============================================================================= = - USA REPORT ------------------------------------------------------------ = ============================================================================= NEWS FROM NORTH AMERICA The summer of '91 was a busy one for the Amiga on this side of the Atlantic, a season full of news, new products and new product announcements. The biggest, and perhaps most ominous news, of course, had nothing to do with the Amiga. Instead, the summer's shocker was an agreement by computer industry heavyweights IBM and Apple to share ideas, information and techno- logy with one another, one of their goals being the development of an IBM personal computer centered around the Motorola 680X0 series processor. If we combine this news with what we learned earlier this year -- namely, that Commodore was going to develop and sell to IBM chips very much like the Amigan's beloved Agnus, Paula, Denise, Gary, etc. -- the picture grows even darker. And if we add to this the announcement that a third computer heavyweight -- Microsoft -- intends to combine the OS/2 and Windows PC operating systems into one, and port them to 680X0 platforms, the outlook for the Amiga becomes very dark indeed. For if IBM succeeds in developing a personal computer with the Amiga's custom chips and a MacIntosh-OS/2- Windows interface --- i.e., a crypto-Amiga able to run PC and Mac software -- where will the Amiga be? Of what use is the Amiga in a world dominated by faster, cheaper, and more powerful, Amiga workalikes? This is the grim interpretation of these events. On the other hand, there is the possibility that if the Amiga is able to carve out a place in the marketplace remunerative enough for it to survive another five years, we may well be able to enjoy something of an Amiga lover's Paradise: being able to run the best PC and Mac productivity software on our Amigas without the need for Bridgeboards or A-Max's, while still being able to play those wonderful Amiga games of ours or continuing to create with those powerful Amiga graphics, sound and video programs we are heir to. Let us hope that THIS is the possibility the marketplace chooses for the Amiga to realize. Among the other news stories that occurred in the summer of '91 were these: 1.) Electronic Arts announced the establishment of a '900' telephone service 'hint number'. For a fee of $.95 for the first minute and $.75 for each additional minute -- more for overseas calls, of course -- call- ers will receive passwords and hints for EA's most popular games. The system is menu-driven, with callers being able to use push-button com- mands to get the information they need. So if you are tired of staying up to all hours trying to crack that one last puzzle standing between you and total victory, perhaps you should dial the following American tele- phone number: (900) 288-HINT. 2.) Centaur Software is now the exclusive distributor of the product line of M.A.S.T, Inc., including all MAST hardware and software products. 3.) Texas-based New Horizons Software, the developers of such popular programs as "ProWrite", has bought and relocated to the Lone Star State Central Coast Software, an Amiga pioneer specializing in utilities (e.g., "Quarterback", "Quarterback Tools", "DOS-2-DOS" and "Mac-2-DOS"). 4.) Taliesin, Inc., creators of "ProVector" has changed its name to Stylus, Inc. 5.) Technical Magic, MIDI retrofitters, has moved. Its address is in the address directory. 6.) Game developers Virgin Mastertronic and Arcadia Systems have merged into one firm called Virgin Games, Inc. Before reading about the newest products for the Amiga in North America, the reader should review the "Ground Rules" to better understand what these articles are about. Now, check out the other info files.... Part II of the USA news can be found on the next (23) issue of Newsflash. THE GROUND RULES As he or she reads this, the reader would do well to keep in mind the following guidelines I used in compiling this article: 1.) The software categories are not hard and fast divisions, but instead constitute loose, somewhat arbitrary groupings for the sake of order. Some font packages will be found listed under "Desktop Publishing", for instance, while others will be found under "Video" -- it all depends upon what their chief use appears to be. Similarly, as Amiga games have grown more complex and sophisticated, they have often ceased to be purely arcade games, strategic games, adventure games or the like. Instead, the better games are blends of arcade, strategic, simulation, adventure, logic and mystery. So, the reader seeking a particular kind of program would be well advised also to read the product descriptions within related fields. 2.) All prices given are in U.S. dollars. 3.) All prices given are "list" prices -- you may be able to obtain an item for up to 40% less from one of the Amiga oriented mail order companies. 4.) I have included some products of European origin that are sold in North America, just in case the rate of exchange becomes such that it is less expensive for the reader to purchase a product overseas (during the 1970's, I could often buy American books from British booksellers for less -- including shipping, handling and currency exchange -- than I would have paid in a local bookstore). 5.) I have included the addresses of the products' vendors at the end of the article. If you are interested in a product, PLEASE write to them for more information. Better still, have your Amiga dealer contact them; for if you do, it will increase the chances that the better North American Amiga products will become available in Europe (just as European Amiga products are finally becoming available here in North America). 6.) For those who are seriously interested in knowing what sorts of hardware and software are available for the Amiga in North America, I strongly suggest that you arrange to purchase a recent copy of "AC's Guide to the Commodore Amiga" (PiM Publications), which is a very nearly complete comqendium of Amiga products available in North America. Published 2 to 4 times per year, the most recent edition contained 320 pages, and cost only $9.95. Get in touch with PiM for more details. I hope you have enjoyed the information -- and will check out future issues of "Newsflash" for more news. S.M. Oakland ============================================================================= = - USA REPORT ------------------------------------------------------------ = =============================================================================