When the opportunity presents itself to go to a nice hotel instead of a naff one, you take it because you know you'll be treated better. You know the towels will be softer, the beds comfier, the staff nicer, and the telly with more channels. This luxury comes at a price, and you can't always go to the best hotels though, so you have to settle for what you can afford. You don't necessarily wind up in some truly strange place where you're a bit nervous to go to sleep (remember that episode of 'My Family'?), but more like somewhere in the middle of the road. Staying a two or three star hotel gives you a nice piece of mind. You know you're not getting ripped off with the price, and you know it's at least going to be clean. When you leave and go home or move on, you'll probably forget it, and remember the things you got up to on your trip than the actually, physical hotel. But a fancy one, that's the kind of place that stays with you. Especially if it’s the first time you've been to one. It's looks different, smells different, feels different. You remember everything and the whole time you're there, you dread the thought of leaving, and right from the moment you do, the longing to return builds up inside you. Imagine the consoles of the eighties to be hotels. While I was perfectly happy staying at the Spectrum Inn, or the Master System Lodge, I had heard only rumours about the Plaza Hotel itself. Until one night, I got to stay at the Amiga 500.

Step inside the Amiga Hotel, yes really, its in Korea.

Old neighbours of ours had moved up north, how far I don't know, but it was far enough to warrant us spending the night. They had two children who were both older than me, and I don't recall seeing the eldest much at all. So I hung out with the younger one. When his mum told me he had a computer up in his room, I had visions of a C64 or a BBC Micro or something along those lines, but no. This was the daddy. In my eyes, it was the Rolls-Royce of computers, the one all the others in my life wished they were. This was an Amiga 500. "Right, I know what I'm doing every second until I leave!" my overjoyed little mind thought. I started off playing 'Stunt Car Racer' and thinking, first off how awesome it was that I was playing an Amiga 500, and second, this is the most amazing racing game I have ever seen. After I came back from dinner, I started playing the game I would go on to play all night long. R-Type. (At least I think it was R-Type. All I remember is after you beat it, its said "This time, the dragons will be out." or some other nonsense like that.) After dying quite a bit, I'll confess I got my buddy to put on the invincibility cheat, so I could actually make it past the first level. I went on to beat it about 5 or more times. What’s more, while I was playing Amiga, my mate was hooking Christmas lights up to his stereo so they'd go in time with the music. All in all, it was one of those magical nights that you remember forever. Sort of like the night you saw your first 'Star Wars' movie. But that's a story for another time.

The Amiga 1000:
Now say the A500 was a cool machine.

It wasn't just the games that held such allure to me. Due to the fact that I only knew one person who owned one, the actual physical system itself seemed so awe-inspiring. The oversized ' del' and 'help' keys were always noticeable from a distance (and let me know that they were using a spray painted black A500 on 'Ghost Train'). Even the word "Amiga" in its cool, aloof, italic font along the top seemed to let you know, "Hey kid, this is a proper machine." Now that I'm older looking back, it's understated looks added even more charm and charisma. It was like an M5, quiet looking on the outside (just classy enough to let you know who's boss) but no real indication of the power beneath, except for the logo. Many years later, I acquired an Amiga 1000, but only managed to get two programs; 'Deluxe Paint' and 'Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego?'. I got 'DeluxePaint' because I wanted to make graphics for games, and I got Carmen Sandiego because... I can't remember. I think it was the cheapest game in the shop. I still lusted after that old A500 though, with the joystick my friend had. I wonder if he still has it...

One of the most iconic Box covers ever…
Shame it would take the average user
approximately 4 million years to replicate.
But still…

September, 2005

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