Dear Future Gamer,

Hi, I know that you hate me because I am a faithful Amigan, but I have some points to make. First of all, in the feature entitled 'Estimating the power of PlayStation' in FG27, Keith Stuart says: "The PlayStation 2 even supports new digital interconnectivity standards so players will be able to hook up a keyboard, modem, printer and mouse to the thing, just like a PC."

May I just point out that this is not a console first - there is another console that came out years ago which had keyboards, disk drives, printers, hard drives, mice and even networking software and cables to connect it to computers. It was also one of the first (not THE first though) CD-based consoles. The console I am talking about is the Amiga CD32. I know it is just an Amiga 1200 with an extra chip, in a console case with a built in CD-ROM - but isn't this like PlayStation 2? It's just a PC in a console case with a built in CD-ROM - except it is not compatible with PC, or any other computers for that matter.

What I am saying is that most people think that this is a first, but it isn't - it was done back in 1993/4! It might be attractive to people who can't afford PCs - so it is basically a poor man's PC - just less expandable (not that it will need to be expanded much). The only way I can see this idea being any good is if it incorporates a modem like the Dreamcast. Also - will the Dreamcast have a keyboard and mouse? What use is the Internet without a keyboard - first of all, how would you type in the URL?

Sam Brookes

FG: Why would anyone hate you for being an 'Amigan'? Two of Future Gamer's three full-time writers used to work for Amiga Format magazine. Admittedly, PlayStation 2 will hardly be a 'console first' in the terms you describe, but then CD32 could hardly be classed as a success, could it? Microcosm, that 'groundbreaking' Psygnosis shoot 'em up might have introduced one or two new elements to videogaming (still a crap game, though), but in general, the standard of software was lamentable. And let's be honest, anyone who buys a console is only interested in the quality of the games. One imagines Sony will make a better fist of it - anyone who's followed the fortunes of the Amiga over the past few years will blimmin' hope so!