INSIDE THE A500 MINI
One of the unfortunate realities of retro gaming is that some platforms are easier to get into than others. Anyone wanting to get into the Mega Drive would have no problem today, with plentiful options including original hardware, clone systems, compilations, digital releases and the Mega Drive Mini. By comparison, the Amiga can be pretty daunting. The original hardware is now quite expensive, and floppy disks are unreliable to say the least. The games aren’t widely available on modern platforms, and as great a job as the community has done in emulating the machines, it’s certainly not as simple a process as with other popular retro formats. It isn’t the hardest platform to get into, but to this point anyone wanting a quick and convenient way to enjoy the games has been short of options.
Enter The A500 Mini, a mini console which aims to simplify the experience of Amiga gaming considerably. The device has been created by Retro Games Ltd, which has previously delivered The C64 Mini and The C64, and is due for release on 25 March for £119.99. It comes with 25 built-in games, and excitingly it isn’t limited exclusively to games using the original chipset, as it can also run games designed for AGA Amiga computers such as the Amiga 1200. Accompanying the main unit you’ll find a classic-style mouse and a new game pad, each of which can also be purchased separately for £19.95. The keyboard on the device is just cosmetic, as was the case with The C64 Mini, but a virtual keyboard can be pulled up for games that require it. TV output is 720p over HDMI with 50Hz and 60Hz options. The device is very specifically targeted towards gaming, so you shouldn’t expect to be dropping into Workbench or anything like that.
Given that Retro Games Ltd ended up producing The C64 in response to user demand for a full-size machine that could be used as a computer, you might be curious as to why this approach has been taken. However, The C64 Mini provided a learning experience for the team. “We understand our users better,” says Chris Smith, chief technology officer at Retro Games Ltd. “Something that we have
