Miscellaneous - Development of the Amiga.

w Yuri Markovich                           
                                         
 Past and present from the future -
AMIGA computers!                         
                                         
Dmitry Mikhailov                         
Ruben Laginov                             
Alexey Emelyanov                         
                                         
                                         
     Our appeal to the Amiga did not arise
by chance, this line of graphics computers
Terov is a prominent representative of hardware
decisions.  Features of everyone without exception
"Amig" - a very high ratio of "production"
driver/price", which, for obvious reasons,
ranks, it is important for the Russian market. More and more
specialists show interest in them, which,
in particular, finds expression in the appeal
contacts to the editor for information and requests
tell us in publications about the graphics with
Amiga positions.Taking this into account, we asked
Topaz company to prepare the appropriate
material.                                 
                          
                                          
 ________________             
                              
                          
     ... Jay Miner - admitted
Amiga's new father. He died on June 20, 1994
at Mountain View Hospital.  Com-
America's computer network was literally overwhelmed
zero flow of condolences in which
there was a tribute to “the quiet human gene-
nu"...                                   
                                          
 From the history of the Amiga            
                                         
                                         
     In 1982, in the town of Los Gatos (state
California)four desperate people decided
to shock the world by creating something completely
amazing, something that far surpassed
would be any existing at that time
computer systems. Let us remind you that this is
platforms have already been developed
IBM PC and Macintosh computers began
their mass release.                       
                                          
     In addition to seven million dollars, which
which it was decided to spend on self-financing
sification, the developers had significant
extensive experience in designing both hardware
tours and software: one
of them - Jay Miner - was the developer
specialized microcircuits for personal
digital computers, the other - RG Mikel
- was a famous programmer of the company
Williams;  Dave Morse and Carl Sasenres also
were professionals in their field. First
initially their project was called Hi-Toro,
before it was decided to change the name to
more concise and attractive - Amiga
(translated from Spanish as “girlfriend”).   
                                          
     The best
The fastest (at that time) 16-bit process
sor M68000 from Motorola. However, the Amiga is not
would be an Amiga if that was all
it happened. The developers set as their goal
create a personal computer with the most powerful
graphics and sound, so they decidedto unload the processor as much as possible in this way
at once so that it is busy with the main logic
program work, and all input/output (i.e.
same graphics and sound) was suspended on
specialized microcircuits that
capable of performing all the necessary operations
tions are much faster than the processor!    
                                          
     Let us note in passing that almost in
all modern personnel, with the exception of
nium Amiga, the poor processor takes all
working for yourself... Figuratively, we can say,
what if in the IBM PC the processor is a person -
-orchestra, then in the Amiga the processor is the conductor
in the orchestra. This is where crazy people come from -
Higher megahertz required for processors
other systems, so that more or less decently
show something or lose! Cars
with a single-processor architecture is highly
remember some surrealistic
waters, where the director personally rushes around all
shops from machine to machine. For all attempts
draw attention to the absurdity of such
situation there is only one answer: our
the next director will run even faster
rey!                                      
                                          
     For Amiga, processor speed is not
an indicator of machine speed. When
show the capabilities of the Amiga specialist
there, working on an IBM PC, and you ask
them: “What is the volume, in your opinion,opera-
tive memory in this machine and what is the hour-
that?", then the answer follows: "... memory is not
less than 16 MB, and the frequency is at least 66 MHz."
But the computer that demonstrated everything
it actually only has 16-bi-
commercial organization, operates on frequency 7
MHz with only 1 RAM capacity
MB! This miracle was made possible by a special process -
Amiga litter, which is sometimes difficult
superior to the processor itself, otherwise they would
but would be distributed to all computers
ry.   The question then becomes, what can they do?
32-bit Amigas with frequencies of 25, 40 and 60
MHz?                                      
                                          
     During initial development
no special processors rolled up in special
cialized microcircuits, from the developers
there were no coves, of course. Original version
The Amiga was a jumble of co-
printed circuit boards connected to each other,
waved several tables. Each of the special
processors consisted of almost a thousand
conventional microcircuits of medium degree of integration
tions. And this monster slowly came to life... 
                                          
