RG Ltd Posts Video Of New Consoles/Products And Amiga Maxi!

`NEW FULL SIZE AMIGA CONSOLE LAUNCHED` I wonder if RGL managed to get the `AMIGA` name now from Cloanto(Amiga Corp) because they have the rights to the name now so it could end up embossed on the case so like a original AMIGA, I do hope so... .

A AMIGA is not AMIGA without its name...

And I HATE it when people call the Amiga a console, it a computer or machine, thats what Commodore called them(CBM), not a Sega Mega Drive, thats a console, it don't just play games, it does more then that, anyone that calls them a console never actually owned a Amiga or a C64 and none of the people at RGL ever did, they owned ZX Spectrums, I find if very disrespectful really.

I hope so, but I'll settle for a checkered ball or checkmark on the unit that gives it the same Amiga vibes. That's one of the problems with the rights to Commodore trademarks and property. Instead of one community friendly company owning the rights Commodore intellectual property has been split up and scattered around. Atari seems to have their act together much better, especially lately with the new consoles and games coming out. I think My Retro Computer now owns or has the rights to use the Commodore name on their C64 cases and PC or Pi units? Which, btw, are fantastic looking. Meanwhile things like Commodore or Amiga bioses or Roms are still yet owned by other companies. Too many chefs in the kitchen.

Btw, after thinking about it I don't think a CD32 with separate keyboard is a probability. It wasn't on the market long enough to build up as big of a nastalgia base. There are far more people out there who want a Amiga 500 or 1200 case. I just hope it's shrunk some but not so much it loses the feeling of the original machine. I have no problem with a full size one but I'm thinking in terms of non-amiga impulse buyers at retail outlets. A smaller unit would help such sales. There is the smaller Amiga 600. I guess they might do that, but I doubt it because again the 500 or 1200 have far more prior owners. Just like they did a limited run of Vic20 maxi units, I'd love to see a limited run of Amiga 1000s because there are some who will want a detached keyboard that stores away under the case and ability to set a monitor on top.

Did some checking around and the rumors are as follows:

The Major Product Update to take place before the end of 2023 is supposedly a firmware update for the A500 mini because somebody said it was mentioned in a interview. Hope the C64 mini/maxi get one too.

Most people suspect the new mini coming 1st quarter of 2024 is going to be a Spectrum. I hope it also plays Zx80 and Zx81 software just for the coolness factor. Why not? And I would expect the Spectrum will be able to run Spectrum Plus games too that took advantage of it's full 128K. Didn't the Plus also have a few extra improvements like a better sound chip too, but still was able to run original Spectrum games with no problem?

The accessory to be released in Q3 2024 most believe will be a Quickshot joystick, since it looks like they aquired the license to it. It was a popular joystick for many platforms back in the day, so this would make sense if the rumors pan out of the Spectrum being the next mini. Spectrum didn't really have an "official" joystick, unlike the C64 where Atari 2600 paddles and joysticks were the natural choice since most people had a 2600 before getting a C64 or Amiga that they used them on.

Commodore even made their own C64 colored clones of both of these. Especially the paddles were almost exact copies of Atari. It would make sense that Retro Games Ltd first releases the Quick shot joystick with the Spectrum as an added incentive to buy one and then later makes it available for anybody to buy separately for other platforms. There are some big fans out there of the Quick shot joystick who might buy a Spectrum just to get that joystick and be able to use it on other USB gaming setups. Didn't they do the same thing with the C64 mini joystick and Amiga controller, delay it being available separately?

So that's my best guess, firmware update, Spectrum mini, then a joystick that comes with it that can be bought separately as an accessory for other systems, then a full size spectrum which hopefuly is an original Spectrum but with better keys, or perhaps they'll just make it be a Spectrum Plus since it's a much better looking machine with a much better keyboard?

Still the big question is what is the other full size "console" going to be. Since there isn't a mini coming first before for it where there would then be a need to release a full size one with working keyboard, I'm guessing it will be a console like a Sega Genesis, Sega Master System (or one that plays both system's games), Colecovision, or long shot maybe an Intelvision. Or, perhaps it will be a computer like an Apple II/MAC or Atari 8 bit/ST computer, where there's not as much of a fan base for either of these systems (compared to the Amiga, C64, or Spectrum) to first release a mini so it would make more sense to just go ahead and release a full sized version with working keyboard in one shot. Atari is doing a good job with the new releases of mini consoles to play their 2600/5200/7800 games, so somebody picking up the slack and filling the need to cover their 8 bit and ST computers would make sense.

UPDATE: I've heard some argue the reverse, that one of the two full size units not having a mini come out first won't be a game console, because there's no need to make a gaming console with no keyboard full size. They're probably right, so that has me thinking it is going to be an Atari 8 bit computer/ST or possibly an Apple II/Mac.

I've heard some speculate it's going to be an Amstrad computer. I doubt that, because that machine was practically unknown in the states. Yes, so was the Spectrum, but it has a much bigger fan and game base and so these days many in the states into retro gaming have become fans of the Spectrum, whereas you don't see too many people getting deep into the Amstrad stuff. If that machine was made it would be most likely a Europe only product, where the Spectrum has potential customers on both sides of the ocean like the Atari 8 bit/ST.

Doubtful though that an Apple II/Mac would have much appeal in Europe? It's not exactly a huge retro gaming crowd in the states either. Most into the Apple retro scene are just into the old software and hardware for it and not exclusively into the games. I don't see it being a big impulse buy at retail outlets for non-Apple average consumers because they'd be buying something like that for the games, and apple isn't exactly known for great games. Even the intelvision or Coleco would sell better in that respect because of the gaming history they have.

I hope the Colecovision makes an appearance, some great games and seems quite hard to get hold of in Europe.

Screens are getting dirt cheap these days. I'd love to see a Vecttex but better use an OLED screen, cuz that's the closest super bright, sharp, and intensive single lines object display to a vector screen. To this day nothing compares to vector graphics in that respect. Vectrex was even working on a color home unit when they went out of business. Atari successfully did that in the arcade.

Colecovision: Yes, I agree. I still remember as a kid walking into a Sears store (think it was Sears) and being absolutely blown away at how close Donkey Kong on it looked to the arcade. This was a timespan between me owning a 2600 but not yet owning a C64. In this day and age as I surf games for Coleco I'm blown away at how far advanced it's graphics and sound were, almost approaching the C64 depending on the game. The Intelivision was a giant step ahead of the 2600, but the Coleco was an even bigger step ahead of both of them. It could reproduce some games currently in the arcade almost perfectly.

RichCo(Asia) LTD made the Atari2600+ same as THEC64 Mini, THEC64, THEVIC20 and THEA500 Mini, so thats why no product from RGL this year, they can only make one console at a time.

I've mentioned this before, but if they were to make a TheBBCMicro (put it in a BBC Master Compact keyboard's case) then I would buy it *instantly*.