CPC - Revision history

Phi2x: /* ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype */

2025-05-24T06:54:32Z

ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:54, 24 May 2025
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	A few of the PCW's design features which don't appear to make any sense on their own stem from this shared ancestry. But the project was dropped at a fairly early stage, and the CPC Classic lived on before eventually succumbing to the Plus. Only one prototype board is believed to survive, in the possession of ex-Locomotive Software engineer [[Richard Clayton]].		A few of the PCW's design features which don't appear to make any sense on their own stem from this shared ancestry. But the project was dropped at a fairly early stage, and the CPC Classic lived on before eventually succumbing to the Plus. Only one prototype board is believed to survive, in the possession of ex-Locomotive Software engineer [[Richard Clayton]].

	"''We did an Amstrad machine basically a [[PCW]] with hi-res colour and sound synth, called ANT (Arnold Number Two) but it never went anywhere as production. It was really nice, but by then [[Amiga]] did everything we wanted to do, 8-bit was meh, and [[Amstrad PC\|PCs]] were more important.''" – Vik Olliver [https://x.com/VikOlliver/status/1191156134876311554 Source]		"''We did an Amstrad machine basically a [[PCW]] with hi-res colour and sound synth, called ANT (Arnold Number Two) but it never went anywhere as production. It was really nice, but by then [[Amiga]] did everything we wanted to do, 8-bit was meh, and [[Amstrad PC\|PCs]] were more important.''" — Vik Olliver [https://x.com/VikOlliver/status/1191156134876311554 Source]

	<br>		<br>

Phi2x: /* The 472 */

2025-05-24T06:54:03Z

The 472

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	The [[472\|CPC 472]] was a Spanish version of the CPC 464 with an additional, non-functional 8KB RAM. The reason was that Spain charged an import tax on home computers with 64K or less RAM, the fake "72K" CPC version bypassed that tax. The tax was invented in September 1985, and was dropped a few months later (when Spain joined the EEC). Also in 1985, but independtly of that tax, Spain dictated that computers must have spanish keyboards, which resulted in two CPC 472 versions: Older models with english keys, newer ones with spanish keys. Another oddity is that the older CPC472 had BASIC 1.1 while the newer CPC472 had BASIC 1.0. The CPC 472 is very rare.		The [[472\|CPC 472]] was a Spanish version of the CPC 464 with an additional, non-functional 8KB RAM. The reason was that Spain charged an import tax on home computers with 64K or less RAM, the fake "72K" CPC version bypassed that tax. The tax was invented in September 1985, and was dropped a few months later (when Spain joined the EEC). Also in 1985, but independtly of that tax, Spain dictated that computers must have spanish keyboards, which resulted in two CPC 472 versions: Older models with english keys, newer ones with spanish keys. Another oddity is that the older CPC472 had BASIC 1.1 while the newer CPC472 had BASIC 1.0. The CPC 472 is very rare.

	"We had basically stuck two fingers in the air to the Spanish government, who were trying to screw our business, and there wasn’t much they could do about it" — Alan Sugar		"''We had basically stuck two fingers in the air to the Spanish government, who were trying to screw our business, and there wasn’t much they could do about it''" — Alan Sugar

	Read the full story behind the CPC 472 directly from the horse's mouth: https://amstrad.com/product/cpc472/		Read the full story behind the CPC 472 directly from the horse's mouth: https://amstrad.com/product/cpc472/

Phi2x: /* The GX4000 */

2025-05-24T06:37:54Z

The GX4000

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	== The GX4000 ==		== The GX4000 ==
	[[Image:Amstrad-GX4000-Console.jpg\|right\|thumb\|300px\|The Amstrad GX4000]]		[[Image:Amstrad-GX4000-Console.jpg\|right\|thumb\|300px\|The Amstrad GX4000]]
	By 1990 Amstrad had realised that the home market was heading towards the 16-bit machines, on one hand, and towards the new generation of game consoles like the Sega Master System or the Nintendo Entertainment System, on the other. Therefore, just as they created the 464 Plus and 6128 Plus to compete against the ST and the Amiga, they also created a stripped-down variant called the [[Plus\|GX4000]].		By 1990 Amstrad had realised that the home market was heading towards the 16-bit machines, on one hand, and towards the new generation of game consoles like the Sega Master System or the Nintendo Entertainment System, on the other. Therefore, just as they created the 464 Plus and 6128 Plus to compete against the ST and the Amiga, they also created a stripped-down variant called the [[Plus\|GX4000]].