     To cover the main activity,
due to secrecy reasons, I had to
develop several types of joysticks
absolutely incredible design. Even then
that the computer was called abstract
himAmiga, and not some "TXX82/32"
helped for the time being to hide from the ok-
ruining the company's occupation. Same thing -
naming tics have been applied to
special processors, which are called
Agnus, Portia and Daphne. Familiar professionals
the Sionals just shrugged their shoulders. If only we knew
they are what hides behind all these avangar-
childish delights!                       
                                          
     The result of such an attitude to the matter is not
I made myself wait a long time. Amiga is amazing
with its thoughtfulness. It seems that the developers
they managed to imagine everything in advance
possible future inconveniences at work and
eliminate them at the very beginning.    
                                          
     The main thing in developments is the idea of multi-
task, which has always been considered pre-
horned computers are completely different
class than Amiga. This idea formed the basis
new operating system and hardware
Amiga parts. I always thought it was beautiful
"plant" multitasking applications on
a "single-tasking" computer - useless
a foolproof idea. It will turn out, as they say in English -
Lichan, "skeleton in the closet", having a habit
fall out with a roar into the most inaccessible
walking moments.                          
                                          
     In 1983, rumors spread across the States
about a "gaming supercomputer" named Lo-Rhine (the first Amiga was named so in
honor of the wife of the president of the Hi-Toro company).
And in the same year all special processors were
rolled into specialized microcircuits. 
                                          
 However, it’s time to adopt strategic
decisions on the architecture of a new computer
hasn't passed yet. The author of the famous inter-
Intuition face (the interface was written
in just 3 weeks) RJ Mikel insisted,
that the future computer should be maxi-
very cheap, while others
wanted to get the most powerful car,
even if it's not cheap. Jay Miner us-
lurking on availability in the system as much as possible
possible number of slots (connectors)
extensions where you could connect
a lot of additional devices.           
                                          
     Jay Miner's acquaintance Ron Nicholson
gave him the idea of a blitter (a device
allowing you to dramatically speed up work with graphics
fika, further unloading the central
processor).  Jay also came up with a graphic
NAM mode (Hold And Modify)
and change), which allowed to sharply increase
number of simultaneously reproduced colors
on the display screen.  New ideas poured in
like from a cornucopia...                   
                                          
     However, time passed. In the end
they saidthe most seven million dollars,
which developers once had at their disposal
ki, and it was decided to present their brainchild
computer industry sharks.            
                                          
     January 4, 1984, behind closed doors
during the Consumer Electronics Show,
RJ Mikeal and Dave Morse staged for the first time
demonstration of the Amiga's capabilities, showing
the famous voice-over animation "Boeing".
Ball painted with red and white squares
rats flew across the screen, with a roar of impact
crashing against its edges. As if alive, the ball moves
walked around in three-dimensional space, finally
of everything - with sounds and shadows. This is for now-
I wonder how much the Amiga is ahead of the Macintosh,
with its tiny black and white screen, or
The IBM PC with its then crude four-
reh-color graphics. On computers like
IBM PC and Macintosh managed to repeat this
to start only in two years!               
                                          
     Until June 1984, the Amiga team
la company-buyer of all their know-how and
technology.  Atari President Jack
Tramel borrowed a million dollars for a month.
When the debt repayment period began to approach
towards the end, it became clear that Amiga Inc. not in
able to pay. Seeing such a situation-
tion, Tramel offered the price at 98 cents
per share, which was completely unacceptable.
Fortunately, two days before the deadline
paymentCommodore began negotiations
ry with the developers.  Amiga share price
Inc.  managed to raise it to $4. 25, and require-
May the amount to pay the debt was immediately
allocated, subject to - Commodore receives
all rights to the new computer.             
                                          
