Was The Amiga CD-32 not relesead in The US?

[TheGam3r]

Just wondering cause on the wikipedia Page it says it came out in canada but no info on the us release?

[robotriot]

Apparently only in Canada from what I've heard here on DP.

[icbrkr]

Not officially. It was produced for the US, but due to a current lawsuit going on at the time it was not released in the US. Machines were made and sat in a Philipine's warehouse until they were seized for non-payment (taxes? rent? I can't remember) by their government.

I always wondered what happened to them until recently they started showing up en masse on Ebay from China sellers. Guess they were finally found.

[Bojay1997]

Apparently only in Canada from what I've heard here on DP.

Not exactly true. I picked one up just before Commodore shut down at an Amiga store in San Diego called the Lively Computer. I also saw them at the precursor to MacMall called Creative Computers in Redondo Beach, California around the same time. Some Commodore dealers did get them, although I'm not aware of any large retail chains that did.

[Greg2600]

CD32 was the right kind of system for Europe, where PC-CD was always more popular then than here in N.A. Of course, Commodore was a hideously run company and couldn't manufacture for demand. I don't know how well it would have sold here? 1993 Windows was really taking over in PC's. The whole turn a console into a PC thing never really caught on here.

[Ze_ro]

I picked one up just before Commodore shut down at an Amiga store in San Diego called the Lively Computer.
I've heard other stories like this that lead me to believe that somehow or another, the CD32 was available in several locations in California. I'm not sure how they got around the embargo that kept it out of the rest of the country (maybe they got a shipment before it took effect?), but it seems they found a way.

I'd be curious to know more about the specifics of this... I'd also like to eventually assemble a list of what games were officially released in NTSC.

I imagine there were also mail-order companies that you could probably get them from, but their only ads were in Amiga magazines, and people who already had Amiga computers weren't particularly interested in the CD32....

--Zero

[Bojay1997]

I've heard other stories like this that lead me to believe that somehow or another, the CD32 was available in several locations in California. I'm not sure how they got around the embargo that kept it out of the rest of the country (maybe they got a shipment before it took effect?), but it seems they found a way.

I'd be curious to know more about the specifics of this... I'd also like to eventually assemble a list of what games were officially released in NTSC.

I imagine there were also mail-order companies that you could probably get them from, but their only ads were in Amiga magazines, and people who already had Amiga computers weren't particularly interested in the CD32....

--Zero

I think the explanation is that the embargo didn't kick in until it became clear Commodore couldn't pay which was several months after the CD32 was released. I will have to look through my stuff, but I'm pretty sure I actually have the original retailer invoice between Commodore in Pennsylvania and Lively Computer. I recall they had 3-4 units including mine in stock and part of the reason I bought it rather than an Amiga 1200 is that I already had a CDTV and an Amiga 2000 and the fact that they were promising the SX-1 was on the way made it an appealing all around system for all of my Amiga titles. I really have nothing to add on the NTSC vs. PAL software issue as even when I got mine, the sales person emphasized that I needed a mouse and a monitor and I wouldn't have to worry where the title was from. In fact, they were stocking PAL titles and so was Creative Computers and the other Amiga dealers who did mail order.

[Sonicwolf]

I know it was released here in Canada and in the UK. It was going to be released in the USA but it was killed there because of a legal battle and killed worldwide due to Commodores dipshit administration.

[zektor]

The Amiga CD32 was being sold in the Wayne, NJ mall (Willowbrook) store "Software Etc" back then, so yes, it did see some kind of USA release. I *almost* purchased one, but decided against it for one reason or another.

[Bojay1997]

The Amiga CD32 was being sold in the Wayne, NJ mall (Willowbrook) store "Software Etc" back then, so yes, it did see some kind of USA release. I *almost* purchased one, but decided against it for one reason or another.

I think along with the other locations which have been confirmed, this makes it clear that the system was released in the US. I actually bought my Amiga 500 at Software Etc. at UTC in San Diego in the late 80s so I'm not shocked that they would have carried the CD32 as well.

[parallaxscroll]

I remember seeing CD32 on sale in Chicago at both Babbage's and Software Etc in early 1994. I think it had been released in late 1993 but not sure.

It's the FM Towns Marty, which was the world's first 32-bit videogame console, that wasn't released in the U.S.

[bangtango]

Regardless of whether or not the CD32 got an official US release, back then EGM did a halfway decent job of covering the system and reviewing the games. They were reviewing at least one or two a month. The CD32 was in the top bar on the front cover in the list of systems featured for its lifespan.

EGM also did a spread on the CD32 before the release and even reviewed the system itself once or twice in the year end Buyers Guide issues in which every system currently on the market got a 1-10 rating from the Review Crew guys.

[icbrkr]

Regardless of whether or not the CD32 got an official US release, back then EGM did a halfway decent job of covering the system and reviewing the games. They were reviewing at least one or two a month. The CD32 was in the top bar on the front cover in the list of systems featured for its lifespan.

