z. Whether readers are experienced Amiga users or are just getting started (or even restart), this book will accompany them at various levels of knowledge.
Step by step, the editorial team guides the reader through the installation on classic Amigas, on emulated Amigas and even on the THEA500 Mini, demonstrates the setup of the Kickstart ROMs in 68k Amigas and explains the basics of the operating system, its operation and structure. It is shown how the system is optimised with the various prefs (presets) and how the tools, utilities and commodities are used efficiently.
A large chapter is dedicated to the Shell, the command line interface of the AmigaOS - all commands, including new ones, are explained and the use of the Shell is illustrated with many practical examples. In addition to shortcuts and start scripts, advanced users will also discover a comprehensive guide to ARexx and script control of the Workbench, MultiView and TextEdit.
Furthermore, there is a lot of content beyond AmigaOS 3.2: data exchange between PC and Amiga, internet access, as well as many recommendations for new hardware and software to make the Amiga ready for the future.
The authors are experienced Amiga enthusiasts from the very beginning: IT journalist Martin Steigerwald (among others, Amiga Magazin, AMIGAplus), graduate engineer Simon Neumann (owner of Alinea Computer) and digital expert Nico Barbat (among others, editor-in-chief of AMIGAplus). During the work on the book, they were supported by the development team of AmigaOS 3.2, including the beta test team for quality control.
Please note that the print run of "AmigaOS 3.2 Reference Manual" will be strictly limited. The expected launch date is 26th August 2024.
Early bird customers who purchase their book until 21st July 2024 will benefit from our special offer: the combined price of the book plus digital edition (PDF) is 35 ¤, saving 10 ¤.
Editions
Hardback (full colour, 450 pages):
¤ 35,00 / £ 30,00 / $ 37,80
ISBN 978-3-9826022-6-4
Digital Edition (PDF):
¤ 17,50 / £ 14,90 / $ 18,90
ISBN 978-3-9826022-7-1
Hardback + Digital Edition:
¤ 45,00 / £ 38,90 / $ 48,90
Early Bird (until 21st July 2024): 35,00 ¤ (snx)
[News message: 12. Jun. 2024, 11:50] [Comments: 1 - 12. Jun. 2024, 16:06]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
12.Jun.2024
Sven Scheele (ANF)
|
Event: Interface XXXVIII in Kiel, Germany, on 22.06.2024
Sven Scheele writes: On Saturday, June 22, 2024, the second "Interface" in 2024 will take place in Schwentinental near Kiel, Germany. This will be the 38th edition of the retro computer get-together. As always, the organizers are the Vintage Computer Club (VCC), the Amiga Club Schleswig-Holstein (ACSH) and the Computer Club Klausdorf (CCK).
Registration by e-mail to interface@jugendhaus-klausdorf.de is recommended. Without registration there is no guarantee of a free place.
There are again two large rooms available. The café on the first floor (as a "workshop" for hardware projects, repairs, etc.) and the top floor offer enough space to talk and play on the computers and consoles you have brought with you. Participants must bring their own power strips and network cables.
The official start is at 2 p.m., the organization team will begin setting up the tables etc. at around 12 noon. The venue is the Jugendhaus Klausdorf, Dorfstraße 101 in Klausdorf, which is part of 24222 Schwentinental. (snx)
[News message: 12. Jun. 2024, 11:49] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
12.Jun.2024
|
Developer log: Weapons for the strategy game "Ecliptic"
At the beginning of April, a new demo version of the strategy game "Ecliptic", which is currently under development, was released (amiga-news.de reported). In another detailed developer diary, the author now writes about some of the weapons that can be used to send these monsters to the afterlife (flamethrower video, grenade video) (dr)
[News message: 12. Jun. 2024, 06:25] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
11.Jun.2024
|
Video game history: Amiga Germany trading cards
The team behind Amiga Germany, which founded and manages the Facebook group of the same name and publishes the associated magazine, has presented a new project that should be of interest to collectors who are interested in the history of video games: the "Amiga Germany Collector's Cards" are high-quality, double-sided cards that celebrate the long history of Amiga games.
Each of the four sets currently available contains five of those high-quality cards with box artworks of popular games and logos of legendary developer studios on the front. On the back of each card, you will find additional information about the motifs, such as the year of publication and the name of the artist (for game artwork) or the year of foundation and the games published (for developer logos), as well as a star rating and the number of the issue of Amiga Germany Fanzine in which the corresponding game was discussed.