     On this occasion it was immediately
a subsidiary branch was organized
Commodore-Amiga and further ensured
financing of promising development.
For creating decent Amiga hardware
the operating system was taken by the company
Metacomco from Bristol.  Program
mystical company Electronic Arts developed
standards for files containing static
some pictures and animations.                  
                                          
     July 23, 1985 the first Amiga 1000
was demonstrated in the center of Lincoln
(New York).  General opinion of those present
boiled down to the fact that a new com-
Pewter era!  Multimedia-85?  True,
They didn’t even know such a word back then.         
                                          
     The same Amiga capabilities that
proud users of other computers
platforms looked down from top to bottom and called
toys, after many years
curled up on their computers under the name
"Multimedia". Quite often the computer
nom world (and notonly) for something already su-
existing, but not well known in
masses, suddenly a label is stuck. Underneath this
the label passes it off as brand new
phenomenon, after which - pay money,
gentlemen who consider advertising to be a LABEL.      
                                          
     What is the Amiga 1000? It was per-
the world's best personal computer, which
produced an image in 4096 colors (vs.
16 for IBM PC model 1985), and besides
also had a multitasking operating room
system and four-channel stereo sound.
To top it all off, it was the first computer
ter, standardly supplied with manipulative
mouse type torus.                        
                                          
     The A1000 was produced from mid-1985.
to 1987. Despite the fact that it surpassed
abuse of other personal computers
ters was overwhelming, sales volume was
is not so large - and this is at a high price
task computer at $2000, while
I mean, single-mission RS-286s cost $4,000.
The reason is the lack of sufficient pro-
frame support. Available programs
simply transferred from other models and,
needless to say, did not use but-
new capabilities of the Amiga.                   
                                          
     Gradually, the market for programs written
especially for Amiga, began to expand into
geometricprogression - and things went well.
Users slowly began to realize
what the Amiga can do and, accordingly, what it can’t
other computers may.                  
                                          
     In the same 1985 the first issue was released.
launch of the magazine "Amiga World". Development team
Botchikov, meanwhile, began to create
development of a new computer model. It was decided
make it as extensible as possible. More
In addition, all plug-in expansion cards
should have been automatically recognized
system (unique Amigov protocol
"Autoconfig").  And again almost after
ten years later the same story happened
with "Multimedia", only under the name
"Plug'n'Play" (switch on and play)...       
                                          
     Amiga programmers, however, claim
go for more. In June 1986, the program
a mist named Roman Ormandy
Ormandy) showed a demo version
entitled "We're Building a City in New York"
ke" (SIGGRAGH).  This short animation
depicted a flight through the city, composed
from basic geometric shapes, such
like cylinders, cubes, tetrahedrons. At that time
it was tantamount to an explosion, not only
thanks to the high quality of animation, but also
due to the fact that Ormandy created this on Ami-
ge 1000 with only 512 KB of memory, using
program called "Caligary" (Octree
Software).By the end of 1986, Eric Graham
Graham) created the animation "Juggler", which
stunned the experts. He depicted a figure
ru of a humanoid, composed entirely of
spheres standing on a green-yellow chessboard
board and juggling three mirror balls
chami.  Here, for the first time, technology was used
technical technique - raytracing - for clear
playback on the screen of each movement
tion, mirror surface of balls and real
leaf shadows.                          
                                          
     Amiga made it possible to solve the most difficult
graphic tasks. And already at the Second Conf.
rents (November 1986) by achievement
A young Amiga amateur named Allen Has-
tings (Allen Hastings) showed two short
of the film using their own
programs.  Unlike Ormandy, who
used expensive frame-accurate
video equipment, Hastings used
frame recording (single-frame), set
filmed on an 8mm video camera for recording animation
mation that he created on the Amiga.  Although
the process was labor-intensive, the final films
including flying through buildings, Porche and
the bouncing ball were amazing. Attempts
Hastings proved that any ordinary
the user can create 3D animations
on an inexpensive Amiga. His work attracted
programmers' attentionAegis Inc.,
who convinced Hastings to create a commercial
ical version of his program.          
                                          
