Vault Entry
[📷 suggested: Amiga 500 with mouse and Workbench screen]
Overview
The Amiga 1000 debuted in 1985 with a suite of custom co-processors—Agnus, Denise, Paula—that handled graphics, blitter operations, and audio while the Motorola 68000 CPU multitasked. Affordable models like the Amiga 500 brought that power to millions of homes and gave demo groups such as Fairlight and Crest a new playground.
Fast facts
- Chipset: Original Chip Set (OCS), later Enhanced (ECS) and Advanced Graphics Architecture (AGA).
- Graphics: up to 4096 colours via HAM, hardware sprites, dual playfields, copper for raster effects.
- Audio: four-channel 8-bit PCM via Paula.
- Operating system: AmigaOS with preemptive multitasking and the Workbench GUI.
Why it mattered
- Creative tool: video titling, animation (Deluxe Paint), and music trackers thrived on Amiga hardware.
- Games: cinematic platformers, adventure games, and demoscene productions showcased 16-bit artistry.
- Scene pipeline: many C64 bedroom coders moved to Amiga once budgets allowed, carrying techniques with them.
Lesson connections
- Transition course references Amiga hardware to illustrate the jump from BASIC interpreters to custom chip orchestration.
- Assembly Act IV’s polish and audio chapters cite Amiga workflows for inspiration.
- Vault entries about demo groups (Fairlight, The Judges) touch on their Amiga-era achievements.
Modern legacy
- Emulation: WinUAE, FS-UAE, and MiSTer re-create the platform.
- Hardware revival: FPGA-based Amiga clones, Vampire accelerators, and new games keep the ecosystem alive.
- Community: retro conventions and demoparties still premiere new Amiga productions yearly.