	The GX4000 was, in essence, an Amstrad 464+ motherboard in a new case, with no keyboard, cassette deck nor disc drive, and with most extension ports gone - save for the cartridge port and two joypads.		The GX4000 was, in essence, an Amstrad 464+ motherboard in a new case, with no keyboard, cassette deck nor disc drive, and with most extension ports gone - save for the cartridge port and two joypads.

	As expected, the GX4000 was a flop that could not break the stranglehold that Sega and Nintendo had on the market at the time. As a result, the GX4000 was soon to be found selling at ridiculously low prices - as little as £19.99 in the UK - as dealers tried to offload their stock. It was a shame, because if Amstrad had realised the market potential and produced this console a few years earlier, it could well have been a success.		The GX4000 was officially announced along with the 464 plus and 6128 plus computers at the CNIT Centre in Paris in August 1990.

			The system was launched a month later in four countries: Britain, France, Spain, and Italy. It was priced at £99.99 in Britain and 990F in France; software was priced at £25 for most games. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_GX4000 Source]

			As expected, the GX4000 was a flop that could not break the stranglehold that Sega and Nintendo had on the market at the time. The Nintendo NES was a best seller and Sega released the Mega Drive in November 1990 in Europe.

			As a result, the GX4000 was soon to be found selling at ridiculously low prices - as little as £19.99 in the UK - as dealers tried to offload their stock. It was a shame, because if Amstrad had realised the market potential and produced this console a few years earlier, it could well have been a success.

	As it was, the GX4000 joined the long list of failed attempts to repurpose computers as game consoles, alongside the Atari XEGS, the Commodore 64GS, the Amiga CDTV, the Amiga CD32, the FM Towns Marty and the Apple Pippin.		As it was, the GX4000 joined the long list of failed attempts to repurpose computers as game consoles, alongside the Atari XEGS, the Commodore 64GS, the Amiga CDTV, the Amiga CD32, the FM Towns Marty and the Apple Pippin.

Phi2x: /* ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype */

2025-05-23T20:58:02Z

ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:58, 23 May 2025
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	A few of the PCW's design features which don't appear to make any sense on their own stem from this shared ancestry. But the project was dropped at a fairly early stage, and the CPC Classic lived on before eventually succumbing to the Plus. Only one prototype board is believed to survive, in the possession of ex-Locomotive Software engineer [[Richard Clayton]].		A few of the PCW's design features which don't appear to make any sense on their own stem from this shared ancestry. But the project was dropped at a fairly early stage, and the CPC Classic lived on before eventually succumbing to the Plus. Only one prototype board is believed to survive, in the possession of ex-Locomotive Software engineer [[Richard Clayton]].

	"''We did an Amstrad machine basically a PCW with hi-res colour and sound synth, called ANT (Arnold Number Two) but it never went anywhere as production. It was really nice, but by then Amiga did everything we wanted to do, 8-bit was meh, and PCs were more important.''" – Vik Olliver [https://x.com/VikOlliver/status/1191156134876311554 Source]		"''We did an Amstrad machine basically a [[PCW]] with hi-res colour and sound synth, called ANT (Arnold Number Two) but it never went anywhere as production. It was really nice, but by then [[Amiga]] did everything we wanted to do, 8-bit was meh, and [[Amstrad PC\|PCs]] were more important.''" – Vik Olliver [https://x.com/VikOlliver/status/1191156134876311554 Source]

	<br>		<br>

Phi2x: /* ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype */

2025-05-23T20:56:36Z

ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:56, 23 May 2025
Line 271:		Line 271:

	A few of the PCW's design features which don't appear to make any sense on their own stem from this shared ancestry. But the project was dropped at a fairly early stage, and the CPC Classic lived on before eventually succumbing to the Plus. Only one prototype board is believed to survive, in the possession of ex-Locomotive Software engineer [[Richard Clayton]].		A few of the PCW's design features which don't appear to make any sense on their own stem from this shared ancestry. But the project was dropped at a fairly early stage, and the CPC Classic lived on before eventually succumbing to the Plus. Only one prototype board is believed to survive, in the possession of ex-Locomotive Software engineer [[Richard Clayton]].