     The development team has switched
for the project of the next Amiga model. None of
outsiders didn’t really know which one it was.
In 1987, the release of a new
Amiga - A2000. Special processors of this model
already had other names - Agnus, Denis,
Paula, Gary. A little later, in the same 1987
duh, the Amiga 500 model appeared, which became
the first truly affordable
Amigoy.  All the differences between the Amiga 500 and the Amiga
2000 boiled down to the fact that the system unit
and the keyboard form a single whole
and there are no internal Zorro connectors
for professional expansion.         
                                          
     When the Amiga demonstrated the power
animation capabilities, 3D graphics programs
began to actively spread.  In 1987
Aegis's "VideoScape 3D", Micro
Magic's "Form in Flight", Byte Byte's
"Sculpt 3D" and Hash Enterprise's "Animator:
Apprentice."  Each program had its own
dignity, but none provided
holistic solution. In fact, early programs
3D frame packages were the standard at that time
com, and users worked enthusiastically
with them we achieved amazing results -
ComradeIn 1988, the president of Atari
Jack Tramel sued Commodore
stating that Atari allegedly financed
la development of the Amiga. Fortunately, the court stood up
on the Commodore side. By then
the phrase "Atari owner" has become
in the civilized world is something of a mockery.
Because Atari was, to put it mildly, lagging behind
from Amiga in all respects without exception
niah, although it had the same processor
and was considered a car of the same class as
Amiga.                                    
                                          
     In 1988-89, no fundamental
The Amigas have not undergone any major changes - perhaps
that it was twice improved by special
Cessor Agnus.                             
                                          
     An increasing number of people began to buy
the Amiga will die, and, accordingly, more and more
software companies
began to create for Amig.                   
                                          
                                          
                                          
By 1989, animation on Aniga had reached
la considerable maturity. VideoScape 2.0,
Sculpt 4. D, Turbo Silver - all three programs
frames could create realistic animations
tions in 4096 color mode. The present use
art, if you take into accountwhat yes-
currently the fastest computers
Mac and IBM PC users cannot access
speed 30 frames per second full screen
no animation in 1024 colors. Sculpt 4.D
added driver for BCD and Lyon-Lamb
sinle-frame controllers and for Mimetics'
Frame Buffer, the first monitor board for
Amiga, capable of showing millions of colors
Comrade                                      
                                          
     While 3D programs have reached
enormous complexity, their prices have increased
insignificant.  Turbo Silver and VideoScape
remained at the lowest level - $200 US.
Animator, Apprentice reached $300 US, and
Sculpt 4. D has increased in price to $500 US.
This is the most expensive Amiga program
this category.  But even this cost
soon faded in value
Caligari Professional, the long-awaited debut
which took place in 1989. Price Caligari
- $2000 seemed by Ami standards
simply outrageous.                    
                                          
     By the end of the 80s, only two or three
3D animation software packages were used
are connected to IBM PC computers and they cost
whether from 8,000 to 12,000 US dollars - and this is without cost
bridges of the computers themselves, as well as expensive
Targa monitor cards. These programs were
intended for such a narrow market that
even those users whoknew about them
existence, could only dream about them.
In addition, the user interface was
only complicated that no one except the artist,
constantly engaged in graphics, could not
I would like to figure out how to work with it.       
                                          
Amigas in 1989-1990 diverged from
such a speed that in terms of the number of sales
raised any other personal computers
ry, although "professional" programmers
accused the Amiga of being just a game
howl computer. The trouble with these "professionals"
is that the obvious is inaccessible to them - the power
the ability of a true multitasking computer
ra necessary for the reproduction of good
our graphics and stereo sound should be far
exceed the power of their "professional"
computers, which are, in fact, nothing
nothing like swollen typewriters. And
when in a reputable computer magazine about
around 1995 you suddenly read in an advertisement
the latest operating system, which is the highest
her achievement is multitasking,
plug'n'play, easy to switch between
multimedia, etc., then I just want to say
say: "Guys, all this exists on the Amiga
already ten years!!!"                        
                                          
