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Commodore had garnered a cult following in the 1980's with their brilliant line of home computers and games. In the 1990's however, PC compatibles started making there way into homes, and began pushing out the Commodore / Amiga line of computers. Game consoles also started taking over the game player's dollar. Commodore hustled to make a set-top, CDROM-based home entertainment device to compete with this growing market. In 1991, Commodore released CDTV (basically an Amiga 500 computer with a CDROM drive built in). Needless to say it suffered the similar fates of other similar devices (Bandai Pippin for example). In 1993, Commodore released their last attempt to get back in the market. The Amiga CD32 was revealed to the public in July of that year. It was the very first 32-Bit video game console ever released on the market. It boasted a dual-speed CDROM drive, AGA chipset, lots of expansion options & even a few surprises. It could run Photo CDs (if you load up a photo CD reader first), Video CDs (if you have the FMV cartridge plugged in) CD32 software, CDTV software, music CDs, Karaoke CDs, and CD+Gs.
The Amiga CD32 was released in September of 1993 and sold very well in Europe, but eventual hype of the Saturn and Playstation crushed Commodore's efforts of a world wide release. Sales of CD32 were not enough to keep the plunging Commodore stock out of the water. Commodore entered bankruptcy on April 24th 1994. The unshipped Amiga CD32 units were seized by the Philippine government as payment for the use of their factory.
FACT: The CD32 was essentially
an A1200 computer in videogame console clothing. |
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Commodore, the noted home computer manufacturer of the 1980s, had
endured failed attempts entering the video game console market with
their releases of the
Commodore 64 GS and the Commodore Amiga CDTV systems. Their
final attempt at capitalizing in the very profitable hardware arena was
the Commodore Amiga CD32, debuting in the UK on September 14,
1993. The CD32 was marketing as being the first 32-bit CD-ROM
based system (though the FM Towns Marty, released in Japan in 1991
actually owns this true distinction) and enjoyed moderate success in the
UK, gaining As in their previous efforts, Commodore relied on their roots and talents in the home computing market in the development of the CD32. Basically an Amiga 1200 computer wrapped in a dark granite-gray casing, the console is rather nondescript in appearance. A large top-loading 2x CD-ROM drive is featured as the centerpiece of the design, with a rather ordinary white label of "32bit" embossed on it. An enlarged "Reset" button, volume slide switch and headphone jack complete the top of this unit. Strangely, and not convenient at all, the controller ports (2) are located on the left hand side of the unit (along with an auxiliary port for a keyboard). The back of the system features standard AV, S-Video and RF outputs along with the expansion port interface. Surprising, the power switch is also located in the aft section of the CD32. The controllers have to be one of the worst designs I have encountered. Though quite wide, the thin U-shaped controller has four colored coded buttons which are crowded onto the right side of the controller and a simple directional pad flanks the left. Two shoulder trigger buttons complete the controller interface. Overall, the design is rather lackluster and not at all user friendly from any point of view. Inside the chassis resides a modified 32bit MC 68EC020 processor running at 14.3 MHz that is complimented by 2 MB of RAM and a variety of co-processors - 8374 Alice (memory controller), 4203 Lisa (video control chip), 8364 Paula (sound & I/O), 391563-01 Akiko (I/O controller). This multi-processor system rendered games in 16.7 million colors and up to a resolution of 1280 x 400 (1280 x 512 PAL) and in full stereo (4 channels). The CD-ROM drive supports the Audio CD, Karaoke CD, CD+G and CDTV software formats. With the purchase of an optional FMV cartridge, Video CD, Photo CD and CD-i media could be played. Overall, the internals were quite adequate but the games produced for it leave a great deal to be desired. |
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Having an extensive
Amiga library already at its disposal, the system launched with many
ports of existing games. Unfortunately, many third party developers saw
this as an opportunity to cash in. Many ports were simply supped up
originals with added color depth, CD quality tracks and FMV cut scenes
interspersed. Though the number of games released for the
CD32 is extensive (150+), there are few notable titles that were
released exclusively for this system. Overall game quality is a little
better than the SNES and Sega Genesis, but less than that
produced by the 3DO. Though this system was the first 32-bit
console released outside of Japan, Commodore did not invest
heavily in advertising the CD32 outside of the UK. This was
partly due to the marketing strategy (or lack there of) in recent years
by Commodore
as well as a severe cash flow problem within the company. Though highly
successful in the home computing market (the C64 is still the
best selling home computer of all-time and is pictured below), the
failed attempts of their previous console entries (C64 GS,
CDTV) and the emergence of affordable PC-based home computers
decapitated their liquid assets. The CD32 was released in Canada
in limited quantities after it debuted in the UK, but was never sold
publicly in the USA. This was due to a limited hardware supply because
Commodore
was unable to meet their credit obligations with the Philippine
government, whose factories were used to manufacture the console.
Commodore filed for bankruptcy on April 24, 1994, less than a year
after the release of the CD32. The CD32 was not a bad machine, but ended up failing due to poor significant third party software support and a lack of financial viability of Commodore to both fund the manufacturing of the hardware as well as to properly market it outside the UK. The CD32 initially was sold for $399 USD, well below its primary competitor the 3DO ($699). An overall poor design, a dependence upon outdated technology (primarily software) and a lack of any substantial games for this system spelled its eventual doom.
A CD32
system is readily available and can be purchased for approximately $80 USD
($50 USD for shipping from Japan or Europe). These systems are primarily
unsold units that were seized by the Philippine government from
Commodore to try and recoup their debt requirement, or a standard PAL
system. Acquiring a CIB North American unit will run you a bit more -
upwards of $100 USD or so. Not recommended for the average gamer, unless
you can score one with packed in games - moderately recommended for the
console collector (NA version). |
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Various picture\video media for this console. Click pictures to enlarge. |
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Original TV Advertisement Video courtesy of amigang. |
Commodore Amiga CD32 - Front
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Promo Video Video courtesy of teamwrp. |
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Commodore Amiga CD32 - Back Close Up
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Commodore Amiga CD32 - CD Open
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Commodore Amiga CD32 - Controller
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System Boot Screen Video courtesy of realcatgirllover. |
Commodore Amiga CD32 - Back
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User Video Footage of CD32 & A1200 Video courtesy of amigang. |
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For the hardware enthusiasts out there - all the detail you\we love. |
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Games screen shots and\videos released for this system. |
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Defender of the Crown 2
Game Footage Video courtesy of ShadraX. |
Various CD32 Games Video courtesy of amigang. |
Diggers Game Footage Video courtesy of gitensens. |
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Microcosm Game Footage Video courtesy of Msakaji. |
Out of this World Game Footage Video courtesy of DigitalQuirk. |
GLOOM Game Footage Video courtesy of realcatgirllover. |
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Additional authorized releases for this console. |
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Non-licensed releases (clones). |
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Highly recommended additional sites\resources for this system. |
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Copyright 2008 The Video Game Console Library. This website
and the information contained within it is protected by copyright.
Reproduction of part or all of the |
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HANDS ON REVIEW by
DW FACTS by 
DW FACTS
HANDS ON REVIEW