			"''We did an Amstrad machine basically a PCW with hi-res colour and sound synth, called ANT (Arnold Number Two) but it never went anywhere as production. It was really nice, but by then Amiga did everything we wanted to do, 8-bit was meh, and PCs were more important.''" – Vik Olliver [https://x.com/VikOlliver/status/1191156134876311554 Source]

	<br>		<br>

Phi2x: /* ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype */

2025-05-23T19:14:15Z

ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:14, 23 May 2025
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	== ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype ==		== ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype ==

	~~[[File:20250523 194636.jpg\|thumb\|right\|ANT prototype]]~~

	At the same time, Amstrad was designing the immensely successful [[PCW]] word-processor series, also with software by [[Locomotive Software\|Locomotive]] and featuring an all-in-one Z80-based design.		At the same time, Amstrad was designing the immensely successful [[PCW]] word-processor series, also with software by [[Locomotive Software\|Locomotive]] and featuring an all-in-one Z80-based design.

Phi2x: /* ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype */

2025-05-23T19:02:21Z

ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:02, 23 May 2025
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	== ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype ==		== ANT (Arnold Number Two) prototype ==

			[[File:20250523 194636.jpg\|thumb\|right\|ANT prototype]]

	At the same time, Amstrad was designing the immensely successful [[PCW]] word-processor series, also with software by [[Locomotive Software\|Locomotive]] and featuring an all-in-one Z80-based design.		At the same time, Amstrad was designing the immensely successful [[PCW]] word-processor series, also with software by [[Locomotive Software\|Locomotive]] and featuring an all-in-one Z80-based design.

Phi2x: /* See also */

2025-05-15T15:38:24Z

Phi2x: /* See also */

2025-05-15T15:37:48Z

Phi2x: /* See also */

2025-05-15T15:37:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:38, 15 May 2025
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	*[[CPC timeline]]		*[[CPC timeline]]
	*[https://youtu.be/MTsCiZ3ZBD4 ~~El CREADOR del AMSTRAD CPC nos cuenta TODO sobre su DESARROLLO \|~~ Entrevista a ROLAND PERRY] by [[Las Cosas Retro]]		*[https://youtu.be/MTsCiZ3ZBD4 Entrevista a ROLAND PERRY] by [[Las Cosas Retro]]
	*[https://youtu.be/bD_gBz2fwDM Amstrad CPC - Top 150 games (1984-2020)] Top 50 CPC games from [https://youtu.be/F3pVjc4tmCU 1984] [https://youtu.be/8w7Rx1dOmPs 1985] [https://youtu.be/c18muwWbVZc 1986] [https://youtu.be/NpL1uq0IAz4 1987] [https://youtu.be/0mnR3vTJXw8 1988]		*[https://youtu.be/bD_gBz2fwDM Amstrad CPC - Top 150 games (1984-2020)] Top 50 CPC games from [https://youtu.be/F3pVjc4tmCU 1984] [https://youtu.be/8w7Rx1dOmPs 1985] [https://youtu.be/c18muwWbVZc 1986] [https://youtu.be/NpL1uq0IAz4 1987] [https://youtu.be/0mnR3vTJXw8 1988]
	*[https://youtu.be/ZOOwlWwlltM All Amstrad CPC games] from [https://youtu.be/Smpv8v1OP5A 1984] [https://youtu.be/_JJjHXNGEyY 1985] [https://youtu.be/5XRyZIW4c9s 1986] [https://youtu.be/V7yRLp-Xvfs 1987] [https://youtu.be/afn70FPDRoQ 1988] [https://youtu.be/tpQ1PhUWnYw 1989] [https://youtu.be/8_JvuGdumC4 1990] [https://youtu.be/yJsm1DeF7Pk 1991] [https://youtu.be/LQmDzkNs0P4 1992]		*[https://youtu.be/ZOOwlWwlltM All Amstrad CPC games] from [https://youtu.be/Smpv8v1OP5A 1984] [https://youtu.be/_JJjHXNGEyY 1985] [https://youtu.be/5XRyZIW4c9s 1986] [https://youtu.be/V7yRLp-Xvfs 1987] [https://youtu.be/afn70FPDRoQ 1988] [https://youtu.be/tpQ1PhUWnYw 1989] [https://youtu.be/8_JvuGdumC4 1990] [https://youtu.be/yJsm1DeF7Pk 1991] [https://youtu.be/LQmDzkNs0P4 1992]