 Amura5O0 and Amiga2000 were produced
until October 1991. And in 1990
a completely 32-bit model appearedA3000 with 68030 processor and improved
coprocessor set (ECS - Enhanced
Chip Set).  For the first time, a car is standardly installed
The 68881 coprocessor has been updated for processing
sat down with floating point, which was later
replaced by faster 68882. Was se-
OS has been seriously redesigned (Kickstart 2.0),
there was a SCSI connector on the motherboard
roller and faster than ZORRO II,
ZORRO III expansion slots. In addition to the basic
models, the A3000T is also on sale
(Tower), and UNIX machine A30OOUX. Convenient
An innovation of the A3000 family was flicker-based
pressure that eliminated the flickering effect of the
wound with interlaced scanning and
committed to using a VGA monitor for everyone
screen modes. AmigaZO00 firmly occupied
flagship position in the Amig flotilla.          
                                          
 In the early 90s, the quality of animation
programs on the Amiga switched to other
goy higher level.  Impulse's
Turbo Silver became Imagine, and
the company released Firecracker, a 24-bit
monitor card to provide professional
national product quality. Appeared
new programs were born, such as: 3D
Professional (Progressive), Real 3D
(RealSoft) and Adspec's Draw 4D (later
Aladdin).                                 
                                          
     Much more significantreached
It was the long-awaited Video Toaster, you-
launched at the end of 1990. NewTek has already
commissioned Alain Hasting to remake VideoScape
in LightWave 3D for Toaster. In a tough fish
night situation the company made a decision
equip each Toaster with a program
LightWave 3D, although she would be more satisfied
sell the Toaster and the program separately -
tee.   This meant that every copy
LightWave 3D came with Video Toaster
(24 bit color).                           
                                          
     Later LightWave 3D and Video Toaster
proved that the Amiga cost system
$5000 could successfully compete with
the network systems used cost
tew a million dollars.                   
                                          
     In early 1991, Todd Rundgren
Runddren) organized the music video
MTV show made entirely on Amiga with
using LightWave and Video Toaster. Them
time, Joe Conti used
LightWave shaft for producing special effects
perfect episodes for the network show Unsolved
Mysteries (Unsolved Mysteries), and Ron
Ron Thornton worked on the episodic
ladies of outer space, as it were
observed pilots, in a combined show
Babylon 5. Leading Amiga programmers
you animators were already approaching quality,
required in feature films. Them
IBM-based animation systems
and Mas were still very far from the level of
accurate reproduction.  In 1991
Amiga Wold in his review only named
five 3D product manufacturers who
created realistically depicted scenes (about
times) - Scenery Animator (Natural
Graphics), Imagine Terrain module
(Impuls), Digital LandScape (DigiScape),
Vista and Vista Pro (Virtual Reality Labs)
while for Mac and PC it’s not even
the tasks of developing this kind of program have arisen.
frame support.                      
                                          
     Later, but much the same
happened with morphing programs.
The first morphing programs (Black Belt)
- ASDG's Morph Plus and GVP's CineMorph -
were written for the Amiga much earlier than
similar programs for Mac or IBM PC. B
the time when Video Toaster appeared
together with the device and software
reading. 3D software packages have begun on Mac
appear at a price of $1000-4000 excluding
the cost of a computer and a 24-bit monitor -
no card.  In some cases, only
the cost of one video card was much
more than an entire Amiga computer system
topics.                                     
                                          
     In March 1992 it appearednew
AmigabO0 model. High-hours were added
High-frequency and low-frequency PAL outputs for
color televisions. In addition, in Amiga
PCMCIA connectors were used for the first time
for connecting various additional
devices such as memory cards. Since 1993
yes AmigabO0 was produced with built-in
motherboard with an IDE connector for connecting
hard drive.                     
                                          
