26 January 2017, 23:04 | #1 |
Users Awaiting Email Confirmation
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: kkhkj
Posts: 323
|
Why was CD32 only PAL?
Why was the Amiga CD32 only released in Europe, and despite allot of users wanting Amiga ports in US and UK, they couldn't use them on NTSC TV's at a reasonable playable rate ?
Or this this just a myth ? A side effect is since the Amiga CD32 didn't last that long anyway (not even a few years), it probably doesn't really matter much. Are there any 'History on the Amiga' videos out there worth watching ? I'm got some from AMiga forever CD, but wondering is there are any more apart from the reviews you see on Youtube today. |
26 January 2017, 23:18 | #2 |
Registered User
Join Date: May 2001
Location: ?
Posts: 19,658
|
?
It was not only released in Europe, it was released, in low numbers, in Canada, too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiga_CD32#Release Also by the time it came out it was pretty much established that all decent software was coming from Europe and made for PAL screens, but even PAL models were PAL/NTSC switchable for compatibility. Or should I say, 50/60Hz switchable: color information remained teh same, so using a PAL unit in an NTSC composite, SVideo or other non RGB display will yield wrong colors. I don't understand where you got anything related to "not a reasonable playable rate", whatever that even means. |
27 January 2017, 00:06 | #3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 4,357
|
The CD32 wasn't released in the USA exactly because there weren't a lot of users wanting it.
|
27 January 2017, 03:15 | #4 |
Unregistered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Tasmania
Age: 42
Posts: 893
|
Why did you mention the UK? Firstly the UK used PAL as its standard video format. And second, Commodore UK did a pretty good job marketing the CD32 within their territory, I seem to recall more than one Amiga magazine of the day reporting that current CD32 sales in the UK (both the console and the games) were exceeding that of the competing consoles such as the SNES and Megadrive. Although this success was pretty short lived as Commodore International went belly up shortly after.
|
27 January 2017, 09:19 | #5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: >
Posts: 2,952
|
That wasn't the reason though was it! Commodore US didn't pay their bills, so the Philippine government seized the CD32 they had so no US launch ever took place, though that aside the Amiga market in North America had shrunk to all time low as the PC took over there, in Europe it was a different story, imo it would have been a waste of money to launch the CD32 in the states, though Commodore were good at wasting money had they had the chance!
|
27 January 2017, 10:16 | #6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Stockholm
Posts: 4,357
|
The Philippine government weren't involved until long after the launch of the CD32 in Europe.
But in Europe, Commodore had retail channels. They could actually reach potential console buyers. In America, the Amiga wasn't a household name and Commodore had long disappeared from the shelves of mainstream shops. |
27 January 2017, 10:30 | #7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: >
Posts: 2,952
|
Quote:
|
|
27 January 2017, 11:00 | #8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Skarabörg, Sweden
Age: 45
Posts: 1,031
|
it wasn't, it's still possible to find NOS CD32s, which unfortunately is NTSC models AFAIK.
Atleast it was until recently. |
27 January 2017, 11:09 | #9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: >
Posts: 2,952
|
It wasn't what? Commodore have stated they originally planned for a Feb/Mar 94 US release this never happened because they didn't pay the factory making the machines, yes a few made it to Canada, but a US launch never happened.
|
27 January 2017, 11:14 | #10 |
Unregistered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Tasmania
Age: 42
Posts: 893
|
I have to call bullshit on this claim. If this is true then I challenge you to prove it! Provide us with links. They were avaiIable once, YEARS ago (not exactly recent) but I certainly can't find any of these for sale today. I say if an NTSC CD32 does show up on eBay today it's going to be a second hand one, not NOS.
|
27 January 2017, 11:16 | #11 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Skarabörg, Sweden
Age: 45
Posts: 1,031
|
Quote:
@Amigajay: yep i suppose these were consoles made for Canada. The Commodoretext on them was written in white. |
|
27 January 2017, 11:18 | #12 |
Unregistered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Tasmania
Age: 42
Posts: 893
|
So therefore it NOT possible to find NOS CD32's.
|
27 January 2017, 11:24 | #13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Skarabörg, Sweden
Age: 45
Posts: 1,031
|
I thought it was more recently. It was spelbutiken.se who sold them, it was in february 2015, url is not working now. They're sold out of course http://retrospelbutiken.se/store/pro...?produkt=16389 Last edited by fryguy; 27 January 2017 at 13:42. |
28 January 2017, 00:20 | #14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Sweden
Age: 50
Posts: 2,986
|
Fellas, I have one of those..
http://www.exretro.com/galleries/com...D32_NIB_01.jpg http://www.exretro.com/galleries/com...D32_NIB_03.jpg And they were indeed sold without PSU because it would have been illegal to sell Electronic devices with American PSUs in Sweden / Europe. |
28 January 2017, 00:55 | #15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 948
|
There were NTSC CD32s. I have 2 of them. Commodore was barred from importing them to the U.S. as a result of a court case. They made it to Canada and American dealers got them from there, possibly with. C.E.I., Commodore's main U.S. distributor, as a middleman (one of mine definitely went through them). Commodore had probably intended for them to be on retail shelves, which I don't think ever happened, but the usual mail order places (Softhut, etc.) had them.
As Commodore's financial situation worsened, the units remaining in the Philippines were seized. |
28 January 2017, 07:05 | #16 | ||
Users Awaiting Email Confirmation
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: kkhkj
Posts: 323
|
Quote:
Quote:
"However, a deadline was reached for Commodore to pay 10 million USD in patent royalty to Cad Track (U.S. Patent 4,197,590) for their use of their XOR patent. A federal judge ordered an injunction against Commodore preventing them from importing anything into the United States." Last edited by amiga_Forever; 28 January 2017 at 07:11. |
||
28 January 2017, 07:22 | #17 |
Unregistered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Tasmania
Age: 42
Posts: 893
|
But CD32 consoles and software were certainly available in stores in the UK, even here in AU I distinctly recall seeing CD32 displays in more than one major electronics retailer. And the Australian market was nowhere near the UK market.
|
28 January 2017, 10:27 | #18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Sweden
Age: 50
Posts: 2,986
|
Another pic of my NIB American CD32:
Check the warranty card: http://www.exretro.com/galleries/com...D32_NIB_WC.jpg It says "No postage needed if mailed in the US"... Would that make sense if it was for the European (or even Canadian) market? ;-) |
30 March 2017, 09:56 | #19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Skarabörg, Sweden
Age: 45
Posts: 1,031
|
Now they're selling them again. (Note for PAL users though, i believe those are NTSC consoles).
http://www.tradera.com/item/301704/2...-ny-amiga-cd32 |
30 March 2017, 12:50 | #20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: england
Posts: 44
|
There was a US court injunction against CBM bringing stuff into the US until their fine of $10 million was paid. The flashing cursor CBM used on the C64 was already patented, they got fined for using it and couldn't/wouldn't pay.
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
Thread Tools | |
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
WTB: Pal or NTSC CD32 | Crom | MarketPlace | 1 | 17 August 2016 16:08 |
CD32: How do you know if it is PAL or NTSC? | c0dehunter | support.Hardware | 67 | 28 June 2013 03:10 |
Pal CD32, trying to use on an NTSC tv | Cooljerk | New to Emulation or Amiga scene | 15 | 27 August 2011 19:30 |
Have you actually seen so much PAL CD32's unboxed? | AmigaFriend | Amiga scene | 8 | 02 April 2011 21:45 |
NTSC CD32 and PAL games | Fred the Fop | support.Hardware | 5 | 25 March 2005 04:29 |
|
|