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It is a commonly accepted truth among Amigans that in the wake of the Commodore bankruptcy and all of the Amiga's ups and downs since that time, the thing that has most kept the Amiga platform alive is the Amiga Community. That community includes dealers, commercial developers, Amiga owners and advocates and shareware authors. It also includes the intrepid souls who have continued, sometimes in the face of considerable adversity, to publish Amiga print magazines and produce Amiga Web sites, such as those we've been covering in the Resources section of Amiga World. We thought it would be fascinating to hear what some of these die-hard Amiga supporters had to say about the past and future of the Amiga, and about their own important role in keeping the community alive. Our thirteen participants were:

Bruno de Klerk (AmigaScene magazine, Netherlands)
Olivier Ferrer (aMiGa=PoWeR magazine, France)
Daniele Franza (Amiga Enigma Life magazine, Italy)
Peter Horvath (Amiga Villag magazine, Hungary)
Wayne Hunt (Amiga.org Web portal, USA)
Grzegorz Juraszek (eXec Magazine, Poland)
Christian Kemp (Amiga Network News portal, Luxemborg)
Andrew Korn (Amiga Active Magazine, UK)
Andreas Magerl (Amiga Future magazine, Germany)
Thomas Raukamp (Amiga Plus magazine, Germany)
Giorgio Signori (Amiga.it CD magazine, Italy)
Brad Webb (Amiga Update e-mail newsletter, USA)

Please note that all responses to Amiga World questions are the opinions of each magazines representative and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Amiga, Inc.

Why, originally, did you create your magazine or Web site?

ANDREAS MAGERL: Because we are Amiga users!

ANDREW KORN: I got suckered in by those villains at CU Amiga magazine. They gave me a job, the swines! Amiga Active came about because there was a gap in the market when CU closed, and Pinprint publishing wanted to fill it. They contacted me about a year before the magazine actually launched - it's a long process getting a magazine together.

BRAD WEBB: I was writing for the old "Jumpdisk" disk-based publication at the time Commodore went bankrupt. I found myself getting e-mail questions from fellow employees of the company where I worked, asking what I knew of the situation. I started sending group e-mails of information as I got it to those people. Pretty soon, I realized I had an e-mail magazine started, and there was a real need for it. I added a masthead -- Amiga Update -- and away we went.

CHRISTIAN KEMP: Back in 1996, when Amiga News Network was founded, a lot of news and rumors were posted on Usenet, and many Amiga celebrities (Dr. Peter Kittel, Dave Haynie, Olaf Barthel, etc.) were participating in many interesting discussions. Seeing how no Web site covered the newsgroups, I decided that this was a niche that was worthwhile exploring. That, and the fact that I wanted to actively contribute to the Amiga scene; but had discovered that my programming skills were not sufficient to write any really useful applications. :)

THOMAS RAUKAMP: We started Amiga Plus magazine in 1998, because we felt that no other German Amiga-magazine highlighted the kinds of things users could create and do with this machine. We also wanted to give the market a magazine that combined serious journalism with an attractive design-to be a window for this platform to the outside world in order to gain respect and acceptance for the Amiga.

GRZEGORZ JURASZEK: "eXec" magazine was created after the closure of "Magazyn Amiga", formerly the biggest East-European paper Amiga publication. We thought our community needed a replacement as MA was just one of two regular Amiga magazines in Poland.

BRUNO DE KLERK: After the one and only Dutch 'Amiga Magazine' couldn't continue anymore, we (as an user group) decided that there had to be some kind of Dutch (+Belgium/Flemmish) Amiga magazine to keep providing the Dutch Amiga scene with information/news. AmigaScene started as a small, photocopied club magazine...but has grown to a full-size magazine, with lots of different articles.

OLIVIER FERRER: aMiGa=PoWeR was created by the French Amiga users' association AFLE in order to inform and support all active French Amiga users.

DANIELE FRANZA: Enigma Amiga Run was the last [Amiga] magazine in Italy, but the community was still alive and we didn't want to be forced to read magazines written in other languages. This motivated me to decide to buy EAR, together with my publisher, and to continue publications under the name Enigma Amiga LIFE.

PETER HORVATH: Our magazine was the only one in Hungary at that time. I wanted to read about Amiga (and had a lot to say about it) so I decided to make a magazine! :-)


Wayne Hunt, Giorgio Signori, Grzegorz Juraszek, and Olivier Ferrer

Some of you began your efforts in the years after the Commodore bankruptcy, the Escom bankruptcy, and even the broken promises by Gateway. What motivated you to commence such a task in such a difficult time for the Amiga community?