     September 11, 1992 at the exhibition
"World of Commodore" in Pasadena
(California) was first demonstrated
The AmigaCHO00 model has been radically modified
improved new coprocessor set
AGA (Advanced Graphic Architecture).
AGA special processors worked much faster
ECS option even in 256-color mode
(the full palette was 16 million
flowers). The new mode allowed simultaneously
display 262144 colors on the monitor from that
the same palette. Together with the AGA it was also announced
announced the release of the third version of the operational
system installed as standard on
all AGA computers.  The new OS had many
a lot of innovations and improvements. 
                                          
     In December 1992, the first models
Amiga 4000/040 (with processor 68040) post-
stuck on sale. The special processors in them are
were called Super Gary, Super Ramsey, Super
Amber, Lisa, Alice and Paula.Price Ami-
giCHO00/040 was high, and later it was high
a relatively cheaper model was launched
AmigaCHO00/030 with 68EC030 processor.      
                                          
     Appeared for the Christmas holidays
another AGA computer - Amiga1200, also
fully 32-bit, like AmigaCHO00 (pro-
processor 68EC020), but intended for use
new for home use and su-
significantly cheaper.  Sales volume
Amig1200 increased from month to month.
In fact, we can say that Ami-
ha1200 has become the most popular in the present
currently the Amiga model. By the way, in combination
NI with the Genlock device Amiga 1200 s
small stu- dents are used with great success
cable TV diy.               
                                          
                                          
 Commodore crisis            
                                         
                                         
     In March 1994, Commodore officially
but announced financial difficulties,
own lead to bankruptcy or liquidation
tions of the company.                             
                                          
     Tomid-April machine production
Amiga1200 and AmigaCHO00 are still in progress
elk, and development engineers worked
on a new special AAA processor set
(Advanced Amiga Architecture) - 24-bit
graphics at 1280X1024 resolution, multi-
natural 16-bit sound and many others
technological innovations.             
                                          
     Commodore's financial problems arose
wasn’t it all of a sudden and not all at once, but accumulated
for years.  It seems that Commodore was getting hurt-
higher incomes (especially in Europe), but in Europe
European currency markets were falling
dollar exchange rate, and Commodore is American
company. There is another important factor -
speaker: owning the rights to the best products
does not guarantee the same level of marketing
ha. And a company that conducts absolutely
expanded policy of supporting own developments
worker, constantly “clipping his wings” with his
the most talented engineers, cultivates
contains an inferiority complex in relation to
much weaker, but more widespread
injured products from other companies, yes
besides, he squanders what he received from the pro-
sales money will collapse sooner or later. In re-
As a result, on April 29, 1994, it was announced
decree on the liquidation of the American Department of
nt of the Commodore company, and all property was
put up for sale.In February 1995, in a rivalry
between the American company CEI from the state
Florida and Commodore suddenly wedged in
German company ESCOM, widely known as
the most successful PC seller in Europe
(sales volume in 1994 was about 2 million
liard dollars). In March ESCOM and liquid-
Commodore vidators have reached preliminary
agreement on the purchase of property
Commodore for 6 million dollars. Court
took place on April 20-21 in New York. Company
ESCOM received all rights to all intellectual property
personal and other property of Commodore.
After the trial, ESCOM immediately announced
the beginning of a new era in the world of Amig: politics
ESCOM, in contrast to Commodore's policy,
will be completely open.  Head of ESCOM
Manfred Schmidt announced the creation of a subsidiary
divisions of the company - Amiga Technologies.
Note that 80 percent of Amiga employees
Technologies came from Commodore.         
                                          
     Task number one was to immediately
resumption of production of Amiga1200 and Ami-
gaCHO00, because, despite all the vicissitudes
tii, the demand for Amiga continued to remain
huge.   You can count on your fingers
software manufacturers
for Amigas who stopped supporting them
due to a forced break in production
ve.  The courage and patience of the others was
rewarded: withSeptember resumed
production of the AmigaCHO00/040T model; appeared
lying model AmigaCHO00/060T, even purely
processor performance surpassed
Pentium 90. And in October it resumed
production and Amiga1200. Not yet descended
from assembly lines of factories in America and France
These cars were already all sold out! Total
By the end of December, 100 thousand were produced.
Amiga1200 and 20 thousand AmigaCHO00T machines.     
                                          