EGM also did a spread on the CD32 before the release and even reviewed the system itself once or twice in the year end Buyers Guide issues in which every system currently on the market got a 1-10 rating from the Review Crew guys.

Now that is a scan I'd love to see. I've only seen UK reviews for CD32 games.

[dr101z]

The CD32's were available for a while in Texas as well. I recall that a few stores had them in stock and I picked up a sales brochure for it.

[Steve W]

The CD32 was on sale at Metropolitan Computers in Dallas, TX for a good amount of time. By this time, they were the only Amiga dealership left in the area, as far as I know. I saw the CD32 there for more than a year, but I slowly got out of going to that store, and then the next time I went to visit, they were closed and gone forever. :( Well, that's what happens when you ignore customers because they aren't buying a Video Toaster and an Amiga 4000.

[Bojay1997]

The CD32 was on sale at Metropolitan Computers in Dallas, TX for a good amount of time. By this time, they were the only Amiga dealership left in the area, as far as I know. I saw the CD32 there for more than a year, but I slowly got out of going to that store, and then the next time I went to visit, they were closed and gone forever. :( Well, that's what happens when you ignore customers because they aren't buying a Video Toaster and an Amiga 4000.

That's so true. Actually, the place I got my CD32 in San Diego was exactly that kind of dealer. I think they actually had regular Video Toaster user group meetings at the store. It always made me wonder how many people could actually afford and/or need a Video Toaster. There was very little in the way of non-linear editing technology back then and storage was a huge expense and problem. I guess putting titles on those VHS tapes edited between two decks were a huge application for some people.

[slapdash]

The Video Toaster was damn cool, and very cheap for the power you got, but yeah... not quite a must-buy (or even within reach) for the average, or even slightly wealthy, consumer.

Plus, the spokeswoman at CES was damn hot. :-)

[kedawa]

Kiki Stockhammer was pretty hot back then.
I think she's had some rough times judging by what I've read http://amigairc.amigarevolution.com/kiki.html (here).

[robotriot]

Well, I guess that Wikipedia article needs some editing then. Very interesting to hear your first hand experiences :)

[Zap!]

Not officially. It was produced for the US, but due to a current lawsuit going on at the time it was not released in the US. Machines were made and sat in a Philipine's warehouse until they were seized for non-payment (taxes? rent? I can't remember) by their government.

I always wondered what happened to them until recently they started showing up en masse on Ebay from China sellers. Guess they were finally found.

Do they look different than other country's versions?

[icbrkr]

Nope, pretty much identical except for a 120v power supply.

[Jared_Vibelicious]

I took journalism in highschool back in the 90's. after our first year it was all video editing projects. strangly enough we used video toasters. they were a great little piece of equipment.

[Ze_ro]

Do they look different than other country's versions?
I've heard there is a French version that replaces the S-Video jack with whatever they use for SECAM (8-pin I believe?) But I've never seen it myself, and I'm sure it's very rare, though probably not very sought after.

It's interesting to hear that CD32's were so available in the US... it's too bad more people didn't buy them when Commodore could have used the money.

--Zero

[Zap!]

I've heard there is a French version that replaces the S-Video jack with whatever they use for SECAM (8-pin I believe?) But I've never seen it myself, and I'm sure it's very rare, though probably not very sought after.

It's interesting to hear that CD32's were so available in the US... it's too bad more people didn't buy them when Commodore could have used the money.

--Zero

I will look for the differences. I want a genuine US version. Probably rarer than the Adventurevision.

[Bojay1997]

I will look for the differences. I want a genuine US version. Probably rarer than the Adventurevision.

Genuine US versions are not at all rare. There are tons of them that have been sold on Ebay and lots more that are available on the various active Amiga boards.

[Zap!]

Genuine US versions are not at all rare. There are tons of them that have been sold on Ebay and lots more that are available on the various active Amiga boards.

What do you look for in determining they are genuine US versions?

[icbrkr]

An NTSC model is a 'genuine' US model - really North American model. They were fairly pricey until the big ol' stash of them were found. Now, as it was mentioned, you can find them cheaply on Ebay brand new.

[icbrkr]

It's interesting to hear that CD32's were so available in the US... it's too bad more people didn't buy them when Commodore could have used the money.

--Zero

I think SteveW pretty much hit it on the head. The only place I really ever saw or heard about anything Amiga related in the 90s was at my Amiga dealer and they were only interested in selling the big expensive systems. I went in there in 1992 looking for an Amiga 600 and was pretty much laughed out of there.

"You can buy an A1200 with no HD for $599 which is much better".

I could also buy an A600 w/2MB and a 85MB HD for $279 from Tenex which is what I did. Not only did our dealers only want the 'large' models, they also jacked up the price something fierce. An A1200 from Tenex at the time ran 399.

And lastly, Commodore's advertising budget was basically what I spend in lunch money every month. Do I need advertising if I'm already *in* the store looking at them? No. You need to advertise in places where you might find new customers...