GIORGIO SIGNORI: Amiga.it...started when Amiga still was "in the fog:" Gateway had just totally cancelled their plans for the New Amiga, and morale was not that high. My previous magazine (Enigma Amiga Run) was going to close but we wanted to keep on talking about the Amiga, and to give our support to the community.

THOMAS RAUKAMP: We wanted to give the market a positive boost, and actually did. We experienced the same thing in the Atari market years ago, when establishing our magazine gave that market new life. And there were and are great chances for a strong Amiga-market again!

GRZEGORZ JURASZEK: Amiga users do not follow regular patterns of economic thinking! That is the best explanation I can give! ;-) A hobby is a hobby, and no difficult times can stop you if you really like what you do!

ANDREW KORN: As I said, AmigActive was inspired by the closure of CU Amiga, but it wouldn't have happened unless we all felt the market had potential for expansion. We feel that we are putting ourselves in a good position for the launch of the New Amiga. It was quite a blow that the whole Gateway thing collapsed a few days before our first issue went to press with the departure of Collas, but we had a hint that there was something else brewing, so we had no intention of letting it drop there!

OLIVIER FERRER: Producing aMiGa=PoWeR magazine is relatively easy, since many people freely contribute to it, and, generally speaking, we always have something to say about Amiga. There is always something new :).

When you look back, what have the major pleasures and difficulties been for you in keeping your project going?

OLIVIER FERRER: When AFLE decided to create aMiGa=PoWeR for its members, there were rather few of them. We had to persuade them that it was a good thing. By issuing a high quality magazine, at a very low annual cost, we managed to make AFLE the first French Amiga related association. With more than 250 members today, AFLE is well known on the Amiga market, connected with many manufacturers, editors and resellers.

ANDREW KORN: The pleasures: Job satisfaction. Creating something people really enjoy and which provides them with an anchor to the whole Amiga "community" is what makes it worth while. The problems: Lack of sleep, mainly.

CHRISTIAN KEMP: It was, and still is, a very special thrill to see how many people visit Amiga News Network daily, showing that there still is sufficient interest for the work I'm doing. The difficulties right now are in finding suitable and reliable advertisers, and finding enough spare time in which to update the site, with a full time job, sports and real life taking up a lot of my time.

PETER HORVATH: My greatest pleasure in creating Amiga Villag is the feedback of the readers. A lot of e-mails ("Let's continue") and a lot of people at the Amiga demo parties asked us to continue-so we continue!

DANIELE FRANZA: The most pleasing thing is the fact that we succeeded in keeping at least one Amiga publication alive in our country. The other great thing is the acceptance from the community, which is very close to us and supports us with great passion. The difficulties come from the dimensions of the market which is getting smaller and smaller every year, consisting in Italy, as in the rest of the world, of die-hard Amiga fans. If we go forward it is only and exclusively thanks to them!

WAYNE HUNT: I know it sounds corny, but I enjoy working with the Amiga community, as well as helping to heighten the Internet presence for the Amiga. Difficulties? On that, I'd have to say "egos." There are ten or twelve great Amiga Web masters out there who are trying very hard to provide services for the community. Each of us is trying in our own way to offer pretty much the same services, yet remain distinct in our presentation. All too often, there is a tendency to work against one another rather than to work together, which distracts from the efficiency of each site.

BRAD WEBB: The biggest problem is finding the time to do it. Since Amiga Update is free, there's no compensation for my time at all so I have to find ways to keep it simple. The second biggest problem is obtaining information. I need press releases when possible, as there's not enough time to write many articles myself.

BRUNO DE KLERK: One of the most fun things to do are the interviews. We interviewed lots of people who produce TV (game) shows, which are made with Amiga. But we also did an interview with someone who controlled everything (and I mean everything!) inside and outside his house with an Amiga. He controlled the heating (per room), TV (including teletext/CeeFax), music (per room), answering machine (including a full database of known/unknown persons with pictures), light, just about everything. The inside information you sometimes get before it's in the magazines is fun too!

GIORGIO SIGNORI: The pleasures? Apart from the initial support from Amiga Int., the feedback from Amiga users was great. They gave us the will to keep on going. The problems were mainly in the start-up phase...when you are 20 years old and have to build a little company starting from zero, you can't expect not to have problems! Also, there's been a lot of work to build the structure; our aim of publishing a magazine on a CD wasn't that simple.

THOMAS RAUKAMP: When we started, there were five competing magazines in Germany. Another difficulty was the period of time when there were such high expectations of Jim Collas and his projects, making it very hard to explain to the readers why these dreams again failed to materialize. But the latest plans give everyone a much better feeling-because finally things are beginning to happen, aren't they?