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:37, 15 May 2025
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	*[https://youtu.be/ZOOwlWwlltM All Amstrad CPC games] from [https://youtu.be/Smpv8v1OP5A 1984] [https://youtu.be/_JJjHXNGEyY 1985] [https://youtu.be/5XRyZIW4c9s 1986] [https://youtu.be/V7yRLp-Xvfs 1987] [https://youtu.be/afn70FPDRoQ 1988] [https://youtu.be/tpQ1PhUWnYw 1989] [https://youtu.be/8_JvuGdumC4 1990] [https://youtu.be/yJsm1DeF7Pk 1991] [https://youtu.be/LQmDzkNs0P4 1992]		*[https://youtu.be/ZOOwlWwlltM All Amstrad CPC games] from [https://youtu.be/Smpv8v1OP5A 1984] [https://youtu.be/_JJjHXNGEyY 1985] [https://youtu.be/5XRyZIW4c9s 1986] [https://youtu.be/V7yRLp-Xvfs 1987] [https://youtu.be/afn70FPDRoQ 1988] [https://youtu.be/tpQ1PhUWnYw 1989] [https://youtu.be/8_JvuGdumC4 1990] [https://youtu.be/yJsm1DeF7Pk 1991] [https://youtu.be/LQmDzkNs0P4 1992]
	*[https://youtu.be/hBlHUWRlmug Amstrad CPC - Best of Music with Video (3 hours)]		*[https://youtu.be/hBlHUWRlmug Amstrad CPC - Best of Music with Video (3 hours)]
	*[https://youtu.be/BvramomEtSM Amstrad TV ~~advertisements~~] [https://youtu.be/n7U6E7bDFlc Amstrad French TV ~~advertisements~~]		*[https://youtu.be/BvramomEtSM Amstrad TV adverts] [https://youtu.be/n7U6E7bDFlc Amstrad French TV adverts]
	*[https://youtu.be/8o1OTwFv7WQ Part 1] [https://youtu.be/f1KS7nSKnxE Part 2] Amstrad CPC Story by [[Nostalgia Nerd]]		*[https://youtu.be/8o1OTwFv7WQ Part 1] [https://youtu.be/f1KS7nSKnxE Part 2] Amstrad CPC Story by [[Nostalgia Nerd]]
	*[https://youtu.be/fB9M6RMtMUE Partie 1] [https://youtu.be/F0CzNJjjkO4 Partie 2] [https://youtu.be/la5IhBbrqPc Partie 3] [https://youtu.be/uUR5oKBxRzA Partie 4] Histoire de l'Amstrad CPC by [[Génération Micros]]		*[https://youtu.be/fB9M6RMtMUE Partie 1] [https://youtu.be/F0CzNJjjkO4 Partie 2] [https://youtu.be/la5IhBbrqPc Partie 3] [https://youtu.be/uUR5oKBxRzA Partie 4] Histoire de l'Amstrad CPC by [[Génération Micros]]
	*[https://youtu.be/mesZ1zbA654 Amstrad : La gamme CPC (1984/1985)] [https://youtu.be/Ijuqsz69Euk Amstrad 6128 Plus] by [[Rodrik Studio]]		*[https://youtu.be/mesZ1zbA654 Amstrad : La gamme CPC (1984/1985)] [https://youtu.be/Ijuqsz69Euk Amstrad 6128 Plus] by [[Rodrik Studio]]
	*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0vvdDx4egk&list=PLIX9fyYxV0k9phQiqATmOe2OZJyeMuY0a C64 vs Amstrad CPC] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfZ77Ltkols&list=PLIX9fyYxV0k_VOgMOIxseJH1c91KKcxKB ZX Spectrum vs Amstrad CPC]		*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0vvdDx4egk&list=PLIX9fyYxV0k9phQiqATmOe2OZJyeMuY0a C64 vs Amstrad CPC] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfZ77Ltkols&list=PLIX9fyYxV0k_VOgMOIxseJH1c91KKcxKB ZX Spectrum vs Amstrad CPC]

