amiga-news.de - Archive

Archive 04/2025

17.Apr.2025 Amiga Games That Weren't: Real-time strategy game "HiWar"
At "Amiga Games that Weren't" there is information and a preview version of "HiWar", a Red Alert clone that was later released as "Tridonis" on the PC. (cg)

[News message: 17. Apr. 2025, 23:36] [Comments: 0]
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17.Apr.2025
Simon Neumann (ANF)

Warcraft-2-Engine: Stratagus 3.3.3 for AmigaOS 4
Press release: Alinea Computer is pleased to be able to offer another port by Steffen Häuser. Steffen has taken care of the porting of the latest version 3.3.3 and the installation routines for easy installation under AmigaOS 4. Stratagus is the port of the engine in version 3.3.3, which makes it possible to play the game Warcraft 2 from Blizzard Entertainment natively on the Amiga under AmigaOS 4.

The archive contains an installer with which it is possible to install the game directly from the PC CD without pre-installing it on the PC. At least for the Warcraft 2 Classic PC CD, for the Battle.Net CD or the Gog version it is necessary to unpack a file with a Windows tool, but with the Classic CD you can install directly on the Amiga.

Warcraft 2 is one of the most famous strategy games of all time, practically the prequel to the famous MMO "World of Warcraft". In addition to the base game "Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness", the add-on CD "Warcraft 2: Beyond the Dark Portal" (already included in the Battle.Net CD and Gog version) is also supported.

Stratagus is based on the current "latest Git" version of the Stratagus project (version 3.3.3). In contrast to an earlier implementation, 3.3.3 offers the following features:

Iconic game music and not just sound effects (the music files are only installed with the Warcraft 2 Classic CD and the Battle.net CD, but can be copied manually afterwards when using the Gog version).
The game's video sequences (video sequences not available on AmigaOne A1222)
A functional level editor
Numerous bug fixes

Of course, the localisation of Warcraft 2 into different languages is also supported.

Stratagus is under GPL licence, the source code of the Amiga version will be integrated into the github of the PC version in the foreseeable future, but is also available as a request by e-mail (see readme for details).

The minimum requirements for Stratagus are:

A computer with AmigaOS 4.1 FE Update 2 or higher
Special executables optimised for the respective platforms (x1000, x5000, Sam 440, Sam 460, G3 and A1222) can be selected during installation.

Note: This version only offers the single-player campaigns, without multiplayer. (cg)

[News message: 17. Apr. 2025, 23:32] [Comments: 0]
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17.Apr.2025 Tutorial: Building a 14-Mhz accelerator card for the Amiga 500 (German)
In a German-language detailed article, Mingo shows how he rebuilds the 14mhz-accelerator available on Github. (cg)

[News message: 17. Apr. 2025, 23:19] [Comments: 0]
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16.Apr.2025 Scala game: The Hobbitron Chronicles
The Hobbitron Chronicles is a point-and-click version of the text adventure Adventure 3 created with Scala MM400. Accordingly, the Scala Player (or Scala) is required to play the game.

The aim of the game is to find and destroy three magical rings hidden in different eras: the past, the present and the future. (snx)

[News message: 16. Apr. 2025, 21:06] [Comments: 0]
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16.Apr.2025 Demoscene: Compression optimization
At the title link, Alexander Grupe describes how he saves a few bytes in the boot block in order to have more space for demoscene productions. (snx)

[News message: 16. Apr. 2025, 21:06] [Comments: 0]
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15.Apr.2025

ACube Systems: UBoot 2015.d for Sam440ep flex and mini-itx
Pressemitteilung Bassano del Grappa, Italy - 14 April 2025

ACube Systems is pleased to announce a new release of the U-Boot firmware for its Sam440 line of motherboards.

Following the recent update for the Sam460 (amiga-news.de reported), the Sam440 now also benefits from enhanced support, including compatibility with NVMe SSDs. Additionally, this update introduces support for Radeon RX and Radeon HD graphics cards.

This release represents a significant investment of time and resources. Nevertheless, we have chosen to offer it at the symbolic price of €3.99. Highlights of this release include:

Support for Radeon RX graphics cards (*)
Improved support for Radeon HD graphics cards (*)
NVMe SSD driver: boot directly from NVMe devices using a PCIe adapter (*)
Driver for the PCIe SATA2 Silicon Image 3132 controller, with support for booting from SSDs and DVDs (*)
Enhanced RAM access speed on Sam440ep-flex boards
New graphical interface style
Revised sata command, now displaying more detailed information about drivers and connected devices
Serial console improvements: menu navigation via the W (up) and S (down) keys
General bug fixes and overall improvements
Unified source code for the 460ex and 440ep platforms

Features marked with an asterisk (*) require a PCI-to-PCIe bridge. Radeon RX and Radeon HD graphics cards also require a specific driver (to be sold separately by A-EON Technology once available) for use with AmigaOS 4.

The update is available through our online store. For those not comfortable performing the update themselves, we also offer pre-programmed, fully updated U-Boot chips.

Additional Information: UBoot makes use of GPL-licensed code and is therefore released under the terms of the GPL (download of UBoot source code, download of Parthenope source code). (dr)

[News message: 15. Apr. 2025, 07:02] [Comments: 0]
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15.Apr.2025 Paint program: Multipaint 2025 for Windows/Linux/Mac
Multipaint is a paint program that runs on Windows, Mac OS X and Linux and specialises in retro pixel art. The tool, which is now available in version 3.2.2025, supports the creation of graphics under the colour restrictions of classic 8- and 16-bit platforms - not only the Amiga, but also other retro systems such as C64, ZX Spectrum, MSX, CPC and Atari ST.

Multipaint features common drawing tools, color clash emulation, cut brushes, dither patterns, grid / snap, 30-step undo, spare page, magnify modes, direct executable export, export as source, import/export in native formats and much more.

Since our last report back from 24 February 2023, a number of improvements and bug fixes have been added to Multipaint, including enhanced compatibility, new file dialogs and incremental file naming. (nba)

[News message: 15. Apr. 2025, 01:09] [Comments: 0]
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15.Apr.2025
Passione Amiga (ANF) Event: Passione Amiga Day 2025
Passione Amiga Day is a gathering for Amiga users organised by the Italian magazine Passione Amiga. The event features commercial exhibitors, conferences with Italian and international guests, and a flea market. Following the success of the first four events, Passione Amiga Day 2025 will take place on 7 September with free admission.

The venue, in the historic centre of the town of Spoleto, is the ideal place to spend a weekend immersed in history, culture, food and wine. Spoleto has managed to combine modernity with its past, which can still be felt in its streets and squares and makes the town a unique place in the world. Its charm has led it to be chosen as the location for the TV series "Don Matteo". (nba)

[News message: 15. Apr. 2025, 00:47] [Comments: 0]
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15.Apr.2025 iComp: ACA1240/1260 now available for all customers
ACA from iComp (individual Computers) is a modern turbocard series for various classic Amiga models. The fast version for the Amiga 1200 holding a 68040 or 68060 processor has been available to interested parties for a few days now. The card was first mentioned at the end of 2018 and has already been delivered to iComp's existing customers since February of this year.

Jens Schönfeld mentions in the current announcement that not all planned features are yet included on the card. At this year's Revision demoparty in Saarbrücken, an Amiga 1200 with an ACA1260 at 100 MHz is running for the AGA/060 Demo Competition, according to iComp.

Sales of the ACA1240 and ACA1260 are limited to one card per customer. Interested parties must therefore register on the iComp website before purchasing. (nba)

[News message: 15. Apr. 2025, 00:38] [Comments: 0]
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