Daniele Franza, Thomas Raukamp, and Brad Webb

The Amiga has long been at the center of a truly international community. Tell us what's it like to be an Amigan in your home country.

THOMAS RAUKAMP: The German Amiga-market is still by far the biggest in the world. Most of the important developers of hard- and software for the current Amiga-systems come from Germany. The users are waiting for some new stuff to get their hands on. So the chances that Germany will be a big market for the New Amiga are very good.

ANDREW KORN: The UK is an odd mixture. It can be a rather cynical part of the Amiga market at times, but it's also very active. We have a (largely) great bunch of businesses. A lot of the user group meetings take place in pubs, which I particularly approve of. ;-)

BRUNO DE KLERK: Holland is a strange/weird country (as if you didn't know...), and you're an outsider if you use an Amiga, until those PC users see what you can create/do with an Amiga, with less stress and so little time. The Dutch Amiga community is the backbone of 'AmigaScene', they keep hoping for better times, even if they don't own an Amiga anymore! Commercially the Amiga is (secretly?) used in many TV-productions/shows, company presentations (Scala/InfoChannel), museums, zoo's and lots of local TV-stations, including the infochannels. AmigaScene always has an article about this subject ("Amiga works at..."). We have about three Amiga shops, and a few mail-order companies left in Holland.

BRAD WEBB: I find the Amiga's current state is all but unknown in America, its original homeland! However, as I wander about the computer industry I'm constantly surprised to run into former Amiga users just about everywhere!

WAYNE HUNT: In my opinion, being an Amigan is even more cool today than in 1995. Here's this New Amiga, Inc., which has come into the community and started surprising us at every turn. Bill McEwen [and Company] buying the Amiga was a surprise to most, but even since then there's the fact that they've brought an SDK to market in six months and announced the AmigaOne [should be available] by Christmas. Sure, Commodore is gone, but in my mind and opinion, the New Amiga, Inc.'s plans and designs are far more exciting than the Commodore Amiga would have ever become.

GRZEGORZ JURASZEK: The community in Poland is one of the biggest in Europe, probably the biggest of all the former East-European countries. We have several organizations like ATO PL, AIRI and APG, numerous user clubs and shows each year. Commercially though, it is not that good-there are only a few companies left that still sell Amiga software and hardware.

DANIELE FRANZA: Nowadays many people have been forced to leave Amiga in favor of other systems (Linux, Mac, Windows) because of their school or work. I am sure that all these people can hardly wait to go back to Amiga, and they will do so as soon as new Amigas are out.

GIORGIO SIGNORI: I'd say that the community in Italy is split in two: we have an active part that usually follows the community on the Web. [These are] not many but very, very, active. And we still have a large group of "silent" users, who usually look for contact with us by snail mail or by phone (we have a hot-line). From the commercial point of view, I have to say that the network of distributors is very limited. And this, unfortunately, is even worse when you have to face piracy, which in Italy is still too popular, (sigh)!

PETER HORVATH: In Hungary there are very few users, but some of them are in the right places! Last year two satellite television stations were using Amigas (ok, Dracos) for their interactive videoclip-programs-people watched it all over the country. There are dozens of local cable TV stations where Scala Infochannel is still in use. In our town (I live at the western border in a town of 60,000 people) there is a growing Amiga community-there are serious companies where Amigas are used. There are still people who are more impressed of my presentation of an Amiga than they are by a 600 MHz Wintel box.

So, how do you plan to cover the New Amiga in your magazine or site?

GIORGIO SIGNORI: Actually we are planning a special section dedicated to the New Amiga, as soon as we are sure that we'll have enough to talk about every month. Also, I think that for the future, a developer section may come.

PETER HORVATH: I've decided NOT to write about it until I have got one working, really working... We introduced the Boxer, IWin's machines, Gateway's plans... I won't make this mistake once again.

ANDREW KORN: Amiga Active sports the cover line "The Future of Amiga Computing". The New Amiga was very much in our minds from the creation of the magazine-indeed, it's the reason for the magazine. We don't think the transition will be any problem for us. Of course at the moment most of our coverage is about the "classic" Amiga, but we will be scaling up coverage of the New Amiga as there becomes more to write about. We will, of course, continue covering the "classic" line for as long as there are things to write about and people who want to read them, but we're all champing at the bit for next generation products to review!

BRAD WEBB: We will use the same approach we are using now. News as it happens, of events, new products, shows and so forth. We also print entertaining rumors from time to time, and clearly label them as such. We expect to continue all these practices in the New Amiga era.

