What is the CD32?

The CD32 was the last official Amiga released by Commodore. It was released during 1993, and was aimed at the console market at the time dominated by Sega and Nintendo. The system gained a small amount of success and until mid-1994 was the biggest-selling CD based machine, beating the Mega-CD, 3DO, and PC CD-ROM. The CD32 is based upon the A1200, featuring a 68020 processor running at 14.3MHz. It also includes the AGA chipset and 2Mb Chip RAM. In addition it includes a 2x CD drive and Akiko chipset, for hardware chunky-planar conversion. Unfortunately the system was cut short with Commodores bankruptcy and so games that actually used the system to its advantage are rather thin on the ground. The machine was lacking a distinct "killer app", with only Microcosm showing the systems 3D capabilities. The majority of other software were Amiga conversions.

When Escom bought the Amiga during 1995 they pledged to resurrect the CD32 with a complete redesign, more memory, and a faster processor. The redesign was then suspended and the CD32 was declared dead.

CD32 Magazines

There were only a few CD32 magazines released. These were mostly sold in the UK.

Amiga CD Format- a special CD edition of Amiga Format, that was bundled with the machine,

CD32- A two issue special by Future publishing that included a CD on the cover.

Amiga CD32 Gamer- A monthly publication that lasted for nearly two years. The CD featured commercial and public domain games and demos.

CD32 Today

In 1998 the CD32 has very little use, the only software available is a few re-released titles from 1994. Whilst the majority of Amiga software is playable on the CD32. (It is after all, an keyboardless A1200), it does require an SX32 board to increase the speed of the processor to something resembling today's standard, mouse and keyboard.

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