The following four sets of five cards are available initially:
- Set 1: Apidya Box Artwork, Dune Box Artwork, Kaiko Entwickler Logo, Midnight Resistance Box Artwork, Nathan Never Box Artwork
- Set 2: Monkey Island 2 Box Artwork, Psygnosis Entwickler Logo, Starglider 2 Box Artwork, Apprentice Box Artwork, Black Crypt Box Artwork
- Set 3: Turrican Box Artwork, Thalion Entwickler Logo, Lethal Xcess Box Artwork, Simon the Sorcerer Box Artwork, Defender of the Crown Box Artwork
- Set 4: Toki Box Artwork, Golden Axe Box Artwork, Turrican 2 Box Artwork, Lionheart Box Artwork, Factor 5 Entwickler Logo
Further sets are in the pipeline. Each set costs ¤2.50, while the starter pack containing all four sets is available for ¤9.50. For ¤26.50, there is a "Deluxe Supporter Pack" that contains all initial four sets and a matching collector's album. (nba)
[News message: 11. Jun. 2024, 20:43] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
11.Jun.2024
|
Using image files and discs in PC drives: DiskFlashback V1.0.1.0
Developer Rob Smith has written DiskFlashback, a convenient software for Windows 10/11 (64-bit) that enables PC floppy drives to read and write image files such as ADFs (Amiga Disk Files) during operation. It also allows you to process real discs in Amiga or Atari format, with the appropriate hardware extensions. To use it, you need the FloppyBridge plugin, which in turn requires additional hardware (amiga-news.de reported). Now he has released version 1.0.1.0 of the software. Changes:
- Fixed disabling "auto-detect com port" being ignored
- Better support for hard disk image files larger than 4G (some partitions got ignored before)
- Upgraded to use the new ADFLib v0.9
- Changed error handling when reading from disks to include the Always Ignore option
- Added Amiga PFS3 file system support (this was a real PITA!)
Editorial update, 12 June 2024 (nba): Our original news article stated that no special hardware is required to process physical Amiga disks. That is not accurate. The FloppyBridge plug-in is required, which in turn requires DrawBridge, Greaseweazle or Supercard Pro hardware. The article has been updated accordingly. (dr)
[News message: 11. Jun. 2024, 06:18] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
10.Jun.2024
|
Background: The Amiga 8 sprite myth
In a recent article Edwin van den Oosterkamp corrects the misconception, which in his opinion is still widespread today, that a programmer has to resort to tricks on the Amiga in order to be able to display more than 8 sprites on the screen. (dr)
[News message: 10. Jun. 2024, 10:26] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
09.Jun.2024
|
Action-Adventure: 2nd June update of "Castlevania AGA"
Dante Mendes has released another June update (amiga-news.de reported) for his conversion of Konami's NES action adventure Castlevania, originally called "Akumajou Dracula", which fixes some problems:
- a problem with screen transitions after a continue in world 3
- the "hang on screen bottom edge instead of falling" glitch that happened sometimes
- a problem with Dracula going offscreen at the final battle
As the author writes, the feedback so far has been very positive. However, Castlevania is still a little too easy. He will continue to work on it. (dr)
[News message: 09. Jun. 2024, 09:51] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
09.Jun.2024
|
Survival game: Zombie Survivor V1.00
Sami Vehmaa's current project is a game called "Zombie Survival" for Amigas with a graphics card, in which you have to fight off an endless army of the undead (YouTube video). After several beta versions (amiga-news.de reported), he has now released version 1.00 with the following changes:
- Settings menu open
- Death weapon done, kills everyone
- Added flame throw weapon
- Added speed kick lightning pickup
- Some more speech
- Added difficulty adds per day
- Enemys stops at things like stones
- Added simple menu effect just to look cooler
- Dumped mouse support from menu
- For Menu, Settings, Upgrade menu, use arrow keys or joystick
- Pixel motion bug fixes + some other bugs
- Readme updated
(dr)
[News message: 09. Jun. 2024, 09:42] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
09.Jun.2024
|
Aminet uploads until 08.06.2024
The following files have been added until 08.06.2024 to Aminet:
amigassh.lha comm/net 99K 68k SSH2 for the Amiga
convolver.lha dev/amos 114K 16bit mono convolver
HollywoodSP.lha dev/hwood 928K Hollywood 10.0 spanish catalo...
HWP_hTeX.lha dev/hwood 13M 68k Use LaTeX from Hollywood
A1XE-Diagram_gif.gif docs/hard 90K A1 XE motherboard layout/jump...
A1XE-Diagram_pdf.pdf docs/hard 35K A1 XE motherboard layout/jump...
Rompuller.pdf docs/hard 195K How replace ROM on early Amig...
P96Prefs.lha driver/vid 88K 68k P96 Preferences Editor
Voodoo.lha driver/vid 14K 68k Voodoo P96 driver
GiocoDel15aros.zip game/board 343K x86 classic puzzle game from 50 y...
GITressetteAros.zip game/board 503K x86 Tressette a Perdere card game
LoViewMOS.lha gfx/show 5.5M MOS LoView - the Easy Viewer and ...
AmiArcadia.lha misc/emu 7.6M 68k Signetics-based machines emul...
AmiArcadiaMOS.lha misc/emu 8.0M MOS Signetics-based machines emul...