DANIELE FRANZA: Amiga Enigma Life is already writing about the New Amiga, reviewing the SDK and writing about the future of Amiga (Elate, AmigaOne, etc.). When the AmigaOne is out we'll of course review it. In the future, the space dedicated to new the Amiga will increase if our readers are interested.

THOMAS RAUKAMP: There is a vision Amiga is following and we will communicate this vision to our readers. We will try to be objective about the new path Amiga is taking. The chances for the new systems are great, if they get the attention they deserve-and that's our part.

If there's such a thing as "The Amiga Spirit," what is it to you?

BRAD WEBB: In short, it's the preservation of an alternative and better way to do personal computing against all odds. It's truly the users' computer.

OLIVIER FERRER: In my opinion, this spirit is still embodied by Aminet. It has the right idea. "Problem --> solution; broadcast, mutual help."

GRZEGORZ JURASZEK: Different people have different definitions for the Amiga Spirit. Maybe it is the community of users that "keeps the momentum going", as the AI slogan says.

DANIELE FRANZA: "The Amiga Spirit" is the union of the three virtues: Will power to exist, unity and patience. These three have connected and held together the Amiga Community so far. The Spirit exists because the Community exists.

WAYNE HUNT: It's the community. It is completely unique in the world.

THOMAS RAUKAMP: Its about wanting, deserving and choosing the best solution available-no matter what other people do, think or choose. It's about individuality.

CHRISTIAN KEMP: I suppose the most important aspects in today's mainstream world are independent thinking, the searching for alternatives and, of course, the creativity and innovation that brought so many outstanding projects to life.

GIORGIO SIGNORI: One word: Passion!

ANDREAS MAGERL: The Spirit is Amiga users helping other Amiga users.

ANDREW KORN: I know this isn't what you meant, but I'd say The Amiga Spirit is an aged Islay single malt. Microsoft's Own Label mixed scotch may get the job done quicker, but it's sure less smooth going down.

What about your publication or Web site are you most proud of?

BRAD WEBB: That we've been there when there was virtually nothing else available in the United States.

GRZEGORZ JURASZEK: That eXec was created in difficult times and did not die as yet another unfinished project!

PETER HORVATH: We offer pure information in our magazine. No big pictures, no empty articles, only usable information.

GIORGIO SIGNORI: I'm proud to have built something, even something little, starting from nothing. I don't think that we could have done this in another market; "only the Amiga (community) made it possible!"

ANDREW KORN: I'm proud of the desire of the Amiga Active team to get it done, and get it done well.

CHRISTIAN KEMP: I am proud at having managed to build a relatively popular site, but I'm especially fond of the scripts that are driving ANN, which are still unrivaled by any other Amiga news site.

DANIELE FRANZA: We are very proud to exist. Because of the size of Amiga market, one magazine can survive only if it meets the needs of the market. The fact that one issue of this magazine is published every month proves that the readers like it. It is they who tell us so, in the numerous letters that we receive.

Based on what's been announced by Amiga so far, what are your predictions for the New Amiga's future?

OLIVIER FERRER: Recent announcements are very promising. As I said previously, wait and see...

CHRISTIAN KEMP: I'm not really relying on announcements anymore, but prefer to see a little bit more evidence first. The fact that [Amiga] have an SDK out and that they have a number of knowledgeable persons in their team is promising, but it remains to be seen whether Amiga's plan works out in the long run.

DANIELE FRANZA I stopped making predictions back in 1995. :-) I will judge by what Amiga Inc. releases officially in Italy.

ANDREW KORN: Predictions are dangerous things. However, I certainly wouldn't be working in the Amiga market now if I didn't think there was something happening that is well worth being a part of.

THOMAS RAUKAMP: The more Amiga focuses on creating solutions to computing problems (solutions that people are still waiting for after more than 20 years of personal computing), then I see big chances for them. And it seems to me Amiga finally understands the technical needs, the market and the people. Their best weapon will be a small, scalable, efficient and elegant operating environment you can use on your computer and also on your phone, etc. This market needs a new standard soon.

WAYNE HUNT: I predict Amiga, Inc. will provide a strong focal point for computing in the future. Their "Write Once Run Many" (re-coined term) platform-independent concept is, in my opinion, incredibly exciting, not just for the Amiga, but also for every computer user who buys software. The strategy they've outlined, if successful, will honestly change the face of computing and (hopefully) obliterate the "my computer is better than yours" silliness between platforms. After all, if we're all able to run the same software, who cares what it runs on? Aside from that, anything that helps to kill Windows is a good thing in my book.

(Pictured at Top: Bruno de Klerk)

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