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◈ALB Atlas

Amiga Corporation Superseded

Amiga Corporation
KindCompany
Founded1982
Defunct1984
StatusSuperseded
FoundersJay Miner
FieldHome computers
Sourcebitsavers.org ↗

A skunkworks disguised as a joystick company — where Miner's team designed the custom chipset that became the Amiga. Bought by Commodore in 1984, hours before the money ran out.

Acquired by Commodore International
Created Amiga 1000 AmigaOS
Notable people Carl Sassenrath

Miner — designer of the Atari 400/800's chips — left to build a next-generation machine with ex-Atari staff, funded by a joystick front ('Hi-Toro') that hid the real project from investors. The Lorraine chipset — Agnus, Denise, Paula — was a decade ahead of its time.

Atari lent $500,000 and tried to take the company; Commodore outbid with $24 million in August 1984 — one day before the bridge loan came due. The Amiga 1000 shipped a year later.

Sources

  1. bitsavers.org/pdf/commodore/
  2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amiga_Corporation