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:37, 15 May 2025
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	*[[CPC timeline]]		*[[CPC timeline]]
	*[https://youtu.be/MTsCiZ3ZBD4 El CREADOR del AMSTRAD CPC nos cuenta TODO sobre su DESARROLLO \| Entrevista a ROLAND PERRY] by [[Las Cosas Retro]]		*[https://youtu.be/MTsCiZ3ZBD4 El CREADOR del AMSTRAD CPC nos cuenta TODO sobre su DESARROLLO \| Entrevista a ROLAND PERRY] by [[Las Cosas Retro]]
	*[https://youtu.be/bD_gBz2fwDM Amstrad CPC - Top 150 games (1984-2020)] [https://youtu.be/~~ZOOwlWwlltM All Amstrad CPC games~~]		*[https://youtu.be/bD_gBz2fwDM Amstrad CPC - Top 150 games (1984-2020)] Top 50 CPC games from [https://youtu.be/F3pVjc4tmCU 1984] [https://youtu.be/8w7Rx1dOmPs 1985] [https://youtu.be/c18muwWbVZc 1986] [https://youtu.be/NpL1uq0IAz4 1987] [https://youtu.be/0mnR3vTJXw8 1988]
	*All Amstrad CPC games from [https://youtu.be/~~Smpv8v1OP5A 1984~~] [https://youtu.be/~~_JJjHXNGEyY 1985~~] [https://youtu.be/~~5XRyZIW4c9s 1986~~] [https://youtu.be/~~V7yRLp-Xvfs 1987~~] [https://youtu.be/~~afn70FPDRoQ 1988~~] [https://youtu.be/~~tpQ1PhUWnYw 1989~~] [https://youtu.be/~~8_JvuGdumC4 1990~~] [https://youtu.be/~~yJsm1DeF7Pk 1991~~] [https://youtu.be/~~LQmDzkNs0P4 1992~~]		*[https://youtu.be/ZOOwlWwlltM All Amstrad CPC games] from [https://youtu.be/Smpv8v1OP5A 1984] [https://youtu.be/_JJjHXNGEyY 1985] [https://youtu.be/5XRyZIW4c9s 1986] [https://youtu.be/V7yRLp-Xvfs 1987] [https://youtu.be/afn70FPDRoQ 1988] [https://youtu.be/tpQ1PhUWnYw 1989] [https://youtu.be/8_JvuGdumC4 1990] [https://youtu.be/yJsm1DeF7Pk 1991] [https://youtu.be/LQmDzkNs0P4 1992]
	*Top 50 CPC games from [https://youtu.be/~~F3pVjc4tmCU 1984~~] [https://youtu.be/~~8w7Rx1dOmPs 1985~~] [https://youtu.be/~~c18muwWbVZc 1986~~] [https://youtu.be/~~NpL1uq0IAz4 1987~~] [https://youtu.be/~~0mnR3vTJXw8 1988~~]
	*[https://youtu.be/hBlHUWRlmug Amstrad CPC - Best of Music with Video (3 hours)]		*[https://youtu.be/hBlHUWRlmug Amstrad CPC - Best of Music with Video (3 hours)]
	*[https://youtu.be/BvramomEtSM Amstrad TV advertisements] [https://youtu.be/n7U6E7bDFlc Amstrad French TV advertisements]		*[https://youtu.be/BvramomEtSM Amstrad TV advertisements] [https://youtu.be/n7U6E7bDFlc Amstrad French TV advertisements]