The Retro Hour (Retro Gaming Podcast) 476: The Commodore Amiga at 40: The Original Developers' Story - The Retro Hour EP476
Apr 18, 2025
This week features Amiga legends: Amiga Bill, a passionate content creator; Dale Luck, a founding member at Amiga; Jeff Porter, instrumental in the A500's success; Randall Jessup, who worked on Amiga OS; and Peter Schoerner from the software team. They share fascinating stories about the Amiga's 40-year legacy, from its groundbreaking technology to its colorful development history. Listeners will enjoy insider anecdotes about challenges faced and innovations that shaped the Amiga, along with reflections on its enduring impact on gaming culture.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Amiga's Original Prototype Boards
- The original Amiga custom chips were hand-wired on large breadboards which were shown at CES in 1984.
- Each board was named after the chips: Daphne, Denise, and Paula, representing display, graphics, and ports.
Boing Ball Demo Creation Story
- The legendary Boing Ball demo was created just before the 1984 CES by squeezing code squeezed out to show physics and graphics.
- Dale Luck added a line-drawing feature at the last minute, which was crucial for the demo's success.
CES Booth Work Experience
- Commodore engineers, accountants, and marketing were all brought to CES to work the booths.
- They all worked long hours before the show, even through Christmas, to prepare for CES.