From: cfury@csugrad.cs.vt.edu (Chris Fury)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: A Commodore Engineer speaks out.
Keywords: Reverse Enginneering AGA - can it be done?
Date: 6 Oct 92 16:37:19 GMT
Organization: Virginia Tech Computer Science Dept, Blacksburg, VA

kontos@clipper.ingr.com (Thorne Kontos) writes:

>I write: PUBLISH THE SPECS/REGISTERS OF THE AGA CHIPSET
>Spence Shannon replies: Shan't!
>But he goes on to say: 
>Suppose that next year we bring out another machine based on a different chip
>set that can do even more wonderful things than AA can. BUT, this new chip set
>doesn't have the same registers as AA. Why not? Because our chip designers could
>build the new chip set faster and cheaper than if it had to worry about AA
>register compatibility. That's reasonable isn't it? After all, only myself and
>Chris Green need to know how to program these chips.

>Now how are we to take this piece of news?
>That an even more advanced chip-set is in the works, that will orphan the
>AGA set in a year's time? But why start another rumor...

Jumpin' Jesus!  This is why they don't want to release the tech docs
in the first place!  Then nobody will be "orphaned" as you are so fond
of saying....  Ever heard of Device Independant Graphics?

[Bunch of baloney about reverse engineering the chips deleted]

So what do I care if some crazy hacker has enough time on his hands that
he does just that.  I'm not going to use any of his products, because
they won't be system friendly.  

>Let me add one thing to this discussion.
>>Hang on a second.  This wonderful whizz-bang AA game of yours doesn't work
>>on this new super-duper Amiga, so who do the customers complain to?  Not you.
>>Us!

>You do not see me complaining about the Game Market. I do not have
>the time to waste playing even a tenth of the games that are 
>available. I have one favorite, Empire, by Interstel. And every knows
>the quality of graphics in that game. What I am saying is that graphics
>are becoming the most important thing to the games market today. It is a 
>shame that graphics is even replacing quality and new ideas. (The too 
>numerous Mario clones being a prime example.) 

>Still, the idea of a whizz-bang game or demo IS WHAT PUT YOU WHERE
>YOU ARE TODAY. The mere fact that people could create all of the

Hmm.  This is different, most amiga users' take offense when some
IBM'er calls thier machine a "game machine".  I think what Commodore
is doing is wonderful.  The amiga is becoming more and more of
a professional machine every day.  I know we've got more than our share
of hackers, and that makes me happy.  But if some of those hackers want to
be "unprofessional", and write software that breaks the machine, 
tough tookey!  It's time we started to take some of the business machine
market.

>spectacular effects with an Amiga is what sold them the machine in the
>first place. Something that could not be done in the sterile 

Just because they won't give us specs on the new chipset doesn't mean 
some really INGENOUS people won't come up with ways of doing 
system-friendly neat things.  And then, gee, they'll work *all the time*

>you had better well listen. Your comment sounds like a gripe about
>the person who ultimately pays your check. But, if you are sick of
>hearing us complain, either give us some solutions or stop reading
>the news.

Take a cold shower.  This is a customer speaking, and he's applauding 
Commodoer for finally taking a stand and enforcing some standards.


>                                            Thorne Kontos

Christopher B. Fury        | "...reality was once a primative method of crowd  
cfury@csugrad.cs.vt.edu    |  control that got out of hand" - Jane Wagner
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