AmiArcadia-OS4.lha misc/emu 8.2M OS4 Signetics-based machines emul...
AmiVms.lha misc/emu 3.8M 68k Simulates OpenVMS commands
A1_Debian_Install.pdf misc/os 52K Debian 3.0 install guide for ...
A1_Debian_Install_de.pdf misc/os 57K Debian install guide for A1 S...
debian-install.iso.bz2 misc/os 10M Debian 3.0 boot CD for AmigaO...
LN3Outro24.lha mods/misc 972K 16bit 4ch LN3 Outro 24 by HKv...
sidid.lha mus/misc 58K 68k HVSC playroutine identity sca...
a1222_abstract.lha pix/back 12M Abstract backdrop for AmigaOn...
AmiSSL-5.16-OS3.lha util/libs 3.7M 68k OpenSSL as an Amiga shared li...
AmiSSL-5.16-OS4.lha util/libs 3.4M OS4 OpenSSL as an Amiga shared li...
AmiSSL-5.16-SDK.lha util/libs 2.3M AOS OpenSSL as an Amiga shared li...
AnalogClock.lha util/time 40K 68k Resizeable analog transparent...
(snx)
[News message: 09. Jun. 2024, 07:59] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
09.Jun.2024
|
OS4Depot uploads until 08.06.2024
The following files have been added until 08.06.2024 to OS4Depot:
amissl-sdk.lha dev/mis 2Mb 4.0 SDK for AmiSSL
gluae.lha emu/uti 15kb 4.0 Integrates UAE into AmigaOS
hwp_htex.lha lib/hol 13Mb 4.0 Hollywood plugin for LaTeX
amissl.lha lib/mis 3Mb 4.0 OpenSSL as an Amiga shared library
iconecta.lha net/mis 2Mb 4.0 A little and easy program to tes...
(snx)
[News message: 09. Jun. 2024, 07:59] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
09.Jun.2024
|
AROS Archives uploads until 08.06.2024
The following files have been added until 08.06.2024 to AROS Archives:
i386-aros-python2.5.2.zip dev/lan 16Mb Python-2.5.2.i386
hollywoodsp.lha dev/mis 928kb Spanish catalog for hollywood 10
giocodel15.i386-aros.zip gam/car 343kb classic puzzle game from 50 year...
gitressette.i386-aros.zip gam/car 503kb popular Italian game
iconecta.lha net/mis 2Mb A little and easy program to tes...
(snx)
[News message: 09. Jun. 2024, 07:59] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
09.Jun.2024
|
MorphOS-Storage uploads until 08.06.2024
The following files have been added until 08.06.2024 to MorphOS-Storage:
hTeX_1.0.lha Dependencies/Hollywood A plugin for Hollywood ...
AmiArcadia_32.52.lha Emulation A Signetics-based machi...
Wayfarer_8.7.lha MorphOS-update Wayfarer is the latest ...
Easy2Install_1.0b53.lha Network/PackageManager A package manager to do...
iConecta_5.25.lha Network/Wifi A little and easy progr...
(snx)
[News message: 09. Jun. 2024, 07:58] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
09.Jun.2024
|
WHDLoad: New installers until 08.06.2024
Using WHDLoad, games, scene demos and intros by cracking groups, which were originally designed to run only from floppy disks, can be installed on harddisk. The following installers have been added until 08.06.2024:
- 2024-06-04 improved: Manic Miner (Software Projects) replaced GUI with WHDLoad options, updated installer script and icons, added button waits and speed fixes (Info)
- 2024-06-04 improved: Jet Set Willy II (Software Projects) replaced GUI with WHDLoad options, updated installer script and icons, added button waits and speed fixes (Info)
- 2024-06-03 fixed: Universe (Core Design) blitter wait routine sometimes called with wrong address, fixed now (Info)
- 2024-06-03 fixed: Inviyya (Tigerskunk) better level 3 interrupt handler, last hiscore entry was cleared (CD32) (Info, Image)
(snx)
[News message: 09. Jun. 2024, 07:58] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
09.Jun.2024
|
AmigaRemix: Further file added
AmigaRemix collects remixes of well-known soundtracks of Amiga games. Since our last news-item, the following mp3 file has been added:
- Flashback from the Future
(snx)
[News message: 09. Jun. 2024, 07:58] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
09.Jun.2024
|
Game: Ami-H.E.R.O. 1.1
"Ami-H.E.R.O.", inspired by the Atari 2600 game H.E.R.O., (amiga-news.de reported) is now available in version 1.1. New features include updated graphics and a pause function. (snx)
[News message: 09. Jun. 2024, 07:58] [Comments: 0]
[Send via e-mail] [Print version] [ASCII version]
|
| |
| Recent Discussions |
 |
|
|
|
| Latest Top-News |
|
|
|
|
| amiga-news.de |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
