CD32 Development Timeline
Summer 1992
The AGA chipset had been completed and Commodore were concentrating
upon upgrading their existing product line to 32-bit. The
A500+/A600 was replaced by the A1200, and the A3000 made way for
the A4000. Finally they reached the CDTV, and decided to redesign
it as a 32-bit games console that could also play interactive
multimedia titles.
"So, in mid to late summer, we began to talk to several
of the key (games) developers in the UK, saying 'We have this
technology, what do you want?' The consensus came back - stick with
games, it's gotta be CD-based, it's gotta be 32-bit, but the key
point was the price. We had to have a price that was competitive
with 16-bit technology today."
Late September 1992
Commodore take the comments, develop a design specification and
investigate if it could be sold cheaply.
Late October 1992
Development on the CD32 begins.
"The most challenging part was developing the gate
array called Arizona (later Akkiko), which would collect all of the
various signals and take over the functions of many of the chips on
earlier Amigas."
First week of January 1993
The first working prototype of Akkiko is completed. Amiga Format
predict that an Amiga CD console will be released in 1993. their
concept design - the Amiga CDC - is
remarkably similar to the final product.
February 1993
By the end of February, 15 CD32 prototypes are completed and sent
to developers. Even at this late stage Commodore take note of the
comments made. Many developers reported the hinges on the CD drive
were flimsy, making it easy to break. Pre-release machines also had
an irritating feet wobble. These problems were fixed before the
final machine went on sale.
May 1993
Computer leisure industry newspaper 'Computer Trade Weekly'
announce rumours of an Amiga CD console. This is followed by
further rumours of an Amiga 1400 CD computer. One out of two ain't
bad.
July 1993
The Amiga CD32 is revealed to the public. Lou Eggebrecht, Commodore
VP of Engineering comments,
"I'm proud to be associated with a product which will set new
standards for fans of electronic games"
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