101Force

If the new Commodore has any chance of lasting success, then it has to nurture its greatest asset: Community. That doesn't necessarily mean the use of generative AI is unreasonable or impractical, but it does mean if generative AI isn't used sparingly and with discretion it could damage the brand.

I hope a new Amiga doesn't exclusively target gamers, but bedroom musicians too. A lot of musicians got their start with the Paula chip, so why not expand on it?

Something along the lines of 24 channels, each with two oscillators, one low-pass filter, two LFOs, eight DADSRs, one audio effect (eg: chorus, delay, etc.), and one parametric EQ. Allow the oscillators to be configured for pitched instrument sample playback, segmented loop playback, wavetable playback, or 2 to 8-OP FM, and include optional depth / velocity / dynamics for the LFOs and DADSRs, and you'd have something versatile enough to be used for professional results. With onboard mixing it would even be possible for song / audio data to contain information for mono, stereo, 5.1, and 7.1 output.

Or if that's too much to put together in-house, license the engine of the Z8 Sampler from Akai or the E4 Platinum from Creative (who owns E-mu) to act as the dedicated audio chip in a new Amiga.

Well, a man can dream...

@RupeeClock : Synthesizer V isn't "a form of generative AI". The software, like Yamaha's Vocaloid or EastWest's Symphonic Choir software, is built around sequenced playback of short, sampled vocalizations, and generative AI doesn't use a sample library to produce content.

The developer, Dreamtonics, claims AI is used to manipulate the samples for improved flexibility, but I doubt it's "AI" as we've come to understand it today, considering Synthesizer V was initially released in 2017. I wouldn't be surprised if Dreamtonics' AI claim is just marketing for what amounts to customized DSP algorithms.

Unfortunately, I could see this incentivizing other developers to only release their "retro-like" games on Steam or modern consoles, passing over legitimate retro consoles like the Sega Genesis altogether.

The Series X|S strategy probably would have worked better for the next video game generation, as the video game market is currently fracturing into distinct luxury and budget markets.

Hopefully we get a new Amiga that expands on the AGA architecture. Given that chip fabs of 30nm and greater aren't in high demand, it shouldn't be expensive to manufacture something that genuinely improves on the AGA architecture in every possible way, even if it just triples or quadruples the AGA chip's various functions.

And if the sound chip was expanded on, taking some inspiration from the sound chip in the PS1 and NDS, and maybe modern wavetable synthesizers as well, the appeal would be expanded to bedroom musicians too.

A lot of people confuse modern Flash ROM, like that used in physical Switch and 3DS games, for Mask ROM. Mask ROM isn't available in capacities greater than 512 MB and it costs about $100K just to develop the mask used to manufacture a specific Mask ROM, and it should last 1000 years, if not more. Flash ROM on the other hand has a lifespan of about 20 years, unless it's "recharged" from reading, in which case it can (usually) last a lot longer, although still nowhere near as long as Mask ROM.

This is fantastic news! Hopefully we get support for 16:9 monitors and TVs, in addition to 6-player split-screen, in the near future.

@KingMike An online store would be easy to maintain, but I agree it might be difficult to maintain a physical market. Maybe a third-party, like Signature Edition Games, could help with limited runs of discs, but maybe it would be best to leave physical behind. At any rate, what I'm suggesting would be a lot more advanced than the Ouya or Zeebo ever were, comparable to something between the PS3 and PS4 or the Xbox 360 and Xbox One if it were made now.

@KingMike I guess you missed the part where I said a "modern" budget brand? I'm not talking about today's equivalent to the Famiclone, but something along the lines of what the SNES was to the Neo Geo. A growing segment of consumers can't afford a PS5, Series X, or Switch 2, and that's something Atari could capitalize on if they go about it in the right way.

Cosmology of Kyoto is an amazing game. It should have been a part of the greater template for cultural preservation and educational gaming. I had no idea a sequel existed in any form, this is really quite exciting news!

With consoles from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo creeping into luxury territory, Atari should consider becoming the "modern" budget brand, especially since the market for affordable gaming is growing.

Technology between the PS3/360 and the PS4/One would be relatively cheap to manufacture (the PS3 originally used 65nm chips and currently demand for 30 nm chips or larger is relatively low). The key would be to implement the right set of features to attract both indie developers and budget consumers — maybe dual HDMI outs for local multiplayer, support for physical media, an online store — I'm just guessing here.

Here's hoping we see a mod bumping split-screen local multiplayer up to 6 or 9 players, in addition to new cups/courses.