© 1997-2006
Gareth Knight
All Rights reserved
|
|
Amiga Power Module
The Power Module was an addon to the Atari 2600, allowing the use
of cheaper tape-based games. The project was first unveiled during
February 1983, for release later that year. At an expected price of
$44.95, the device was planned to include two Power-Play game
cassettes. Additional games could be purchased for $9.95. The May
1983 issue of Digital Antic describes the module as:
An alternative to ROM cartridges for the Atari VCS.
Plugged into the game machine, it provides 6K RAM and and a
microprocessor to receive and use game programs loaded from a
cassette recorder. Preprogrammed tapes for the module are much
cheaper than ROM cartridges, and the extra RAM enhances graphics
and play.
Innnovation:
To set their product apart from the rest of the market Amiga had to
give it an interesting features- something that no other product
could do. The first was hardly original even for the time. Using
the 3D glasses, games could be played in glorious three dimensions.
This could be used with the bundled 3-D Ghost Attack game. More
interesting was the second innovation, that allowed Atari 2600
users to link their Power Module to a modem and play against each
other over a phone line. To demonstrate the possibility of the
device, Amiga created Depth Charge- a submarine simulation game
that placed two players in the role of submarine or destroyer
captain. Could this be one of the first implemenations of online
gaming? A market that would eventually lead to the development of
Doom, Quake, and millions of others?
Before the device could be released, Amiga cancelled the project
in favour of the new Multiplay Video Game Cartridges. These quickly
became known as the Power-Play Arcade series. Each cartridge was to
include three games, created by Amiga or licensed from another
manufacturer.
Thanks to Atari Gaming
Headquarters for providing information and cover
screenshots.
BACK
|
|
|
|
Latest updates to the Amiga History Guide. (more)
|
Other interesting items in the archive!
|
|