     Inspired by this success, ESCOM re-
sewed not to stop there and
expand production. According to some sources
production is already planned in 1996
drive from 550 to 800 thousand cars (Amiga 1200
and AmigaCHO00)! But in parallel with production
software development is underway
research and equipment. New AmigaOS version 4.
0 is already in beta testing
(it will include, for example, network
support).  Also in development
new "PowerAMIGA" series based on
RISC architecture.                         
                                          
     Previously frozen software and applications
parallel projects of companies producing peri-
feria and software, again
put into action.  Yes, and open politics
the company produces its results: it has already produced
The first Amiga clones are in production: DraCo (Motorola
68060) from MacroSystem and the first
Amiga-laptop.At the "World of Amiga" exhibition
(Toronto, Canada) in December 1995
innovations for the Amiga were discussed with might and main. 
                                          
     It looks like the Amiga is acquiring a worthy
management and decent advertising and stops
to be Cinderella among impudent sisters.   
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
                                          
 Amiga in television.           
                                         
                                         
     Now, having finished the brief historical
excursion, let's try to assess the prospects
professional use of Amig, in
particularly on TV. I will give, in my opinion,
the most convincing fact is the use
Amig in the creation of computer animation, where
the leader is the Steven Spielberg group.
Now Steven Spielberg acts as
ve producer of a television series
"Sequest DSV". This series should not be about
let none of the Amiga fans in. Co-
the perfection with which it was carried out,
confirms unlimited possibilities
these computers in professional televisionvision.                                  
                                          
     Science fiction series, premiere
which took place in Germany in January
1995 on a private TV channel and which from
has been broadcast weekly since
unique from many points of view. It all started
in 1992. James Lima, Award Winner
Academy Awards for Special Effects in
films "Total Recall", "Tage des Donners"
and in many others, as well as Phil Se-
Gal, vice president of Spielberg's company
"Ambline Entertainment" - key figures
project "Seaquest".  They wanted to create
high-quality TV series, only not for us
much inferior in quality of special effects
cinema.  At the same time, the goal was to demonstrate
reproduce the low ones inherent in TV,
production costs.                 
                                          
     Amblin Advertising Group was tasked with researching
market research - as a result it turned out that
that the Amiga with the Video Toaster additive will provide
calculates the most effective ratio
price/performance.  Next step -
creation (with general project management
Taylor Kurosaki and Philip Hayes) over 50
Video Toaster workstations based on
Amiga 4000 computers. Taylor Kurosaki -
right hand of James Lima, who passed the way
from the decorative artist of the Seaquest project
up toAmblin Supervisor.
It was Kurousaki who made the comparison, especially
especially for Rendering - calculation, software
Lightwave software with application programs
frames for SGI computers.  Philip Hayes
responsible for the operation of eight workers
seats - two AmigaCHO00 computers each.
He is also responsible for equipping more than 40
computers "Rendering-Farm" - system, in
became legendary in a matter of weeks. She
located in a small office inside the building
Amblin, located on the territory
Universal Studios in Hollywood.       
                                          
     In addition to the Amiga, Amblin has at its disposal
one Apple Quadra and one Indigo2 were in circulation
from SGI.  All these computers along with
"Rendering-Farm", which manages more than 10
hard drives with a capacity of 1.2 GB, about
connected to the network using a Novell server.
Quadra system together with Adobe Photoshop in
quality of software and
ToasterLink (connected via serial
telial interface combination
Amiga/VideoToaster) is used, with one
on the one hand, for character generation, and on the other -
for recording special sequences
tey.  "The SGI computer states Philip
Hayes - we use exclusively for
simple and quickly calculating tasks.
Hardware when equipped
software "Alias", althoughbecome more productive, but
for the production of Seaquest type products
too expensive. So we turned everything down
on the head: sometimes we quickly tried
ideas on Indigo 2, so that later professional
It's easy to perform them under LightWave."       
                                          
     On Amiga during production 2-3 minutes -
no computer animation was used
mostly standard software
provision.  So, for example, ASDGs "ADPro"
along with several additional mod-
ly provides not only related to
whole episodes layout, but also controls
recording individual frames on laser displays
ki.  This approach is due to the fact that James
Lima and his team were shortchanging to begin with.
low resolution scenes without
Anti-Aliasing and Motion-Blur (sharpness when
movement).  "As a rule, our artists
can start discussing after lunch
animation started in the morning and rewritten
noah on the laser disc already in the first half
day - explains Kurosaki and continues -
This sequence of video frames is then
goes to Universal Studios. A day earlier, in
five Universal studios, produced
filming footage for "Seaquest", which
are now combined within the first,
worker, editing with computer animation
tion.  Once the result of this working
installationcomes back to us, we determine
we divide which frames of the sequence are used
used by editing operators, we are improving them,
as needed, and then recalculated
we create animations into images with high resolution
cutting and with all optical special effects
those provided by LightWave.
The final calculated frames are directed
are then - again with the help of the program -
ASDG framework - per device
digital recording on magnetic tape company
Exabyte, which are installed in the system
topics for recording/playback on hard
Abekas discs, playable in
real time and finally
mounted on digital video recorders
D1 format.  "The Post Group" is responsible for
preparation of film and video products. Last-
This photo is made by re-shooting on
35mm film.                             
                                          
 But along with ASDG products when creating
Denmark "Seaquest" was first used
a number of other application programs. This
programs for the Amiga "Dpaint IV AGA", and
also "ImageFX" from GVP.                
                                          
     Over the past couple of years, Amiga 3D
gram packages have become widespread
injury.  They are increasingly used as
television and in feature films
max. Amblin Image by Steven Spielberg
changedLightWave for creating underwater
world in SeaQuest: DSV. 3D animations on Amiga
used to create special effects
com in the series RoboCop, presented on
shows like the Emmy Awards and American
Music Awards, and even on national television
visionary advertising companies.            
                                          
     Latest innovations - application yet
more advanced platforms for 3D animation
tion works ASDG/Elastic Realty's
Exabyte container driver. This allowed the reset
transfer images directly to a professional
digital video recorder without the slightest software
loss of quality. The company's ScreamerNet program
NewTek and the Raptor device (together called
created by Toaster Screamer) now allow
work with LightWave 10 times faster, and
Toaster Fly - making video creation even easier
digital animation on the Amiga. As a result
The Amiga is now very widely used
professionals for whom above all else
quality, quality and once again quality.    
                                          
     This, however, does not mean that the demand
of those who are not yet involved in television
sion network (broadcast television), the remaining
went unnoticed. So, for example, Personal
Animation Recorder (PAR) by DPS
eliminated the need for expensive
single-frame records, making animation ve-
careful quality affordable for ordinaryuser.  Inexpensive VLabMotioon boards
(video) and Tocatta (sound) from MacroSystem
fully provide non-linear video
editing in VHS and S-Video standards with real
recording at 50 and 60 frames per second, in
depending on the selected system (PAL or
NTSC).                                    
                                          
     While Amiga animation is gradually
improved on Mac and PC platforms
Significant progress has been made.  Meaning
The quality of display cards has improved significantly
in these machines, are quite sharply reduced
prices for Mac and PC systems, in some cases
in teas they became even lower than in similar
Amiga systems. Now some users
tel, not counting graphics professionals,
can afford to get carried away with 3D on PC or
Mass. However, despite the success of their rivals,
Amiga, which opened its second ten-
anniversary, confidently maintains an advantage in the under-
maintains a tradition of empowerment
3D graphics for ordinary users.  She
created a space for lovers who
who are fascinated by 3D animation, and for
graphic artists who want to spread
bring unique 3D effects to television-
nom air.                                
                                          
     And ten years after the appearance
The Amiga remains the only computer
rum, whichallows you to go so far-
ko in the field of 3D animation, as far as is enough
your talent.                           
                                          
 (Information and technical magazine
"625" N2'96)                             

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